Article 4

How Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are to be distinguished in certain attributes. Of this we confess

That in the only eternal Divine Being there are not three mere names; but that each name has its true meaning and attributes; so that there is a true, real Father, from whom all things are; and a true, real Son, by whom all things are; and a true, real Holy Ghost, through whom the Father and the Son work. The Father is the true Father, who begot the Son before all time, and from whom the Son proceeded and came, and by whom He [the Father] created and made all things; and through whom the Son was sent to be the Savior of the world. The Son was born of, proceeded and came from the Father; by whom the Father created all things, and who was sent by the Father, and came into the world, and, through the effectual power of the Most High, was conceived by Mary, and born as man. He suffered, was crucified, died, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of His Almighty Father in heaven. The Holy Ghost is He who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is sent by them; through whom the Father and the Son work and act. He does not speak of Himself, but whatever He has heard from the Father; He takes of the things of Christ, to show them to His own.

Hence there are, in the same divine Essence, in heaven, three true witnesses: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; of whom the glory of the only begotten Son of God appeared really and distinctly, in the form of a servant, on earth, and was also seen by John the Baptist, at the Jordan. And the Holy Spirit was also distinctly seen by the same John to descend, in the form of a dove, from God out of heaven, upon Christ, and abide upon Him. And the Father, who is an invisible Spirit, and cannot be seen by mortal eye, let His voice be heard from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

These three true witnesses are distinctly spoken of, as follows: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of me." John 5, verses 31 and 32.

"I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me." John 8, verses 16 to 18, 29 and 54; First John 5, verse 20; John 16, verse 32, and John 15, verse 24.

Again, Paul says: "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." First Timothy 2, verse 5.

"Whoever transgresses, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son." Second John 1, verse 9.

Of the Holy Ghost, Christ says: "I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive." John 14, verses 11 and 17; Matthew 12, verse 32.

"But if I depart I will send him to you. . . . For he will not speak of himself; but whatever he hears, that he will speak. . . He will glorify me; for he will receive of mine, and will show it to you" John 16, verses 7, 13 and 14;

How John, the man of God, saw the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove. Read, "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" Luke 3, verse 22.

"And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him, and I did not know him; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God" John 1, verses 32 to 34. Read also Mark 1, verse 10.

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened to him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him" Matthew 3, verse 16.

Mark how dreadfully they sin against the Most High, who, contrary to all these express words of the Holy Ghost, still dare to say and maintain that John did not see the Holy Ghost, but only a natural or created dove.

Hear also how the voice of the Father was heard from heaven: "And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3, verse 17.

"For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory." Second Peter 1, verse 17. Read also Psalm 110, verse 1; Second Esdras 13, verse 32; John 1, verse 1; First Corinthians 12, verse 5; First John 6, verse 7. [n529-1]

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost." First John 5, verse 7; First Corinthians 12, verse 4; Revelation 3, verse 14.