Father, Nativity in the Son, and the Communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit, and in the Three Equality. By That then which is the Bond of communion2387 between the Father and the Son, it is Their pleasure that we should have communion both among ourselves and with Them, and to gather us together in one by that same Gift, which One They both have, that is, by the Holy Spirit, at once God and the Gift of God. For in This are we reconciled to the Divinity, and take delight in It. For what would the knowledge of whatever good we know profit us, unless we also loved it? But as it is by the truth that we learn, so is it by charity that we love, that so we may attain also to a fuller knowledge, and enjoy in blessedness what we know. “Love moreover is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”2388 And because it is through sin that we are alienated from the possession of true good, “Love covereth a multitude of sins.”2389 So then the Father is Himself the True Origin2390 to the Son, who is the Truth, and the Son is the Truth, originating2391 from the True Father, and the Holy Spirit is Goodness, shed abroad2392 from the Good Father and the Good Son; but in all Three the Divinity is equal, and the Unity Inseparable. 19. First then in order to our receiving eternal life which shall be given at the last, there comes to us a gift from God’s goodness from the beginning of our faith, to wit, the remission of sins. For while they remain, there remains in some sort enmity against God, and alienation from Him, which comes from what is evil in us; since Scripture does not speak falsely, which says, “Your sins separate between you and God.”2393 He does not then bestow on us His good things, except He take away our evil things. And the former increase in proportion as the latter are diminished; nor will the one be perfected, till the other be brought to an end. But now that the Lord Jesus forgives sins by the Holy Ghost, just as by the Holy Ghost He casts out devils, may be understood by this, that after His Resurrection from the dead, when He had said to His disciples, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” He immediately subjoined, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they shall be remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they shall be retained.”2394 For that regeneration also, in which there is a remission of all past sins, is wrought by the Holy Ghost, as the Lord saith, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”2395 But it is one thing to be 2387 Commune. 2388 Rom. v. 5. 2389 1 Pet. iv. 8. 2390 Origo. 2391 Orta. 2392 Effusa. 2393 Isa. lix. 2. 2394 John xx. 22, 23. 2395 John iii. 5. 684 On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, ‘Whosoever shall speak a word…