104 PECULIAR WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ETC. [BOOK L
was an instituted sign of the communication of the gifts of the Holy Gliost for government unto them. See Isa. xlv. 1-4 ; and other in- stances of the hke kind might be given.
Thus, when the church was to have a blessed restoration of the worship of God, after the return of the people from their captivity, Zerubbabel is, in an especial manner, called to begin and carry on this work in the building of the temple. But the difficulties he had to conflict withal were great, and appeared insuperable. The people were few and poor, and the oppositions made unto them and their work great and many, especially what arose from the power of the Persian monarchy, under whose rule and oppression they were; for although they had permission and encouragement from Cyrus for their work, yet immediately upon his death they Avere oppressed again, and their " work caused to cease." This power they could no way conflict withal ; yet God tells them that all this opposition shall be removed and conquered. " Who art thou," saith he, " O great mountain ? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain," Zech. iv. 7 ; — " All the hinderance that arose from that great mountain ofthe Persian empire shall be removed out of the way, and the progress of Zerubbabel in his work shall be made smooth, plain, and easy." But how shall this be effected and brought about? " Not by an army or ' by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts,'" verse 6 ; — "You would suppose that it must be done by armies and open force, which you are altogether insufficient for; but this is not the way I will take in this matter. My Spirit shall work in their hearts, minds, and counsels, that, contrary to your fears, they shall themselves further that work which hitherto they have impeded ; and he shall work in the minds and counsels of others, to oppose them and entangle them wliere they would hinder it, until they are destro3^ed, and that great mountain be fully removed;" — as in the event it came to pass. So that the providential alterations that are wrought in the world are effects of his power and efficacy also.
And thus have we taken a short view of the dispensation and works of the Spirit of God in the fiist creation. But the effect hereof being a state of things that quickly passed away, and being of no advantage to the church after the entrance of sin, what belonged unto it is but sparingly delivered in the Scriptures, the true sense of what is so delivered depending much on the analogy of the following works of God in man's renovation and recovery. But as to the nev) creation (which falls under our consideration in the next place, as that alone which is directly intended by us), ihe foundation, build- ing up, and finishing the church of God therein, being the things whereon dejyends the principal manifestation of the glory of God, and wherein the great concerns of all the elect do lie, they are more
CHAP, v.] WAY AND MANNER OF DIVINE DISPENSATION, ETC. 105
fully and directly declared in the Scripture; and in reference unto them we shall find a full, distinct declaration of the whole dispensa- tion and work of the Spirit of God.
CHAPTER V.
WAY AND MANNER OF THE DIVINE DISPENSATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Dispensation of the Spirit to be learned from the Scripture only — General adjuncts thereof — The administration of the Spirit and his own application of himself to his work, how expressed — The Spirit, how and in what sense given and re- ceived— ^What is included in the giving of the Spirit — What in receiving of him — Privilege and advantage in receiving the Spirit — How God is said to send the Spirit — What is included in sending — How God ministers the Sjsirit — How God is said to put his Spirit on us — What is included in that expres- sion— The Spirit, how poured out — What is included and intended herein — The ways of the Spirit's application of himself unto his work — His proceed- ing from Father and Son explained — How he cometh unto us — }iis falling on men — His resting — How and in what sense he is said to depart from any per- son— Of the distributions of the Holy Ghost, Heb, ii. 4 — Exposition of them vindicated.
Before we treat of the especial operations, works, and effects of the Holy Ghost in and on the neiv creation, the order of things requires that we should first speak somewhat of the general nature of God's dispensation of him, and of his own application of himself imto his actings and workings in this matter ; for this is the foundation of all that he doth, and this, for our edification, we are instructed in by the Scriptures. Unto them in this whole discourse we must diligently attend; for we are exercised in such a subject as wherein we have no rule, nor guide, nor any thing to give us assistance but pure reve- lation. And what I have to offer concerning these things consists upon the matter solely in the explication of those places of Scripture Avherein they are revealed. We must, therefore, consider, — I. What 1 we are taught on the part of God the Father with respect unto the 1 Holy Spirit and his work ; and, II. What relates immediately unto | himself.