Wilson on Article I: Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

a There is one nature, or substance, or soul, or mind, or rather Divine Spirit, (for diversely have wise men, both heathen and Christian, termed God, where indeed by no words he can be properly termed,) eternal, without beginning- and end, im- measurable, uncorporal, invisible with the eyes of men, of most excellent majesty, which we call God, whom all people of the world must reverence and worship with highest honour ; and in him, as the best and greatest, to settle their hope and affiance. Nowell, p. 34.

» Thou shalMiave no other Gods before me. Exod. xx. 3. The Lord (Jehovah) our God (our Elohim) is one Lord (one Jehovah.) Deut. vi. 4. Who is God save the Lord ? Ps. xviii.31. Hath not one God created us? Mai. ii. 10. There is none other God but one. 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. God is one. Gal. iii. 20. Thus saith the Lord, the King- of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts ; I am the first, and I am the last ; and beside me there is no God. I know not any. Isa. xliv. 6, 8. Rev.

1. 8. One God and Father, who is above all, and through all. Eph. iv. 6. There is one God and one Mediator. 1 Tim. ii. 5. Thou be- lievest there is one God, thou doest well. James ii. 19. Thou art God alone. 2 Kings xix. 15. Thou art Lord alone. Neh. ix. 6. Whose name alone is Jehovah . Ps. lxxxiii. 18. I am God; there is no God with me. Deut. xxxii. 39. Before me there was no God formed. Isa. xliii. 10.

b My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Ps. lxxxiv.

2. Ye are the temple of the living God. 2 Cor. vi. 16. He liveth for ever, whose dominion is an ever- lasting dominion, and his kingdom

is from generation to generation. Dan. iv. 34. He is the living God, and stedfast for ever. Dan. vi. 26.

c The Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlast- ing King. The Gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens. Jer. x. 10, 11. This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. John xvii. 3. Turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 1 Thess. i. 9. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John v. 20.

d Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlast- ing, thou art God. Ps. xc. 2. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure : yea all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed : but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

lasting, e without body, parts, or passions ; fof infinite power,8 wisdom, andh goodness, the 1 Maker

Thou, 0 Lord, shalt endure for ever 5 and thy remembrance unto all generations. Ps. cii. 26, 27, 12. The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is wea- ry ; there is no searching- of his understanding-. Isa. xl. 28.

e God is a Spirit. John iv. 24. What likeness will ye compare to him? Isa. xl. 18. We ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art or man’s device. Acts xvii. 2%. The invisible things of him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Rom. i. 20. Changed the glory of the in- corruptible God into an image. Rom. i. 23. God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Numb, xxiii.

f With God all things are possi- ble. Mark x. 27. Luke i. 37. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, he hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. Jer. x. 12. li. 15. His divine power hath given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Pet. i. 3. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salva- tion. 1 Pet. i. 5.

e He is perfect in knowledge. Job xxxvii. 16. His understanding is infinite. Ps. cxlvii. 5. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judg- ments, and his ways past finding out! Rom. xi. 33. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and

glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. i. 17.

h The Lord, the Lord God, mer- ciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Exod. xxxiv. 6. The good- ness of God endureth continually. Ps. Hi. 1. Thou preventest with the blessings of thy goodness. Ps. xxi. 3. The goodness of God lead- eth to repentance. Rom.ii.4. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Ps. xxv. 8. Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee. Ps. lxxxvi. 5. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Ps. xxxiii. 5. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a clean heart. Ps. lxxiii. 1. My people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord. Jer. xxxi. 14. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Ps. xxxiv. 8. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him ; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezra viii.

’ He that built all things is God. Heb. iii. 4. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen. i. 1. Thou hast made heaven and the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts ; the earth and all things that are therein; the sea, and all that is therein: and thou pre- servest them all, and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Neh. ix. 6. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev. iv. 11.

and “Preserver of all things, both visible and

k Whereas it is much more excellent to maintain and preserve things created, than to have once created them ; we must cer- tainly believe, that when he had so framed the world and all creatures, he from thenceforth hath preserved and yet preserveth them. For all things would run to ruin, and fall to nothing, unless by his virtue, and, as it were, by his hand, they were upholden. We also assuredly believe, that the whole order of nature, and changes of things, which are falsely reputed the alterations of fortune, do hang all upon God : that God guideth the course of the heaven, upholdeth the earth, tempereth the seas, and ruleth this whole world, and that all things obey his divine power, and by his divine power all things are governed : that he is the author of fair weather and of tempest, of rain and of drought, of fruitfulness and of barrenness, of health and of sickness : that of all things that belong to the sustentation and preserving of our life, and which are desired either for neces- sary use or honest pleasure : finally of all things that nature needeth, he hath ever given, and yet most largely giveth abun- dance and plenty with most liberal hand: to this end verily that we should so use them as becometh mindful and kind children. Nowell, p. 37.

If his especial goodness were not eveiy where present, every creature should be out of order, and no creature should have his property, wherein he was first created. He is therefore invisi- ble every where, and in every creature, and nlleth both heaven and earth with his presence: in the fire to give heat; in the water to give moisture ; in the earth, to give fruit; in the heart, to give his strength ; yea in our bread and drink is he, to give us nourishment, where without him the bread and drink cannot give sustenance, nor the herb health : VVisd. xvi. 26. Deut. viii.

k The Lord, the most high God, made the worlds. Heb. i. 2. By

the possessor of heaven and earth, the word of the Lord were the

Gen. xiv. 22. To the end thou heavens made, and all the host of

mayest know that I am the Lord them by the breath of his mouth,

in the midst of the earth. Exod. In the beginning was the Word,

viii. 22. The pillars of the earth and the Word was with God, and

are the Lord’s, and he hath set the the Word was God. The same was

world upon them. He will keep in the beginning* with God. All

the feet of his saints. 1 Sam. ii. things were made by him, and with-

8, 9. In whose hand is the soul of out him was not any thing made

every living thing, and the breath that was made. John i. 1 — 3.

of all mankind. Job xii. 10. Up- Jesus, when he was baptized, went

holding all things by the word of up straightway out of the water:

his power. Heb. i. 3. In the be- and, lo, the heavens were opened

ginning God (Eloim) created the unto him, and he saw the Spirit of

heavens and the earth. Gen. i. 1. God descending like a dove and

God said, Let us make man in our lighting upon him ; and, lo, a voice

ijnage, after our likeness. Gen. i. from heaven, saying, This is my

26,27. Hath not one God created beloved Son, in whom I am well

us? JMal. ii. 10. God by his Sou pleased. Matt. iii. 16, 17.

invisible. ‘And in unity of this Godhead there

3. Wisd. xvi. 12. It is not therefore the power of the creatures, which worketh their effects, but the goodness of God which worketh in them. In his word truly do all things consist. Horn. xxix. 1.

1 We believe that there is one certain nature and divine power, which we call God : and that the same is divided into three equal persons, into the Father, into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost; and that they be all of one power, of one majesty, of one eternity, of one Godhead, and of one substance. And al- though these three persons be so divided, that neither the Father is the Son, nor the Son is the Holy Ghost, or the Father : yet nevertheless we believe that there is but one very God : and that the same one God hath created heaven and earth, and all things contained under heaven. Jewell.

In one substance of God we must consider, the Father which of himself begat the Son even from eternity, the beginning and first author of all things ; the Son, even from eternity begotten of the Father, which is the eternal wisdom of God the Father ; the Holy Ghost, proceeding from them both, as the power of God spread abroad through all things, but yet so as it conti- nually abideth in itself : and yet that God is not therefore di- vided. For of these three persons, none goeth before the other in time, in greatness, or in dignity ; but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three distinct Persons, in eternity of like continuance in power, even in dignity equal, and in Godhead one. There is therefore one eternal, immortal, almighty, glo- rious, the best, the greatest God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. For so hath the universal number of Christians, which is called the Catholic Church, taught us by the holy Scriptures concerning God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; where otherwise the infinite depth of this mystery is so great that it cannot with mind be conceived, much less with words be expressed, wherein therefore is required a simplicity of Christian faith ready to believe, rather than sharpness of wit to search, or the office of the tongue to express so secret and hidden a mystery. Nowell, p. 35.

In these Books we shall find the Father from whom, the Son by whom, and the Holy Ghost in whom, all things have their being and keeping up ; and these three persons to be but one God, and one substance. Horn. i. 1.

For as there are three several and sundry Persons in the Deity ; so have they three several and sundry offices proper unto each of them ; the Father to create, the Son to redeem, the Holy Ghost to sanctify and regenerate. Horn, xxviii. 1.

1 I will pray the Father, and he ever, even the Spirit of truth. John shall give you another Comforter, xiv. 16, 17. Through him (Christ) that he may abide with you for we both have access by one Spirit

be three Persons, of one substance, power, and

And the Catholic Faith is this, That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity ; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Koly Ghost is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incom- prehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal : and yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three ineomprehensibles, nor three uncreated ; but one un- created, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty : and yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God ; and yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord : and yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord ; so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. And in this Trinity none is afore or after other, none is greater or less than another; but the whole three Persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be wor- shipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Athan. Creed.

0 God the Father, of heaven, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. 0 God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. 0 God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons, and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. Litany.

Who art one God, one Lord; not one only person, but three persons in one substance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of hea- ven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name ; evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven

unto the Father. Eph. ii. 18. Be- hearts, crying Abba, Father. Gal. cause ye are sons, God hath sent iv. 6. There are three that bear forth the Spirit of his Sou into your record in heaven, the Father, the

eternity ; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, 0 Lord most High. Amen. Com. Service.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true Faith, to acknow- ledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee, that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this Faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities ; who lives t and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. Collect for Trinity Sunday.

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace both now and evermore. Amen. Visitation of the Sick.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you ; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you ; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. Marriage Service.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord : and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen. Com. Service.

Word, and the Holy Ghost : and and the lore of God, and the fel- these three are one. 1 John v. 7. lowship of the Holy Ghost, be with The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, you all. 1 Cor. xiii. 14.

Notes

• God, the most good and mighty Father, at the beginning, and of nothing, by the power of his word, that is, of Jesus Christ his Son, framed and made this whole visible world, and all things, whatsoever they be, that are contained therein, and also the uncorporal spirits, whom we call angels. Nowell, p. 37.