r:_= __-, . THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVEO AND VINDICATED. 45 You agree together to tempt theSpirit of the Lord, Acts v. 9. In what sense soever this word is used, whether in that which is indifferent to try, as God is said to tempt Abraham, or in that which is evil, to provoke or induce to sin, it never is, it never can be used but with respect unto a person. How can a quality, an accident, an emanation of power from God be tempted? None can possibly be so, but he that bath an understanding to consider what is proposed unto him, and a will to determine upon the proposals made. So Satan tempted our first parents; so men are tempted by their own lusts; so are we said to tempt God, when we provoke him by our unbelief, or when we unwarrantably make experiments of his power. So did they tempt the Ho- ly Ghost, who sinfully ventured on his omniscience as if he would not, or could not, discover their sin;. or on bis holiness, that he would patronize their deceit. In like manner Ananias is said to lie to the Holy Ghost, verse S. And none is capable of lying unto any other but such a one as is capable of hearing and receiving a testimony. For a lie is a false testimony given unto that which is spoken or uttered in it. This he that is lied unto, must be capable of judging and determining upon, which without personal properties of will and understanding, nonecan be. And the Holy Ghost is here so declared to be a person, as that he is declared to be one that is also divine. For so the apostle Peter declares in the exposition of the words, verse 4. Thou hast not lied unto men, lmt unto God. These things are so plain and positive, that the faith.of believers will not be concerned in the sophistical evasions of ouradversa- ries. in like manner he is said to be resisted, Acts vii. 51. which is the moral reaction or opposition of one person unto another. So also is he said to begrieved, or we are commanded not to grievehim, Ephes. iv. 30. as they of old were said to have rebelled and vexed the Holy Spirit of God, Ise. lxiii. 10. A figurative expres- sion is allowed in these words. Properly the Spirit of God cannot be grieved or vexed; far these things in- clude such imperfections as are incompetentunto. the divine nature. But as .God is said to - repent and tobe grieved at his heart, Gen. vi. 6. when he would do things correspondentunto those which men will do, or judge fit to-be done onsuch provocations; and when he would declare -what effects they would produce in a na- ture capable of such perturbations; -so, on the same rea- son, is the Spirit of God said to be grieved and vexed. But this can no way be spoken of hint, if he be not one whose respect unto sin may, from the analogy unto hu- man persons, be represented by this figurative expres- sion. To talk of grieving a virtue, or an actual eman- ation of power, is to speak that which no man can un- derstand the meaning or intention of. Surely he that is thus tempted, resisted, and grieved by sin, and sin- ners, is one that can understand, judge and determine concerning them. And these things being elsewhere absolutely spoken concerning God, it declares that he is so, with respect unto whom they are mentioned in particular. Seat. 29. The whole of the truth contended for, is yet more evident in that discourse of our Saviour, Mattb. xii. 24. The Pharisees said, He Both not cast out devils but by Beelzebub, the prince of devils, verse 28. If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you, verse 31, 32. as Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blas- e phemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men; and whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall beforgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be for- " given him." To the same purpose, see Luke xii. 8, 9, 10. The Spirit is here expressly distinguished from the Son, as one personfrom another. They are both spoken of with respect unto the same things in the same manner; and the things mentioned are spoken .concern- ing them universally in the samesedse. Now, if the Holy Ghost were only the virtue and power of God then present with Jesus Christ in all that he did, Christ and that power could not be distinctly spoken against; for they were but one and the same. The Pharisees blasphemed, saying, That he cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils. A person they intended, and so expressedhim -by his name, nature, and office. To which our Saviour replies, that he cast them out by the Spirit of God; a divine person opposed to him, who is diabolical. Hereunto be immediately subjoins his in- struction and caution, that they should ;take heed how they blasphemed that Holy Spirit, by assigning hisef- fects and works to the prince of devils. And blasphemy against him directly manifests both what, and who he is; especially such a peculiar blasphemy as carrieth an
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