Ans. The things are said to be united1 in nature, which come together into one nature, whether the same be done without any growing together, mixing together, or turning one into another, like as the three persons of the Godhead are one most single substance: or whether it be don by only knitting together, like as the soul and body meet together, as essential parts in making that which is man: or whether it be by means of some mixture or turning of the one into the ⟨image 9⟩other, like as befalleth in the interchange of the elements & in things that be mixed. And things are said to be united personally, which are joined in such wise, as there riseth thereof, but one selfsame person: like as the body & soul are so united to make the one nature of man, that they close together into one person or particular. Of this sort is also the union2 of the two natures in christ, which join together, (not to make some one third thing as Eutiches misweened, but) to make both one person, without any confusion, either of the natures themselves, or of the essential properties. And I said an union of natures, but not of persons, least it might be surmised, that two persons were grown into one, whereas in Christ there is one nature which a man may see is peculiar to the word it self, and in that nature resteth also the other nature that was taken to it, that is to with the nature of man. For the person of god took not to it the person of man: but the divine nature, (and that in the only person of the Son) that is to say, in respect that the same godhead was the Son, and not in respect that it was either ⟨p. 5⟩the father or the holy ghost) toke un•o it mans nature destitute of it own •ersonship as I might term it. Therefore to be short, like as in the Godhead •here be three persons coming together •n one selfsame nature: even so in christ •here be two natures joined together in the one person of the Son: so as the three persons are not three gods, but one God, by reason of the most single uniting of the three persons into one selfsame nature: neither are there two Christs, but •ne Christ, by reason, not of two perfect persons, but of two perfect natures joined together, not to make some one third nature, but united into the person of the •onne, in which person both the natures •re upheld.
Ans. The thinges are sayd to bée vnited1 in nature, whiche come together into one nature, whether the same be done without any growyng together, mixyng together, or turnynge one into another, like as the three persons of the Godhead are one moste single substance: or whether it be don by only knitting together, like as the soule and body méete together, as essentiall partes in making that which is man: or whether it be by meanes of som mixture or turnynge of the one into the ⟨image 9⟩other, like as befalleth in the interchange of ye elements & in thinges that be mixed. And thinges are saide to be vnited personally, which are ioyned in suche wyse, as there ryseth therof, but one selfsame person: like as the body & soule are so vnited to make the one nature of man, that they close together into one person or particular. Of this sort is also the vnion2 of the two natures in christ, which ioyne together, (not to make some one third thing as Eutiches misweened, but) to make both one person, without any confusion, either of the natures themselues, or of the essentiall properties. And I sayd an vnion of natures, but not of persons, least it might be surmised, that two persons were growen into one, whereas in Christ there is one nature whych a man may see is peculiar to the woord it selfe, and in that nature resteth also the other nature that was taken to it, that is to with the nature of man. For the person of god tooke not to it the person of man: but the diuine nature, (and that in the onely person of the sonne) that is to saye, in respecte that the same godhed was the sonne, and not in respecte that it was eyther ⟨p. 5⟩the father or the holy ghost) toke vn•o it mannes nature destitute of it owne •ersonship as I myght terme it. Therefore to bee short, lyke as in the Godhead •here bee three persones coming together •n one selfesame nature: euen so in christ •here be two natures ioyned together in the one persone of the Sonne: so as the •hree persons are not three gods, but one God, by reason of the most single vniting of the three persons into one selfsame nature: neyther are there two Christes, but •ne Christ, by reason, not of two perfect persons, but of two perfect natures ioyned together, not to make some one third nature, but vnited into the person of the onne, in which person both the natures re vphilde.
- 1A Description of union or uniting of two things into oneA Discriptiō of vnion or vnitinge of two thinges into one
- 2The union of the two natures in Christ.The vnion of the two natures in Christ.
