The Christian divinitie, contained in the divine service of the Church of England summarily, and for the most part in order, according as point on point dependeth, composed; and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed: written for the furtherance of the peoples understanding in the true religion established by publike authoritie, and for the increase of vnitie in that godly truth eternall. By Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinitie, and vicar of the parish of Hayes in Middlesex.

CHAP. 5. Of God the Holy Ghost.

IN the first part of the Homily concerning the comming downe of the Holy Ghost, it is sayd: The Holy Ghost is a spirituall and diuine substance, the third person in the Deity, distinct from the Father and the Sonne, and yet proceeding from them both. As for his proper nature and substance, it is altogether one with God the Father, and God the Sonne, that is to say, Spirituall, Eternall, Vncreated, Incomprehensible, Al∣mighty; he is God, and Lord euerlasting. Concerning the Holy Ghost, Christ hath sayd to his Disciples:l When the comforter is come, whom I will send vnto you from the Father, euen the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testifie of me. That the Holy Ghost is God, it is manifest out of St. Peters words vnto Ananias, saying:m Why hath Sa∣tan filled thine heart to lye vnto the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God. So where Saint Paul saith:n Now there are diuersities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences

of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

In all the Sacred Song of the Church, which is to be sayd or Sung in the Ordering of Priests, (which also is commonly set afore the Psalmes in Meeter,) what the Holy Ghost is, and what his gifts and wor∣kings are, it is very Divinely deliuered; and remark∣ablely it is sayd in the second Staue thereof:

Thou art the veryo Comforter, in all woe and distresse: The Heauenlyp gift of God most high, which no tongue canq expresse. The fountaine and the liuely spring, ofr ioy Celestiall, The fire so bright, thet loue so cleare, andu vnction Spirituall.

And now concluded be these Collections concer∣ning the Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity, with that of the Prayer to the Holy Ghost, to be sung be∣fore the Sermon.

All glory to the Trinity, that is of mighties most: The liuing father, and the Sonne, and eke the holy Ghost. As it hath beene in all the time, that hath beene heretofore: As it is now. and so shall be, henceforth for euermore.

Notes

• 2. To p. 207.
• Opus est spiritu sancto ut piè & dexterè loqua∣mur de Trinitate per quem folum, Deus & intelli∣gitur, & expo∣nitur & auditur. Divus Nazian∣zenus oratione prima de fugae sua in Pontum.
• l

  Ioh. 15.26.
• m

  Acts 5.3.4.
• n

  1. Cor. 12.4.5.6.
• Spiritus Sanctus à patre procedit. Qui quatenus ab illo procedit, Creatura non est: quatenus rursū genitus non est, filius non est: quatenus autem inter ingenitum et genitum me∣dius est, Deus est. D. Nazianzenus oratione 37.
• o

  Iohn 14.16
• p

  Luke 11.13.
• q

  2 Cor. 12.4 as in margent.
• r

  1 Thes. 1.6.
• n="s" Acts 2.3.4.
• Omnes quod su∣mus ac vigemus inde est: Regnat spiritus ille sem∣piturnus à Chri∣so simul et pa∣rente missus, in∣trat pectora can∣didus pudica, qua Templi vice consecrata vidēt, Post quam com∣biberint deū me∣dullis: Sed siquid vitij dolive nasci inter visceraiam dicata sensit ceu spurcum refugit ••eler satellum. Et nonnullis interjectis: Hic pastui anima est, sapor{que} verus. Po•••••• pr••denti••••.
• t

  Rom. 5.5.
• u

  1 Ioh. 2.20.27