I
OF THE DEITY OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND HIS WORK. 333
in a man, we duly demonstrate from innumerable testimonies of Scripture. And for these men, the truth is, as they lay out the choicest of all their endeavours to prove him not to be God by na- ture, and so not at all (for a made god, a second-rank god, a deified man, is no God, the Lord our God being one, and the conceit of it brings in the polytheism of the heathen amongst the professors of the name of Christ), so they also deny him to be true man now he is in heaven, or to retain the nature of a man; and so, instead of a Christ that was God from eternity, made a man in one person unto eternity, they believe in a Christ who was a man, and is 'made a god, who never had the oiature of God, and had then the nature of man, but hath lost it. This, Mr B., after his masters, instructs his disciples in, in his Lesser Catechism, chap, x., namely, that although Christ rose with his fleshly body, wherein he was crucified, yet now he hath a spiritual body, not in its qualities, but substance, — a body that hath neither flesh nor bones. "What he hath done with his other body, where he laid it aside, or how he disposeth of it, he doth not declare.
CHAPTER XV.
Of the Holy Ghost, his deity, graces, and operations,
ME BIDDLE's fifth CHAPTER EXAMINED.
Ques. IIow many Holy Spirits of Christians are there?
Ans. Eph. iv. 4.
Q. Wherein consists the prerogative of that Holy Spirit above other spirits?
A. 1 Cor. 11. 10, II.
Q. Whence is the Holy Ghost sent?
A. 1 Pet. 1. 12.
Q. By whom ?
A. Gal. Iv. 6.
Q. Doth not Christ affirm that he also sends him? how speakeih he?
A. John xvl. 7.
Q. Had Jesus Christ always the power to send the Holy Ghost, or did he ob- tain it at a certain time ?
A. Acts. ii. 32, 33 ; John vii. 39.
Q. What were the general benefits accruing to Christians by the Holy Ghost?
A. 1 Cor. xii. 13; iJom. viii. 16, 26, 27, V. 5; CoL 1. 8: Eph. i. 17; Rom. XV. 13, xiv. 17; Acts Ix. 31; Eph. Hi. 16.
Q. What are the special benefits accruing to the apostles by the Holy Ghost? what saith Christ to them hereof?
A. John XV. 26, xvi. 13.
Q. Should the Holy Ghost lead them into all truth, as speaking of himself, and. imparting of his own fulness? what saith Christ concerning him?
A. John xvi. 13, 14.
Q. Do men receive the Holy Ghost while they are of the world and in their natural condition, to the end that they may become the children of God, may
334) VINDICI^ EVANGELIC Ja.
i'eceive the word, may believe, rnay repent, may obey Christ; or after they are become the children of God, have received the word, do believe, do repent, do obey Christ f
A. John xiv. 16, 17; 1 Cor. ii. 14; Gal. iv. 6; Acts viii. 14-16; John vii. 38, 39 ; Acts xk. 1, 2 ; Eph. i. 13; Gal. iii. 14; Acts xv. 7, 8, ii. 38, v. 32.
EXAMINATION.
The fifth chapter of our catechist is concerning the Holy Ghost, for reducing of whom into the order and rank of creatures Mr Biddle hath formerly taken great pains f following therein the Macedonians of old, and leaving his new masters the Socinians, who deny him his per- sonality, and leave him to be only the efficacy or energy of the power of God. The design is the same in both; the means used to bring it about differ. The Socinians, not able to answer the testimonies proving him to be God, to be no creature, do therefore deny his per- sonality."^ Mr B., being not able to stand before the clear evidence of his personality, denies his deity. What he hath done in this chap- ter I shall consider ; what he hath elsewhere done hath already met with a detection from another hand.
" Q. How many Holy Spirits of Christians are there? — A. 'One Spirit,' Eph. iv. 4."
1 must take leave to put one question to Mr B., that we may the better know the mind and meaning of his; and that is, what he means by the "Holy Spirits of Christians?" If he intend that Spirit which they worship, invocate, believe, and are baptized into his name, who quickens and sanctifies them, and from whom they have their supplies of grace, it is true there is but one only Spirit of Christians, as is evident, Eph. iv. 4; and this Spirit is "God, blessed for ever;" nor can any be called that one Spirit of Christians but he that is so. But if by the " Holy Spirits of Christians" he intend created spiritual beings, sent out from God for the good of Christians, of those that believe, there are then an innumerable company of holy spirits of believers ; for all the angels are " ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," Heb. i. 14. So that by this one testimony, that there is but one Holy Spirit of Christians, that Holy Spirit is exempted from the number of all created spirits, and reckoned as the object of their worship with the "one God" and " one Lord," Eph. iv. 4-6; when yet they wor- ship the Lord their God alone, and him only do they serve. Matt, iv. 10.