As, then, at the beginning of the old creation, the Spirit of God ^?0"'9j "incubabat," came and fell on the waters, cherishing the whole, and communicating a prolific and vivific quahty unto it, as- a fowl or dove in particular gently moves itself upon its eggs, until, with and by its generative warmth, it hath communicated vital heat unto them; so now, at the entrance of the new creation, he comes as a dove upon him who was the immediate author of it, and virtually comprised it in himself, carrying it on by virtue of his pre- sence with him. And so this is applied in the Syriac ritual of bap- tism, composed by Severinus, in the account given of the baptism of Christ: x^D i^yi n32E>' \^'\T\ «t^n ijyi nnm nms ^jv myii i^t^nipn «ni-n nam ; — " And the Spirit of Hohness descended, flying in the likeness of a dove, and rested upon him, and moved on the waters." And in the assumption of this form there may be some respect unto the dove that brought tidings to Noah of the ceasing of the flood of waters, and of the ending of the wrath of God, who thereon said that he would curse the earth no more. Gen. viii. 11, 21 , for herein also was there a significant representation of him who visited poor, lost mankind in their cursed condition, and proclaimed peace unto them that would return to God by him, the great peace-maker, Eph. ii. 14-17. And this work he immediately engaged into on the
76 DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF THE [BOOK I.
resting of this dove upon him. Besides, there is a natural aptness in that creature to represent the Spirit that rested on the Lord Jesus; for the known nature and course of a dove is such as is meet to mind us of purity and harmless innocency. Hence is that direction, " Be harmless as doves," Matt. x. 16. So also the sharpness of its sight or eyes, as Cant. i. 15, iv. 1, is fixed on to represent a quick and dis- cerning understanding, such as was in Christ from the resting of the Spirit upon him, Isa. xi. 2-4.
The shape thereof that appeared was that of a dove, but the sub- stance itself, I judge, was of a fiery nature, an ethereal substance, shaped into the form or resemblance of a dove. It had the shape of a dove, but not the appearance of feathers, colours, or the like. This also rendered the appearance the more visible, conspicuous, heavenly, and glorious. And the Holy Ghost is often compared to fire, because he was of old typified or represented thereby ; for on the first solemn offering of sacrifices there came fire from the Lord for the kindling of them. Hence Theodotion of old rendered ^)p'] J^^*!!, Gen. iv. 4, "The Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering," by 'Bvevvpiasv 6 @s6g, "God fired the offering of Abel;" sent down fire that kindled his sacrifice as a token of his acceptance. However, it is certain that at the first erection of the altar in the wilderness, upon the first sacrifices, " fire came out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat; which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces," Lev. ix. 24. And the fire kindled hereby was to be perpetuated on the altar, sO that none was ever to be used in sacrifice but what was traduced from it. For a neglect of this intimation of the mind of God were Nadab and Abihu consumed, chap. X. 1, 2. So was it also upon the dedication of the altar in the temple of Solomon : " Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices," 2 Chron. vii. 1 ; and a fire thence kin- dled was always kept burning on the altar. And in like manner God bare testimony to the ministry of Elijah, 1 Kings xviii. 38, 39. God by all these signified that no sacrifices were accepted with him where faith was not kindled in the heart of the offerer by the Holy Ghost, represented by the fire that kindled the sacrifices on the altar. And in answer hereunto is our Lord Jesus Christ said to offer himself "through the eternal Spirit," Heb. ix. 14. It was, therefore, most probably a fiery appearance that was made. And in the next bodily shape which he assumed it is expressly said that it was fiery : Acts ii. 3, "There appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire;" which was the visible token of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them. And he chose, then, that figure of tongues to denote the assistance which, by the miraculous gift of speaking with divers tongues, together with wisdom and utterance, he furnished them
CHAP. III.] HOLY SPIRIT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 77
withal for the publication of the gospel. And thus, also, the Lord Christ is said to " baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire," Matt. iii. 11. Not two things are intended, but the latter words, " and with fire," are added Igjj/jjr/xws, and the expression is h hia duoTv, — with the Holy Ghost, who is a spiritual, divine, eternal fire. So God absolutely is said to be a " consuming fire," Heb. xii. 29, Deut. iv. 24. And as in these words, " He shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire," there is a prospect unto what came to pass afterward, when the apostles received the Holy Ghost Avith a visible pledge of fiery tongues, so there seems to be a retrospect, by way of allusion unto what is recorded, Isa. vi. 6, 7 ; for a living or "fiery coal from the altar," where the fire represented the Holy Ghost, or his work and grace, having touched the lips of his prophet, his sin was taken away, both as to the guilt and filth of it. And this is the work of the Holy Ghost, who not only sanctifieth us, but, by ingenerating faith in us, and the application of the promise unto us, is the cause and means of our justification also, 1 Cor. vi. 11, Tit. iii. 4-7, whereby our sins on both accounts are taken away. So also his efficacy in other places is compared unto fire and burning: Isa. iv. 4, 5, " When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." He is compared both to Jire and luater, with respect unto the same cleansing virtue in both. So also Mai. iii. 2. Hence, as this is expressed by " the Holy Ghost and fire " in two evangelists. Matt. iii. 11, Luke iii. 16; so in the other two there is mention only of the "Holy Ghost," Mark i. 8, John i. 83, the same thing being in- tended. I have added these things a little to clear the manner of this divine appearance, which also belongs unto the economy of the Spirit.