188 THE CHRICTIAN I)ÓCTaINE OF-THE TRINITY. fort ; because in the economy of the gospel the Son of Godacts toward us in many instances in and by the Spirit, and receives worship on that account ; even as the Father acts in and by both the Son and the Spirit, and is accordingly worshipped;, and praised for the blessings conferred on us by the Spirit or the Son. Now because the performance of several of these offices, which our Lord Jesus fulfils, seems to require such a degree of knowledge, wisdom, power, glory and dignity, as belong only to the true God, and for which no person can be sufficient, which has not such an intimate union and communion in and with the divine nature ; therefore wh;,n we pay these honours toChrist as Mediator, we may be properly said to worship him with divine honours. We worship the godhead as dwelling in the man Christ Jesus ; we worship the glorious person, " in whom dwells thefulness of the godhead bodily ;" Col. ii. 9. And let it be noted also, that since he is the true God, or bath real communion in the divine nature, I see no plain reason why we may not worship the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the true God, even without any immediate regard to his me- diatorial offices. Surely, I think, we may adore the " logos," or word, who as was with God," andwho " was God," before the creation of the world, though we have now more express commands and more engaging motives to worship him as dwell-. ing in our flesh ; and as having fulfilled his mediatorial offices, and ascended to the highest heavens. Thirdly, Of the Holy Spirit. I proceed now to consider the character and offices, sustained by the Holy 'Spirit in scrip- ture, andconsequently what worship is due to him. The Holy Spirit is represented in scripture as a personal agent, through whomGod created the world, and manages the affairs of providence and grace ; it is the blessedSpirit who in- structed his people, published the revelations of his mind and will, inspired his prophets, wrodght miracles, conducted our Lord Jesus Christ during his humiliation, raised up Christ from the dead ; and then as sent.by Christ when he was exalted- in heaven, he influenced and directed his apostles, gave them a va- riety of miraculous gifts, sends out ministers, calls sinners, con- vinces and converts them to faith and holiness, sanctifies, com d forts, and establishes believers, prepares and seals them for heaven and glory. I shall not repeat here the scriptures that mention the agency of the blessed Spirit in creation and providence, but only cite some few of those, which respect his influence on, and opera- tions by the Lord Jesus Christ on earth, his agency on the pro- phets, the apostles, and the saints and churches. I. On the Prophets. Ants i:'10. " The Holy Ghost by the mouth of »avid spake before."
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