The Holy Arbor, Chapter 4 · Section 8
§. 8. I believe in the Holy Ghoſt.
WHich is as much to ſay, As I acknowledge the Holy Ghoſt to be God, and ſo confeſs him to be one with the Father and the Son; alſo I acknowledge his Office of Sanctifying, and making holy the people of God: And as I depend upon God the Father as my Creator and daily Protector, and upon God the Son as my Redeemer and daily Mediator, ſo I depend upon God the Holy Ghoſt as my Comforter, and the worker of Grace and all Vertue in me, being of my ſelf a lump of Sin, and maſs of Corruption; yet I acknowledge not three Gods, but one God, a Trinity of perſons in Unity of Godhead: So that the Holy Ghoſt is the third perſon of the true and onelyonly Godhead, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and Coeternal, Coequal and Conſubſtantial with the Father and the Son, and is ſent from both into the hearts of the Elec…, to ſanctifie them unto eternal life: And though extraordinary Revelations are ceaſed, yet the Holy Ghoſt in and by the Word, revealeth ſome things unto men, for which cauſe he is called, and that truly, The Spirit of Revelation. Now that the Holy Ghoſt is very and eternal God, appears from his creating of all things, Gen. 1.2. Pſal. 104.24, 29, 30. And Chriſtians are to be Baptized in the Name of the Holy Ghoſt, Mat. 28.19. as well as of the Father and the Son. As God he chooſeth, aſſigneth and ſendeth forth men for the Miniſtery of the Goſpel, Acts 13.2, 4. As God he decreeth Orders for his Church and People, Acts 15.28. As God he is to be invocated and prayed unto, as well as the Father and the Son, 2 Cor. 13.13. The Holy Ghoſt is of one Subſtance, Majeſty and Glory with the Father and the Son, for theſe three, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, are one, 1 Joh. 5.7. who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; for the Father ſendeth the Comforter in the Name of the Son, Joh. 14.16. and the Son ſendeth the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, from the Father, Joh. 15.26. And whereas we believe the Holy Ghoſt to have proceeded from the Father and the Son, underſtand, Proceeding is here a communication of the Divine Eſſence, whereby the third perſon onelyonly of the Godhead receiveth from the Father and the Son, as the Spirit from him whoſe Spirit it is, the ſame whole Eſſence which the Father and the Son have and retain.
Of God the Holy Ghoſt three things are to be conſidered by us; viz.
1. What the Holy Ghoſt is; viz. of the ſame Eſſence with the Father and the Son, a diſtinct perſon proceeding from both.
2. The Office of the Holy Ghoſt which doth ſanctifie us many ways:
1. Becauſe he is the key of all heavenly Treaſures, illuminating our underſtanding to receive the Myſtery of Faith.
2. Becauſe he is the Earneſt of the Promiſes.
3. Becauſe he is the Seal wherewith the Truth of the Divine Promiſes is ſigned and ſealed in our mindes.
4. Becauſe he is the Miniſter of Truth, guiding us in the way of all Truth.
5. Becauſe he is the Author of light, expelling the darkneſs gathered by ſin.
6. Becauſe he is the Fountain of Wiſdom and Underſtanding.
7. Becauſe he is the water that purgeth us from all filth, conſecrating us into the Holy Temple of God, fertilizing us to bring forth the fruits of Righteouſneſs.
8. Becauſe he is the Fire that purgeth away the corruption of our mindes, enflaming our hearts with the love of Righteouſneſs.
3. Our Faith in the Holy Ghoſt:
1. That we believe in God the Holy Ghoſt.
2. That we believe the Office of the Holy Ghoſt.
3. That by our ſins we grieve him not.
Concerning the Holy Ghoſt we believe,
1. That he is true and coeternal God with the Eternal Father and the Son, Gen. 1.2. 1 Cor. 3.16.
2. That he is alſo given unto us, Mat. 28.19. to make us through a true faith partakers of Chriſt and all his benefits, Gal. 3.14. To comfort us, Acts 9.13. and to abide with us for ever, Joh. 14.16.
That the Holy Ghoſt is a perſon of the Godhead, is proved by theſe Reaſons:
1. By his viſible Apparitions, Luke 3.22.
2. Becauſe he is called God, 1 Cor. 3.16. Acts 5.3, 4.
3. Becauſe he is the Author of our Baptiſm, and we are Baptized in his Name.
4. The Properties of a perſon are all attributed unto him, Luke 12.12. Joh. 16.13.
5. Becauſe he is plainly diſtinguiſhed from the gifts and graces of God, 1 Cor. 12.4, 11.
The Holy Ghoſt is a perſon diſtinct from the Father and the Son, for theſe Reaſons:
1. He is called a Spirit, and none is his own Spirit, his own Father, his own Son.
2. The Holy Ghoſt in expreſs words is called Another from them both, Joh. 14.16.
3. He is ſent of the Father and the Son, Joh. 15.26. therefore another from them both.
4. The Holy Ghoſt hath diſtinct Attributes or Properties perſonally from them both.
That the Holy Ghoſt is equal with the Father and the Son, is thus plainly manifeſted:
1. The Eſſence of the Father & the Son is communicated unto him.
2. It appears by thoſe Divine Attributes and Properties which are attributed unto him.
3. The ſame Divine Works that are attributed to the Father and the Son, are alſo attributed unto him, Job. 33.4.
4. Equal and the ſame honor is given to the Holy Ghoſt, as to the Father and the Son, 1 Joh. 5.7.
5. Thoſe things which are ſpoken in the Old Teſtament of God or Jehovah, are applied to the Holy Ghoſt in the New.
6. The Holy Ghoſt is the Father and the Sons Spirit, and there is but one God.
Why this third perſon of the Godhead is called Holy:
1. Becauſe he in himſelf, by himſelf, and of his own nature, is holy.
2. Becauſe he is the immediate Sanctifier of others.
For what reaſons this third perſon of the Godhead is called a Spirit:
1. Becauſe he is a Spiritual Eſſence, or Subſtance Incorporeal and Inviſible.
2. Becauſe he is inſpired of the Father and the Son; they move by this Spirit.
3. Becauſe himſelf inſpireth, and immediately worketh motions in the hearts of the Elect.
4. Becauſe he is God equal with the Father and the Son, and the ſame God; and God is a Spirit.
The ſeveral Titles of Commendation given to the Holy Ghoſt in Scripture. viz.
1. The Spirit of Adoption, becauſe he aſſureth us of the Fatherly goodwill of God in Chriſt towards us.
2. The Earneſt and Seal of our Inheritance, becauſe he aſſureth us of our Salvation, 2 Cor. 1.21.
3. The Spirit of life, becauſe he mortifietli the old man, and quickneth the new, Rom. 8.2.
4. Water, whereby he cleanſeth us, refreſheth us nigh dead in ſin, and maketh us fruitful to good works.
5. Fire, becauſe he conſumeth daily our concupiſcence in us, and kindleth in our hearts the love of God and our Neighbor.
6. The Fountain, becauſe all celeſtial Riches do flow unto us from him.
7. The Spirit of Prayer, becauſe he is the ſouls voyce in the choſen.
8. The oyl of gladneſs, becauſe he cheareth and refreſheth us in all our troubles.
9. The Comforter, becauſe by working faith in us he cauſeth us to exult in afflictions.
10. Interceſſor, becauſe he maketh requeſts for us with ſighs and groans that cannot be expreſſed, Rom. 8.26.
11. He is called, The Spirit of Truth, of Wiſdom, of Joy, of the fear of God, of Boldneſs, and the like, Joh. 14.16. Now ſome of the ungodly may have the Holy Ghoſt, as concerning ſome gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, as Saul and Judas had; but they have not the Spirit of Adoption, for the ſame Spirit doth not work the ſame things in all; for he worketh Adoption and Converſion in the Elect onelyonly.
The operations of the Holy Ghoſt are twofold:
1. External, common to all men, for he illuminates every one that cometh into the world.
2. Internal, ſpecial and proper to the godly, not onelyonly illuminating their mindes, but proceeding to their hearts, moving the affections, and becomes unto the whole man,
1. A Spirit of Sanctification.
2. A Spirit of Interceſſion.
3. A Spirit of Conſolation.
The Office and Operations peculiarly attributed to the Holy Ghoſt in Scripture; viz.
1. To teach and illuminate, Joh. 14.26. & 16.13. To enlighten mens mindes with the knowledge of the Goſpel, and to reveal unto them the good will of God, and way to happineſs; whence he is called The Spirit of Revelation, Eph. 1.17.
2. To perſwade their hearts of the truth of thoſe things which he hath revealed to their underſtandings, by the vertue whereof they taſte of the good word of God, Heb. 6.5.
3. To Regenerate; that is, to work Faith and Repentance in the hearts of the choſen, Joh. 3.5.
4. To conjoyn us with God and Chriſt, and to make us partakers of all his benefits, 1 Cor. 6.11.
5. To Rule and guide; that is, to inſtruct and encline us to all duties due to God and Man.
6. To Comfort, Joh. 14.16. in all perplexities and miſeries whatſoever.
7. To Confirm, to make courageous and bold in and for the maintenance of the Truth, being moved to acknowledge and profeſs the Goſpel to be the Word of God. Many other are the Works of the Spirit; but that Unpardonable Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, is committed againſt him, in regard of theſe Operations of the Spirit, ſo as it is againſt the Truth of God which the Spirit hath revealed to a man, and evicted and perſwaded his heart of the certainty thereof.
How the Holy Ghoſt is
1. Given:
1. After an ordinary way, by the Miniſtery of the Word and the uſe of the Sacraments.
2. In manifeſting himſelf unto us through the ſtudying and meditation of the Goſpel.
3. He is given by working a deſire of him in the Elect: for he is given to them that deſire him, Luke 11.13. and is received by faith.
2. Retained:
1. By meditation in the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and by ſtudying to prove it thereby, Pſal. 1.2.
2. By continuance and increaſe of Repentence and amendment of life; that is, by a deſire of bewaring to offend againſt our knowledge or Conſcience, Matth. 13.12.
3. By daily and earneſt prayer and invocation, Luke 11.13.
4. By applying Gods gifts to their right uſe; that is, to his glory, and our Neighbors good, Luke 22.32.
3. Ecclipſed in its preſent comforts:
1. By neglecting the Word and Doctrine, and by neglect of Prayer.
2. By carnal Security, and by giving our ſelves to commit ſin againſt our Conſcience.
3. By abuſing the gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, as when they are not imployed aright.
The duties following upon our faith in the Holy Ghoſt:
1. To keep our bodies holy and pure, as the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, and not to defile them by uncleanneſs.
2. To believe without doubting whatſoever is contained in the holy Scripture; becauſe that all were given by inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt, and were ſet forth by holy men, not of any private motion, but as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Tim. 3.16. 2 Pet. 1.21.
3. To uſe all our gifts to the honor of God, for it is the holy Spirit of God from whom we receive them all.
4. To ſubmit our ſelves in all things to the government of Gods Spirit, and not follow the ſway of our own Natures; for he is our guide, and will lead us into the way of all Truth.
Eternal Breath! O let thy bleſſed ayr
Imbreathe us with new life, or elſe repair
The ruines of our Souls: Blow and refreſh
Our dim-burning Zeal, but blow out the Fleſh:
New-mould us fit for Mercy, and make good
The Charter Chriſt hath ſeal'd us with his Blood.
Ʋnſcale our Ʋnderſtandings, make us ſee
The Crown of Hope 'yond hope, Faith's Myſtery:
Inflame our Souls with holy fire, and then
Our Souls thy fire ſhall flame thee back agen.