62- WAY AND 11IANÑÑEN OF TF1E DIVINY this expression: (I.) An eminent act of divine bount, Pouring forlle is the way whereby bounty from an all sufficing fulness is expressed. As the " clouds fine,. " with a moist vapour pour down rain," Job xxxvi. 27. " until it water the ridges of the earth abundantly, set- " tling the furrows thereof, and making it soft with " showers;" as Peal. lxv. 10. which with the things following in that place, ver. I I, 12, 13. are spoken al- legoricallyof this pouring out of the Spirit of God from above. Hence God is said to do this richly, Tit. iii. 6. The renewing of the Holy Ghost; & i e io i ' x¡oas '.ae',ms, tehieh he bath poured forth on us richly; that is, on all believers who are converted unto God. For the apos tie tliscourseth not of the extraordinary gifts of the Ho- ly Ghost, which were then given forth in a plentiful manner, but of that grace of the Holy Ghost, whereby all that believe are regenerated, renewed, and convert- ed unto God. For so were men converted of old by a rich participationof the Holy Ghost, and so they must be still, whatever some pretend, or die in their. sins. And by the same word is the bounty of God, in other things, expressed. The living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, 1 'l'im. vi. 17. (2.) This pouring out path respect unto the gifts and graces of the Spirit, and not unto his person. For where he is given, he is given absolutely, and as to himself, not . more or less; but his gifts and graces may be more plen- tifully and abundantly given at one time than at ano- ther, to some persons than to others. Wherefore this expression is metonymical, that being spoken of the cause which is proper to the effect; the Spirit being said to be poured forth, becausehis graces are so. (3.) Respect is had herein unto some especial works of the Spirit. Such are thepurifying or sanctifying, and the comforting or refreshing them on whom he is poured. With respect unto the first of these effects, he is com- pared both unto fire and water. For both fire and wa- ter have purifying qualities in them, though towards different objects, and working in a different manner. So by fire are metals purified and purged from their dross and mixtures, and by water are all other unclean and defiled things cleansed and purified. Hence the Lord Jesus Christ, in his work by his Spirit, is at once compared unto a refiner's fire and to fuller's soap, Mal. iii. 2, 3. because of the purging, purifying quali- ties that are in fire and water. And the Holy Ghost s expressly called a Spirit of burning, Isa, iv. 4. For by him are the vessels of the house of God, that are of gold and silver, refined and purged, as those that are but of wood and stone are consumed. And when it is said of our Lord Jesus, that he should baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, Luke iii. 16. it is but duo. the same thing doubly expressed, and therefore mention is made only of the Holy Ghost, John i. 33. But the Holy Ghost was in his dispensation to purify and cleanse them, as fire doth gold and silver. And, on the same account, fie is compared to water, Ezek. xxxvi. 35. "1 will sprinkle clean water upon you, and " you shall be clean;" which is expounded, ver. 26. by a new Spirit will 1 putwithin you," which God calls his Spirit, Jer. xxxvi. 39. So our Saviour calls him rivers ofwater, John, vii. 38, 39, see Isa. xliv. 3. And it is with regard unto his purifying, cleansing, and sanctifying our natures, that he is thus called. With respect therefore, in an especial manner hereunto, is he said to be poured out. So our apostle expressly de- clares, Tit. iii. 4, b, 6. Again, it respects his comfort- ing and refreshing them on whom he is poured. Hence is he said to be poured down from above, as rain that descendson the earth; ha. xliv. 3. " 1 will pour we- " ter upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground;" that is, " I will pour my Spirit on thy seed, " and my blessing upon thy offspring; and they shall " spring up as among the grass, as willows by the wa- " ter-courses," ver. 4. see chap. xxxv. 6, 7. He comes -upon thedry parched barren groundof the hearts of men, with his refreshing fructifying virtue and bles- sing, causing them to spring and bring forth fruits in holiness and righteousness toGod, Heb. vi. 7. And in respect unto his communication ofhis Spirit, is the Lord Christ said to " come down like rain upon the mown " grass, as showers that water the earth," Psal. Ixxii. 6. The good Lord give us always of these waters and re- freshing showers. And these are the ways in general whereby the dis- pensationof the Spirit from God, for what end or pur- pose soever it be, is expressed. Sect. 14. We come next to consider what is a- scribed unto the Spirit himself, in a way of compliance with these acts of God, whereby he is given and admi- nistered. Now these are such things or actions as ma- nifest him to be a voluntary agent; and that not only
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