44. They say that it is not allowable to enter with the understanding also into the things which concern the Trinity, because this is from certain passages of the Word in the external sense. But while this faith reigns, and while this is required and confirmed, there is then no room for the understanding to be enlightened. Such faith closes the way of access for the light, and indeed for the understanding of the Word in the spiritual sense; when yet if one believes that the Divine is in the Lord alone, the understanding can be enlightened from many passages in the Word, which passages are not otherwise seen or understood; as, that He is one with the Father; and others besides.
I heard certain spirits reasoning concerning the three Persons, and yet one God; and they reasoned from the words in the Creed, that they are of one substance or one essence, and thus that the three are one; or, as is there said, that Trinity is in Unity and Unity in Trinity; thus believing that still there is one Divine; and in this manner they confirmed themselves with the lips that they are one trine and thus that it is difficult for them to believe in a unanimous trine. However, it was then said to them that they are able to say such things, and can persuade others who attend to nothing but the words that such is the case; but it was said, "Think of one, consisting of three Persons, each of whom is God"-and it was asked whether they were then able to say or utter, one God; but they could not. It was thence evident that those things were mere words; but that every one of them thought no otherwise than of three Gods. And it was said further that such things are in the Athanasian faith, for the reason that they were able in no other way to connect one with the other; knowing from interior thought, and from the Word also, that God is one, and consequently that there is only one Person.
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