eth them," I Cor. ii. 10. 11. The Holy Ghost is likewise almighty, yea, he hath a sovereign might: "For all these things worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." It is now surely evident that he is the true God; for he who is not God cannot be eternal, omnipresent, all-knowing, almighty, and sovereignly mighty.

3. We find also that the Holy Ghost hath performed divine works. He created the world; for "the Spirit of God moved upon the waters," Gen. i. 2. See Job xxxii. Psalm xxxii. 6. He also upholdeth all things by a second creation: "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created," saith David, Psalm civ. 30. This is the work of God only, as he himself declares, Isaiah xliv. 24. The work of regeneration and of sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit, as we may see, John iii. 5. Titus iii. 5; and he manifests thus that "he is the Lord who sanctifieth Israel," Isaiah xxxviii. 28. "The Holy Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies," Rom. viii. 11. Now the Lord only quickens, (or makes alive) as he also kills, 1. Sam. ii. 6. Deut xxxii. 39. "Jesus cast out devils by the Spirit of God," Matt. xii. 28. Now "the God of Israel alone doth wonderful works," Psalm lxxii. 18. cxxxvi. 4. Therefore the Holy Spirit is also true God.

How can all this be, if the we must be baptized in the This is a divine honour, shows, 1 Cor. i. 13, 14,

4. We must also give divine honour and worship to the Holy Ghost; for we are sanctified to be his temples," in which he dwells," 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. vi. 19. He is therefore God, for the temple of Solomon was builded for the service of God only, 1 Kings v. 5; and it is idolatry to build temples for the service of him who is not God, Hosea viii. 14. We must also obey God, and therefore the Holy Ghost, Heb. iii. 7, 8, 9, and therefore we can "vex him," Isaiah Ixiii. 10-" grieve him," Eph. iv. 30-" commit an unpardonable sin against him," Matt. xii. 31. Holy Ghost be not the true God? name of the Holy Ghost, Matt. xxviii. 19. which belongeth to none but God, as Paul 15. We must also worship the Holy Ghost, as the source of all blessings, 2 Cor. xiii. 13. Now, "the Lord God only must we worship," Matt. iv. 10. We must show that we are commanded to worship the Holy Ghost, that we may silence the Arminians, who allow indeed that the Holy Ghost is God, but nevertheless say, in order to flatter their brethren, the Socinians, that we have neither a command nor example permitting or obliging us to worship the Holy Ghost. The Saviour enjoins, Matt. ix. 38, "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, to send forth labourers into his harvest." The

Lord of the harvest, who sends forth the preachers, is the Holy Ghost, as we see, Acts xiii. 1, 2; and therefore we are commanded to worship the Holy Ghost. We have also an example, showing that the Holy Ghost, the God who spake by the mouth of David, was worshipped, Acts iv. 24, 25. Now "the Spirit of the Lord spake by David," as he himself saith, 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. When all this is considered, we may with certainty conclude that the Holy Ghost is the true God.

Although it is evident now, that he is the same God with the Father and the Son, we may nevertheless not think with the Sabellians, that he is the same Person with the Father and the Son; for there are three Persons in the divine essence, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, as we are taught, Matt. xxviii. 19. 2 Cor. xiii. 13. 1 John v. 7; and which we have explained upon the eighth Lord's day. Whence it therefore evidently follows, that the Holy Ghost is not the same Person with the Father and the Son. (b) The Saviour sith in the text, that the Holy Ghost is another Comforter, or one distinct from himself. (c) This matter may be further illustrated by observing that the Holy Ghost hath a distinct personal property and work from the Father and the Son; for the Father is the first Person, and the Son is the second in the order of subsistence and working; but the Holy Ghost is the third, the Father hath begotten the Son, the Son is begotten by the Father; but the Holy Ghost hath neither begotten the Son, nor is he begotten by the Father; but he proceedeth from the Father through the Son. The Father works from himself through the Son and the Holy Ghost; the Sun works from the Father through the Holy Ghost; but the Holy Ghost works from the Father and from the Son. This is clear from John xvi. 13, 14, 15.

II. We come now to our second general head, which teacheth us how the Holy Ghost is given in his sundry workings. Thus the instructor saith, "that he is given to me, that he may make me by a true faith," &c. By which the Holy Ghost actually and effectually applies to believers all that grace, which was pre-appointed for them by the Father, and purchased by the Son. This we learn, 1 Peter i. 2. Therefore he is called "Spirit of the Father," Matt. x. 20, and so also "of the Son," Gal. iv. 6, because he is given by the Father to the Son, and hath qualified and anointed him for the work of Mediator, as the Son himself testifieth, Isaiah lxi. 1, 2, 3. And thus the Holy Ghost hath his special work also with respect to the church, on behalf of the Father and of the Son, as Christ teacheth, John xvi. 13, 14, 15. And therefore believers are

also called "spiritual," 1 Cor. ii. 15. In order to explain this somewhat more fully we shall consider the manner of the giving of the Spirit to the church under the Old and under the New Testament in general; and then how he is given under the New Testament in particular.

The gifts of the Holy Ghost under the Old and New Testament are either extraordinary, or ordinary gifts.

The extraordinary, or superordinary gifts are, (a) gifts of skill in arts, whereby some were qualified to do this or that work of art, as "Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God," that he might make the artificial work of the tabernacle, Exod. xxxi. 1—5. (b) Gifts of heroism and valour, by which the ancient heroes were urged and enabled to perform great exploits for the preservation and prosperity of God's people: thus "the Spirit of God came mightily upon Samson at certain times," Judges xiii. 23. xiv. 6, 19. xv. 14. (c) Gifts of office, as an ability to conduct in a kingly manner in ruling. It was "the Holy Spirit who changed the heart of Saul," I Sam. x. 9. "The Spirit of the Lord came upon David," 1 Sam. xvi. 13. To the gifts of office belong also those of a prophet, to reveal secrets, either such as are past, as Daniel revealed Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which he had forgotten, Dan. ii. 29, 30. iv. 8, or those which are to come; for "the Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets, signified and testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow," as the apostles also possessed such a prophetical Spirit, particularly John, who was for that end" in the Spirit." Rev. i. 10. iv. 2. xxi. 10. To this pertains also, that the prophets and apostles taught the people of God infallibly the greatest mysteries, by word and writing. We see this John xvi. 13, 14, 15. 2 Peter i. 19, 20, 21. Hence also proceeded the gifts of all kinds of languages and miracles, Acts ii. 1-4, Rom. xv. 18, 19, as the e were also many Christians in the primitive church, who were endued with superordinary gifts, Acts x. 44, 45, 46. See particularly 1 Cor. xii.

The ordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost are either common gifts of great light and joy in the mysteries of God, of which temporary believers do also partake, as those gifts are not inseparably connected with salvation; for "they are enlightened, taste the heavenly gift, are made partakers of the Holy Ghost, they taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; and notwithstanding fall away,” Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. Or the ordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost are saving gifts, of which the elect only partake. These gifts are "those better things, which accompany salvation," Heb. vi. 9. And thus the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of grace," Zech. xii. 10. These

gifts are many, and wrought in divers ways through the instrumentality of the word, which the Holy Ghost conveys to the elect, with a design to influence them thereby to salvation. The Spirit forbade Paul to preach the word in Asia and Bithynia, but sent him into Macedonia to convert many, Acts xvi. 6-9 To which the Holy Ghost also adds the sacraments; for all the elect" are by one Spirit baptized into one body, and all made to drink into one Spirit," 1 Cora xii. 13. By these means the elect receive the following gracious gifts of the Holy Ghost.

1. Regeneration, whereby the Holy Ghost renews them after the image of God, infuseth a principle of spiritual life into them, convinces them of their sins and damnable condition, subdues the ruling power of sin, and effects in them new powers to do that which is good. And so "they are saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost," Titus iii. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. And thus he is a Spirit of conviction, John xvi. 8, 9. Zech. xii. 10, and "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," Rom. viii. 2.

2. True faith, whereby the Holy Spirit "makes them partakers of Christ and all his benefits." We are taught in the seventh Lord's day that "we receive and apply Christ with all his benefits to ourselves by faith." This faith the Spirit works, and so he is "the Spirit of faith," 2 Cor. iv. 13. For he enlightens the understanding with respect to the truths of the gospel, by which it discovers the acceptableness of Christ; for "he is given by God, as the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, enlightening the eyes of the understanding," Eph. i. 17, 18, and thus "he leads into the truth," John xvi. 13, "teaches all things, and brings to remembrance," John xiv. 26, and "testifies of Christ," John xv. 26. The Spirit of faith convinces also the mind of the divinity and truth of all the mysteries of Christ, and of his invitation to come unto him; for "the Spirit beareth witness that the Spirit is the truth," 1 John v. 6. Yea, he unites the soul to Christ, causing her to receive him actually and operatively. This the apostle teacheth, Eph. iii. 16, 17.

3. Comfort. He is given to me, "that he may comfort me," saith the catechism: therefore the Holy Ghost is called emphatically, the Comforter," John xiv. 16, 26. xv. 26, and "he multiplies comfort," Acts ix. 31. Many are the sorrows of believers, one while because they know not whether their state be good or not, another while on account of the power of corruption, then on account of the hiding of God's countenance, yea, also on account of many bodily afflictions, either manifest tribulations, or secret vexations; but "the Holy Ghost comforts them," for sometimes he assures them by "his witnessing

and heirs of God and of Christ," At other times he favours them

that they are the children of God, Rom. viii. 16, 17. I Cor. 44, 12. with a sense of the love of God, that they may "glory in tribulations," Rom. v. 3, 4, 5. He also endues them sometimes with courage in their calamities, Psalm xxiii. 4. And so they obtain the benefits of God's kingdɔm, righteousness, peace and joy through the Holy Ghost," Rom. xiv 17.

4. Santification: for he is "the Spirit of sanctification," 2 Thess. ii. 13. re washes" believers from the filthiness of sin, 1 Cor. vi. 11,"changes them from glory to glory after the image of the Lord," 2 Cor. i. 18, directs them in all their ways; for he leads them," Rom viii. 14. Psalm cxliii. 10, and fills them with all his holy virtues of love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” Gal. v. 22. Yea, he is especially « a Spirit of prayer to then," Zech. xii. 10, for he enableth them to draw near the throne boldly, Eph. ii. 18, "to cry" as it were "with the Spirit of adoption, Abba Father," Rom. viii. 15. Gal. iv. 6. He dictates their prayers to them, enables them to pray heartily, renders their prayers acceptable, and procures a hearing for them, Rom. viii. 26, 27.

5. Preservation; for "they are kept by the power of God,” and thus by the Holy Spirit, "unto salvation," 1 Peter i. 5. Since "he abides with them for ever," as the instructor speaks agreeably to our text; therefore he is said to "dwell in them, as his temple,” Cor iii. 16. He is "an earnest to them, seals and establishes them," 2 Cor. i. 20, 21, 22. He strengthens and increases the spiritual life of the inner man in them, Eph. iii. 16, causes them to "mortify the deeds of the body," to wit, sins, Rom. viii. 13. Are they at any time seized with a languor, so that they faint and are weak, he ra seth them up again, and "creates in them a clean heart, and renews a right spirit within them, he doth not depart from them, but restores unto them the joy of his salvation, and the free Spirit upholds them," Psalm li. 10, 11, 12. When they die, the Spirit pronounces them blessed, Rev. xiv. 13, and "he will quicken their mortal bodies," Kom. viii. 11.

But the gifts of the Holy Ghost are given especially under the New Testament. We conclude from what we have just now said from many passages of the Old Testament, that the Spirit was given to believers under the Old Testament: but he is given under the New Testament in a greater measure, and to a greater number of persons. The church of the Old Testament hoped for "the outpouring of the Spirit from on high, when the wilderness should be