Of the vnitie of the diuine essence, and of the three persons. CHAP. 3.
OVt of this fountaine of holie scripture, and Christian instruction, according to the true and sound vnder∣standing and meaning of the holie ghost, our men teach by faith to acknowledge, & with the mouth to confesse, that the holie Trinitie, to wit, god the father, the sonne, and the holie ghost, are three distinct persons: but in essence one onelie, true, alone, eternall, almightie, and incomprehen∣sible * 1.1God: of one equall indiuisible diuine essence, Of who••••, thorough whome, and in whome are all things: who loueth and re∣wardeth righteousnes and vertue, but hateth and punish∣eth all iniquitie and sinne. According to this faith men are taught, to acknowledge the wonderfull workes of god, and those properties which are peculiar to each person o•• the holie Trinitie, and of the diuine vnitie, and to acknow∣ledge the soueraigne and infinite power, wisedome, and goodnes of the one onelie God: out of which also ariseth & proceedeth the sauing knowledge as wel of the essence, as of the wil of god. One kinde of works or properties of the three persons of the godhead (by which they are discerned one from the other) are the inward, eternall, and hypostaticall proprieties, which alwaies remaine immutable, and are onelie apprehended by the eies of faith, and are these.
That the father, as the fountaine & welspring of the god∣heade, from al eternity begetteth the son, equal to himselfe, and that himselfe remaineth not begotten, neither yet is he the person of the sonne, seeing he is a person begitting not begotten. The so••ne is begotten of the eternall father from all eter••itie ••••ue god of god: and as he is a person, he is not the father, but the sonne begotten of the essence o•• nature of the father, and consubstantiall with him: which sonne in the fulnes of time, which he had before appointed