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| Chapter XXII. In proof of the Unity in Trinity the passage of Isaiah which has been cited is considered, and it is shown that there is no difference as to its sense amongst those who expound it of the Father, or of the Son, or of the Spirit. If He Who was crucified was Lord of glory, so, too, is the Holy Spirit equal in all things to the Father and the Son, and the Arians will never be able to diminish His glory.
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Chapter XXII.
In proof of the Unity in Trinity the passage of Isaiah
which has been cited is considered, and it is shown that there is no
difference as to its sense amongst those who expound it of the Father,
or of the Son, or of the Spirit. If He Who was crucified was Lord
of glory, so, too, is the Holy Spirit equal in all things to the Father
and the Son, and the Arians will never be able to diminish His
glory.
165. It is now
possible to recognize the oneness of the majesty and rule in the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For many say that it was
God the Father Who was seen at that time by Isaiah. Paul says it
was the Spirit, and Luke supports him. John the Evangelist refers
it to the Son. For thus has he written of the Son:
“These things spake Jesus, and departed and hid Himself from
them. But though He had done so great signs before them, they did
not believe on Him, that the word of Isaiah might be fulfilled which he
spake, Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom hath the Arm of
the Lord been revealed?1443
Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He hath
blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they might not see
with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted, and I
should heal them.1444
These
things said Isaiah when he saw His glory, and spake of
Him.”1445
166. John says that Isaiah spoke these words, and
revealed most clearly that the glory of the Son appeared to him.
Paul, however, relates that the Spirit said these things. Whence,
then, is this difference?
167. There is, indeed, a difference of
words, not of meaning. For though they said different things,
neither was in error, for both the Father is seen in the Son, Who said,
“He that seeth Me seeth the Father also,”1446
and the Son is seen in the Spirit; for as
“no man says Lord Jesus, except in the Holy
Spirit,”1447
so Christ is
seen not by the eye of flesh, but by the grace of the Spirit.
Whence, too, the Scripture says: “Rise, thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon
thee.”1448
And
Paul, when he had lost his eyesight, how did he see Christ except in
the Spirit?1449
Wherefore
the Lord says: “For to this end I have appeared unto thee,
to appoint thee a minister and a witness of the things wherein thou
hast seen Me, and of the things wherein thou shalt see
Me.”1450
For the
prophets also received the Spirit and saw Christ.
168. One, then, is the vision, one the right to
command, one the glory. Do we deny that the Holy Spirit is also
the Lord of glory when the Lord of glory was crucified who was born
from the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary? For Christ is not one of
two, but is one, and was born as Son of God of the Father before the
world; and in the world born as man by taking flesh.
169. And why should I say that, as the Father and
the Son, so, too, the Spirit is free from stain and Almighty, for
Solomon called Him in Greek παντοδύναμον,
πᾶνέπίσχοπον
, because He is Almighty and beholds all things,1451
as we showed above to be,1452
is read in the Book of Wisdom.
Therefore the Spirit enjoys honour and glory.
170. Consider now lest perchance something
may not beseem Him, or if this displease thee, O Arian, drag Him down
from His fellowship with the Father and the Son. But if thou
choose to drag Him down thou wilt see the heavens reversed above thee,
for all their strength is from the Spirit.1453
If thou choose to drag Him down,
thou must first lay hands on God, for the Spirit is God. But how
wilt thou drag Him down, Who searcheth the deep things of
God?E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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