408 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
tance." Everywhere the article is of the masculine gender, 6's lertv appaQwV and nvsv/j,a, the Spirit, is of the neuter. Some would have it to refer unto Christ, verse 12. But as it is not unusual in Scrip- ture that the subjunctive article and relative should agree in gender with the following substantive, as og here doth with appaQuv, so the Scripture, speaking of the Holy Ghost, though Uvbv/mo, be of the neuter gender, yet having respect unto the thing, — that is, the per- son of the Spirit, — it subjoins the pronoun of the masculine gen- der unto it, as John xiv. 26. Wherefore, the Spirit himself is the earnest, as given unto us from the Father by the Son. And this act of God is expressed by giving or putting him into our hearts, 2 Cor. i. 22. How he doth this hath been before declared, both in general and with respect in particular to his inhabitation. The meaning, there- fore, of the words is, that God gives unto us his Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and to abide with us, as an earnest of our future inheritance.
Secondly, It is indifferent whether we use the name of an earnest or a pledge in this matter, and although I choose to retain that of an earnest, from the most usual acceptation of the word, yet I do it not upon the reason alleged for it, which is taken from the especial nature and use of an earnest in the dealings of men ; for it is the end only of an earnest whereon the Holy Ghost is so called, which is the same with that of a pledge, and we are not to force the simi- litude or allusion any farther. For precisely among men, an earnest is the confirmation of a bargain and contract made on equal terms between buyers and sellers or exchangers. But there is no such con- tract between God and us. It is true, there is a supposition of an antecedent covenant, but not as a bargain or contract between God and us. The covenant of God, as it respects the dispensation of the Spirit, is a mere free, gratuitous promise ; and the stipulation of obe- dience on our part is consequential thereunto. Again ; he that giveth an earnest in a contract or bargain doth not principally aim at his own obligation to pay such or such a sum of money, or somewhat equivalent thereunto, though he do that also; but his principal de- sign is to secure unto himself that which he hath bargained for, that it may be delivered up unto him at the time appointed. But there is nothing of this nature in the earnest of the Spirit, wherein God intends our assurance only, and not his own. And sundry other things there are wherein the comparison will not hold nor is to be urged, because they are not intended.
The general end of an earnest or a pledge is all that is alluded unto; and this is, to give security of somewhat that is future or to come. And this may be done in a way of free, bounty as well as upon the strictest contract ; as if a man have a poor friend or rela- tion, he may, of his own accord, give unto him a sum of money, and
CHAP. VII.] THE SPIRIT AN EARNEST. 409
bid him take it as a pledge or earnest of what he will yet do for him. So doth God, in a way of sovereign grace and bounty, give his Holy Spirit unto believers, and withal lets them know that it is with a design to give them yet much more in his appointed season; and here is he said to be an earnest. Other things that are observed, from the nature and use of an earnest in civil contracts and bargains between men, belong not hereunto, though many things are occasion- ally spoken and discoursed from them of good use unto edification.
Thirdly, In two of the places wherein mention is made of this mat- ter, the Spirit is said to be an " earnest," but wherein, or unto what end, is not expressed, 2 Cor. i. 22, v. 5. The third place affirms him to be an " earnest of our inheritance/' Eph. i. 14. What that is, and how he is so, may be briefly declared. And, —
1. We have already manifested that all our participation of the Holy Spirit, in any kind, is upon the account of Jesus Christ, and we do receive him immediately as the Spirit of Christ; for "to as many as receive Christ, the Father gives power to become the sons of God," John i. 12. "And because we are sons, he sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts," Gal. iv. 6. And as we receive the Spirit from him, and as his Spirit, so he is given unto us to make us conformable unto him, and to give us a participation of his gifts, graces, and privileges.
2. Christ himself, in his own person, is the " heir of all things." So he was appointed of God, Heb. i. 2 ; and therefore the whole inheri- tance is absolutely his. What this inheritance is, what is the glory and power that is contained therein, I have at large declared in the exposition of that place.