III. They then who are angry with us on the
ground that we are bringing in a strange or interpolated God,
viz.:—the Holy Ghost, and who fight so very hard for the letter,
should know that they are afraid where no fear is; Ps. liii. 5. and I would have them clearly understand
that their love for the letter is but a cloak for their impiety, as
shall be shewn later on, when we refute their objections to the utmost
of our power. But we have so much confidence in the Deity of the
Spirit Whom we adore, πρεσβεύειν
is not commonly used in this sense, but there are classical instances
of it (e.g. Æsch. Choeph., 488; Soph., Trach., 1065, and it
occurs also in Plato), and this is the sense in which it is here
rendered by Billius; but a V. L. of some mss.
gives the meaning, whose cause we are pleading, which is more frequent
use of the word. that we will begin
our teaching concerning His Godhead by fitting to Him the Names which
belong to the Trinity, even though some persons may think us too
bold. The Father was the True Light which lighteneth every man
coming into the world. The Son was the True Light which
lighteneth every man coming into the world. The Other Comforter
was the True Light which lighteneth every man coming into the
world. John i. 9. Was and Was
and Was, but Was One Thing. Light thrice repeated; but One Light
and One God. This was what David represented to himself long
before when he said, In Thy Light shall we see Light. Ps. xxxvi. 9. And now we have both seen and proclaim
concisely and simply the doctrine Al. The
Confession. of God the
Trinity, comprehending out of Light (the Father), Light (the Son), in
Light (the Holy Ghost). He that rejects it, let him reject
it; Isa. xxi. 2. and he that doeth iniquity, let him do
iniquity; we proclaim that which we have understood. We will get
us up into a high mountain, Ib. xl.
9. and will shout, if
we be not heard, below; we will exalt the Spirit; we will not be
afraid; or if we are afraid, it shall be of keeping silence, not of
proclaiming.