XII. But, he says, who in ancient or modern
times ever worshipped the Spirit? Who ever prayed to Him?
Where is it written that we ought to worship Him, or to pray to Him,
and whence have you derived this tenet of yours? We will give the
more perfect reason hereafter, when we discuss the question of the
unwritten; for the present it will suffice to say that it is the Spirit
in Whom we worship, and in Whom we pray. For Scripture says, God
is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and
in truth. John iv. 24. And
again,—We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the
Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered; Rom. viii. 26. and I will pray
with the Spirit and I will pray with the understanding also; 1 Cor. xiv. 15.—that is, in the mind and in the
Spirit. Therefore to adore or to pray to the Spirit seems to me
to be simply Himself offering prayer or adoration to Himself. And
what godly or learned man would disapprove of this, because in fact the
adoration of One is the adoration of the Three, because of the equality
of honour and Deity between the Three? So I will not be
frightened by the argument that all things are said to have been made
by the Son; John i. 2. as if the Holy
Spirit also were one of these things. For it says all things that
were made, and not simply
all things. For the Father was not, nor were any of the things
that were not made. Prove that He was made, and then give Him to
the Son, and number Him among the creatures; but until you can prove
this you will gain nothing for your impiety from this comprehensive
phrase. For if He was made, it was certainly through Christ; I
myself would not deny that. But if He was not made, how can He be
either one of the All, or through Christ? Cease then to dishonour
the Father in your opposition to the Only-begotten (for it is no real
honour, by presenting to Him a creature to rob Him of what is more
valuable, a Son), and to dishonour the Son in your opposition to the
Spirit. For He is not the Maker of a Fellow servant, but He is
glorified with One of co-equal honour. Rank no part of the
Trinity with thyself, lest thou fall away from the Trinity; cut not off
from Either the One and equally august Nature; because if thou
overthrow any of the Three thou wilt have overthrown the whole.
Better to take a meagre view of the Unity than to venture on a complete
impiety.