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7. Wherefore also the Holy Spirit consists in the same unity of
substance, and in the same equality. For whether He is the unity of
both, or the holiness, or the love, or therefore the unity because
the love, and therefore the love because the holiness, it is manifest
that He is not one of the two, through whom the two are joined,
through whom the Begotten is loved by the Begetter, and loves Him
that begat Him, and through whom, not by participation, but by their
own essence, neither by the gift of any superior, but by their own,
they are "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;"
which we are commanded to imitate by grace, both towards God and
towards ourselves. "On which two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets." So those three are God, one, alone, great, wise,
holy, blessed. But we are blessed from Him, and through Him, and
in Him; because we ourselves are one by His gift, and one spirit
with Him, because our soul cleaves to Him so as to follow Him. And
it is good for us to cleave to God, since He will destroy every man
who is estranged from Him. Therefore the Ho!y Spirit, whatever it
is, is something common both to the Father and Son. But that
communion itself is consubstantial and co-eternal; and if it may fitly
be called friendship, let it be so called; but it is more aptly called
love. And this is also a substance, since God is a substance, and
"God is love," as it is written. But as He is a substance
together with the Father and the Son, so that substance is together
with them great, and together with them good, and together with them
holy, and whatsoever else is said in reference to substance; since it
is not one thing to God to be, and another to be great or to be good.
and the rest, as we have shown above. For if love is less great
therein [i.e. in God] than wisdom, then wisdom is loved in less
degree than according to what it is; love is therefore equal, in order
that wisdom may be loved according to its being; but wisdom is equal
with the Father, as we have proved-above; therefore also the Holy
Spirit is equal; and if equal, equal in all things, off account of
the absolute simplicity which is in that substance. And therefore they
are not more than three: One who loves Him who is from Himself, and
One who loves Him from whom He is, and Love itself. And if this
last is nothing, how is "God love"? If it is not substance, how
is God substance?
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