The Institution of Christian Religion

I know that many quick nosed men do laugh at this that we gather the distinction of Persons out of the words of Moses, where he bringeth in God speaking thus: Let us make man after our image. But yet the Godly readers do see how vainly and fondly Moses should bring in this as a talk of diverse together,¹ if there were not in God moe Persons than one. Now certain is it, that they whom the Father spake unto, were uncreate: but nothing is uncreate but God himself yea the one only God. Now therefore unless they grant that the power of creating was common, and the authority of commanding common, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost: it shall follow that God did not inwardly thus speak to himself, but directed his speech to other foreign work men. Finally one place shall easily answer two of their objections.² For where as Christ himself pronounceth that GOD is a Spirit, this were not convenient to be restrained to the Father only, as if the Word himself were not of spiritual nature. If then the name of Spirit doeth as well agree with the Son as with the Father, I gather that the Son is also comprehended under the indefinite name of GOD. But he addeth by and by after that, none are allowed for good worshippers of the Father, but they that worship him in Spirit and trueth, where upon followeth an other thing, because Christ doeth under a head execute the office of a teacher, he doeth give the name of GOD to the Father, not to the entente to destroy his own Godhead, but by degrees to lift us up unto it.

I knowe that many quicke nosed men doe laughe at thys that we gather the distinction of Persons oute of the wordes of Moses, where he bryngeth in God speakyng thus: Lette vs make manne after oure image. But yet the Godly readers doe see howe vaynly and fondely Moses shoulde bryng in thys as a talke of dyuerse together,¹ if there were not in God moe Persons than one. Nowe certayne is it, that they whom the Father spake vnto, wer vncreate: but nothing is vncreate but God himselfe yea the one onely God. Nowe therefore vnlesse they graunte that the power of creating was common, and the authoritie of commaunding common, to the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy ghoste: it shall folowe that God did not inwardly thus speake to himselfe, but directed his speche to other forein woorke menne. Finallie one place shall easilie answere two of their obiections.