IN THE PERSONALITY OF CHRIST.

on the notation of the personal union?
ERIST. I think in many.
ORTH. Indeed. For I do not posit that union in a real communication of divine properties, or an equalization of the natures. Because you do this, there are not unjustly heard the complaints of many in the Church that, through this doctrine of yours, the foundation of the Christian religion is called into doubt, the person of Christ is affected by some injury, the natures are confused, the doctrine concerning the communicatio idiomatum communication of properties is perverted and abolished, and the sayings of Holy Scripture are corrupted by sinister interpretation. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God in no other way, or excels holy men in no other way than by the communication of all divine gifts and properties, so that what is finite in them is judged to be infinite and immense in Christ: this sentiment will seem to differ little from those who do not blush to contend blasphemously that Christ is not eternal, essential, and natural, as he truly is, but a God made in time.

Furthermore, such an equalization of natures does not unite the natures, but dissolves them. For neither equalization nor conjunction with another, nor indwelling in another, makes one person; but that secret coupling does this, by which those natures are made the substance of one person. Just as Nestorius formerly taught that the Word dwelt in the man Christ in the same way as in other saints, except that he adorned this man with more excellent gifts and accomplished more through him than through others. Therefore, Cyril writes against Nestorius, Epistle 10: "But we do not say this, that the Word from God cohabited with him who was born from the holy virgin as if with a common man, etc., but that, according to the united nature—not, however, converted into flesh—he effected such a cohabitation as the soul of a man is said to have with its own body, etc." Likewise, equality of honor does not unite natures. Since even Peter and John are equal among themselves in honor, yet these two are not one, etc.