Chapter II.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One in counsel.

20. For the Spirit Himself is Power, as you read: “The Spirit of Counsel and of Power (or might).”253    Isa. xi. 2. And as the Son is the Angel of great counsel, so, too, is the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Counsel, that you may know that the Counsel of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is One. Counsel, not concerning any doubtful matters, but concerning those foreknown and determined.

21. But that the Spirit is the Arbiter of the Divine Counsel, you may know even from this. For when above254    Book I. vi. we showed that the Holy Spirit was the Lord of baptism, and read that baptism is the counsel of God, as you read, “But the Pharisees despised the counsel of God, not being baptized of Him,”255    S. Luke vii. 30. it is quite clear that as there can be no baptism without the Spirit, so, too, the counsel of God is not without the Spirit.

22. And that we may know more completely that the Spirit is Power, we ought to know that He was promised when the Lord said: “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.”256    Joel ii. 28. He, then, Who was promised to us is Himself Power, as in the Gospel the same Son of God declared when He said: “And I will send the promise of the Father upon you, but do you remain in the city until ye be endued with power from on high.”257    S. Luke xxiv. 49.

23. And the Evangelist so far shows that the Spirit is Power, that St. Luke relates that He came down with great power, when he says: “And suddenly there was a sound from heaven, as though the Spirit were borne with great power.”258    Acts ii. 2.

24. But, again, that you may not suppose that this is to be referred to bodily things and perceptible to the senses, learn that the Spirit so descended as Christ is to descend, as you find: “They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and majesty.”259    S. Matt. xxiv. 30.

25. For how should not the power and might be one, when the work is one, the judgment one, the temple one, the life-giving one, the sanctification one, and the kingdom also of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit one?

CAPUT II.

Unum esse Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti consilium.

20. Ipse enim Spiritus virtus est, quia legisti: Spiritum consilii atque virtutis (Esai. XI, 2). Et sicut Filius magni consilii Angelus, ita etiam Spiritus consilii est, ut unum scias Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti esse consilium. Consilium non de rebus incertis aliquibus, sed praecognitis et statutis.

0747C 21. Arbitrum autem divini consilii Spiritum, etiam inde cognosce. Nam cum supra (Lib. I, cap. 6) docuerimus arbitrum baptismatis esse Spiritum sanctum, baptismum autem Dei esse consilium legerimus sicut habes: Pharisaei autem consilium Dei spreverunt in se, non baptizati ab eo (Luc. VII, 30); liquido claret, cum sine Spiritu baptisma esse non possit, sine Spiritu quoque non esse consilium Dei.

22. Et ut sciamus plenius virtutem esse Spiritum, scire debemus ipsum esse promissum, quando dixit Dominus: Effundam de Spiritu meo super omnem carnem (Joel. II, 28). Ille ergo qui promissus est nobis, ipse est virtus; sicut etiam in Evangelio idem Dei Filius declaravit dicens: Et ego mitto promissa Patris mei in vos, vos autem sedete in civitate, quousque 0747D induamini virtute ex alto (Luc. XXII, 49).

23. Eousque autem virtutem esse Spiritum sanctum evangelista significat, ut et cum vi magna eum sanctus Lucas descendisse memoraret, dicens: Et 0748A factus est subito de coelo sonus, tamquam vi magna Spiritus ferretur (Act. II, 2).

24. Sed ne rursus putes ad sensibilia et corporalia hoc esse vertendum, accipe quia sic descendit et Spiritus, quemadmodum descensurus est Christus. Nam et ipse cum virtute descendet, sicut habes: Videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus coeli, in virtute maxima et majestate (Matth. XXIV, 30).

25. Quomodo enim non est una virtus atque eadem potestas; cum unum opus, unum judicium, unum templum, una vivificatio, una sanctificatio, unum etiam regnum sit Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti?