PN THE NE Sect. I1.Here lies the ground and foundation of our exercising faith in particular towards him, and of our acting of it in supplications and thanksgivings. His participation of the divine nature is the formal reason of our yielding unto him divine and religious worship in general; but his acting towards us, according to the sovereignty of his own will, is the especial reason of our particular addresses unto him in the exercise of grace; for we are baptised into his name also. Sect. 12.Seventhly; We may observe that in the actings and works of the Holy Spirit, some things are distinctly and separately ascribed unto him,, although some things be ofthe same kind wrought by the person in and by whom he acts; or he is said at the same time; to coo the same thing distinctly by himself, and in, and by others. So John xv. 26, 27. /will, saith our Savi- our, send the Spirit of built, and he shall testifej of me, andye also shall bear witness. The witness of the Spi- rit unto Christ is proposed as distinct and separate from the witness given by the apostles. He shall testify of me, and ye also shall bear witness. And yet they also were enabled to give their witness by him alone. So it is expressly declared, Acts i. 8. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, andye shall be witnesses unto me. Their witnessing unto Christ was the effect of the power of the Holy Spirit upon them, and the effect of his work in them. And he himself gave no other testimony but in and by them. What then is the distinct testimony that is ascribed unto him? It must be somewhat that in or by whomsoever it was wrought, it did of its own nature discover its relation unto him as his work. So it was in this matter; for it was no other but those signs and wonders, or miracu- lous effects which he wrought, in the confirmation of the testimony given by the apostles, all which clearly evidenced their own original, So our apostle, Heb. ii. 4. The word was confirmed, £yve-q.es1ee1b,ros re Oso oms ssn es , Nan, God co-witnessing by signs andwonders. He enabled the apostles to bear witness unto Christ by their preaching, sufferings, holiness, and constant tes- timony which they gave unto his resurrection. But, in this he appeared not; he evidenced not himself unto the world, though he did so in and by them in whom he wrought. But, moreover, he wrought such visible mi- raculous works by them, as evidenced themselves to be effects of his power, and were his distinct witness to _ --__--, W. CREATION:. 117 Christ. So our apostle tells. us, Rom. viii. 16. The. Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. The witness which our own spi- rits dogive unto our adoption; is the work and effect of the Holy Spirit in us. If it were not, it would be false, and not confirmed by the testimony of the Spirit him- self who is the Spirit of truth. And none knoweth the things of God, but the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. ii. 11. If bedeclare not our sonship ih us, and to us, we cannot know it. How then doth be bear witness with our spi- rits? What is his distinct testimony in this matter? It must be some such act of his, as evidenceth, itself to be from him immediately, unto them that are concerned in it; that is, those unto whom it is given. What this is in particular, and wherein it doth consist, we shall afterwards inquire. So Rev. xxii. 17. The Spirit and the bride say come. The bride is the church, and she prayeth for the coming of Christ. This she sloth by his aid and assistance who is the Spirit of grace and sup- plications. And yet distinctly and separately the Spirit saith come; that is, he puts forth slush earnest and fer- vent desires, as have upon them an impression of his immediate efficiency. So ver. 20. carrieth the sense_ of the place, namely, that it is Christ himself, unta whom she says come, or they pray for the hastening of his coming. Or they say come unto others, in their invita- tion of them unto Christ, as the end of ver. 17. seems to apply it. Then is it the prayers and preaching of the church for the conversion of souls that is intended. Andwith both the Spirit workseminently to make them effectual. Or it may be in this place, the Spirit is taken for the Spirit in the guides and leaders of the church. They praying by his especial guidance and assistance, say, come; or preachers say unto others, come, and the bride, or the body of the church actu- ated by thesame Spirit, join with them in this great re- quest and supplication; and thereunto all believers are invited in the following words; and let him that heareth say, come. Sect. 12. Ali these things were necessary to be premised in general, as giving some insight into the nature of the operations of the Holy Spirit in us and towards us. And hereby we have made our way plain to the consideration of his especial works inthe calling, building, and carrying on the church unto perfection. Now, alt his works of this kind may be reduced into
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