Page images
PDF
EPUB

APPENDIX. No. II.

ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE discussion of this subject forms no part of the Inquiry which has been prosecuted in the preceding pages. But the obvious, though not necessary connexion, and the desire of some to whose judgment I pay much deference, induce me to add this Sketch of the Positive Evidence for the Deity and Personality of the HOLY SPIRIT.

We frequently read in the Old Testament, and still more frequently and definitely in the New, of an Agent superior to human or any created rank of powers or intelligences, and to which the qualities peculiar to a personal existence appear to be attributed.

This Agent is denominated the Spirit, the One Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of glory and of God, the Spirit of life, the Spirit of grace, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, the Spirit of promise, and the (Paracletus) Instructor, Comforter, or Advocate.

It is agreed on all sides that the word spirit, originally signifying air in motion and breath, was applied in remoter significations to any species of powerful influence the cause of which was imperfectly or not at all known; and more especially to the immediate energy of the Deity; and, in a still more restricted sense, to the Deity himself. It is further admitted that, in many places, the phrase spirit of God and its synonyms are used to denote any especial influence or energy of God, whether exercised in a miraculous manner or according to the ordinary laws of nature. But an accurate examination will, I conceive, satisfactorily shew that there are many passages which cannot, on principles of just interpretation, be understood except as de

noting a real, intelligent, personal, Divine Agent, distinct from the Father and the Son; and that, when the terms referred to bear the signification of influence or energy, it is by a metonymy. designed to express specifically the agency of that Divine Person. This metonymy is the more natural, at the same time that the, discrimination of the cases is rendered more difficult, from the generic character of the term.

Of the passages in the Old Testament in which any of these, terms occur, the greater number reasonably admit of the interpretation of divine influence. E. g. Ex. xxxi. 3. Num. xi. 17. 1 Sam. x. 10. But there are other passages, in which I conceive, that the attribution of personal intelligence and action is decisively more congruous with the connexion. E. .g. "The Spirit of Jehovah speaketh in me, and his word is upon my tongue : the God of Israel hath said; to me speaketh the Rock of Israel. 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. Take not thy Holy Spirit from me! Let the Spirit of graciousness sustain me! Ps. li. 11, 12. May the Spirit of goodness lead me into the land of uprightness! exliii. 10. The Lord Jehovah hath sent me and his Spirit. Is. xlviii. 16. The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me. Ixi. 1. They rebelled, and insulted his Holy Spirit. lxiii. 10. The Spirit came upon me and made me stand upon my feet, and spoke to me and said: —— In my speaking to thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah. Ezek. iii. 24, 27. My Spirit standeth in the midst of you. Haggai ii. 5."

The principal passages of the New Testament may be put in the following arrangement..

I. The PROPERTIES of a personal existence are attributed to, the Holy Spirit.

INFINITE INTELLECT, that which is peculiar to the Divine Nature. "God hath revealed [them] to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God. For who of men knoweth the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? So also the things of God no one knoweth, except the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11. The scriptural style employs the verb to search, not only in its proper sense of acquiring knowledge by a successive process, but to signify the intuitive, profound, and accurate knowledge

which is proper to the Deity 'only. See Ps. cxxxix. 23. Jer. xvii. 10. If it be objected that the apostle here represents the Spirit as nothing more than a quality of the Divine Nature, as consciousness is of the human mind; we reply that the illustration, like every other comparison from finite things to divine, must be imperfect and to be understood as only expressing the perfection of the Holy Spirit's knowledge; for, besides the force of other scripture testimonies, the first clause of this very passage clearly declares a personal distinction: for it could not be said, that a man makes any thing known to others by his consciousness.

PRESCIENCE. John xvi. 13, cited in a following paragraph. Sovereign WILL and DETERMINATION. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit: and there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord: and there are diversities of (èvepyýμata) operations, but the same God (i èvepy☎v) who worketh them all in all [persons] -- All these" (among which are everyýμata dvváμewv, operations of miracles,) " that one and the same Spirit (èvepyer) operateth, distributing severally to each, according as he willeth. 1 Cor. xii. 4, 6, 11."

LOVE. "I beseech you by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit. Rom. xv. 30."

POWER. 1 Cor. xii. 11, cited above. "That ye may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. xv. 13. Christ hath wrought through me, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. v. 19."

EFFICIENCY in the production of spiritual blessings. 2 Cor. xiii. 13. Rev. i. 4. See p. 558 and 650, of this Vol. The acts enumerated under the following head confirm this attribution.

Being the OBJECT of religious ACKNOWLEDGMENT in parity with the Father and the Son. See p. 448, 452, 455, 456, of this Volume.

Being the OBJECT of direct OFFENCE by sin. " All [other] sin and blasphemy may be forgiven to men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven to men: and whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it may be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in that to come. Matt. xii. 31, 32. Why hath Satan filled thy heart, to utter

[ocr errors]

falsehood to the Holy Spirit?

not to men but to God.

Thou hast uttered falsehood, Why was it agreed between you

to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Acts v. 3, 4, 9. Compare the phrase with LXX. Is. lvii. 11. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. Eph. v. 30."

II. The ACTIONS of personality are attributed to the Holy Spirit.

COMMANDING. "The Holy Spirit said, Separate unto me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them. Acts xiii. 2."

[ocr errors]

FORBIDDING. Being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, they went through Mysia, and endeavoured to proceed into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus permitted them not.' Acts xvi. 6, 7." The addition to 'Inoo is made upon the most satisfactory authority: see Griesbach.

[ocr errors]

REVEALING the Divine will. "It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Luke ii. 26. Whatsoever may be given you in that hour, that speak; for it is not ye that speak but the Holy Spirit. Mark xiii. 11. This scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit before spake by the mouth of David. Acts i. 16. The Spirit said to Philip, Go and join thyself to that chariot. viii. 29. The Spirit said to him, Behold three men are seeking thee; go with them, for I have sent them. x. 19, 20. Thus saith the Holy Spirit, xxi. 11. Well spoke the Holy Spirit, by Isaiah the prophet, to our fathers, xxviii. 25. The Spirit expressly saith. 1 Tim. iv. 1. Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, &c. Heb. iii. 7. The Holy Spirit manifesting this. ix. 8. The Spirit of Christ, which was in them manifested. 1 Pet. i. 11. Prophecy in ancient time was not brought by the will of man, but holy men of God spake, being moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 ep. i. 21. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. ii. iii."

66

speak with other Acts ii. 4. The Signs and wonders by the

PERFORMING MIRACLES. They began to tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Spirit took away Philip. viii. 39. power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. xv. 19.” TEACHING. "The Holy Spirit shall teach you in that hour, ye should say. Luke xii. 12. I will pray the Father, and he

what

will give you another Instructor, to abide with you for ever;" the Spirit of truth. The Instructor [see p. 435,] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things which I have said to you. When the Instructor shall come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, he will testify concerning me. When he, the Spirit of truth, shall come, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak from himself but will speak what he may be instructed [axovon, see p. 65. q. d. he will have no private or separate object, different from his commission to promote the objects of my spiritual dominion,]" and he will declare to you the things which are to come. He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will declare to you. John xiv. 16, 26. xv. 26. xvi. 7, 13-15. We speak not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit. 1 Cor. ii. 13."

INFORMING and TESTIFYING. "We are witnesses of these things, and [so is] the Holy Spirit. Acts v. 32. The Holy Spirit witnesseth to me in every city, saying that imprisonment and afflictions await me. xx. 23. The Spirit itself witnesseth with our spirit. Rom. viii. 16. Also the Holy Spirit witnesseth to us. Heb. x. 15."

OBLIGING to duty. "Now behold, I go, bound [dedeμévos] by the Spirit, to Jerusalem. Acts xx. 22."

COMFORTING. "Walking in the fear of the Lord and the consolation of the Holy Spirit. Acts ix. 31."

APPOINTING to offices in the church. "The Holy Spirit said, Separate unto me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. These then went forth, sent out by the Holy Spirit. Acts xiii. 2, 4. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit hath constituted you bishops. xx. 28."

DWELLING IN the saints as his temple; that is, affording to them especial tokens of his power and grace, as intimately present with them. "The Spirit of God dwelleth in you; and, if any one have not the Spirit of Christ, that person is not his. Rom. viii. 9. Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. iii. 16. Know ye

« PreviousContinue »