Chapter XIII.

To those who object that Catholics, when they ascribe Godhead to the Holy Spirit, introduce three Gods, it is answered, that by the same argument they themselves bring in two Gods, unless they deny Godhead to the Son; after which the orthodox doctrine is set forth.

92. But what do you fear? Is it that which you have been accustomed to carp at? lest you should make three Gods. God forbid; for where the Godhead is understood as one, one God is spoken of. For neither when we call the Son God do we say there are two Gods. For if, when you confess the Godhead of the Spirit, you think that three Gods are spoken of, then, too, when you speak of the Godhead of the Son because you are not able to deny it, you bring in two Gods. For it is necessary according to your opinion, if you think that God is the name of one person, not of one nature, that you either say that there are two Gods, or deny that the Son is God.

93. But let us free you from the charge of ignorance, though we do not excuse you from fault. For according to our opinion, because there is one God, one Godhead and oneness of power is understood. For as we say that there is one God, confessing the Father, and not denying the Son under the true Name of the Godhead; so, too, we exclude not the Holy Spirit from the Unity of the Godhead, and do not assert but deny that there are three Gods, because it is not unity but a division of power which makes plurality. For how can the Unity of the Godhead admit of plurality, seeing that plurality is of numbers, but the Divine Nature does not admit numbers?

CAPUT XIII.

Objicientibus catholicos, dum Spiritui attribuunt divinitatem, 0798D tres deos inducere, retorquetur ab ipsis ob eamdem causam induci duos deos, nisi divinitatem Filio negaverint. Deinde orthodoxa doctrina exponitur.

92*. [Alias cap. XIV.] Sed quid veremini, an illud quod oblatrare consuestis, ne tres faciatis deos? Absit; ubi enim una deitas intelligitur, unus Deus dicitur. Neque enim cum Filium Deum dicimus, duos deos dicimus. Nam si cum deitatem Spiritus 0799A confitemini, putatis tres deos dici: ergo et cum deitatem Filii dicitis, quia non potestis eam negare, duos inducitis deos. Necesse est igitur juxta sententiam vestram, si Deum personae unius, non unius naturae nomen putatis, aut duos deos dicatis, aut Deum Filium denegetis.

93. Sed excusemus vos ab inscientia, etsi non excusamus a culpa. Etenim secundum nostram sententiam quia unus Deus, una divinitas, et unitas intelligitur potestatis. Sicut unum Deum dicimus, et Patrem vero deitatis nomine confitentes, nec Filium denegantes; ita etiam Spiritum sanctum a deitatis non excludimus unitate, et tres deos non asserimus, sed negamus; quia pluralitatem non unitas facit, sed divisio potestatis. Quomodo enim pluralitatem 0799B recipit unitas divinitatis; cum pluralitas numeri sit, numerum autem non recipiat divina natura?