every where fuppofed in the Scripture-Revelation. See, in Part I, the Texts N° 1-532. * See beneath, § 7. + See beneath, $12, 19, & 35. See beneath, § 6. S II. With This First and Supreme Cause or Father of all Things, there has existed * from the Beginning, a Second divine † Perfon, which is his Word or Son. See the Texts, N° 567, 568, 569, 174, 584, 586, 588, 591, 607, 612, 619, 638, 658. * See beneath, § 15. See beneath, § 18. S III. With the Father and the Son, there has existed from the Beginning, a Third divine † Perfon, which is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. See the Texts, No 1124, 1129, 1132 *, 1148. See beneath, § 22. S IV. What the proper Metaphyfical Nature, Ef fence, or Subftance of any of these divine Perfons is, the Scripture has no where at all declared; but defcribes and diftinguishes them always, by their Perfonal Characters, Offices, Powers and Attributes. See beneath, § 13 & 21. All Reasonings therefore, deduced from their fuppofed metaphyfical Nature, Effence, or Subftance, inftead of their Perfonal Characters, Offices, Powers and Attributes delivered in Scripture; are but Philofophical and probable Hypotheses. * SV. The Father (or Firft Perfon) Alone is Selfexiftent, Underived, Unoriginated, Independent; made of None, begotten of None, Proceeding from None. See the Texts, N° 8, 13, 339, 341, 354, 361, 370, 372, 378, 379, 385, 390, 391, 393, 394, 397, 400, 401, 403, 406, 411. Alfo No 413, 414, 416, 417, 419, 422, 425, 427, 430, 431, 583, 798... See beneath, 12 & 1934 & 40. S VI The Father (or First Perfon) is the Sole Origin of all Power and Authority, and is the Author and Principle of whatsoever is done by the Son or by the Spirit. See the Texts, N° 756995, 11481197. See beneath, $35, 36, 37 & 41. S VII. The Father (or First Perfon) Alone, is in the highest, strict, and proper Senfe, abfolutely Supreme over All. See the Texts, No 337, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 357, 360, 361, 363, 364,365,372,380, 382, 382*, 389, 393, 398, 41, 414, 415, 416, 417, 420, 425, 426, 427, 428,429,432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 440. - See beneath, § 34 40. S VIII. The Father (or Firft Perfon) is, abfolutely speaking, the * God of the Universe; the † God of Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob; the + God God of Ifrael; of Mofes, of || the Prophets and Apoftles; and the ** God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift. * See the Texts, No 337, 317 361, 363, 365, 372, 380, 382)*, 393, 41, 414 415 416, 417, 418, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 432, 434, 435, 436, 439, 440... † No 356. No 338. N° 441. ** No 18. -336, 767, 854, 894, 911, 917, 922, 935, 950, 974, 989, 991. See alfo the paffage cited below in § 9, from Irenaus lib. 2. c.55. SIX. The Scripture, when it mentions the One God, or the Only God, always means the Supreme Perfon of the Father. See the Texts, N° 1-17. Notes on § 9. The Reason is; because the Words, One and Only, are used, by way of Eminence, to fignifie Him who is abfolutely Supreme, Self-exiftent, and Independent; which Attributes are Perfonal, and evidently impoffible to be communicated from one Perfon to another. Wherefore, not only the Scripture, but also the Orthodox Writers in all Antiquity, do thus fpeak. Have we not, (fays Clemens Romanus,) One God, and one Chrift, and one Spirit? Ουχὶ ἕνα θεὸν ἔχομεν, καὶ ἕνα Xesov, xev πveuμa; Ad Cor. 1. Ὅτι εις θεός όξιν ο φανερώ σας ἑαυτὸν διὰ Ιησέ Χρις τ με αυτό, ὅς όταν αυτό λόγΘ aidi. Ad Magnes. epift. con 2~ tractior. Ἐι νενοήκατε τὰ ἐιρημένα S πe‡NTẩν,8× dv Inę-· vede dutòv åvau Deòv, tõ Μόνα καὶ ἀγεννήτε κ ἀῤῥήτε e yov. Dial. cum Tryph. And Ignatius: There is (faith he) One God, who hath manifefted himself by his Son Fefus Chrift, who is his eternal Word. And Justin Martyr: If ye bad confidered (fays he) the things fpoken by the Prophets, ye would not have denied Chrift to be God, who is the Son of the Only and unbegotten and ineffable God. And Irenæus: St. John (fays he) preached One God Supreme over All, and One Only-begotten Son Fefus Chrift. Again: The Church dif perfed over all the World, bas received from the Apoftles This Belief, in One God the Father Supreme over All, and in One Lord Jefus Chrift &c. Again: We bold faft the Rule of Truth, which is, that there is One God Almighty, Gr.avlonegтwe, Supreme over All;] who created all things by his Tõ S 'Iwávvo čva Deòv navToneģτoeg,njeva povoyevñ Xelsov 'Inošv ungúœsovτO. lib. 1. c. 1. Ἡ μ' ἐκκλησία - καθ' ὅλης f οικομένης —διεσπαρ μένη, παρα. Σποςόλων πα ραλαβέσα ἢ εἰς Ενα θεὸν πατέρα παντοκράτορα · πίςιν is eva Xeisòv 'Inošv &c. lib. 1. c. 2. Cùm teneamus autem nos regulam veritatis, id eft,quia fit Unus Deus Omnipotens, qui omnia condidit per Verbum fuum: -Hic Pater Domini |
