84 GENERAL DISPENSATION OP TILE IIOLT SPIRIT, himwas that communicationof gifts and gracious abili any hand in, it is sure to beso stated, as that the prin- ties which any persons received for the edification, rule, protection, and deliverance of the church. All these things were wrought by that one and self -same Spirit, which divided) to every man severally as he will. And if this were the state of things under theOld Testament, a judgment may thence be made how it is under the New. The principal advantage of the present state a- bove that which is past, next unto the comingof Christ in the flesh, consists in the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Christ in a larger manner than formerly. And yet I know not how it is come to pass that some men think that neither he, nor his work, are of any great use unto us. And whereas we find every thing that is good even under the Old Testament assigned unto him, as the sole immediate author of it, it is hard to persuade many that he continues now to do almost any good at all. Andwhat he is allowed to have cipal praise of it may redound unto ourselves; so diverse, yea, so adverse are the thoughts of_God and men in these things, where our thoughts are not captivated un- to the obedience of faith. But we must shut up this discourse. It is n common saying among the Jewish masters, that the gift of the Holy Ghost ceased under the second temple, or after the finishing of it. Their meaning must be, that it did so as to the gifts of minis- terial prophecy, of miracles, and of writing the mind of God by inspiration for the use of the church; other- wise there is no truth in their observation. For there were afterwards especial revelations of the Holy Ghost granted unto many, as unto Simeon and Anna, Luke i. And others constantly received of hisgifts and graces to enable them unto obedience, and fit them for their em- ployments. For, without a continuance of these, sup- plies, the church itself must absolutely cease. GENERAL DISPENSATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH RESPECT UN'T'O THE NEW CREATION. CHAP. II. (I.) The workof the Spirit ofGod in thenew creation proposed to consideration. The importanceofthe doctrine hereof. (2.) Theplentiful elision of the Spirit the greatpromise respecting the times of the New Testament. (3.) Ministryof the gospelfounded in the promise ofthe Spirit. (4.) How this promise is made unto all be- lievers. (5.) Injunction to all toprayfor the Spirit of God. (6.) The solemn promise of Christ to send his Spirit when he left the world. (7.) The endsfor which hepromised him.(8.) The workof the new creation theprincipal means of the revelation of God and hisglory. (9.) How thisrevelation is made inparticular herein. WE are now arrived at that part of our work which was principally intended in the whole; and that because our faith and obedience is principally therein concerned. This is the dispensation and work ofthe Holy Ghost with respect to the gospel, or the new creation of all things in and by Jesus Christ. And this, if any thing in the scripture is worthyof our most diligent inquiry and meditation; nor is there any more important principle and head of that religion whichwe do profess. -The- doctrine of the being and unity of the divine nature is common to us with the rest of mankind, and hath been no from the foundation of the world; howeversome like brute beasts haveherein alsocorrupted themselves. The doctrine Of the Trinity, or the subsistence of three per- sons in the one divine nature or being, was known to all who enjoyed divine revelation even under the Old Testament, though to us it be manifested with more light and convincingevidence. The incarnation of the Son of God was promised and expected from the first entrance of sin, and received its actual accomplishment in the fulness of time, during the continuance of the Mosaical peedagogy. But this dispensation of the Holy Ghost, whereofwe now proceed to treat, is so peculiar unto the New Testament, that the evangelist, speaking
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