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De Trinitate

XIV.

[XIV 24] Item in exitu de Aegypto filiorum Israhel scriptum est: deus autem praeibat illos, die quidem in columna nubis et ostendebat illis viam, nocte autem in columna ignis; et non deficiebat columna nubis die et columna ignis nocte ante populum. Quid et hic dubitet per subiectam creaturam eandemque corpoream non per suam substantiam deum oculis apparuisse mortalium? Sed utrum patrem an filium an spiritum sanctum an ipsam trinitatem unum deum similiter non apparet. Nec ibi hoc distinguitur, quantum existimo, ubi scriptum est: Et maiestas domini apparuit in nube, et locutus est dominus ad Moysen dicens: Exaudivi murmur filiorum Israhel, et cetera.

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The Fifteen Books of Aurelius Augustinus, Bishop of Hippo, on the Trinity

Chapter 14.--Of the Appearance in the Pillar of Cloud and of Fire.

24. Also in the going forth of the children of Israel from Egypt it is written, "And the Lord went before them, by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." ¹ Who here, too, would doubt that God appeared to the eyes of mortal men by the corporeal creature made subject to Him, and not by His own substance? But it is not similarly apparent whether the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or the Trinity itself, the one God. Nor is this distinguished there either, in my judgment, where it is written, "The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud, and the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel," ² etc.