Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/229

Rh he the creator of the universe? And one of those who sat on the second row of seats turned himself towards the voice, and said, Who was it then? And he who had been concealed behind the altar, standing then near the altar, replied, The son begotten from eternity; but answer was returned, Is not the son begotten from eternity, according to your confession, the creator also of the universe? and what is a son, and a God, born from eternity? And how is it possible for the divine essence, which is one, and individual, to be separated, so that one part can descend without the whole? Another matter of inquiry concerning the Lord was, whether or no, according to this reasoning, the father and he are one, as the soul and body are one? and they said, That this must follow of consequence, inasmuch as the soul is from the father. Then one of those who sat on the third row of seats read, out of the Confession of Faith, called the Athanasian creed, the following passage, Although our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, is God and man, yet he is not two, but one Christ, one altogether, by unity of person; for as the soul and body make one man, so God and man are one Christ. He added that the creed, containing these words, is received throughout the whole Christian world, even by the Roman Catholics; then they said. What need have we of farther proof? The father and he are one, as the soul and body are one; and since this is the case, we perceive that the humanity of the Lord is divine, because it is the humanity of Jehovah; and also that the Lord ought to be approached as to his divine humanity, because this is the only possible way to come at the divinity which is called the father. This conclusion the angel confirmed by several passages out of the word; amongst which were these, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,