34. By all these proofs, and by more which
have been passed over, is the personal, and sanctifying, and effectual
power of the Holy Ghost established for those who can understand; for
the time would fail me in my discourse if I wished to quote what yet
remains concerning the Holy Ghost from the fourteen Epistles of Paul,
wherein he has taught with such variety, completeness, and
reverence. And to the power of the Holy Ghost Himself it must
belong, to grant to us forgiveness for what we have omitted because the
days are few, and upon you the hearers to impress more perfectly the
knowledge of what yet remains; while from the frequent reading of the
sacred Scriptures those of you who are diligent come to understand
these things, and by this time, both from these present Lectures, and
from what has before been told you, hold more steadfastly the Faith in
“One God the Father Almighty; and in our Lord
Jesus Christ, His Only-Begotten Son; and in the Holy Ghost the
Comforter.” Though the word itself and title of
Spirit is applied to Them in common in the sacred Scriptures,—for
it is said of the Father, God is a Spirit John iv. 24., as it is written in the Gospel according to
John; and of the Son, A Spirit before our face, Christ the
Lord Lam. iv. 20. The breath of our
nostrils, the anointed of the Lord: referring to the captive
king., as Jeremias the
prophet says; and of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Holy
Ghost John xiv. 25., as was
said;—yet the arrangement of articles in the Faith, if
religiously understood, disproves the error of Sabellius also The distinct mention
in the Creed of three Persons excludes the error of Sabellius in
confusing them. Cf. Cat. iv. 8; xvi. 14.. Return we therefore in our discourse
to the point which now presses and is profitable to you.