Propositions and principles of diuinitie propounded and disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua, by certaine students of diuinitie there, vnder M. Theod. Beza, and M. Anthonie Faius ... Wherein is contained a methodicall summarie, or epitome of the common places of diuinitie. Translated out of Latine into English, to the end that the causes, both of the present dangers of that Church, and also of the troubles of those that are hardlie dealt vvith els-vvhere, may appeare in the English tongue.

PRINCIPLES VPON THE ARTICLE OF THE BELIEFE CONCERNING THE FAITH IN THE HOLY GHOST. XLIX. (Book 49)

1 VVE doe in this Article confesse, that the holy Ghost as being the third person in the Tri∣nitie, is to bee adored and worshipped by the same faith and inuocation, whereby, in the former Articles wee haue confessed, that the Father and the Son, beeing in order the first persons of the Trinitie, ar distinctly to be acknowledg∣ed and worshipped.

2 The holy Ghost in this place doth signifie, that essen∣tiall power, who is essentially subsisting in the Father and the Son, proceeding and distinguished equally from them both, in regard of the manner of his being: but in respect of his essence, absolutely considered, hee is GOD, hauing that Deitie which is not deriued by propagation from an other Godhead, but is one, most single, and of himselfe.

3 Now, seing the Father neither can be separated from his Co-aeternall and Co-essentiall wisedome, neither co-es∣sentiall power, who is the holy Ghost, can be seuered from that wisedome, but doth depend of the Father, and of his wisedome: there is no question to bee made, but that hee doth proceed from the Father and the Sonne, as from one cause.

4 Where the Sonne is saide to bee begotten of the Fa∣ther, and the holy Ghost affirmed, to proceede from the Father and the Sonne; it sheweth a difference between the wisdome that remaineth in the Deitie, and the power, that doth outwardlie shew it selfe by the effects.

5 That which both the Schoole-men, and also the an∣cientest Diuines amongest the Latines, haue written con∣cerning the holy Ghost, as being a kinde of essentiall loue, knitting the Father; the Sonne togeather, hath brought in to religion, many intricate, strange, and dangerous questi∣ons.

6 Although the works of the Trinitie, which they call outward or externall, are inseparable: yet in the effecting of them, there is a distinction to bee obserued, not onely of the persons, but also of the personall actions.

7 The proper operation of the holie Ghost, is to effect in deed in his time and manner, those things which the fa∣ther hath determined to dispose by his Sonne, that is his aeternall wisedome, and to execute by the power of them both, that is, by the holie Ghost.

8 Yet are we not to thinke that the holie Ghost dooth worke anie thing with the Father and the Sonne, as an in∣strumentall or a ministeriall cause, but without anie inae∣qualitie, and immediatlie in respect of them both, worketh all things together with them.

9 The power thereof did then shew it selfe, when as the world was to be created of nothing, and afterward in his prouidence, whereby he hath vnto this day, and euer shall as long as the world standeth, preserue the same, both by ordinary and extraordinarie meanes.

10 The effect thereof furthermore, is to woorke in the harts of men, which is done manie wayes: for some he ma∣keth apt and readie to practise morall vertues, not by chā∣ging, but by repressing their naturall corruption: & others by his especiall power hee doth make meete to vnderstand and bring to passe, great matters, all which doe properlie serue for the conseruation of mans societie, although that the effects of these guiftes are otherwhiles also behoofull vnto the Church.

11 Sometimes also he goeth farther, in bestowing vpon some the knowledge of his heauenlie truth, with other su∣pernaturall guifts, as of Prophesie and healing: to be brief he doth after a sort, sometimes enlighten not the vnder∣standing onlie, but euen the will of some, who yet are so in the Church, as it will one day appeare, that they were ne∣uer true members thereof.

12 Now his sauing power, doth onelie manifest it selfe, both in the congregation of his elect, and also in euerye particular member of his mysticall bodie: whence it com∣meth

to passe, that the Church alone is holie, and the be∣leeuers onlie, properlie called Saints.

13 Hee dooth therefore in part bestowe the very same guifts vpon his elect, whereof some of the reprobates are partakers: but adioyning thereunto the grace of a good conscience, and of perseuerance. So the holie Prophetes and Apostles in times past, haue left vnto vs by the inspira∣tion of the holie Ghost, the scriptures, contained in the bookes of the olde and new Testament. After this manner also, manie haue beene indued with the guift of woorking miracles, and all faithfull Pastors and Teachers, haue bene in all ages, bestowed vpon the Church, and indued with necessarie guifts.

14 Now the guifts, whereby the holy Ghost doth pro∣perlie distinguish the church from the world; are those vn∣repentant guifts which hee bestoweth onlie vpon his elect: namelie, the effectuall enlightning of their minde, and the guift of perseuerance: the effect whereof is true faith, ap∣plying Christ with all his benefites, vnto the saluation of e∣uerie one that beleeueth seuerallie: whereunto is vnsepa∣rablie joined sanctification, whereby wee are drawne sin∣cearlie to loue God, and our neighbour.

15 That worke which was the most excellēt of al other: namelie, both the creation of the fleshe of Christ in the wombe of the Virgine, and also his most perfect sanctifica∣tion, whereby his humanitie was annointed with all kinde of gifts, that were meet to performe the office of the Medi∣atour, proceeded from the same power.

Wee detest therefore all those, who denie that the ho∣lie Ghost is to bee worshipped by one and the selfe same faith and inuocation with the Father and the Sonne: & those, who hold that hee proceedeth onlie from the Fa∣ther: together with such as denie him to be coaeternall and coessentiall with the Father, as the Macedonians & the Arrians: those, who distinguish him from the Father onlie in name, and not in person, as the Sabellians: & those also who affirme him to bee but some created mo∣tion and power: to be breif, we detest al those that do a∣nie

wise withstand, either the true coessentiall and coae∣ternal Deitie of the holie Ghost, or his proceeding from the Father and the Sonne.

Defended by IOHN NISSOLIVS Semenensis Occitanus.