inferior being could execute any part of this grand scheme pertaining to the soul. Who, for instance, besides the supreme Lawgiver himself, could admit an innocent substitute to become surety for a criminal, and bear his curse? or who, beneath the dignity of God, could have merit sufficient, by suffering, to atone for offences against the Majesty of heaven and earth? or to whom, besides God, doth the power, greater than that of creation, belong, of triumphing over our rebellious wills, and bringing them into captivity to the obedience of Christ? Now if the holy Scripture be full and clear in certifying the influence and interposition of each person in the blessed Trinity, in the work of man's salvation, it must of necessity be the duty of a Christian to pay due attention to it, and to endeavour by devout meditation to impress upon his mind what God has revealed on this subject: revealed, not at all to teach us how the Father, Son, and Spirit are three persons in one eternal Godhead, (for this it never attempts,) but to inform us of our obligations to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and to teach us to live in such entire confidence in the mercy of God, and such devotedness to his service, as the knowledge of this most sublime and mysterious truth is designed to produce. The Scripture character of God the Father has been already considered at large; and also that of God the Son, as he is proposed to us in his mediatorial office: it shall be our business therefore now to lay before you in one view, what the Scripture teaches of the nature, person, and office of the Holy Ghost. And may he himself, who is the Spirit of truth, give us to understand the things which belong to his glory! First, With respect to the nature of the Holy Spirit, that he is God, the same in essence with the Father and the Son, is proved from Scripture in this plain and convincing manner. All the perfections of the Godhead are ascribed to him. Now by what is the distinct essence of any being determined, but by its properties? Thus he who possesses the properties peculiar to a man, is on that very account esteemed one: by consequence, he who pos G sesses the perfections peculiar to God, must on that account be worshipped as God. The Scripture then declares the Holy Ghost to be a holy, eternal, infinite, almighty being. Holy, for in reference to his peculiar office of imparting holiness, and in exclusion of all creatures, he is called "the Holy Spirit," Ephes. iv. 30. Eternal, that is, existing before all ages, no less than in them all; thus the blood of Jesus, we are told, was offered under his influence, by the name of "the Eternal Spirit." A title this, which is never ascribed to any but God himself; for though angels have existed so many ages before our world, and will never cease to be, yet we no where read of an eternal angel. Infinite, for "he searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God," 1 Cor. ii. 10. Almighty, because at the creation of the world, the Spirit, we are assured, moved upon the waters; by his operation and influence on the chaos, he formed it into order and beauty; and from his energy the world is as it were created anew day by day: "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth," Psalm civ. 30. In the dispensation of grace also the almighty power of the Holy Ghost is no less conspicuous than in the natural world. The humanity of the Lord Jesus was formed by his overshadowing with his influence the blessed Virgin. By him Jesus was sent to preach the gospel and discharge his ministry by him carried into the wilderness; and anointed with the oil of gladness above all kings and priests that had been, or ever should be. In a word, in all that Jesus did on earth as our mediator, he was both appointed and supported, we are expressly taught, by the Holy Ghost. And can you require a more complete proof than this of the Godhead of the Holy Ghost? Jesus, as mediator, had a name given him which is above every name; to such a high degree above every other name, that all in earth and heaven must bow their knee before him; and yet, considered as Mediator, he is still inferior to the Holy Spirit, because he was consecrated and enabled by him to discharge that very office. But since nothing in earth or in heaven is in dignity above the Mediator, but God alone, it plainly follows that the Holy Spirit must be God, of one and the same essence with the Father, as the Scripture teaches, and as the Christian Church has ever believed. The Holy Ghost performs works proper to God: of this nature is the renovation and sanctification of the soul. Even the conversion of those most abandoned sinners at Corinth, in the time of St. Paul, is ascribed to this divine agent: "Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," 1 Cor. vi. 11. It was the Holy Ghost who endued the apostles with their miraculous powers, laid the foundation of the Christian church, and published its laws. He separated Paul and Barnabas, and appointed their mission to this rather than to that place, which is the prerogative of the supreme Director. A dispensation of such infinite moment belongs properly to God; and, of all others, is apparently the least communicable to a creature. And in the consummation of all things the Spirit will work a work altogether divine, the master-piece of all he has done. It will be a full demonstration of such power as can belong to none but God. He will bring back the bodies of the faithful from the dust, and clothe them with glory and immortality: for, "If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you," Rom. viii. 11. Secondly, the Holy Spirit must be the same in essence with the Father and the Son, because the honour and worship due only to the true God, are given to him. This worship and glory, of which God declares himself to be jealous, and which he will not give to another, consists in swearing by him; and in making appeals to him touching the sincerity of what we affirm; according to that command which God has himself given in this matter, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and swear by his name." It consists also in making him the only object. of our faith, hope, and obedience: for, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm," Jer. xvii. 5. God only is to be regarded as the fountain of benediction and grace; he alone is to be implored for the continuance of both; he is to be supremely obeyed as the only one whom we must sesses the perfections peculiar to God, count be worshipped as God. The Scripture then declares the H holy, eternal, infinite, almighty being. ference to his peculiar office of imparti in exclusion of all creatures, he is ca Spirit," Ephes. iv. 30. Eternal, that i all ages, no less than in them all; t Jesus, we are told, was offered under the name of "the Eternal Spirit." A is never ascribed to any but God hims angels have existed so many ages before will never cease to be, yet we no where re angel. Infinite, for "he searcheth all deep things of God," 1 Cor. ii. 10. Al at the creation of the world, the Spirit, moved upon the waters; by his operation on the chaos, he formed it into order a from his energy the world is as it were cr by day: "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, th and thou renewest the face of the earth," In the dispensation of grace also the a of the Holy Ghost is no less conspicuous th tural world. The humanity of the Lord Jes by his overshadowing with his influence the 1 By him Jesus was sent to preach the gospel his ministry by him carried into the wil anointed with the oil of gladness above priests that had been, or ever should be. all that Jesus did on earth as our mediator appointed and supported, we are expresslthe Holy Ghost. And can you require a m proof than this of the Godhead of the H Jesus, as mediator, had a name given him w every name; to such a high degree above name, that all in earth and heaven must bo before him; and yet, considered as Mediato inferior to the Holy Spirit, because he was and enabled by him to discharge that very since nothing in earth or in heaven is in di the Mediator, but God alone, it plainly follo Holy Spirit must be God, of one and the sa Vine worsh anto his na ture, where ire paid to and app good will 1th in Ch ness in the 00 G into another, and said, Holy, I above the rank of creasince there is no middle creature. That he is res is evident, because ed, as a worshipper of to God and their deobligations, binding more excellent their obligations rise, the in ascribing to God y the Scripture freby a figure,-and mployed in ceasewhence comes it, ention is made of er of God? Is it men should have eature, should have he principal person make mention of trous worship? God in this |