II. That the Son is a person really distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost

That the person of the Son is distinct from that of the Father, must be maintained and taught on account of Noetus, Sabellius, and their adherents, who affirm that the essence of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is of the same person, or that the three are one person; but that they have different names, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, on account of having different offices.

To prove that the Son is distinct from the Father, not only in office, but also in his personality, the following arguments are sufficient:

1. No one is a son of himself, but every son is of a father, who is distinct from him that is begotten, or else the father and the son would be the same in the same respect, which is absurd. Therefore, the Word is the Son of the Father, and not the Father himself.

2. The Scriptures teach that there are three distinct persons in the God head. “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.” “And God said let us make man in our own image;” (he did not say I will make man.) “I and my Father are one.” “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.” “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” “Teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” (1 John 5:7, Gen. 1:26, John 10:80, 14:26, 15:26, Matt. 28: 19) The Holy Ghost also descended in the shape of a dove, the Son was baptized in Jordan, and the voice of the Father was heard from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16)

3. There are express testimonies of Scripture which affirm that the Father is one, the Son is one, and the Holy Ghost is another. “There is another that beareth witness of me,” viz., the Father speaking from heaven. “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter.” (John 5:32, 37, 7:16, 5:19, 14:16)

4. There are distinct attributes ascribed to the different persons of the Godhead. The Father begat the Son, and the Son is begotten. The Father sent, and the Son is sent. It is not said of the Father that he was made flesh, but of the Son alone. The Son, and not the Father, took upon him the seed of Abraham. The Son was made a supplicating intercessor, priest, prophet, king, and mediator, and not the Father. Therefore, the Father and Son are different. The Father is of himself through the Son: the Son is not of himself, nor through the Father, but through himself from the Father. Finally, Christ was baptized, and not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost. Therefore, Christ is distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost.