The twelfe Chapter. Of sundrie things attributed vnto God, and the holie Trinitie; where his godhead is prooued to be in the Sonne and in the holie Ghost.
THE nature of God is infinite, 1 so as it cannot be comprehended vnder one title to knowe him by; wherefore his name is ver⟨…⟩e large: 2 yet neuerthelesse, by effects & works are gathered his singular properties, whereby we may vnderstand all the diuine nature and power, that séeing we cannot comprehend the whole, we may at the leastwise come vnto the knowledge of him by parts. 3 If there were anie so rude and vnskilfull, as he knew not the value of a double sufferant, we would saie that the same conteineth in it, pence, grotes, testers, shillings, crownes, nobles, roials, and lastlie, the sum of twentie shillings. By these parts and small portions, vnlesse he were excéeding blockish, he might vnderstand how much a double sufferant is woorth. Euen so men, after a sort, doo perceiue the nature and infinite substance of God by these parts and titles to knowe him by, not that there be anie parts in God, but bicause that we onlie by such effects & parts may gather of his power & infinit greatnes. Diuers and manifold are the titles, whereby he is knowne: as when he is called Pitifull, Mercifull, Constant, Iust, Good, The God of Sabaoth, and such like.
4 2 And that this may be the better vnderstood; he is called Iehoua of Haia, that is, To be: and that name agréeth properlie vnto God. For God is so an essence or being, 5 as the same floweth from him vnto all other things. Whatsoeuer things are, doo depend of him, neither can they be without his power & helpe. Lastlie, they haue also promises of him, both to be, and to be performed. Wherefore that name of Iehoua is properlie attributed vnto God: of the similitude of which word, Iupiter being desirous to be reputed for a God, commanded himselfe to be called Ioue. The Rabbins saie, that those letters, wherof that word consisteth, are spirituall. 6 And vndoubtedlie, God is a spirit; and a spirit first signifieth things that be without bodies, or that haue light bodies, as vapors and exhalations, the which in shew are light and thin, but yet they are of excéeding great strength. For by them, earthquakes are stirred vp, the huge seas are troubled, the storms of wind are blowne abroad. Wherefore that word began afterward to be applied to the soule of man, to angels, and to God himselfe: for these things, which otherwise séeme but slender, doo bring great things to passe. Others saie, that those letters, whereof the word Iehoua is written, be resting letters: and that is verie agréeable vnto God. 7 For séeing we doo all séeke for rest and felicitie, there is no waie to find the same, but in God onelie; thus much hitherto of the word. Iehoua signifieth the chéefe being; wherevpon Plato had that his ⟨…⟩, or essence. And that this may be the more manifest: some of the names of God are deriued from his substance, 8 and other from some propertie. Substantiall names be Iehoua & Ehi: that word signifieth, I will be. For there is no creature that may saie; I will be. For if God drawe backe his power, all things doo straitwaie perish. God doubtlesse may trulie saie so, bicause he cannot faile nor forsake himselfe.