'UNTO THE HEAD OF THE NEW CREATION.. 9I principle of all divine operations, is one and the same undivided in them all. Whereas, therefore, they are the effects of divine power, and that power is essentially the same in each person, the works themselves belong equally unto them. As if it were possible, that three men might see by the same eye, the act of seeing would be but one, and it would be equally the act of all three. But the things we insist on are ascribed eminently unto the Holy Ghost on the account of the order of his sub- sistence in the holy Trinity, as he is the Spirit of the Father and the Son; whence, in every divine act, the authority of the Father, the love and wisdom of the Son, with the immediate efficacy and power of the Holy Ghost, are to be considered. Yea, and there is such a distinction in their operations, that one divine act may produce a peculiar respect and relation unto one person, and not unto another; as the assumption of the human nature did to the Son, for he only was incarnate. And such are the especial actings of the Holy Ghost towards the head of the church, our Lord Jesus Christ, in this work of the new creation, as we shall demonstrate in sundry instances: Sect. 10.First; The framing, forming, and miracur Ions conception of the body of Christ in the . womb of the blessed Virgin, was the peculiar and especial work of the Holy Ghost. This work I acknowledge in re- spect of designation and the authoritative disposal of things is ascribed unto the Father. For to the Lord Christ speaketh unto him; a body hast thou prepared me, Heb. x. 6. But this preparation doth not signify the actual forming and making ready of that body, but the eternal designation of it; it was prepared in the counsel and love of the Father. As to voluntary assumption, it is ascribed to the Son himself; Heb. ii. 14. ee For- " asmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and o blood, he also himself partook of the same;" he took unto him a body and soul, entire human nature, as the children, or all believers, have the same, synecdochically expressed by flesh and blood; ver. 16. Ile took on him Maximum in tots creature Testimoniam ile Di.tsttateSpiritus Sane. Corpus Domini est;.quad ex Spirits Sancta esse creditor secundumE. vangclistam, Mat. 1. sinus Angelus ad Josephum dicit, quad in ea mitten t de Spirits Sa cto mt. Athanasius de fid. Us et Trie Creatrix virtus slue. iuni, sut. nientc Spirito Sancto in virginem. Mariam, Christi corpusf 1 icavit; quo ille uses Temple Sinevirt natus 'Mtsem e Did;m, de Sp. 9anct. lib..2. Z the seed of Abraham. But the immediate divine effici- ency in this matter, was the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost, Matth. i. 18. " When his mother Mary was ea espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she ee was found to be withchild of the Holy Ghost;" ver. 20. ie That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost;" Luke i. 35. ee The angel answered and said unto her, a the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power es of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also ee that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be rs called the Son of God." (1.) The person working is the Holy Ghost. He is the wonderful operator in this glorious work; and therein the power of the most High was exerted. For the power of the most High is nei- ther explicatory of the former expression, the Holy Ghost, as though he were only the power of the most High; nor is it the adjoining ofa distinct agent or cause unto him, as though the Holy Ghost and the power of the most High were different agents in this matter. Only the manner of his effecting this wonderful matter, concerning which the blessed Virgin bad made that in- quiry, ver. 34. How can this be, seeing I know not a man? is expressed. The Holy Ghost, saith the angel, actuating the power of the most High, or in the infinite power of God, shall accomplish it. (2.) For his access unto his work, it is expressed by his coming upon he-. The importance of this expression, and what is signified thereby, bath been declared before. And it is often used to declare his actings with reference unto the pro- duction of miraculous works. Acts i. 8. Ye shall re- ceive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you. He will so come upon you, as to put forth the power of the most High in you, and by you, in gifts and operations miraculous. For he is said to come with respect unto his beginning of any marvellous operation, where before he did not work to the like purpose. (S.) The act of the Holy Ghost, in this matter, was a creating act; not, indeed, like the first creating act, which produced the matter and substanceof all things out of nothing, caus- ing that to be, which was not before, neither in matter nor form, nor passive disposition.; but like those subse- quent acts of creation, whereby out of matter before made and prepared, things were made that which be- ;ore they were not, and which of themselves they had ,o active disposition unto nor concurrence in. So man was created or formed of the dust of the earth, and wo- 19
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