The Institution of Christian Religion

To make a register of the errors, wherewith the pureness of Faith §22in this point of doctrine hath in times paste ben assailed, were to long and full of unprofitable tediousness: and the most part of heretics have to attempted to overwhelm the glory of God with gross doting errors, that they have thought it enough for them to shake and trouble the unskilful. And from a few men have sprung up many sects, whereof some do tear in sunder the essence of God, some do confound the distinction that is between the Persons. But if we hold fast that which is already sufficiently showed by the Scripture, that the essence of the one God which belongeth to the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost, is single and undivided. Again, that the Father by a certain property differeth from the Son, and the Son from the holy ghost: we shall stop up the gate not only against Arrius and Sabellius, but also the other old authors of errors. But because in our time there be risen up certain phreneti•e men, as Seruetto and other like, which have encumbered all things with new deceits: It is good in few words to discuss their falsehoods. The name of the Trinity was so hateful, yea so detestable to Seruetto, that he said, that all the Trinitarians, as he called them, were utterly godless. I omit the foolish words that he had devised to rail withal. But of his opinions this was the sum. That God is made Tripartite, when it is said, that there abide three Persons in his essence, and that this Trinity is but a thing imagined, because it disagreeth with the unity of God. In the mean time the Persons he would have to be certain outward conceptions of Form, which are not truly subsisting in the essence of God, but do represent God unto us in this or that fashion. And at the beginning that there was in God nothing distinct because ones the Word and the Spirit were all one: but sins that Christ arose God out of God, the Holy ghost sprung also an other God out of him. And though sometime he colour his follies with allegories, as when he saith, that the eternal Word of God was the Spirit of Christ with God, and the bright shining of his form.

To make a register of the errours, wherwith the purenesse of Faithe §22in this poynt of doctrine hath in tymes paste ben assailed, were to long and full of vnprofitable tediousnesse: and the moste parte of heretikes haue to attempted to ouerwhelme the glory of God with grosse dotyng errours, that they haue thought it enough for them to shake and trouble the vnskilfull. And from a fewe men haue spronge vp many sectes, wherof some doo teare in sunder the essence of God, some do confound the distinction yt is betwene the Persons. But if we hold fast yt which is alredy sufficiētly shewed by the Scripture, yt the essence of the one God whiche belongeth to the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost, is syngle and vndiuided. Agayne, that the Father by a certayne propretie differeth from the Sonne, and the Sonne from the holy ghost: we shal stop vp the gate not only against Arrius and Sabellius, but also the other olde authors of errours. But because in our tyme there be risen vp certaine phrenetie men, as Seruetto and other like, which haue encombred all thinges with newe deceites: It is good in fewe wordes to discusse their falsehoodes. The name of the Trinitie was so hatefull, yea so detestable to Seruetto, that he sayde, that all the Trinitaries, as he called them, were vtterly godlesse. I omitte the foolishe wordes that he had deuised to raile withall. But of his opinions this was the sūme. That God is made Tripartite, whē it is said, that there abide thre Persons in his essence, and that this Trinitie is but a thyng imagined, because it disagreeth with the vnitie of God. In the meane tyme the Persons he would haue to be certaine outward conceptions of Forme, whiche are not truely subsistyng in the essence of God, but doo represente God vnto vs in this or that fashion. And at the beginnyng that there was in God nothyng distincte bicause ones the Worde and the Spirite were all one: but sins that Christe arose God oute of God, the Holye ghost sprong also an other God out of hym. And though sometyme he colour his follies with allegories, as when he saythe, that the eternall Worde of God was the Spirite of Christ with God, and the bright shinyng of his forme.