Secondly, We may consider the moral state and condition of man, Avith the furniture of his mind and soul, in reference unto his obedi- ence to God and his enjoyment of him. This was the principal part
102 PECULIAR WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [BOOK I.
of that image of God wherein he was created. Three things were required to render man idoneous, or fit unto that hfe to God for which he was made: — First, An ability to discern the mind and will of God with respect unto all the duty and obedience that God required of him ; as also so far to know the nature and properties of God as to believe him the only proper object of all acts and duties of religious obedience, and an all-sufficient satisfaction and reward in this world and to eternity. Secondly, A free, uncontrolled, unen- tangled disposition to every duty of the law of his creation, in order unto living unto God. Thirdly, An ability of mind and will, with a readiness of compliance in his affections, for a due regular perform- ance of all duties, and abstinence from all sin. These things be- longed unto the integrity of his nature, with the uprightness of the state and condition wherein he was made. And all these things were the peculiar effects of the immediate operation of the Holy Ghost; for although this rectitude of his nature be distinguishable and se- parable from the faculties of the soul of man, yet in his first creation they were not actually distinguished from them, nor superadded, or infused into them when created, but were concreated with them, — that is, his soul was made meet and able to live to God, as his sove- reign lord, chiefest good, and last end. And so they were all from the Holy Ghost, from whom the soul was, as hath been declared. Yea, suppose these abilities to be superadded unto man's natural faculties, as gifts supernatural (which yet is not so), they must be acknowledged in a peculiar manner to be from the Holy Spirit; for in the restoration of these abilities unto our minds, in our renovation unto the image of God in the gospel, it is plainly asserted that the Holy Ghost is the immediate operator of them. And he doth thereby restore his own work, and not take the work of another out of his hand : for in the new creation the Father, in the way of authority, designs it, and brings all things unto a head in Christ, Eph. i. 10, which retrieved his original peculiar work ; and the Son gave unto all things a new consistency, which belonged unto him from the be- ginning, Col. i. 1 7. So also the Holy Spirit renews in us the image of God, the original implantation whereof was his peculiar work. And thus Adam may be said to have had the Spirit of God in his innocency. He had him in these peculiar effects of his power and goodness; and he had him according to the tenor of that covenant whereby it was possible that he should utterly lose him, as accord- ingly it came to pass. He had him not by especial inhabitation, for the whole world was then the temple of God. In the covenant of grace, founded in the person and on the mediation of Christ, it is otherwise. On whomsoever the Spirit of God is bestowed for the renovation of the image of God in him, he abides with him for ever.
CHAP. IV.] IN THE FIRST OR OLD CREATION. 103
But in all men, from first to last, all goodness, righteousness, and truth, are the " fruits of the Spirit," Eph. v. 9.
The works of God being thus finished, and the whole frame of / nature set upon its wheels, it is not deserted by the Spirit of God; for as the preservation, continuance, and acting of all things in the 1 universe, according to their especial nature and mutual application 1 of one unto another, are all from the powerful and efficacious influ- ences of divine Providence, so there are particular operations of the Holy Spirit in and about all things, whether merely natural and ani- mal, or also rational and moral. An instance in each kind may suf- fice. For the first (as we have showed), the propagation of the suc- ceeding generations of creatures and the annual renovation of the face of the earth are ascribed unto him, Ps. civ. 30; for as we would own the due and just powers and operations of second causes, so Ave abhor that atheism which ascribes unto them an original and independent efficacy and causality, without a previous acting in, by, and upon them of the power of God. And this is here ascribed unto the Spirit, whom God sendeth forth unto that end and purpose. As to rational and moral actions, such as the great affairs of the world do consist in and are disposed of by, he hath in them also a peculiar efficiency. Thus those great virtues of wisdom, courage, and fortitude, which have been used for the producing of great effects in the world, are of his especial operation. So when God stirred up men to rule and govern his people of old, to fight against and to subdue their ene- mies, it is said the Spirit of God came upon them: Judges iii. 10, " The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and he judged Israel, and went out to war." The Spirit of God endued him with wisdom for government, and with courage and skill in conduct for war. So chap. vi. 34. And although instances hereof are given us princi- pally among the people of God, yet wherever men in the world have been raised up to do great and wonderful things, whereby God execut- eth his judgments, [and] fulfilleth any of his promises or his threaten- ings, even they also have received of the especial gifts and assistances of the Holy Spirit of God. For this reason is Cyrus expressly called " God's anointed," Isa. xlv. 1. Cyrus had, by God's designation, a great and mighty work to effect. He was utterly to ruin and de- stroy the great, ancient, Babylonian monarchy. God had a concern herein as to the avenging of the quarrel of his people, and therein the accomplishment of many promises and threatenings. The work itself was great, arduous, and insuperable to ordinary human abilitiea Wherefore God "sends his Spirit" to fill Cyrus with wisdom, cou- rage, skill in all military affairs, that he might go through with the work whereunto, in the providence of God, he was designed. Hence is he called " God's anointed," because the unction of kings of old