Saint Augustine his enchiridion to Laurence, or, The chiefe and principall heads of all Christian religion a most profitable booke to all those which desire to haue a most compendious briefe of Augustines doctrine, out of Augustine himselfe, when he was old, being repurged, by the old manuscript, of many faults and vnusuall wordes, wherewith it formerly flowed.

CHAP. 56.

That the Trinitie might be com∣pleat, that article in the Creede is added, touching the H. ghost: after which consequently & in a most conuen••ent order, is re∣membred the Church: because, that is the Temple and house of

the Trinitie, that is to say of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.

NOw that wee haue spoken of Iesus Christ, the onely sonne of God, our Lord and Sa∣uiour, as it is briefly laide down in our Creede; Wee are conse∣quently so to beleeue in the ho∣ly Ghost, that thereby the Tri∣nitie may be complete, which is God. Afterwardes, the holy Church is to bee spoken of. Whereby we are to vnderstand, that the reasonable Creature, being a Citizen of that free Ci∣tie Ierusalem, after commemo∣ration of the Creator, which is the eternall Trinitie, should bee put downe. Because, whatsoe∣uer hath beene said of the man•• Christ doth appertaine to the v∣nitie of the person of the onely begotten. Therefore, to follow the direct rule of the Creede, it requireth, that the Trinitie may haue a Church, as an inhabitant

his house, God his Temple, and the builder his owne Citie. All which laied together, is in this place to be vnderstood, not one∣ly of that part which wandreth in this world, from the Sunne ri∣sing, till the setting of the same, praysing the name of the Lord, as also after this worldly pere∣grination is finished, which singeth that newe song mentio∣ned in the Apocalips: But also is meant of that Church, which, sithence the fabrication thereof, cleaued alwayes vnto God, and neuer felt the punishment of her falling from God. This part, consisting of the holy Angels, remaineth happie, and is assi∣stant to that part, which is mili∣tant vpon earth, as it ought to do: Because both parts, shall be one in that eternall coniunction: and is now one in the Bonde of charitie; All being ordained to worship God. And therefore, neither this vniuersall Church, not any part thereof, will gene∣rally

or particularly be worship∣ped for, or as a God; neither yet bee a God vnto any person which is a member of Gods Church: the same being com∣posed of the Gods, which the God (not made) doth make. By which reason the holy Ghost, if it were a Creature, and not a Creatour; should, no doubt, haue beene a Creature indued with reason. For, hee should haue beene the chiefest Crea∣ture; & by that reason he should not haue beene preferred before the Church in that Article of our faith: Because hee should haue beene a branch of that Church, in respect of that part thereof, which inhabiteth the heauens. Neither should he bee prouided of a Temple or Church, but ra∣ther should haue been a Church himselfe. But he hath a Church; wherof the Apostle made men∣tion: saying, Are yee ignorant, that your bodies be the Temple of ••••e holy Ghost which is in you,

being giuen vnto you by God? Of whome hee spake in another place: saying, Knowe yee not, that your bodies are the members of Christ? How then commeth it to passe, that he should not be a God, or inferiour to Christ, whose members that Church cōtaineth, who in this sort hath his Temple? For, neither is his Church one thing, and Gods Church another; when as the selfe same Apostle saith, Knowe yee not that yee are the Temple of the Lord? For confirmation whereof hee further affirmeth; and the spirit of God dwelleth in vs. God therefore dwelleth in his Church: and not the holy Ghost alone, but the father al∣so, and the Sonne, who saith of his bodie (by which he is made the head of the church instituted amongst men vpon earth, wher∣by he houldeth the pri〈…〉〈…〉acie o∣uer all) Destroy this temple, and I will builde it vp againe in three dayes. Gods Temple therefore,

is none other than the holy Church ordained for the whole and highest Trinitie, being that vniuersall Church which is both in heauen and on earth.