Fourthly. These cautions being premised, I say that we are dis- tinctly to tvorship the Holy Ghost. As it is in the case of faith in respect of the Father and the Son, John xiv. 1, "Believe in God, believe also in me," — this extends itself no less to the Holy Ghost. Christ called the disciples for the acting of faith on him, he being
270 OF cOjVIMunion with the holy ghost.
upon the accoraplishmeut of the great work of his mediation; and the Holy Ghost, now canying on the work of his delegation, requireth the same. And to the same purpose are their distinct operations mentioned : " My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Now, as the formal reason of the worship of the Son is not his mediation, but his being God (his mediation being a powerful motive thereto), so the formal reason of our worshipping the Holy Ghost is not his heing our comforter, but his being God; yet his bemg our comforter is a powerful motive thereunto.
This is the sum of the first direction: — the grace, actings, love, effects of the Holy Ghost, as he is our comforter, ought to stir us ujD and provoke us to love, worship, believe in, and invocate him ; — though all this, being durected to him as God, is no less directed, on that account, to the other persons than to him. Only by the fruits of his love towards us are we stiiTed up unto it.
These things being presupposed, let the saints learn to act faith distinctly on the Holy Ghost, as the immediate efficient cause of all the good things mentioned; — faith, 1 say, to believe in him; and faith in all things to believe him and to yield obedience to him ; faith, not imagination. The distinction of the persons in the Trinity is not to be fancied, but beheved. So, then, the Scripture so fully, frequently, clearly, distinctly ascribing the thmgs we have been speak- ing of to the immediate efficiency of the Holy Ghost, faith closeth with him in the truth revealed, and peculiarly regards him, worships him, serves him, waits for him, prayeth to him, praiseth him ; — all these things, I say, the saints do in faith. The person of the Holy Ghost, revealing itself in these operations and effects, is the peculiar object of our worship. Therefore, when he ought to be peculiarly honoured, and is not, he is peculiarly sinned against. Acts v. 3, Ananias is said to lie to the Holy Ghost, — not to God ; which being taken essentially, Avould denote the whole Trinity, but peculiai'ly to the Holy Ghost. Him he was to have honoured peculiarly in that especial gift of his which he made profession of; — not doing it, he smned peculiarly against him. But this must be a little farther branched into particulars : —
Let us, then, lay weight on every effect of the Holy Ghost in any of the particulars before mentioned, on this account, that they are acts of his love and power towards us. This faith vnW do, that takes notice of his kindness in all things. Frequently he performs, in sundry particulars, the office of a comforter towards us, and we are not thoroughly comforted, — we take no notice at all of what he doth. Then is he grieved. Of those who do receive and own the consola- tion he tenders and administers, how few are there that consider him as the Comforter, and rejoice in him as they ought ! Upon every work of consolation that the believer receives, this ouo-ht his faith to
or COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST. 271
resolve upon, — " This is from the Holy Ghost ; he is the Comforter, the God of all consolation; I know there is no joy, peace, hope, nor com- fort, but what he works, gives, and bestows; and, that he might give me this consolation, he hath willingly condescended to this office of a comforter. His love was in it, and on that account doth he con- tinue it. Also, he is sent by the Father and Son for that end and purpose. By this means come I to be partaker of my joy, — it is in the Holy Ghost ; of consolation, — he is the Comforter. What price, now, shall I set upon his love ! how shall I value the mercy that I have received ! "
This, I say, is applicable to every particular effect of the Holy Ghost towards us; and herein have we communion and fellowship with him, as was in part discovered in. our handling the particulara Doth he shed abroad the love of God in our hearts ? doth he Avitness unto our adoption? The soul considers his presence, ponders his love, his condescension, goodness, and kindness ; is filled with reverence of him, and cares [takes care] not to grieve him, and labours to preserve his temple, his liabitation, pure and holy.
Again : our communion with liim causeth in us returning praise, and thanks, and honour, and glory, and blessing to him, on the account of the mercies and privileges which we receive from him ; which are many. Herein consists our next direction. So do ^ve with the Son of God on the account of oiu: redemption: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever," Rev. i. 5, 6. And are not the like praises and blessing's due to him by whom the work of redemption is made effectual to us ? who with no less infinite love undertook our consola- tion than the Son our redemption. When we feel our hearts wanned with joy, supported in peace, established in our obedience, let us ascribe to him the praise that is due to him, bless his name, and rejoice in him.