DISSERTATION V. 33, Now it is no wonder that the name of Spirit of God, in the scriptural writings, should be given to a power of the true God, or sometimes to the influence of a divine power, since this name was used even by heathens in those eastern nations, in the saine sense, concerning their false gods. Nebuchadnezzar the king of Assyria, and the king Belshazzar his son, and several of their courtiers, use this same expression, and say concerning Daniel, that the spirit of the holy Gods is in him; See Dan. iv. 8, 0, 18. and Dan. v. 11, 14. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, uses the same language; Gen. xl. 38. Can wefind such a man as Joseph, in whom is the spirit of the gods. Elohim, that is, they supposed the powers of the gods dwelt in Joseph and Da- niel, and instructed them in the knowledge of secrets. And if we had greater acquaintance with the ancient and oriental ways of speaking, it is very probable we should find, that when God spoke to his people the Jews, he used the saine sort of language that was customary in those nations. And if we consider the common phraseologyof scripture, which speaks of God acting by his Word and Spirit, in a way of analogy to man acting by his natural powers of mind, will, con- science, his breath, his face, his eye, &c. far the greatest part of texts where the Spirit of God is mentioned, are most natu- rally explained, by supposing it a power of his nature. What objections may be raised against this first head, shall be consi- dered afterward. II. Though the Spirit of God be represented sometimes as a power, or principle of action in the divine nature, yet in several places in scripture it is set forth in a personal character, or under the idea of a person, distinct both fromGod the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. The Spirit is spoken of in such a way as persons are represented in human language : I need not cite many scriptures to prove this ; see John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth front the Father, he shall testifyof nie. John xvi. 13, 14. When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak, and he shall skew you things to come: Ile shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and skew it unto you. And several other passages there are in the word of God which represent the holy Spirit in a personal manner. But it is notvery hard to account for this personal represen- tation of a power of the divine nature, when we consider, -1. That we know not how great is the distinction between different powers, or principles of agency, in so sublime and incomprehen- sible a nature as the godhead. God is great and we know him not.-; Job xxxvi. 20.-2. The powers of span, viz. his mind, VOL. vi,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=