t1NTO THE HEAD OF the object of an especial creating act was instantaneous- . ly produced. So was the formingof the body of Christ, with the infusion of a rational soul to quicken it, though it increased afterwards in the womb unto the birth. . And, as it is probable that this conception was imme- diate.upon the angelical salutation, so it was necessary that nothingof the human nature of Christ should ex- ist of itself, antecedently unto its union with theSon of God. For in the very instant of its formation, and therein,. was the word madeflesh, John i. 14. And the Son of God was made ofa .woman, Gaf. iv 4. So that the whole essence of-his naturewas created in the same instant. Thus far the scriptures. go befsre, and herein it is necessary to assert the forming of the body and soul of Christ by the Holy Spirit.. The curious inqui- ries of some of the schoolmen and others, are to be left unto themselves,. or rather to be condemned in them. For what was farther in this miraculous operation of the Holy Ghost, it seems purposely to be hid from us in that, expression, 8u,au.s t4iea iwiinu,e,:>a., The potter ofthe most High shall overshadow. thee. Under the se- cret glorious covert hereof, we may. learn: to adore that holy workhere, which we hope to rejoice in and bless God for unto eternity. And 1 suppose also that there is.in the word, an allusion unto the expression of the original- acting of the Holy Spirit, towards the newly produced mass cf-the old creation, whereof-we spoke before.. Then It is said of him, that he was. rtsme, as it were hovering and moving over it for the forma- tion and production of all things living;. For both. the words include in them an effusionuoto -a covering, like that of a Ibwl: over its eggs, communicating_ by its cog- nate warmth and heat, a principle oflife unto their se- minal virtue. Sect. 14. It remaineth onlÿ that we consider how the same work of the conception of Christ is assigned unto the Holy Ghost, and to the blessed Virgin. For of her it is said expressly in prophecy minna'm Isa.. oil. 14.. A Virgin shalt conceive;, the same word that is used to express the conception of any other woman, Gen. iv. 1., Hence she is termed by the ancients o:,ro.,r, and Deigenetrix, which last at least. I. wish had been forborne: compare it with. the scripture, and.there will appear an unwarrantable na.r,gsra.in it. So.Luke i. 31. The words of the angel to her are, vn tmnlm i, tare,. xa, ?=in ss.ov, Thotc Malt conceive ist My womb, and bring THE NEW eREAT1ON. 93 /brth a Stor; where her conception of Lim is distin- guished from her bringing of him forth. And yet in the ancient creed, commonly called the apostles, and generally received by all Christians as a summary et religion,, it is said he teas conceioedby the Holy Spirit, and only born of the Virgin Mary. Ans. The same work is assigned to both as causes of a different kind, unto the Holy Spirit, as the active efficient cause, who I by his almighty power produced the effect. And the disputes managed by some of the ancients about de Spi- rittc Sancto, and ex Spioito Sancta, were altogether needless. For it is Lis creating efficiency that is intend- ed.. And Isis conceiving is ascribed unto the holy Vis- gin; as the passive material cause; for his body was formed of her substance, as was before declared. And this conception of Christ was - after .her solemn espousals unto Joseph, and that for sundry reasons: For (1.) Under the covering of her' marriage to him, she was to receive a protection of her spotless innocency. And besides; (2.). God provided one that should take care of her and-her child in his infancy. And hereby, (3.)' Also was our blessed Saviour freed from the imputation of an illegitimate birth, until by his own' miraculous o- perations he should give testimony unto his miraculous conception, concerning which before his mother could not have been believed. (4.) That he might have one on whose account his genealogy might be recorded, 'to manifest the accomplishment of the promise unto Abra- ham and David:: for the line of a genealogy was not le gaily continued_ by the mother only. Hence Matthew' gives us his genealogy by Jóseph, to whom his mother' was-legally espoused; and although Luke gives as the true natural line ofhis descent by the progenitors ofthe- blessed Virgin,, yet he nemeth her not, only, mentìón- ing,óer: espousals; lie begins with Heli,, who was her father, chap. iii. 23. And this is the first thing ascrib- ed peculiarly to the Holy Spirit with respect. unto' the head of the church Christ Jésus. Sect. 15.From this miraculous creation ofthe body of Christ by the immediate power of the. Holy Ghost, . did it become. a meet habitation for his 'holy soul,..every 'way ready and complying with all actings of grace and. .virtue. We have not only thedepravation of our na- tures, in general, but the obliquityof ourparticular con- stitutions to conflict withal.- Hence it is that one is disposed to passion, wrath, and anger, another to cm-
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