IIOLY SPIRIT the subversion of the faith which they have professed. * Such are those whereby his deity and personality are denied. About these there have been many contests in the world; some endeavouring, with diligence and sub- tilty, to promote the perverse opinions mentioned; o- thers contending, according to their duty, for the faith once delivered unto the saints. gilt these disputations are, for the most part, so managed, that although the truth be in some ofthem strenuously vindicated, yet the mindsofbelievers generally are but little edified by them. For the most are unacquainted with the ways and terms of arguing, which are suited to convince or stop the mouths of gainsayers, rather than to direct the faith of others. Besides, our knowledge of things is more by their operations and proper effects, than from their own nature and formal reason. Especially is it so in divine things, and particularly with respect unto God himself In his own glorious being, he dwelleth in light where- unto no creature can approach. In the revelation that he bath made of himself by the effects of his will in his word and works are we to seek after him. By them are the otherwise invisible things of God made known, his attributes declared; and wecome to a better acquain- tance with him, than any we can attain by our most di- ligent speculations about his nature itself immediately. So is it with the Holy Ghost and his personality. He is in the scripture, proposed unto as to be known by his properties and works, adjuncts and operations; by our duty towards him, and our offences against him. The due consideration of these things, is that which will lead as into that assured knowledge of his being and subsistence, which is necessary for the guidance of our faith and obedience, which is the end of all these in quiries, Col. ii. 2, Wherefore although I shall by the * Quoniam quidam temeritate potins quern recta via etiam in superna erigostur, et bec de Spiritu Sancto Jactitane, qua neque in Scriptnris leers, nec a quoquam Ecclesiasticoesm Veteran, usurpata aunt, compulsi sumus eeleberrnme Exhortation Fromm; cedere, gueque sit nnstra de eo opinio edam Scripturamm Testimoniis comprobare; no e imperitia tend dogmatic, hi qui contraria opponuntdecipiant cos qui sine discus- alonesollicita in adversariorumsententiam sentira pertrahnntar.Didym. de Sp. S, Lib. 1. Appellabo Spiritus Sancti, et ea qua monstratur ex ipsa appelia- tione substantia, penises ab his igno antur, qui extra toscan Scripturam pbilosophantur, solummodo 'eum in nostratibus literis et notio jus et Vocabulum enfance tam in Nobis gnaruin Veteribus, Didvm de Spirit. Sane. lib. 1. D AND HIS WO1X. 15 may explain, confirm, and vindicate the testimonies that are given in the scripture, or some of them, unto his deity and personality; yet the principal means that I shall insist on, for the establishing of our faith in him, is the due and just exposition and declaration of the ad- ministrations and operations that are ascribed unto him in the scriptures; which also will give great light into the whole mystery and economy of God in the work of our salvation by Jesus Christ. Sect. 25.Fifthly; the principal cause and occasion of our present undertaking, is the open and horrible opposition that is made unto the Spirit of God and his work in the world. 'There is no concernment of his that is not by many derided, exploded, and blasphemed. The very name of the Spirit, is grown to be a reproach; nor do some think they can more despitefully expose any to scorn than by ascribing to them a concern in the Spirit of God. This indeed is a thing which I have often wondered at, and do continue still so to do. For, whereas in the gospel every thing that is good, holy, praise worthy in any man, is expressly assigned to the Spirit, as the immediate efficient cause and operator of it, and whereas the condition of men without him, not made partakers of him, is described to be reprobate or rejected of God, and foreign unto any interest in Christ; yet manypretending unto the belief and profession of the gospel, are so for from owning or desiring a partici- pation of this Spirit in their own persons, as that they deride and contemn them who dare plead or avow any concern in him or his works. Only I must grant, that herein they have had some that have gone before them, namely the old scoffing heathens. For so doth Lucian in his Philopatici, speak in imitation of a. Christian by way of scorn. Asye, rive rat ,r,sapcxros lorxu,s ca boya aaea, speak out note, receiving power or abilityof speaking from the Spirit, or by the Spirit. Certainly an atten- dance to the old caution, Si non caste tarnen caute, had been needful for some in this matter. Could they not bring their own hearts unto a due reverence of the Spi- rit of God, and an endeavour after a participation of his fruits and effects, yet the things that are spoken concerning him and his work in the whole New Testa- ment, and also in places almost innumerable in the Old, might have put á check to their public contemp- tuous reproaches and scornful mockings, whilst they own those writings to be of God. But such was his en- 15
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