Conv. Calvin (Whitehead) n. 2

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2. (1) After I had read these words before Calvin, and, at the same time, before fifty priests his followers, I asked Calvin whether he had receded from these teachings in the Creed, which yet is acknowledged and received by the whole Christian world. Calvin said that he saw he had fully receded. (2) I asked why he had done so. He answered, that he had paid no attention to those words, and that now when he did pay attention, he saw that he had receded from them and had written according to his own thought. (3) I asked what he thought now. He answered, that if the Creed is true, and if it is universally acknowledged as the true doctrine concerning the Trinity, and concerning the Divinity of Christ, he had clearly erred. (4) I asked whether he wished to acknowledge that the Divine and the Human, or God and Man, in Christ, is one Person, as soul and flesh are one man, according to the words in the Creed. He answered, that he wished to do so, but that he could not, because he had confirmed himself differently. (5) I asked whether he believed Christ to be one Person or two. He answered, one, if hypostatic union makes one, but that he had believed that the Son of God was another, and was with the Father; and Jesus Christ was separated from Him, because He was in heaven. (6) I asked whether there were thus two Christs. He answered, that there were, and that therein he had receded from the Creed. (7) I asked about the hypostatic union, from whom it was. He answered, that it was from God the Father, and that this was the idea he had had. (8) I asked about the soul of Christ, what it was, whether it was not the Divine itself, since it is said in Luke, that it was from the Holy Spirit and the Power of the Most High. He answered that he had seen this in Luke, but that he had tacitly believed within himself that it was from Joseph. (9) I asked whether Christ as to His Human is not the Son of God, as is openly said in Luke 1[:35], and also when He was baptized, Matt. [3:17]; moreover, also by John [John 1:34], and also when He was transfigured [Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35], and in many passages elsewhere. He answered that when he had mentioned and thought of the Son of God, he had not meant Christ Jesus as to His Human. When I said that he understood what is contrary to Scripture, he answered that he sees that it is so, but that he had not thought that it was contrary to Scripture. I wished him to renounce it, but he was conscious of his thought while in the world, and he said, that, on that account he could not. (10) At last he confessed that he had thought Christ was the son of Joseph, but that he had not dared to write this.


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