Ï4 298 Ofthe ordinary influence of the HolyGhoi, Vol. II. g. Suppofe infallible aflìflance were here promifed to the Church in all Ages, and that the Church of Rome were the Catholick Church, and that the Pope and a Council were the RomanChurch, and confequently the Catholick, I fay, fuppofe all this granted ; yet the Church of Ronne, according to her Principles, can never be certain that this is the meaning of this Promife. For they profefs to receive both the Scripture and the interpretation of it from the Church, and confequently to believe this Text to be Scripture, and this to be the meaning of this Text, be- caufe their Church which is infallible tells them fo: and if fo, then they do not believe their Church to be infallible, becaufe this Text fays fo; but they believe this to be the meaning of this Text, becaufe their Church is infallible and tells them fo. So that of neceffity they niuft firft believe their Church to be infallible, before they can prove it from this or any other Text; and confequently, they muff either prove things in a Circle, or elfe take the meaning of thisText of the Infal- libility of their Church for granted, without any proof. And thus much may fuffice tohave fpoken to this Text. S N; R M O N CXLVI. Of the ordinary Influence of the HolyGhoft, on the minds of Chriftians. JOHN VII. 39. But this fpake. he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him, fhould receive. For the Holy Ghof was not yet given, becaufe that7efus was not yet glorified. r,e rh OU R Bleffed Saviour (who ufed from all fortsof Objeas and Occurrences to Seim Difcourfe of Heavenly and Spiritual things) being prefent at the Feaft of , r, Text. y p g Tabernacles, in which it was the Cuftom of theyews, from the Fountain Siloam, to fetchWater with great Pomp and Ceremony, and to bring it into the Temple with found of Trumpet, and to offer it, finging thofe words of theProphet Ifai- ah, They Pall draw waters with joyout of the wells of Salvation. I fay, our Sa- viour being prefent at this Feafl, takes occafion from thefe Waters, which they brought into the Temple with fo much joy, to proclaim thofe fpiritual Benefits which Chriftians fhould be made partakers of by the Holy Ghofl, and which are in Scripture reprefented by Waters flowing from a living fountain: In the !all day, the great day of the Feafl Jefcs flood and cried, Paying, If any Man rhirfl let him ,come to me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture faith, that is, ac- cording to the tenour of feveral paffages in the Prophets, out of his belly (hallflow rivers of living water; and then the Evangelift adds, by way of farther Explicati- on of our Saviour's meaning, But this he fpake of the Spirit, which, they that be- lieve on himfhould receive. For the Holy Gholi was notyet given, becaufe Jefuswas nor yetglorified. In which words we have thefe three things confiderable. Fir(f, The Gift it felf; which is here called the Spirit, or the Holy Ghofl. Secondly, The Perfons upon whom this Gift was to be conferr'd; and thofe are Believers, inch as fhould believe and embrace the Gofpel. This he fpake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him fiould receive. Thirdly, The particularTime and Seafon of the firfl conferring of this Gift; and this was not to be till after our Saviour's Afcenfion into Heaven, and being re- ceiv'd up into Glory, implied in thofe words, The Holy Gboit was not yet given, becaufe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=