46 DIVINE NATURE A aggravation ofguilt along with it, above all that human nature, in any other instance, is capable of. It is sup- posed that blasphemy may-be against the person of the Father. So was it in him who blasphemed the name of Jehovah, and cursed by it, Lev. xxiv. 11.. The Son, as to his distinct person, may be blasphemed; so it is said here expressly; and thereon it is added that the Holy Ghost also may be distinctly blasphemed, or be the im- mediate object of that sin which is declared to be inex- piable. To suppose now that this Holy Ghost is not a divine person, is for men to dream whilst they seem to be awake. Sect. 30. -1 suppose by all these testimonies we have fully confirmed what was designed to be proved by them; namely, that the Holy Spirit is not a quality, as some speak, residing in the divine nature; not a mere emanation of virtue and power from God; not the act- ing of the power of God in and unto our sanctification, but an holy intelligent or subsistent person. And in our passage, many instances have been given, whence it is undeniably evident that he is a divine self - sufficient, self-subsisting person, together with the Father and the Son equally partiéipant of the divine nature.. Nor is this distinctly much disputed by themwith whom we have to do: for they confess that such things are ascrib- ed unto him, as none but God can effect. Wherefore, denying him so to be, they lay up all their hopes of success in denying him to be a person; but yet because the subject we are upon doth require it, and it may be useful to the faith of some; I will call over a few testi- monies given expressly unto his deity also. Sect. st. First; he is expressly called God; and having the name of God properly and directly given unto him, with respect unto spiritual things, or things peculiar unto God, he must have the nature of God also, Acts v. S. Ananias is said to lie to the HolyGhost. This is repeated and interpreted, ver. 4. Thou hast not liedunto menbut unto God. The declaration of the per- son intended by the Holy Ghost, is added for the ag- gravation of the sin, for he is God. The same person, the same object of the sin of Ananias is expressed in both places; and therefore the Holy Ghost is God. The word for lying is the same in both places; 4esI,.us only it is used in a various construction, ver. 3. It hath the accusative case joined unto it; jsnearSu ov e' aorox zo ioy,or; that thou shouldest deceive, or think to de- ND I'E1tSONALITY OP ceive, or attempt to deceive the Iloly Ghost: How? by lying untohim, in making a profession in thechurch wherein he presides of that which is false.. This is -ex- plained ver. 5. by -4a TX. eu,, thou host lied unto God; the nature of his sin being principally intended in the first place, and the object in the latter. Wherefore, in the progress of his discourse, the apostle calls the same sin a tempting of theSpirit -ofthe Lord, -verse O. It was the Spirit of the Lord that he-licol unto when he lied unto God. These three expressions the Holy Ghost, God, the Spirit of the Lord, do denote the same thing and person, or there is no coherence in the discourse. It is excepted, that what is done against the Spirit, is done against God, because he is sent by God. It is true, as he is sent by the Father, what isdone against him is morally, and as to the guilt of it, done against the Fa- ther. And so our Saviour tells -us, with respect unto what was done against himself: for, saith he, He that despiseth me, despiseth .him that sent nee. But, directly and immediately, both Christ and the Spirit were sinned against in -their own persons. He is God here pro- voked. So-also he is called Lord, ina senseappropriate unto God. alone, 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. Nov, the Lord is that Spirit; and we are changed from glory to glory, eiro xvq. ,r,rvlzaroç, by the Lord the Spirit, or the Spirit of the Lord; where also divine operations are ascribed untohim. What is affirmed to thispurpose, 1 Cor. xii. 6, 7, 8. hath been' observed in the opening of the be- ginning of that chapter, at the beginning of our dis- course. The same also is drawn by just consequence from the comparing of scriptures together, wherein what is spoken of God absolutely in one place is applied directly and immediately unto the Holy Ghost in ano- ther. To instance in one or two particulars, Lev. xxvi. 11, 12. o, I will," saith God, " set my tabernacle a- " mongst you; and I will walk among you, and will be " your God, and ye shall be my people." The accom- plishment of this promise the apostle declares, 2 Cor. vi. 16. " Ye are the temple of the living God, as God " bath said, I will dwell in them, and walk amongst " them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my " people." How, and by whom is this done? 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. " Know ye not that ye are the temple of i0 God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If " any man defile the temple of God, him will God de- " stroy, for the temple of God is holy, which ye are."
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