Thirdly, He dwelleth in us, as God in a temple, Rom. viii. 9, 1 Cor. iii. 16; thereby sanctifying us, chap. vi. 11; comforting us, John xvi. 7; and helping our infirmities, Rom. viii. 26 ; mortifying our sins, chap, viii. 13; creating in us Christian graces. Gal. v. 22, 23; yea, he is the author of all grace, as is evident in that promise made of his presence with the Messiah, Isa. xi. 2. I say, with the Messiah, for of liim only are those words to be understood; to which purpose I cannot but add the words of an old friar, to the shame of some amongst us who should know more, or be more Christian in their expositions of Scrip- ture. Saith he, speaking of this place, " Note that in innumerable places of the Talmud this is expounded of the Messiah, and never of
OF THE DEITY OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND HIS WORK, 337
any other, by any one who is of any authority among the Hebrews. Wherefore it is evident that some amongst us, too much Judaizing, do err, whilst they fear not to expound tliis literally of Josiah. But that this is to be understood of the Messiah only is showed by Rabbi Solomon, who expounds it of him, and not of Josiah; which, accord- ing to his way, he would never have done, if, without the injury of his Talmud and Targum, and the prejudice of all his predecessors, he could have expounded it otherwise."^ So far he.
It is not a little strange that some Christians should venture far- ther in perverting the testimonies of Scripture concerning the Mes- siah than the Jews dare to do.
4. He makes and appoints to himself and his service ministers of the church, Acts xiii. 2, giving unto them powers, and working various and wonderful works, as he pleaseth, 1 Cor. xii. 8-11.
5. He is sinned against, and so offended with sin that the sin against him shall never be forgiven. Matt. xii. 31 ; though it be not against his person, but some especial grace and dispensation of his.
6. He is the object of divine worshijj,^ we being baptized into his name, as that of the Father and Son, Matt, xxviii. 19. And grace is prayed for from him as from Father and Son, 2 Cor. xiii. 1 4 ; Rev. i. 4, 5; Rom. x. 14. He is to be head of churches, Rev. ii. iii. ; but God will not give this glory to another, Isa. xiii. 8. Also, he hath the name of God given hina, Isa. vi. 8, 9, compared with Acts xxviii, 25, 26; and Isa. Ixiii. 13, 14, with Ps. Ixxviii. 41, 52; 2 Sam. xxiii, 2, 3 ; Acts v. 3, 4.
7. And the attributes of God are ascribed to him, as, — (1.) Ubi- quity, or omnipresence, Ps, cxxxix. 7; 1 Cor, iii. 16. (2.) Omni- science, 1 Cor. ii. 10; John xvi. 13. His omnipotency and eternity are both manifest from the creation.
8. To all this, in a word, it may be added that he is a person, the denial whereof is the only xprjff^vysTov of the Socinians. They ac- knowledge that if he be a person, he is God. But, (I.) He is a person who hath a name, and in whose name something is done, as we are said to be baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, Matt, xxviii, 19, And, (2.) He is conjoined with the other divine persons as one of them, 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Rev. i. 4, 5 ; Matt, xxviii. 19. (3.) He
' "^ota quod in locis irmtimeris in Talmud hoc exponitur de Mcssia, ct nunquam de alio, ab aliquo qui alicujus apud Hebrceos authoritatis sit. Quarc patct quod errant, nimium judaizantes nostri, qui lioc de Josia ad liteiam non vcrentur expoucre. Dc solo quippe Messia hoc intelligendum fore ostcnditur per R. Solomon, qui hoc de ipso nou de Josia exponit ; quod juxta morem suum nunquam egissct, si absque injuria sui Talmud et Targum, et sine proedeccssorum suorura omnium prsejudicio, aliter cxponere potuisset." — Raymund. Martin. Pug Fid. p. 3, d. 1, c. xi.
2 OStos 0 Q'.o; lo^ci^ofiivo; Iv IxxXfuriK, rrdrhf au. v'lo; dt), ^vBvf/.a ayiov dii Epiphan.
Ancorat. cap. Ixxiii. T« Uviv/mc to uymv, ro rhv Uarft) x«J Tj^ ffvffpr/iofxijjiovfiivoii, xai (r!jv'S4a%of4ivi>y. — Symbol. Cone. Constant.
VOL. XIL 22
838 VINDICI^ EVANGELIC^.
hath an undffi^standing, 1 Cor. ii. 11; and a ^uill, chap. xii. 11. (4) To him are speaking and ivords ascribed, and such actions as are peculiar to persons, Acts xiii. 2, xx. 28, etc.
What remains of this chapter will be of a brief and easy despatch- The next question is, " Whence is the Holy Ghost sent ? — A. 1 Pet. i. 12, ' Down from heaven/ "
1. This advantageth not at all Mr B.'s design against the Holy Ghost, to i^rove him not to be God, that he is "sent down from heaven;" whereby he supposeth that his coming from one place to another is intimated, seeing he supposes God to be so in heaven, yea, in some certain place of heaven, as at the same time not to be elsewhere, so that if ever he be in the earth he must come down from heaven.
2. Nor is there any thing in his being sent prejudicial to the pre- rogative of his divine being ; for he who is God, equal in nature to the Father and Son, yet, in respect of the order of that dispensation that these three who are in heaven, who are also one, 1 John v. 7, have engaged in for the salvation of men, may be sent of the Father and the Son, having the execution of that work, which they respec- tively concur in, in an eminent manner to him committed.