Chapter IX.

That the Holy Spirit is provoked is proved by the words of St. Peter, in which it is shown that the Spirit of God is one and the same as the Spirit of the Lord, both by other passages and by reference to the sentence of the same Apostle on Ananias and Sapphira, whence it is argued that the union of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son, as well as His own Godhead, is proved.

54. Perhaps, however, some one might say that this passage cannot be specially applied to the Holy Spirit, had not the same Apostle Peter taught us in another place that the Holy Ghost can be tempted by our sins, for you find that the wife of Ananias is thus addressed: “Why have ye agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?”516    Acts v. 9. For the Spirit of the Lord is the very Spirit of God; for there is one Holy Spirit, as also the Apostle Paul taught, saying: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”517    Rom. viii. 9. He first mentioned the Spirit of God and immediately adds that the Same is the Spirit of Christ. And having spoken of the Spirit, that we might understand that where the Holy Spirit is there is Christ, he added: “But if Christ be in you.”518    Rom. viii. 10.

55. Then, in the same way as we here understand that where the Spirit is there also is Christ; so also, elsewhere, he shows that where Christ is, there also is the Holy Spirit. For having said: “Do ye seek a proof of Christ Who speaketh in me?”519    2 Cor. xiii. 3. he says elsewhere: “For I think that I also have the Spirit of God.”520    1 Cor. vii. 40. The Unity, then, is inseparable, for by the testimony of Scripture where either the Father or the Son or the Holy Spirit is designated, there is all the fulness of the Trinity.

56. But Peter himself in the instance we have brought forward spoke first of the Holy Spirit, and then called Him the Spirit of the Lord, for you read as follows: “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to deal fraudulently concerning the price of the field? While it remained did it not continue thine own, and when sold was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this wickedness in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God.”521    Acts v. 3, 4. And below he says to the wife: “Why have ye agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?”522    Acts v. 5.

57. First, we understand that he called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of the Lord. Then, since he mentioned first the Holy Spirit and added: “Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God,” you must necessarily either understand the oneness of the Godhead in the Holy Spirit, since when the Holy Spirit is tempted a lie is told to God; or, if you endeavour to exclude the oneness of the Godhead, you yourself according to the words of Scripture certainly believe Him to be God.

58. For if we understand that these expressions are used both of the Spirit and of the Father, we certainly observe the unity of truth and knowledge in God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for falsehood is discovered alike by the Holy Spirit and by God the Father. But if we have received each truth concerning the Spirit, why do you, faithless man, attempt to deny what you read? Confess, then, either the oneness of the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, or the Godhead of the Holy Spirit. Whichever you say, you will have said each in God, for both the Unity upholds the Godhead and the Godhead the Unity

CAPUT IX.

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Spiritum sanctum exacerbari confirmatur ex Petri verbis; ubi unum et idem esse Spiritum Dei, ac Spiritum Domini, cum ex aliis locis, tum e memorata ejusdem apostoli sententia in Ananiam ac Saphiram ostenditur: unde Spiritus sancti vel cum Patre ac Filio conjunctionem, vel propriam divinitatem evinci contenditur.

54. Fortasse tamen aliquis diceret hoc exemplum non posse ad proprietatem sancti Spiritus derivari, nisi alio loco etiam Petrus apostolus nos docuisset peccatis nostris etiam Spiritum posse tentari, sic enim habes ad Ananiae conjugem dictum: Quid utique convenit vobis tentare Spiritum Domini (Act. V, 9)? Etenim Domini Spiritus ipse est Dei Spiritus; quia 0788C unus sanctus est Spiritus, ut etiam Paulus apostolus docuit dicens: Vos autem in carne non estis, sed in Spiritu; si tamen Spiritus Dei habitat in vobis. Si quis autem Spiritum Christi non habet, hic non est ejus (Rom. VIII, 9). Praemisit Spiritum Dei, et statim subdidit eumdem esse Spiritum Christi. Et cum dixisset de Spiritu, ut intelligeremus quia ubi Spiritus sanctus, ibi Christus est, addidit: Si autem Christus in vobis (Ibid., 10).

55. Deinde quomodo hic intelligimus quia ubi Spiritus, ibi et Christus; ita etiam alibi ostendit quia ubi Christus, ibi etiam Spiritus sanctus sit. Nam cum dixisset: Numquid experimentum ejus quaeritis, qui in me loquitur Christus (II Cor. XIII, 3); alibi ait: Puto enim et ego Spiritum Dei habeo (I Cor. VII, 40). 0788D Inseparabilis ergo 676 est unitas, quia ubi aut Pater, aut Christus, aut Spiritus, Scriptura testificante, signatur; ibi omnis plenitudo est Trinitatis.

56. [Alias cap. X] Sed et ipse Petrus in eo, quod proposuimus, exemplo praemisit Spiritum sanctum, et postea dixit Spiritum Domini; sic enim habes: Anania, cur implevit Satanas cor tuum ad mentiendum Spiritui sancto, ut fraudem faceres de pretio agri? Ita nonne manens tibi manebat, et venditus in tua erat potestate? Quare posuisti in corde tuo hoc scelus? Non 0789A es hominibus mentitus, sed Deo (Act. V, 3 et seq.). Et subter ad ejus uxorem ait: Quid utique convenit vobis tentare Spiritum Domini (Ibid., 9)?

57. Primum intelligimus quia Spiritum sanctum Spiritum Domini dixit. Deinde cum praemiserit Spiritum sanctum, et addiderit: Non es hominibus mentitus, sed Deo; necesse est in Spiritu sancto aut unitatem divinitatis intelligas; quoniam cum Spiritus tentatur, Deus fallitur: aut si unitatem divinitatis conaris excludere, secundum Scripturae verba ipse utique Spiritum Deum credis.

58. Si enim et de Spiritu expressum intelligimus et de Patre, in Deo utique Patre et Spiritu sancto veritatis et scientiae advertimus unitatem; quia similiter a sancto Spiritu sicut a Deo Patre mendacium 0789B deprehenditur. Quod si utrumque de Spiritu accipimus, cur quod legis, perfide, negare conaris? Aut igitur unitatem divinitatis Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti, aut divinitatem sancti Spiritus confitere. Utrum dixeris, in Deo utrumque dixisti; quia et unitas divinitatem astruit, et divinitas unitatem.