174 ■ WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AND ON [BOOK II.
as the same work is assigned uuto different persons in ihe Trinity on different accounts.
Fifthly, It was in an especial manner by the power of the Holy Spirit he wrought those great and miraculous works whereby his ministry was attested unto and confirmed. Hence it is said that God wrought miracles by him : Acts ii. 22, " Jesus of Na- zareth, a man approved of God by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him;" for they are all immediate effects of divine power. So when he cast out devils with a word of command, he affirms that he did it by the " finger of God," Luke xi. 20, — that is, by the infinite divine power of God. But the power of God acted in an especial manner by the Holy Spirit, as is expressly declared in the other evangelist. Matt. xii. 28; and, therefore, on the ascription of his mighty works unto Beelzebub, the prince of devils, he lets the Jews know that therein they blasphemed the Holy Spirit, whose works indeed they were, verses 81, 32. Hence these mighty works are called dum/xsig, " powers," because of the power of the Spirit of God put forth for their working and effecting: see Mark vi. 5, ix. 39; Luke iv, 36, v. 17, vi. 19, viii. 46, ix. 1. And in the exercise of this power consisted the testimony given unto him by the Spirit that he was the Son of God ; for this was necessary unto the conviction of the Jews, to whom he was sent, John x. 37, 38.
Sixthly, By him was he guided, directed, comforted, supported, in the whole course of his ministry, temptations, obedience, and suffer- ings. Some few instances on this head may suffice. Presently after his baptism, when he was full of the Holy Ghost, he was " led by the Spirit into the wilderness," Luke iv. 1. 1. The Holy Spirit guided him to begin his contest and conquest with the devil. Hereby he made an entrance into his ministry; and it teacheth us all what we must look for if we solemnly engage ourselves to follow him in the work of preaching the gospel. The word used in Mark to this purpose hath occasioned some doubt what spirit is intended in these words, To -Trvsv/Ma avrov Ix'^dXXsi ug tyjv spri/xov, chap. i. 12, " The spirit driveth him into the wilderness." It is evident that the same spirit and the same act are intended in all the evangelists, here, and Matt. iv, 1, Luke iv. 1. But how the Holy Spirit should be said ixQdxy.uv, to " drive him," is not so easy to be apprehended. But the word in Luke is tiyiro, which denotes a guiding and rational conduct; and this cannot be ascribed unto any other spirit, with respect unto our Lord Jesus, but only the Spirit of God. Matthew expresseth the same effect by dv^x^ri, chap. iv. 1, — he was ''carried," or "carried up,'' or " taken away," from the midst of the people. And this was Wo rov Uviv/jLarog, " of that Spirit," — namely, which descended on him and rested on him immediately before, chap. iii. 16. And the con-
CHAP, IV.] THE HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST, 175
tinuation of the discourse in Luke will not admit that any other spirit be intended: "And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit re- turned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness/' — namely, by that Spirit which he was full of. By s-kQuXXh, there- fore, in Mark, no more is intended but the sending of him forth by a high and strong impression of the Holy Spirit on his mind. Hence the same word is used with respect unto the sending of others, by the powerful impression of the Spirit of God on their hearts, unto the work of preaching the gospel : Matt. ix. 38, " Pray ye there- fore the Lord of the harvest,'' ovug IxZaXkri spydras iSg tov ^spigfji^ov auTou, " that he would thrust forth labourers into his harvest," — namely, by furnishing them with the gifts of his Spirit, and by the power of his grace constraining them to their duty. So also Luke X. 2. So did he enter upon his preparation unto his work under his conduct; and it were well if others would endeavour after a con- formity unto him within the rules of their calling. 2. By his ^ assistance was he cariied triumphantly through the course of his temptations unto a perfect conquest of his adversary as to the present conflict, wherein he sought to divert him from his work ; which after- ward he endeavoured by all ways and means to oppose and hinder, o. The temptation being finished, he returned again out of the wil- derness, to preach the gospel " in the power of the Spirit," Luke ' iv. 14. He returned h rfi duvd/j.si rou llviv/j.arog, " in the power of the Spirit" into Galilee, — that is, powerfully enabled by the Holy Spirit unto the discharge of his work; and hence, in his first sermon at Nazareth, he took these words of the prophet for his text, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor," verse 18. The issue was, that they " all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth," verse 22. And as he thus began his ministry in the power of the Spirit, so, having received him not by measure, he continually on all occasions put forth his wisdom, power, grace, and knowledge, to the astonishment of all, and the stopping of the mouths of his adversaries, shutting them up in their rage and unbelief 4. By him was he directed, strengthened, and comforted, in his whole course, — in all his temptations, troubles, and sufferings, from first to last; for we know that there was a confluence of all these upon him in his whole way and work, a great part of that whereunto he humbled himself for our sakes consisting in these things. In and under them he stood in need of mighty supportment and strong consolation. This God promised unto him, and this he expected, Isa. xlii. 4, 6, xlix. 5-8, 1. 7, 8. Now, all the vohuitary communica- tions of the divine nature unto the human were, as we have showed, by the Holy Spirit,