42 DIVINE NATURE AND PERSONALITY OP given me life. Creation is an act of divine power; the sorts which are ascribed to the Spirit of God; which we highest we are capable to receive any notion of. And it is also an effect of the wisdom and will of him that crest- eth, as being a voluntary act, and designed unto a certain end. All these, therefore, are here ascribed to the Spirit ofGod. It is excepted (Schlicting. p. 612, 615.) that by the Spirit of God here mentioned, no more is intended but our own vital spirits, wherebyweare quickened, call- ed the Spirit of God, because he gave it. But this is too much confidence; the words are 'i nn',e nnmai'inno Sa nr,. There were two distinct divine. operations in, and about the creation of man. The firstwas theforming of his body out of the dust of the earth; this is expressed by nmv and ls'; he made, he formed: and secondly, the infusion of a living or quickening soul into him, called a"n ncmr:or the breath of life. Both these are here distinctly mentioned; the first ascribed to the Spirit of God, the other to his breath; that is, the same Spirit considered in a peculiar wayof operation, in the infusion of the rational soul. Such is the sense of those figura- tive and enigmatical words; God breathed into man the breath oflife; that is, by his Spirit, he effected a princi- ple of life in him, as we shall see afterwards. Sect. 23. isa. xi. 2. As he is called a Spirit of wis- dom and understanding, so is he also of might or pow- er; and although it may be granted, that the things therementioned are rather effects ofhis operations than adjuncts of his nature.; yet, he who effecteth wisdom and power in others, must first have them himself. To this purpose also is that demand, Micah.°ii. 7. Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened or shortened? that is, in his power, that he cannot work and operate in thepro- phets and his church, as in former days; and the same prophet, chap. iii. verse 8. affirms, That he isfull of power, and ofjudgment, and ofmight, by the Spirit of the Lord. These things were wrought in him by his power, as the apostle .speaks to the same purpose, Ephes. iii. 16. Those by whom this truth is opposed, do lay out all their strength and skill in exceptions, I may say cavils, against some of these particular testi- monies, and some expressions in them. But as to the whole argument, taken from the consideration of the design and scope of the scripture in them all, they have nothing to except. Sect. 24. To complete this argument, I shall add the consideration of those works and operations of all shall findto besuch as are not capable of an assignation unto him with the least congruity of speech, or design of speaking intelligibly, unless he be a distinct singular subsistent, or person endued with divine power and understanding. And here, what we desired formerly might be observed, must be again repeated. It is not from a single instance of every one of the works which we shall mention, that we draw and confirm our argu- ment. For some of them, singly considered, may per- haps, sometimes be metaphorically ascribed unto other causes, which doth not prove that therefore they are persons also; which contains the force of all the excep- tions of our adversaries against these testimonies. But as some of them at least never are, nor can be assigned unto any but a divine person; so we take our argument from their joint consideration, or the uniform constant assignation of them all unto him in the scriptures, which renders it irrefragable. For the things themselves I shall not insist upon them, because their particular na- ture must be afterwards unfolded. Sect. 25.First; He is said to teach us, Luke xii. 12. The Holy Ghost shall teach you what you ought to " say,," John xiv. 26. " The Comforter, which is the " Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in myname, " he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to " your remembrance," 1 John ii. 27. He is the unction which teacheth us all things; how and whencehe is so cal- led, shall beafterwards declared. He is the great teacher of the church, unto whom the accomplishment of that great promise is committed; and they shall be all taught ofGod, John vi. 45. It is sad with the church of God, when her teachers are removed into a corner, and her eyes see them not. But better lose all other teachers, and that utterly, than to lose this great 'reacher only. For although he is pleased to make use.of,them, he can teach effectually and savingly without them, where they are removed and taken away; but they cannot teach without him unto the least spiritual advantage. And those who pretend to be teachers of others, and yet despise his teaching assistance, will one day find that they undertook a work which was none of theirs. But as unto our use of this assertion it is excepted, that the apostle áffirms, that nature also teacheth us; 1 Cor. xi, 1 +. Doth not even nature itself teach you? Now na- ture is not a person. This is the sway and manner of
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