Praeter alteritatem enim nec pluralitas quid sit intelligi potest'.
Then if so, what becomes of the Persons?
Have the Persons attributes distinct from their nature;--or does not their common nature constitute their common attributes?
'Principium enim, &c.' Ib.p.

124.
That the Fathers universally acknowledged that the operation of the whole Trinity, 'ad extra', is but one, Petavius has proved beyond all contradiction; and hence they conclude the unity of the divine nature and essence; for every nature has a virtue and energy of its own; for nature is a principle of action, and if the energy and operation be but one, there can be but one nature; and if there be two distinct and divided operations, if either of them can act alone without the other, there must be two divided natures.
Then it was not the Son but the whole Trinity that was crucified: for surely this was an operation 'ad extra'.
Ib.p.

126.
But to do St.Austin right, though he do not name this consciousness, yet he explains this Trinity in Unity by examples of mutual consciousness.

I named one of his similitudes before, of the unity of our understanding, memory, and will, 'which' are all conscious to each other; that we remember what we understand and will; we understand what we remember and will; and what we will we remember and understand; and therefore all these three faculties do penetrate and comprehend each other.
'Which'! The 'man' is self-conscious alike when he remembers, wills, and understands; but in what sense is the generic term "memory" conscious to the generic word "will ?" This is mere nonsense.

Are memory, understanding, and volition persons,--self-subsistents?
If not, what are they to the purpose?
Who doubts that Jehovah is consciously powerful, consciously wise, consciously good; and that it is the same Jehovah, who in being omnipotent, is good and wise; in being wise, omnipotent and good; in being good, is wise and omnipotent?
But what has all this to do with a distinction of Persons?
Instead of one Tri-unity we might have a mille-unity.