46. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE DIVINE PROCEEDING FROM, THE LORD, AND THIS IS THE LORD HIMSELF.
Jesus has said in Matthew:
All power [potestas] is given unto Me in heaven and on earth; go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you all the days even to the consummation of the age (Matt. 28:18-20).
It has already been shown that the Divine called "the Father," and the Divine called "the Son," are a one in the Lord; and it shall now be shown that "the Holy Spirit" is the same as the Lord.
[2] The reason why the Lord said that they were to baptize into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, is that there is in the Lord a trine or trinity; for there is the Divine called the Father, the Divine Human called the Son, and the proceeding Divine called the Holy Spirit. The Divine called the Father, and the Divine called the Son, are the Divine ex Quo;* and the proceeding Divine is the Divine per Quod.** That the Divine which proceeds from the Lord is no other than the Divine which is Himself, will be seen in the treatises on the Divine Providence, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience;*** for it is a matter of deep investigation.
[3] That there is a trine in the Lord may be illustrated by comparison with an angel, who has a soul and a body, and also a proceeding. That which proceeds from him is himself outside of him. I have been permitted to learn many things about this proceeding, but this is not the place to present them.
[4] After death the first thing the angels teach every man who looks to God is that the Holy Spirit is not any other than the Lord; and that "to go forth" and "to proceed" is nothing else than to enlighten and teach by the presence, which is according to the reception, of the Lord. The result is that after death very many people put away the idea they had formed in this world about the Holy Spirit, and receive the idea that it is the Lord's presence with man through angels and spirits, by and according to which the man is enlightened and taught.
[5] Moreover, it is usual in the Word to name two Divines, and sometimes three, which yet are one; as Jehovah and God, Jehovah and the Holy One of Israel, Jehovah and the Mighty One of Jacob, and also God and the Lamb. And as these are one, it is said in other places, Jehovah alone is God, Jehovah alone is holy, and He is the Holy One of Israel, and there is none besides Him; and also instead of God it is sometimes said the Lamb, and instead of the Lamb, God; this is done in the Revelation; the other expressions occur in the Prophets.
[6] That it is the Lord only who is meant by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 28:19 is evident from what there precedes and what follows. In the preceding verse the Lord says, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth," and in the following verse He says, "Lo, I am with you all the days, even to the consummation of the age;" thus He speaks of Himself only, so that He spoke in that manner [about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] to make His disciples aware that there is a trinity in Him.
[7] In order that it may be known that the Holy Spirit is not a Divine other than the Lord Himself, it shall be shown what is meant by "spirit" in the Word. By "spirit" is meant, i. Man's life in general. ii. As man's life varies according to his state, by "spirit" is meant the varying affection of life in man. iii. Also the life of one who is regenerate, which is called spiritual life. iv. But where "spirit" is said of the Lord, His Divine life is meant, thus the Lord Himself. v. Specifically, the life of His wisdom, which is called the Divine truth. vi. Jehovah Himself, that is, the Lord, spoke the Word through the prophets.
* Literally, the Divine from which; that is, the Divine which is the source. [Tr.]
** Literally, the Divine by means of which; that is, the Divine which is the instrument or executive agency. [Tr.]
*** Although the treatise here named was never published as a separate work, the subjects of it are specially treated of in the first chapter of the True Christian Religion. See also the references to the same subjects in this present work (n. 65), in the Doctrine of the Holy Scripture (n. 32), and in the Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom (n. 9). [Tr.]