THE HOLY SPIRIT P 22. which place I have opened and vindicated else- where. And they are absolute, infinite, natural, and necessary unto the being and blessedness of God. So the Spirit is the mutual love of the Father and the Son, knowing them as he is known, and searching the deep things of God. And in these mutual internal eternal acts of themselves, consists much of the infinite blessed- ness of the holy God. Again, (2.) there are distinct actings of the several persons ad extra, which are vo- luntary, or effects of will and choice, and not natural or necessary. And these are of two sorts: (I.) Such as respect one another. For there are external acts of one person towards another; but then the person that is the object of these actings is not considered absolute- ly as a divine person, but with respect unto some pecu- liar dispensation and condescension. So the Father gives, sends, commands the Son, as he had condescend- ed to take our nature upon him, and to be the media- tor between God and man. So the Father and the Son do send the Spirit, as he condescends in an espe- cial manner to the office of being the sanctifier and comforter of the church. Now these are free and vo- luntary acts, depending upon the sovereign will, coun- sel, and pleasure of God, and might not have been without the least diminution of his eternal blessedness. (2.) There are especial acts, ad extra, towards the creatures. " This the whole scripture testifieth unto, no that it is altogether needless to confirm it with parti- cular instances. None who have learned the first prin- ciples of the doctrine of Christ, but can tell you what works are ascribed peculiarly to the Father, what to to the Son, and what to the Holy Ghost. Besides, this will be manifested afterwards in all the distinct actings of the Spirit, which is sufficient for our purpose. Sect. G.Fifthly; Hence it follows unavoidably, that this Spirit, of whom we treat, is in himself a distinct, living, powerful, intelligent divineperson; for none other can be the author of those internal and external divine acts and operations which are ascribed unto him. But here 1 must stay a little, and firm that foundation which we build upon. Forwe are in the investigation of those In hoc Divini Magisterii Schola, Pater est gui docet et instruit; Filius qui arcana.Dei nobis revola[ et apperit, Spiritus Sanctus gui nos replet et imbuit. A Patee potenliam, a Filio sapientiam, a Spinta Santo accipimus Innocentiam; Pater etigit, Filius diliget, Spiritus Sanctus conjungit et unit.Cyprian, de Baptisimo Christi, ROVED AND VINDICATED. 33 things which that one and self -same Spirit distributeth according to his own will. And it is indispensibly ne- cessary unto our present design, that we inquire who, and what that one and self-same Spirit is; seeing on him and his will, all these things do depend. And we do know likewise, that if then prevail in the opposition they make unto his person, it is to no great purpose to con- cern ourselves in his operations. For the foundation of any fabric being taken away, the superstructure will be of no use, nor abide. Sect. 7. The opposition that is made in the world against the Spirit of God doctrinally, may be reduced unto two heads: For some there are whogrant his per- sonality, or that he is a distinct self - subsisting person; but they deny his deity, deny him to be a participant of the divine nature, or will not allow him to be God. A created finite spirit they say he is, but the chiefest of all spirits that were created, and the head of all the good angels. Such a spirit they say there is, and that he is called the spirit of God, or the Holy Ghost, upon the account of the work wherein he is employed. This way went the Macedonian heretics of old, and they are now followed by the Mahometans; and some of late among ourselves haveattempted to revive the same frenzy. But we shall not need to trouble ourselvesabout this notion. The folly of it is so evident, that it is almost by all ut- terly deserted. Forsuch things areaffirmedof theHoly Ghost in the scripture, as that to assert his personality, and deny bis deity, is the utmost madness that any one can fall into in spiritual things. Wherefore the Soci- nians, the present great enemies of the doctrine of the holy Trinity, and who would be thought to go soberly about the work of destroying the church of God, do ut- terly reject this plea and pretence. But that which they advance in the room of it, is of no less pernicious nature and consequence. For, granting the things assigned to him to be the Fects of divine power, they deny his per- sonality; and assert that what is called by the name of the Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit, is nothing but a quality in the divine nature, or the power that God puts forth for such and such purposes, which yet is no new invention of theirs. 1 do not design here profes. Hare auteur omnia operator onus atque idem Spiritus, divides gulis prout volt; undodiscentes operotricem at ut dicamdistributricem naturam Spiritus Sancti: non abducamur ab his gui dicunt operationem
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