355 THE ARIAN INVITED TO ORTHODOX FAITH. are given of him in the- scripture. The rest will easily fall in with it. 1. One of the most remarkable and important texts, where- in the Holy Spirit is represented as a person distinct from the Father, and the Son ; is in John xvi. 13, 14. " When the Spi- rit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth ; for he shall net speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak, and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shew it unto you." Here let it be noted, that the Holy Spirit, who inspired the prophets, and revealed the mind of God under the Jewish dispensation, was now appointed more explicitly to perform this work, in a more evident and conspicuous appearance than before, and a more plentiful and magnificent manner : and to impower multi- tudes to preach, prophesy, and work miracles in the name of Christ. Now as the Father did not design, under the gospel, to manifest his will by the appearance of angels, so much as in ancient times, and was about to recai the person of his Son from this lower world, this blessed Spirit, or the divine efficient power, was to reside in the church as the deputy, or resident, and prime minister, both of the Father and the Son. Upon these accounts it seemed proper to our Saviour who is the divine wisdom incar- nate, todescribe this divine power by a strong prosopopeeia, and ti noble allegory, as a messenger sent forth from God for this glo- rious design : Andbecause the extraordinary effusions of the Holy Ghost were not to be made till Christ was ascended to heaven to dispatch this messenger to the earth, and to send him on this great errand, therefore saith our Lord, " ExceptI go, the Com- forter will not come ;" verse 7. Now, when a messenger delivers what his principal gives him in charge, he is then justly declared a true and faithful mes- senger : But when he devises things of his own head, and de- livers them in the nameof his principal, he is then said to speak of himself, and then he loses the characterof truth or veracity. It is in this sense Christ, who was the messenger of the Father, says, ", The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself ;" John xiv. 10. that is, " I did not invent this doctrine, it is no new contrivance of mine, but I delivered to you what my Fa- ther gave me in charge." .Andaccording to this allegory, when Christ says of theSpirit,, under the representation of God's mes- senger, that he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak," the meaningmay be twofold, 1. That he should not teach any new doctrine, different from the doctrine of Christ, -2. That he should not act like a false mes- senger, and impose upon them ; but he should deliver to them the doctrines of Christ as one entrusted and sent by the Father and the Son : And in this sense he justly deserves the character
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