Article 5

That these three true witnesses are only one true God. On this we confessed: that this must certainly follow from the fact that the Son proceeded or came forth from the eternal essence and substance of the Father; and that the Holy Ghost truly proceeds from the Father and Son, and is comprehended together with the Father and the Son in the only eternal Divine Being.*

Moreover, this is abundantly testified and confirmed by the divine works and attributes which are ascribed in the holy Scriptures jointly to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, of which no angels in heaven, much less any other creatures, are capable, but which belong and are peculiar to the only God alone; such as the creating, governing, and upholding of heaven and earth with all things visible and invisible; the gracious Gospel sent from heaven; the sending out of the apostles to preach it among all nations; the raising of man from the dead, and the giving of eternal life; and all divine worship, honor, and reverence. Therefore they are perfectly one, not only in will, words, and works, but also in essence, and in the eternal and indescribable Godhead. So also in the divine works, so that whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise; and as the Father raises up the dead, even so the Son gives life to whom He will; and all this they do in the power and with the cooperation of the Holy Ghost; and therefore they can with reason and truth be called the one God of heaven and earth. Besides Him there has been no other God, nor will another be found in all eternity. Therefore in the term one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are comprehended.

On this subject read the prophet Jeremiah: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom." Jeremiah 10, verses 11 and 12; Isaiah 44, verse 24; Psalm 96, verse 5.

"By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Psalm 33, verse 6; Hebrews 3, verse 4; Acts 4, verse 24.

"All things were made by him (Christ); and without him nothing was made that was made:" John 1, verse 3, and 5, verse 19.

Concerning this perfect unity read: [n530-1] "My Father, who gave them to me (says Christ), is greater than all; and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." John 10, verses 29 and 30.

Christ said to Philip: "He who has seen me has seen the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" John 14, verses 9 and 10; 12, verse 45; 17, verse 21.

How the Holy Ghost is also called God. Read what Peter said to Ananias: "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" And a little further on: "You have not lied to men, but to God." Acts 5, verses 3 and 4.

"Those who have preached the Gospel to you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." First Peter 1, verse 12.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." Second Corinthians 13, verse 14.

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." First John 5, verse 7; Deuteronomy 6, verse 4; Mark 12, verse 29; First Corinthians 8, verse 6; Galatians 3, verse 20.