$8 DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY AP nicating a prolific and vivifie quality unto it, as a fowl or dove in particular, gently moves itself upon its eggs, until, with, and by its generative warmth, it bath com- municatedvital heat unto them; so now, at the entrance . of the new creation, he comes as a dove upon him who was the immediate author of it, and virtually comprised it in himself, carrying it on by virtue of his presence with. him. And so this is applied in the Syriac ritual of baptism composed by Severinus, in the account giv- en of the baptism. of Christ, 'rnn7a Hw v'p i won, risen es a 'w' ,»t, stir, nw'i Stnnnnt nrns s-n'vo. a And the s' Spirit of holiness descended, flying in the likeness of a dove, and rested upon him, and moved on the wa- se ters." And in the assumptionof this form there may be some respect unto the dovethat brought tidings to Noah of the ceasing of the flood of waters, and of the ending of the wrath of God, who thereon said that he would curse the earth no more, Gen. viii. 11. For-here- in also was there a significant representation of himwho visited poor lost mankind in their cursed condition, and proclaimed peace unto them that would return to God, by him, the great peace -maker, Ephes. ii. LI, 15. And this work he immediately engaged into, on the rest- ing of this dove upon him. Besides, there is a natural aptness in that creature to represent the Spirit that rest- ed on the Lord Jesus. For the known nature and course of a. dove is such, as is meet to mind us of puri- ty and harmless innocency, Matth. x. 16. Hence is that direction, Beharmless as doves. So also the sharpness of its sight or eyes, as Cant. i. 16. chap. iv. 1. is fixed on, to represent a quick and discerning understanding, such as was in Christ, from the resting of the Spirit upon him, Ise. xi. 3. Sect. 17.The shape thereofthat appeared was that of a dove; but the substance itself, I judge, was of a fiery nature, an aethereal substance shaped into the form or resemblance of a dove. It had the shape of a dove, but not the appearanceof feathers, colours, or the like. This also rendered the appearance more visible, conspi- cuous, heavenly, and glorious. And the Holy Ghost is often compared to fire, because he was of old typified or represented thereby. For, on the first solemn offer- ing of sacrifices, there came fire from the Lord for the kindling of them. Hence Theodotion of old rendered ram am,. Gen. iv. 4. The Lord had respect to the offering of Abel; by sessrrp etl i9:os, God fired the oJJerissg of Abel, sent down fire, that kindled his sacri- fice, as a token of his acceptance. However, it is cer- tain, that at,the first erection of the altar in the wilder- ness, upon the first sacrifices, fire carne out from be- fore the Lord, and consumed on the altar the burnt-of. fering and the fat; which, when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces, Levis.. ix. 24s. And the fire kindled hereby was tobe perpetuated OR the altar, so that none was ever to, be used in sacrifice but what was traduced from it. For a: neglect of this intimation of the mind of God,. were Nssdab and Abihu consumed, chap. x. 1. So was it also upon the deli, cation of the altar in the temple of Solomon, Eire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt- oferinaì 2 Chron. vii. I. and a fine thence kindled, was always kept burning on the altar.. And in like manner, God bare testimony to the ministry of Elijah, I Kings xviii. 88, 39. God by all these signified, that no sacrifices were accepted with him, where faith- was not kindled in. the heart of the offerer by the Holy Ghost, repre. sented by the fire that kindled the sacrifices on the altar. And, in answer hereunto, is our Lord Jesus Christ said .to offer himself through the eternal Spirit, 1leh. ix. 1.4. It was therefore most probably a- fiery appearance that was made. And in the next bodily shape which he assumed, it is expressly said that it was fiery, Acts ii. S. There appeared unto them cloven tongues like as offire; which was the visible token of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them. And he chase then that figure oftongues, to denote the assist- ance, which by the miraculous gift of speakingwith divers tongues, together with that wisdom and utter -. ance, which he furnished them withal for the publica- tion of the gospel. And thus also, the Lord Christ is said to baptize with the Holy Ghost andwith fire, Matth. iii. 11. Not two things are intended; but the latter words, and with fire are added iys.vss-mos; and the ex- pression is i, I.a lane,, with the Holy Ghost, who is a spiritual, divine, eternal fire. So God absolutely is said to be a consuming fire, Heb. xii.29. Deut. iv. 24. And, as in these words, He shall baptize you with the Hody Ghost and withfore, there is a prospect unto what came to pass afterwards, when the apostles received the Holy Ghost, with a visible pledge of fiery tongues; so there seems to be a retrospect by way of allusion unto what is recorded, Isa. vi. 6, 7. For a living or fiery
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