S'IV.

What the proper Metaphyfical Nature, Ef fence, or Subftance of any of these divine Perfons is, the Scripture has no where at all declared; but defcribes and distinguishes them always, by their Perfonal Characters, Offices, Powers and Attributes.

See beneath, § 13 & 21.

All Reasonings therefore, deduced from their fuppofed metaphyfical Nature, Effence, or Subftance, inftead of their Perfonal Characters, Offices, Powers and Attributes delivered in Scripture; are but Philofophical and probable Hypothefes.

S V.

The Father (or Firft Perfon) Alone is Selfexiftent, Underived, Unoriginated, Independent; made of None, begotten of None, Proceeding from None.

See the Texts, No 8, 13, 339, 341, 354, 361, 37°, 372, 378, 379, 385, 390, 391, 393, 394, 397, 400, 401, 403, 406, 411.

Alfo N° 413, 414, 416, 417, 419, 422, 425, 4271 430, 431, 583, 798.

See beneath, § 12 & 19 & 34 & 40.

The Father (or First Perfon) is the Sole Origin of all Power and Authority, and is the Author and Principle of whatsoever is done by the Son or by the Spirit.

See the Texts, N° 756 ——— 995, 11481197. See beneath, § 35, 36, 37 & 41.

S VII.

The Father (or First Perfon) Alone, is in the highest, strict, and proper Senfe, abfolutely Supreme over All.

See the Texts, N° 337, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 357, 360, 361, 363, 364,365,372, 380, 382, 382*, 389, 393, 398, 41, 414, 415, 416, 417, 420, 425, 426, 427, 428,429,432,1433, 434, 435, 436, 440.

See beneath, § 34 & 40.

The Father (or Firft Perfon) is, abfolute ly fpeaking, the God of the Universe; the God of Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob; the

+ God

+ God of Ifrael; of Mofes, of the Prophets and Apoftles; and the ** God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

* See the Texts, No 337, 357, 361, 363, 365, 372, 380, 382 *, 393, 411, 414, 45, 416, 417, 418, 421, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428,429, 432, 434, 435, 430, 439, 440.

+ No 356. No 338

No 441.

** N° 18

EDAR

૧, ૧૨

-336, 767, 854, 894, 911, 917,

922, 935, 950, 974, 989, 991.

See alfo the paffage cited below in § 9, from Irenaus lib. 2. c.55.

The Scripture, when it mentions the One God, or the Only God, always means the Supreme Perfon of the Father.

See the Texts, N° 1-17.
See beneath, § 39.

Notes on § 9.

The Reason is; because the Words, One and Only, are used, by way of Eminence, to fignifie Him who is abfolutely Supreme, Self-exiftent, and Independent; which Attributes are Perfonal, and evidently impoffible to be communicated from one Perfon to another.

Wherefore, not only the Scripture, but also the Orthodox Writers in all Antiquity, do thus fpeak. Have we not, (fays Clemens Romanus,)One God, and one Chrift, and one Spirit?

ye

Ουχὶ ἕνα θεὸν ἔχομεν, καὶ ἕνα Xesòr, j ev avevμa; Ad Cor. 1.

Ὅτι ες θεὸς ἔτιν ὁ φανερών σας ἑαυτὸν διά Ιησέ Χρις τ

2~

4% αυτό, ὅς ὅταν αυτό λόγθ didi. Ad Magnes. epift.com

tractior.

Ει νενοήκατε τὰ ειρημένα AS πegontäv, in äv Snere durdy Ava dear, 18 Move dyevvýto ný áþóúto

And Ignatius: There is (faith he) One God, who hath manifefted himfelf by his Son Fefus Chrift, who is his eternal Word. And Justin Martyr: If had confidered (fays he) the things froken by the Prophets, ye would not have denied Chrift to be God, who is the Son of the Only and unbegotten and ineffable God. And Irenæus: St. John (fays he) preached One God Supreme over All, and One Only-begotten Son FeJus Chrift.

Again: The Church dif perfed over all the World, bas received from the Apoftles This Belief, in One God the Father Supreme over All, and in One Lord Fejus Chrift &c.

Again: We hold fast the Rule of Truth, which is, that there is One God Almighty,[Gr.Taloxedras, Supreme over All;] who created all things by his

ལ

3527

Oyor. Dial. cum Tryph.

Τι γδ Ἰωάννα ἕνα θεὸν παν Toxoeg,njeva povoyev Xe‹sov 'Inov unguarovt. lib. x.

c.1.

"had"

διεσπαρα

-T&

Ἡ μ ἐκκλησία ὅλης & οικεμένης μένη, παρὰ Σποςόλων των ραλαβέσα ἢ εἰς Ενα θεὸν πατέρα παντοκράτορα - πίςιν

is ava Xeisov 'Inouy &c. lib. 1. c. 2.

Cùm teneamus autem nos regulam veritatis, id eft,quia fit Unus Deus Omnipotens, qui omnia condidit per Verbum fuum

Hic Pater Domini noftri

Word.

-This is the noftri Jefu Chrifti. lib. 1. c. 19,

Father of our Lord Jefus
Chrift.

Again: This God is
the Father of our Lord fe-
fus Chrift; and of Him it
is, that St Paul the Apo-
ftle declares, There is One
God, even the Father,
who is above all, and
through all, and in us all.
Again: Our Lord ac-
knowledges One Father;
and that He is the God
over All.

Again; The One only God, the Creator, who is above all principality,dominion and Power. This is the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac, the God of Facob; whom both the Law shows forth, and the Prophets declare, and the Spirit reveals, and the Apostles preach, and the Church has believed on. This is the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

Again: The Doctrine delivered by the Apostles; viz. that there is One God Almighty, and that He is the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

tem.

Solus unus Deus fabricator, hic eft qui fuper omnem principalitatem & dominationem & virtutem. Hic Deus Abra ham, & Deus Ifaac, & Deus Jacob; - quem & Lex annunciat, quem Prophetæ præconiant, quem Spiritus revelat, quem Apoftoli tradunt, quem Ecclefia credidit. Hic Pater Domini noftri Jefu Chrifti,&c.lib.2.c.55.

Ab Apoftolis-traditionem annunciantem Unum Deum omnipotentem, Hunc Patrem Domini noftri Jefu Chrifti. lib. 3. c. 3. 392 R 4 Again: