66 ther, Son, and Holy Ghost are one in unanimity of intention, are one in operation. The Holy Ghost must therefore be a full participator of the Divine nature, for nothing short of divinity could thus act in contact with divinity, or be fully endued with attributes and powers which belong to Deity alone. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb." (Luke i. 15.) The holy Spirit of truth proceedeth from the Father, and acts as coadjutor with the quickening spirit incarnate in the Saviour. "And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." (41.) "Zachariah was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied." (67.) "Simeon was just and devout, and the Holy Ghost was upon him." (ii. 25.) "And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple." (26.) Perfect consistency of relation pervades these communications; to one and the same agent, to one and the same inspirer, to one and the same source, is ascribed the illumination of man. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit;" (John iii. 6;) that is, through the regenerating operation of the Holy Ghost. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink; he that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.") John vii. 37-39. That all the servants of God have ever been illumined, quickened, (for it is the Spirit that quickeneth-John vi. 63,) and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, our present research has found the Scriptures uniform in asserting. Our Saviour, therefore, in the foregoing passage, clearly refers to those extraordinary gifts engaged to be poured down subsequent to his ascension and glorification in heaven; "and in particular on his apostles, whose inspired communications unto us he compares to the flowing forth of rivers, imparting living water."* "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him." (John xiv. 16, 17.) "But the comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things;" (26;) "even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." (xv. 26.) "I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (xvi. 7.) Subsequent to the resurrection of our blessed Lord, on the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, "came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you; and they being yet sceptical and unbelieving, He showed unto * Doddridge. them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." But the miraculous and extraordinary gifts imparted through this divine Agent, were not, we know, at this time given, because that Jesus was not then glorified, nor were the wonderful gifts poured down on the apostles upon the day of Pentecost confined to that juncture. They were even endued with the power of imparting the like astonishing endowments they had themselves received, on believing converts to the new religion; frequent mention of which is made in the Acts of the Apostles: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost; for they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." (x. 44-46.) By this miraculous interposition, an infallible external evidence was given to the truth of Christianity; the descent of the Holy Ghost was visible to the senses of the astonished beholders :* and the gifts bestowed infused in the hearts of the astonished receivers an evidence of its truth, that could neither be mistaken * It was visible to ocular demonstration on the day of Pentecost; and in Acts viii. 18, it is thus recorded: "When Simon saw that the Holy Ghost was given." or effaced. Had not indeed the aid of supernatural attestation been given at this terrific era to the truth of Revelation, it would be difficult, if not utterly impossible, rationally to account for the success of its pristine preachers, or for the resignation wherewith they and their converts submitted, for its sake, to every suffering most appalling to humanity. It has been well remarked, that the Christian religion was erected upon real miracles, and has been often shook by the false pretences of unreal ones: and perhaps a better criterion cannot be pointed out for discerning betwixt these, than that directed by our sapient Lord for the detection of false prophets-"by their fruits ye shall know them." But this subject would lead us here into far too wide a field. "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." (Acts xi. 15,16.) "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us." (xv. 8.) "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When VOL. II. L they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (xix. 2-6.) 66 In addition to the accustomed blessings procured through the rite of baptism, they were gifted with the miraculous ones at this era poured down on man by the Holy Ghost: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which He had promised afore by his prophets in the holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness." (Rom. i. 1-4.) "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (v. 5.) "Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God." (viii. 26, 27.) All these passages fully prove the Holy Ghost a person, not a property. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (xv. 13.) "Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." (ver. 16.) Through mighty signs and wonders, 66 |