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10. If, however, it is fitting that God should be said to subsist
(For this word is rightly applied to those things, in which as
subjects those things are, which are said to be in a subject, as color
or shape in body. For body subsists, and so is substance; but those
things are in the body, which subsists and is their subject, and they
are not substances, but are in a substance: and so, if either that
color or that shape ceases to be, it does not deprive the body of being
a body, because it is not of the being of body, that it should retain
this or that shape or color; therefore neither changeable nor simple
things are properly called substances.) If, I say, God subsists
so that He can be properly called a substance, then there is something
in Him as it were in a subject, and He is not simple, i.e. such
that to Him to be is the same as is anything else that is said
concerning Him in respect to Himself; as, for instance, great,
omnipotent, good, and whatever of this kind is not unfitly said of
God. But it is an impiety to say that God subsists, and is a
subject in relation to His own goodness, and that this goodness is not
a substance or rather essence, and that God Himself is not His own
goodness, but that it is in Him as in a subject. And hence it is
clear that God is improperly called substance, in order that He may
be understood to be, by the more usual name essence, which He is
truly and properly called; so that perhaps it is right that God alone
should be called essence. For He is truly alone, because He is
unchangeable; and declared this to be His own name to His servant
Moses, when He says, "I am that I am;" and, "Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel: He who is hath sent me unto you."
However, whether He be called essence, which He is properly
called, or substance, which He is called improperly, He is called
both in respect to Himself, not relatively to anything; whence to
God to be is the same thing as to subsist; and so the Trinity, if
one essence, is also Due substance. Perhaps therefore they are more
conveniently called three persons than three substances.
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