DISSERTATION V. 333 John iii. 34. Christ had the Spirit of God given himwith- out measure, which is explained, Acts x. 38. Jesus of Nazareth was anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power, that is, the Spirit of God dwelt in him with its powerful influence, and was represented as descending upon him at his baptism. It was by this Spirit that he wrought miracles, and cast out devils ; Mat. xii. 28. And yet when Christ taught the people, and diseased persons were brought to him, it is said, Luke v. 17. The power of the Lord waspresent to heal them. The apostles were ordered to wait at Jerusalemfor the promise of the Spirit ; Acts i. 4. and ii. 83. that is, the Holy Spirit, whichWas promised to them, and this in Luke xxiv. 49. is called their being endued with power from on high. The word is ivrmt.us in the original, which properlysignifleth forée, not authority. When St. Paul preach- ed to the Corinthians ; 1 Cor. ii. 4. he confirmed his doctrine by the demonstration of the Spirit and power, that is, the Spirit of God, or divine power concurring with him to work miracles for the proof of his gospel. When it is said ; Ps. xxxiii. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath, or Spirit, of his mouth. This seems to be a parallel text to those other scriptures where God is described as creating, or estab- lishing the earth, or the heavens, by his wisdom, and by his power, that is, by his Word and Spirit, the two sacred persona being represented as divine powers, or principles of operation. When the creatures languish and die ; Ps. civ. 30. He sends his Spirit and they are created. Job xxxvi. 13. By his Spirit ,he garnished the heavens; and the Spirit of God made man ; Job xxxiii. 4. which works are frequently ascribed to the power; or efficience of God. Zech. iv. 6. God will accomplish his work, not by might nor by power, that is, neither by armies, nor the power of men, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord ofhosts r The Spirit, or power of God, stands in opposition to the power of men. Christ is said to be raised from the dead by the power of God ; Eph. i. 19. and 2 Cor. xiii. 4. yethis resurrection is attri- buted to the Spirit ; I Pet. iii. 18. Quickened by the Spirit. So our resurrection is ascribed to the power of,God ; '1 Cor. vi. 14. which is attributed to the Spirit; Rom. viii. 11. In the phra- seology of scripture the hand of the Lord, the finger of God, , the arm of the Lord, are various expressions to represent the divine principle of efficience, and especially in miraculous oper. ations. Now there are several places wherein these are used to represent the Spirit of the Lord, and the same effects are , attributed to the blessed Spirit, which shew that a principle of divine power, or efficacy, is the thing meant by the term Spirit.
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