Sermon II.
[LII. Ben.]
Of the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. iii. 13, “Then Jesus cometh from Galilee to
the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” Concerning the Trinity.
1. The lesson of the Gospel hath set before me a subject whereof to speak to you, beloved,
as though by the Lord’s command, and by His command in very deed. For my heart hath
waited for an order as it were from Him to speak, that I might understand thereby that it is
His wish that I should speak on that which He hath also willed should be read to you. Let
your zeal and devotion then give ear, and before the Lord our God Himself aid ye my labour.
For we behold and see as it were in a divine spectacle exhibited to us, the notice of our God
in Trinity, conveyed1825 to us at the river Jordan. For when Jesus came and was baptized
by John, the Lord by His servant (and this He did for an example of humility; for He showeth
that in this same humility is righteousness fulfilled, when as John said to Him, “I have need
to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?”1826 He answered, “Suffer it to be so now,
that all righteousness may be fulfilled”1827), when He was baptized then, the heavens were
opened, and the Holy Spirit came down upon Him in the form of a Dove: and then a Voice
from on high followed, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”1828 Here then
we have the Trinity in a certain sort distinguished. The Father in the Voice,—the Son in the
Man,—the Holy Spirit in the Dove. It was only needful just to mention this, for most obvious
is it to see. For the notice of the Trinity is here conveyed to us plainly and without leaving
room for doubt or hesitation. For the Lord Christ Himself coming in the form of a servant
to John, is doubtlessly the Son: for it cannot be said that it was the Father, or the Holy
Spirit. “Jesus,” it is said, “cometh;”1829 that is, the Son of God. And who hath any doubt
about the Dove? or who saith, “What is the Dove?” when the Gospel itself most plainly
testifieth, “The Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove.”1830 And in like
manner as to that voice there can be no doubt that it is the Father’s, when He saith, “Thou
art My Son.”1831 Thus then we have the Trinity distinguished.
2. And if we consider the places, I say with confidence (though in fear I say it), that the
Trinity is in a manner separable. When Jesus came to the river, He came from one place to
another; and the Dove descended from heaven to earth, from one place to another; and the
1825 Commendari.
1826 Matt. iii. 14.
1827 Matt. iii. 15.
1828 Matt. iii. 17.
1829 Matt. iii. 13.
1830 Matt. iii. 16.
1831 Matt. iii. 17; Mark i. 11.
Of the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. iii. 13, 'Then Jesus cometh from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.' Concerning the Trinity.
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Of the words of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. iii. 13, 'Then Jesus cometh…