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86 THE HISTORY OF HERESIES,
his Son" (Mat. xxii, 42 45). Christ wished by this to prove
that, although the Son of David, he was still liis Lord, and God,
likewise, as his Eternal Father, was Lord.
6. The distinction of the Divine Persons was not expressed
more clearly in the Old Law, lest the Jews, like the Egyptians,
who adored a plurality of Gods, might imagine that in the three
Divine Persons there were three Essential Gods. In the New
Testament, however, through which the Gentiles were called to
the Faith, the distinction of the three Persons in the Divine Es
sence is clearly laid down, as is proved, first, from St. John, i, 1 :
"
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
"
the Word
and the Word was God." Now, by the expression,
was with God," it is proved that the Word was distinct from the
Father, for we cannot say of the same thing, that it is with itself
and nigh itself at the same time. Neither can we say that the
"
Word was distinct by Nature, for the text says, the Word was
God;" therefore, the distinction of Persons is clearly proved,
as St. Athanasius and Tertullian agree (4). In the same chapter
"
these words occur : We saw his
glory, the glory as it were of
the only-begotten of the Father." Here no one can say, that the
Son is begotten from himself; the Son, therefore, is really dis
tinct from the Father.
7. It is proved, also, from the command given to the Apos
tles :
"
Go, therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Ghost"
Holy
(Matt, xxviii, 19). Hence the words, in the name, denote the
unity of Nature, and signify that Baptism is one sole operation
of all the three named Persons ; and the distinct appellation
afterwards given to each Person, clearly proves that they are
distinct. And, again, if these three Persons were not God, but
only creatures, it would be absurd to imagine that Christ, under
the same name, would liken creatures to God.
8. It is proved, also, by
that text of St. John :
"
Philip, he
that seeth me seeth the Father also I will ask the Father,
and he shall give you another Paraclete" (John, xiv, 9, 16). By
"
he that seeth me seeth the Father," he proves the
the words,
unity of the Divine Nature ; and by the other expression,
(4) Tcrt. adv. Prax. c. 26; St. Ath. Orat. contr. Sab, Grcgal.
"
I will