Hence, according to this law, the first person is always originating, and his origination is always perfect; the others are always originated, and their existence is always perfect, adequate, and complete. We say always and are originated, not because the expressions convey the idea of eternal actuality and completeness, but because, our mind being measured by time, we can find no better words to exhibit the idea. Let this remark be made once for all.
A corollary of this law is, that whatever persons are originated in the infinite, being within the essence of God and terminating in Him, they are—the infinite, because nothing can be added to the infinite.
Fourth law: In the infinite there are no more than two processions.
By processions we mean the origination of one person from another.
Now, that in God there are no more than two processions will appear evident, if we consider the proper operation of God. God is a spiritual nature; the proper operation of a spiritual nature is by intelligence and by will; therefore, the operation of God is by intelligence and by will, and consequently one origination is by the intelligence, the other by the will.
So far we have given those laws which govern, in general, the genesis of God's life. We must now proceed to those laws which govern the particular origination of each of the two divine persons.
Now, the law governing the origination of the second person is the law of intellectual generation. Generation implies the following elements:
1st, the production of a living being from a living principle;
2d, identity of nature between the two;
3d, this identity required by the very natural, essential, and direct tendency of the action by which the term is produced.
It is according to these elements of generative law that the second person in the infinite is produced; and consequently he is really and truly the Son of God, as the producer is Father.