The Institution of Christian Religion

Again, there is showed in the Scriptures a certain distinction of the §17Father from the Word, and of the Word from the Spirit. In discussing whereof, how great religiousness and sobriety we ought to use, the greatness of the mystery it self doth admonish us. And I very well like that saying of Gregory Nazianzene:¹ I can not think upon the one, but by and by I am compassed about with the brightness of the three: And I can not severally discern the three, but I am suddenly driven back to one. Wherefore let it not come in our minds ones to imagine such a Trinity of Persons as may hold our thought withdrawn into severalties, and doth not forthwith bring us again to that unity. The names of Father, Son, and Holy ghost, do prove a true distinction, that no man should think them to be bare names of addition, whereby God according to his works is diversly entitled: but yet it is a distinction, not a division. The places that we have already cited, do show that the Son hath a property distinct from the Father, because the Word had not ben with God, if he had not ben an other thing than the Father: neither had he had his glory with the Father, but being distinct from him. Likewise he doth distinguish him self from the Father, when he saith, that there is an other which beareth him witness.² And for this purpose maketh that which in an other place is said, that the Father created all things by the Word, which he could not, but being after a certain manner distinct from him. Moreover the Father came not down into the earth, but he that came out from the Father. The Father died not, nor rose again, but he that was sent by him. Neither yet did this distinction begin at the taking of flesh:³ but it is manifest that he was also before, the only begotten in the bosom of the Father. For who can abide to say, that then the Son entered into the bosom of the father, when he descended from heaven to take manhood upon him? He was therefore before in the bosom of the Father, and enjoyed his glory with the Father.⁴ As for the distinction of the Holy ghost from the Father, Christ speaketh of it when he saith, that it proceedeth from the Father. And how oft doth he show it to be an other beside himself? as when