24 Moreover he proveth, that it is false which they hold, that so oft as there is in scripture mention made absolutely of God, none is meant thereby but the Father: where first he wipeth away a certain objection of theirs. Moreover by three places of Scripture he taketh up three arguments: thirdly, he proveth that the place of Isaiah doeth make nothing for them.1 Last of all, he taketh away two other objections, where they object this saying of Christ,2 that none is good but God: Thereby is meant, that for as much as he was after the common manner saluted by the name of good, in refusing false honour, he did admonish them, that the goodness wherein he excelled, was the goodness that God hath: Again, if they grant that the word of God be good, then must they grant also that Christ is good. Where it is said, that Christ only is good, immortal, wise, and true, thereby it is manifest that Christ is God, who is immortal, and from the beginning was life to give immortality to Angels, who is the eternal wisdom of God: ⟨p. 23⟩and who also is trueth it self,3 and he is to be worshipped, because he claimeth to have all knees bow before him. And where they object that place of Isaiah,4 I am, and none but I, thereby they confute them selves, for as much as whatsoever pertaineth to God, is given to Christ.5 And although in respect of order and degree, the beginning of the Godhead is in the Father, yet the essence is not proper only to the Father, for by that means the essence should be in Christ begotten and fashioned, which in the Father is unbegotten and unfashioned. Finally,6 where as Christ pronounceth that God is a Spirit: it were unconuenient 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, then the Son is also comprehended under the indefinite name of God, but he addeth by and by after,7 that none are allowed for good worshippers of the Father, but they that worship him in spirit and trueth. Whereupon it followeth, ⟨image 28⟩that because Christ doeth under […] head, execute the office of a teacher, hé• doeth give the name of God to the Father, not to the intent to destroy his own Godhead, but by degrees to lift us up unto it.
24 Moreouer he proueth, that it is false which they holde, that so ofte as there is in scripture mention made absolutely of God, none is ment thereby but the Father: where first he wipeth away a certaine obiection of theirs. Moreouer by thrée places of Scripture he taketh vp thrée arguments: thirdly, he proueth that the place of Esai doeth make nothing for them.1 Last of all, hée taketh away two other obiections, where they obiect this saying of Christ,2 that none is good but God: Thereby is ment, yt for as much as he was after the cōmon maner saluted by the name of good, in refusing false honor, he did admonish them, that the goodnesse wherin he excelled, was the goodnesse that God hath: Againe, if they graunt that the worde of God be good, then must they graunt also that Christ is good. Where it is saide, that Christ onely is good, immortall, wise, and true, thereby it is manifest that Christ is God, who is immortal, and from the beginning was life to geue immortalitie to Angelles, who is the eternall wisedome of God: ⟨p. 23⟩and who also is trueth it selfe,3 and hée is to be worshipped, because he claimeth to haue all knées bow before him. And where they obiect that place of Esai,4 I am, and none but I, thereby they confute them selues, for as much as whatsoeuer perteineth to God, is giuen to Christ.5 And although in respect of order and degrée, the beginning of the Godhead is in the Father, yet the essence is not proper only to the Father, for by that meanes the essence shoulde bée in Christ begotten and fashioned, which in the Father is vnbegotten and vnfashioned. Finally,6 where as Christ pronounceth that God is a Spirit: it were vnconuenient to bée restrayned to the Father only, as if the worde himselfe were not of spirituall nature: If then the name of Spirit doeth as well agrée with the Sonne as with the Father, then the Sonne is also comprehended vnder the indefinite name of God, but he addeth by and by after,7 that none are allowed for good worshippers of the Father, but they that worship him in spirite and trueth. Wherevpon it followeth,
- 1Isaiah. 44.6.Esai. 44.6.
- 2Mat. 19.17.
- 3Phil. 2.10.
- 4Isaiah. 44.6.Esai. 44.6.
- 5Phi. 2.7. Isaiah. 25.9.Phi. 2.7. Esai. 25.9.
- 6Gen. 1.26.
- 7Job. 4.24.Iob. 4.24.
