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And for that this crime of Atheisme is the most heynous that can be, as contrariwise, the true opinion of the God-head and the sincere worship thereof, is the most sweete and beau∣tifull flower of religion: let vs therefore, heere (to hold due correspondence with Master PERKINS) examine the Pro∣testants dostrine, concerning the nature of God, and their wor∣ship of him; that the indifferent Reader, comparing iudicious∣ly our two opinions thereof together, may embrace that for most
pure and true, that carrieth the most reuerent and holy con∣ceit thereof. For out of all doubt, there can be no greater motiue to any deuout soule, to like of a religion, then to see that it doth deliuer a most sacred doctrine of the Soueraigne Lord of hea∣uen and earth, and doth withall most religiously adore and serue him: Whereas on the other side, there is not a more forcible perswasion to forsake a religion before professed, then to be giuē to vnderstand, that the Masters of that religion, teach many absurde things concerning the Godhead it selfe, and do as coldly and as slightly worship God almightie, as may be. Marke ther∣fore, I beseech thee (gentle Reader) for thy owne soules sake, what euidence I shall deliuer in against the Protestants, touch∣ing this point of Atheisme, and following the same method that M. PER. obserueth, I will first touch their errors against the most blessed Trinitie and Deitie: secondly, such as are against our Lord Iesus God and man: lastly, I will speake one word or two about their seruice and worshipping of God: All which shall be performed in a much more temperate maner, then the graui∣ty of such a matter requireth; that it may be lesse offensiue, Concerning the sacred Trinitie, it is by the doctrine of certaine principall pillars of their new Gospell brought into great questi∣on. * 1.1 For Iohn Caluin in diuers places teacheth, that the se∣cond and third persons of the Trinitie, doe not receiue the God-head from the first, but haue it of themselues, euen as the first person hath. And in this he is defended by M. Whitaker, and preferred before all the learned Fathers of the first Counsell of Nice. Out of which position it followeth, that there is neither Father nor Sonne in the Godhead: for according vnto common sense, and the vniforme consent of all the learned, he onely is a true naturall Sonne, that by genera∣tion doth receiue his nature and substance from his Father. We are called the Sonnes of God, but that is by adoption and grace: but he onely is the true naturall Sonne of God, that by eternall generation receiued his substance: that is, the God∣head from him. If therfore the second person did not receiue the Godhead from the first, but had it of himselfe as they do affirm:
then certainly he is no true Son of the first, & consequently the first person is no true Father. For (as al men cōfesse) Father & Son be correlatiues, so that the one cānot be without the other. Thus their doctrine is found to be faultie in the highest degree of Atheisme. For it ouerthroweth both Father and Sonne in the Trinitie. And further, if it were true, then doth the holy Ghost proceed neither from the Father, nor from the Son: for it receiueth not the Godhead from them at all, as they hold; but hath it of himselfe, and so proceedeth no more from them, then they doe from him, and consequently is not the third person: Wherefore finally they doe euerthrow the whole Tri∣nitie, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.
Lib. 1. In stit. ca. 13. ss. 23.25. Con. rationes Camp. p. 152.