lOS BHK GENERAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT principally intends the especial rcvelationrof each person and perform what he also bad undertaken, # Thus, of the whole Trinity distinctly, in their peculiardistinct operations; all which tend ultimately to the manifesta- tion of the glory of his nature also. And herein consists the principal advantage of the New Testament above the Old; for, although the work of the new creation was begun and carried on secretly and virtually under the Old Testament; yet they had not a full discovery of the °economy of the hoty Trinity therein, which was not evidently manifest until the whole work was illustri- ously brought to light by the gospel. Hence, although there appear a vigorous acting of faith, and ardency of affection in the approaches of the saints unto God, un- der the Old Testament; yet as unto a clear access to the Father through the Son by the Spirit, as Ephes. ii. 18. wherein the life and comfort of our communion with God loth consist, we hear nothing of it. Herein, therefore, God plainly declares, that the foundation of the whole was laid in the counsel, will, and grace of the Father, Eph. i. 3, 4, 5, 6. Then that the making way for the accomplishing of that counsel of his, an that it might be broughtforth to the praise of his glory, isby the mediation of, the Son; God having designed, in this work, to bring things so about, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour. the Fa- ther, John v. 23. There yet remains the actual appli- cation of all to the souls of men, that they may be par. takers of the grace designed in the counsel of the Father, and preparedin the mediation of the Son. And herein is the Holy Spirit to be manifested and glorified, that he also, together with the Father and the Son, may he known, adored, worshipped, according unto his own will. This is the work that he hath undertaken. And hereon, upon thesolemn initiation ofany person into the covenant of God, in answer unto this design and work, he is baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matth. xxviii. 18. And these things have been discoddsed of before, though ne- cessarily bere called over again, Sect. 3.--Secondly; From the nature and order of this work of God, it is, that after the Son was actually exhibited in the flesh, according to tce promise, and had fulfilled what he had taken upon him to do in his own person, the great promise of carrying on and fin. ishing the whole work of the grace of God in our sal-. vation, concerns the sending of the Holy Spirit, to do when our Lord Jesus Christ was ascended into heaven, and began conspicuously and gloriously to carry on, the building of his church upon himself; the rock and foundation of it, is is said, that s being exalted by the et right hand of God, he received of the Father thepro- m, mise of the Holy Spirit," Acts ii. 33. which must be a little opened. Before he departed from his disciples,_ as bath been mentioned on several occasions, he com- forted and cheered their droopingspirits, with thepro- miseof sending him unto them, which he often repeat- ed and inculcated on their minds, John xiv. 15, 18, And (2.) When he was actually leaving of them after his resurrection, he gives them order to. sit still, and not to engage in the public work of building thechurch, whereunto he had designed them, until that 'i promise ce were actually accomplished towards them," Acts i. 5, Being assembled together with them, he.commanded « them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, u but wait for the promise of the Father;" and ver. 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come a upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both " in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utmost parts of the earth." He would have them look neither for assistance in their work, nor suc- cess unto it, but from the promised Spirit alone; and lets them know also, that, by his aid, they should be enabled to carry their testimony of him to the uttermost parts of the earth. And herein lay, and herein sloth lie the foundation of the ministry of the church, as also all its continuance and efficacy. Thekingdom of Christ is spiritual, and in the animating, principles of it, invisi- ble. If we fix, our minds only on outward order, we lose the rise and power of the whole; it is not an out, ward visible ordination by men, though that be neces. sary by rule and precept, but Christ's communication of that Spirit, the everlasting. promise whereof he re. ceived of the Father that gives being, life, usefulness, and success. to the ministry. 'Wherefore also, (3.) Upon his ascension in the accomplishmentof the great promises given unto the church under the Old Testa- ment, Isa. xliv. 3, Joel i. 18. as also of his own newly t`,Kae.¡evaera. ye re a^easwev vas Aiwa-MA,,ess rs .iyeaeue, eJ Bea ,sane dv rn ¿,srAaee, ras ze xavay,a ,ru,vpur,s die Iye0es4 et sae varexns.--Jobius apud Photium. lib. 122.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=