51 12 A Good spirit Nehem. 9 20 And he is called The finger Of God Luke 11 20 Mat 12 28 The pledge Of God 2 Cor 5 5 Joh 14 16 17 18 26 The witness Of God Rom 8 16 The seal Of God Eph 4 30 2 Cor 1 22 The kisse Of God Cant 1 2 Seed of God 1 Joh 3 9 The Intercessor c. Rom 8 29 1 Joh 2.27 Act 2.2 Mat. 3 16. Act. 2.3 He is compared unto Oyntment a mighty wind a Dove and unto cloven tongues like fire Hee is also compared unto a Cloud to seed to water fire and winde To what the holy Ghost is compared and why 1 To a cloud Exod. 13.21 1 King 18.45 First unto a cloud Because that as the cloud betokneth a shadowing from heat and a sending downe of Rain as both Philosophy and experience sheweth so the spirit of God doth overshadow us from the heate of the wrath of God it cooleth and refresheth our scorched soules and as the Raine maketh the barren earth fertile and fruitfull so doth the graces of Gods spirit make our barren hearts plentifull in all goods works Secondly to seed Because that 2. To seed as in our naturall birth we are begotten by the seed of our Parents so in our new birth wee are begotten by those Graces that are sown in our hearts by the holy Ghost Thirdly to water Because that 3 To water The properties of water as water mollifieth the hard earth fructifieth the barren ground quencheth the greatest heat and cleanseth the foulest things so doth the spirit of God soften our hard hearts fructifie our barren soules quench the heat of lust and cleanse us from all our sins And so make us to become fit Temples for himself to dwell in or like the trees that are planted by the water side Psal 1.3 which bring forth their fruit in due season Fourthly to Fire 4. To fire 1 Cor. 3.13 Because he doth consume away the drosse of sin and illuminate our understanding with the light of truth and inslame our hearts with the zeale of Gods glory and with unfained love The properties of fire both towards God and man yea as the fire hath in it saith Oecumenius these three speciall things That is 1. Calorem 3. Splendorem 3. Motionem 1. Heat to warme mollifie and purifie 2. Splendor to give light and to illuminate 3. Motion to be alwayes working Even so the spirit of God first warmeth and heateth the hearts of the Godly with a fervent and a fiery zeal of all godlinesse hee mollifieth their hard and stony hearts and purifieth their souls from all kind of filthiness whatsoever Secondly he illuminateth their hearts with the knowledge of God and heavenly things Thirdly he maketh them allwayes to be in action and never idle Finally he is compared to wind and that for these five reasons 5. To wind Joh. 9.8 Exod. 33.19 Reason 1 First as the wind bloweth where it listeth so the gifts and graces of Gods spirit are given to whom soever it pleaseth him Reason 2 Secondly as the winde scattereth the dust and driveth the chaffe away from the Corne so the graces of Gods spirit doth winnow the consciences of the saints and drive away all wicked thoughts and cogitations from their hearts Reason 3 Thirdly As the wind cooleth comforteth and refresheth all those that are scorched with the heat of the sun so doth the grace of Gods holy spirit recreate all those distressed people that are scorched with the heate of troubles and afflictions or burned with the concupiscence of their sins Reason 4 Fourthly As the winde carrieth away the ship against the maine and mighty stream so will the grace of Gods holy spirit carry a man against the current of his naturall inclination Reason 5 Fifthly As the winde will passe unresistably so will the grace of Gods blessed spirit work its own effect and all the power of darknesse is not able to resist it and therefore he is compared unto a mighty winde because that as the mighty winde we read of in the sacred scripture did rend the Mountaines and break the rocks before the Lord Why the holy Ghost is compared to a mighty wind 1 King 19.11 so the grace of Gods holy spirit and the word of the great Jehovah is mighty in operation able to shake the stoutest the proudest man and to break in peeces the stoniest heart The gifts of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.6 7 8 9 10 11. All these severall operations which this holy spirit worketh in the hearts of the elect and all those foregoing Titles and Appellations which the sacred scriptures do give unto the holy Ghost do certainly prove him to be the true and everlasting God Besides if wee further search the holy scriptures we shall finde that by the holy Ghost First The word of wisdome the word of Knowledge Faith Gifts of healing working of miracles Prophesie discerning of spirits diverse kindes of Tongues and the interpretation of Tongues c. is given Heb. 6.4 5. Secondly By him the godly are sanctified and the very Reprobates have a taste of heavenly gifts and of the good word of God and of the promises of the world to come Exod. 13.3 4 0. 1 Sam. 11.6 c. Thirdly By him all excellency in common gifts of Nature reason as strength courage arts and sciences Policy and government is given unto man yea unto many that never heard of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Joh. 6.63 Joh. 14.17 Fourthly Influence perpetuall effectuall and vitall of saving grace from Christ is the head of every true member is given to beleevers 1 Pet 1.2 in which sence the world cannot receive or know the same Fifthly By the holy Ghost vertues charity constancy benignity faith goodness joy longanimity mildness modesty love patience Gal. 5.22.23 and peace of conscience are gotten with seven other principall vertues to wit wisdome understanding counsell fortitude knowledge godliness Isa 11.2 and the fear of God All these gifts being given by the holy Ghost do likewise prove him to be a God Many of the gifts and graces of Gods holy spirit are excellently well deciphered and set down unto us under the properties and conditions of those formes and figures wherein the holy Ghost did appear As First he appeared like a dove when he descended upon our Saviour Christ because his dove-like properties were to be shewed that hee was innocent meek and lowly in heart for as of all the beasts of the feild the little silly lamb is in most respects best qualified therefore is Christ call'd the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world So of all the fowls of Heaven the Dove in most respects is most excellent In what respects the holy Ghost is like a Dove For shee is annunciator pacis the messenger and proclaimer of peace she brought the Olive Branch unto Noah
reason that he cannot be defined or comprehended as very learnedly the Philosopher Symonides answered for hee being demanded concerning the Essence of God and having many dayes given him to resolve the question at last he said The more I strive to consider what God is the more difficult I find the matter to be therefore we ought to take great heed that we wade not too far into this depth but let us learne Chrysost hom 2. in heb Potius glorificare eum qui est quam investigare quid est Rather most faithfully to serve him which is then too curiously to search what he is for as S. Chrysostome saith Chrysost quo supra hom 2. in Heb. Neque ad loquendum dignè de Deo lingua sufficit neque ad percipiendum intellectus praevalet our tongues are not able to speake worthily enough of God and our understandings are not sufficient to conceive of him as we ought to do therefore we should never think upon God without great reverence saith Musculus Thirdly By way of supereminency transcendent excellency as when we ascribe to God whatsoever excellencies that are or may be spoken of him far above all the excellencies of all creatures whatsoever as when we say not only in the Concrete that God is just mercifull wise strong good and such like but also in the Abstract By way of supereminency That the abstract names all excellencies are only proper to God that hee is Justice Mercy Wisedome Strength and Goodnesse it selfe which cannot be said of any of all the creatures for that all the best excellencies of the cheifest creatures are but as little sparkes in respect of a huge infinite fire or as a few drops of rain in comparison of the whole Ocean Sea if we should compare them to the excellency of God Nay we should finde their wisdomes Folly their strength Weaknesse their beauty Baldnesse and all their goodnesse to be nothing in respect of the goodness of God Job 4.18 for He chargeth his Angells with folly and the Heavens are not cleer in his sight Now according to these three waies God is described to be an Immortall A description of God by way of 1. Negation 2. Affirmation 3. Supereminency invisible incomprehensible spiritual infinite Eternall Essence the cause of all causes the author of all excellencies So here you see a boundlesse Ocean and a very large Description of God and I may sooner loose my selfe in the prosecuting of the same then find him fully as he is in any place which is fully truly in every place In a sober sence Bernard saith true Nusquam est ubique est God is every where by his Essence repletively no where inclusively he is no where because no place whether reall or imaginary can comprehend or contain him he is everywhere because no body no space or spirituall substance can exclude his presence or avoid the penetration if I may so speak of his essence He is in Christ spiritually in himself Alpha Omega In the world a Governour in Angels as Beauty in his Church as an Housholder in his Family in the Soul as a Bridegroom in his Marriage-chamber in the Righteous as an Helper in the Reprobate as fear and horror in the Godly to defend them and in the wicked to punish them There are indeed foure degrees of Gods presence Jer 23 24. Psal 19.1.6 1. An Vniversall 2. A Speciall 3. A more speciall 4. A most speciall Psal 130 7. 1. The Lord is present by his Essence in all places 1 Cor. 3.16 2. Hee is present by his Glory in Heaven Joh. 15.26 3. He is present by his Grace in his Saints 1 Pet. 3.18 4. Hee is present by his Spirit in Christ Heb. 9.14 He is every where replenishing the place with his being no where by Circumscription and locall definition So that Curiosity in this highest point of Divinity is very dangerous for God is one Deut. 6.4 Isa 44 5â— 1 Cor. 8.4 Iam 2.19 Deut. 4 15 16 1 Sam. 15.29 Act. 14.15 Matt. 5 48 single pure and perfect Being single without parts pure without passions and perfect without infirmities being in measure unmeasurable in Majesty inscrutable in Nature incomprehensible in Power irresistible in Will unchangeable in Place not circumscript in Time indefinite in Love immutable 1 Joh 1.5 August Med. cap. 12. in favour unspeakable and in Promise inviolable Good without quality Great without quantity Creatour without want in Act without motion every where present without sight the First and the last without time making all things mutable without any passive mutability in himselfe So that here we must needs acknowledge it impossible that a Finite understanding should comprehend an infinite eternall spirituall Essence and therefote I desire to remember that excellent rule of Saint Augustine Aug. de Trinitate l. 5. c. 1. Cavendum est ne dum de Deo cogitamus non possumus invenire quid sit aliquid de eo sentiamus quod non sit we must take great heed least in seeking to know what God is we think him to be what he is not And in another place Quid est Deus August lib. 1. de Quaest nov vet Testam est id quod nulla attingit opinio What is God Hee is that which no opinion can reach unto That it is not safe to enquire too far into the being of God To search then too far is perverse curiosity to beleeve the word is infallible security and to see him as he is is most absolute felicity Climbe not too high â—or falling Dive not too deep for drowning and soare not too high for dazeling labour to know so much as is revealed in the scriptures in which we are to search for all points much more for this and therefore that I may not err in this point I will say no more but with himselfe which knowes himselfe best that he is Jehovah whose Knowledge is infallible Rom. 11.33 Psal 107. Job 10 7. Heb. 6.17 Rom. 1.18 1 John 4.10 Rom. 15.16 Prov. 2 10. Psal 83.18 Isa 28.29 Providence inexplicable Judgements inevitable Decree immutable Wrath terrible and Love unspeakable whose Spirit doth sanctifie us Wisdome teach us Counsell guide us Favour compasse us and Power govern us the most High over all the earth wonderfull and great in Counsell mighty and excellent in works Eph. 2.4 Exod. 15.11 Ezeck 36.26 Tit. 3.5 rich in mercy glorious in Holinesse fearfull in Praises The Regeneratour of our Nature our Defence in Adversity Perseverance in the faith Eph. 1.4 the Life of them that beleeve and in the end is Eternall life it is he that elected us to salvation promising remission of sins by beleiving in Christ Joh. 3 15.16 Acts 8.37 being the first person named in order not in power nor time existing of himselfe and of no other is callâ—d Father Isa 63 16.
the writings of the Heathens and to transport them as Salomon did the wood of Lebanon for the building of Gods house and the gold of Ophir to make the Temple of Jerusalem the more glorious from the prâ—â—hâ—ne use of the first Authors unto the divine edifying of Gods Church Besides It is the cleerest evidence in the world that can be produced to convince any man when hee is made a party in the proofe a witnesse in his own case and a Judge against himselfe For what can any Gentile object for himselfe against us that hee doth not beleeve in Jesus Christ when he perceiveth our truth confirmed and himselfe convicted out of the learning of the Gentiles what can the Philosopher say when hee seeth himselfe confuted by Philosophy Job 15.5.6 or what testimony can a Jew require better then a proof produced out of his owne Cabballs and Talmud and therefore as Eliphaz saith of vain boasters that their own words condemne them so humane arts being divine gifts wee may lawfully use them to cut off Goliahs head with his owne sword or to beat down Hercules with his own club that is to confute the Gentiles out of the learning of the Gentiles and so we finde that not only in former times the Prophets Apostles and Fathers of the primitive Church have practised the same course but also in later times Aquinas Mornaeuâ— Doctor Fotherby late Bishop of Salisbury and diverse others have out of Trismegistus Homer Plato Aristotle Cicero and the rest of the Gentile Doctors confuted the superstitions of the Heathens and confirmed the truth of Christian Religion Secondly Against the wicked and cursed hereticks I have used the sacred scripture whose excellency above all humane learning I shal breifly set forth and conclude Such is the excellency of scripture-learning which containeth in it florem delibatum the flower and very Quintessence of soule-saving wisdome that wee may say of it as the Philosopher sometimes spake concerning the knowledge of the soule of man Aristotle de aâ— l. 1. praf antiq lect praestatpauculo ex meliore scientia degustasse quam de ignobiliore multa A small and dim knowledge of it is to be valued far above a greater measure of cleerer insight in any other science For the inspired scriptures is the infallible rule of Faith the unmoveable ground of Hope the perfect guide of Life the soules store-house of Provision the spirituall Magazeen of Munition the sacred fewell of Devotion the divine subject of Contemplation and the everlasting spring of celestiall consolation It is as saint Gregory saith like the deepest Ocean wherein the greatest Elephant may finde sea room enough to swim and yet never sound the depth thereof and like the shallowest foord wherein the silliest Lamb may easily wade without any danger of drowning And as Fulgentius saith Fulgent Ser. de confess Habet quod robustuâ— comedat quod parvulus sugat Basil in Psalmum primum it hath strong meat for the best stomacks and sweet Milke for the tenderest babes It is a pavoury of wholesome food against feigned Traditions a Phisitians shop against poysoned heresies a pandect of profitable Lawes against rebellious spirits a treasury of most costly Jewells agaist beggerly rudiments and it is wisdome without folly to direct us riches without poverty to honour us and strength without weaknesse to maintain us For that it will instruct us in life comfort us in death and glorifie us in heaven The canonicall bookes of the Old and New Testament are exact Maps of the heavenly Canaan drawne by the Pencill of Holy Ghost the authenticall records of the Church the deeds of Almighty God and Evidences of mans salvation Yea The arguments to prove the divinity of scriptures are the venerable antiquity matchless majesty lively efficacy beautifull harmony incomparable purity invincible perennity and continuance of them mauger the injury and iniquity of times and Tyrants who have sought to suppresse them Besides the confirmation by miracles confession of Martyrs destruction of oppugners fulfilling of prophesies consent of Churches yea assent of adversaries As first of hereticks who in oppugning of scriptures do yet alledge scripture to their owne utter destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 Secondly of Jewes Gods Library Keepers as Saint Augustine calls them who studiously read and curiously kept the Bookes of the old Testament by a singular providence of God for our benefit and behoof Thirdly many heathens being convinced in their consciences have sealed to the truth of the scripture by their testimonies and confessed them to be divine for Porphyry testifieth that Moses hath written the history of the Law truly and Numenius the Pythagorist recites Moses's history almost word forword testifying that he was a great Divine But we have better testimonies even the holy scriptures themselves which do not only establish our faith 1 Pet. 3.15 Isa 1.18 Eze. 18.25.29 but also instruct our Reason furnishing us with arguments rationally to prove their truth to be sacred and their authority divine Yea further The scripture is proved to be the word of God by the Majesty of it which besides the stately plainesse of the stile far surpasseth the creatures capacity the fathom of flesh and reach of reason There is no jot or tittle of of it that savours of earthlinesse Every word of Gods mouth is pure precious and profitable not a syllable superfluous The very majesty of the sentence is such as cannot be conceived and yet it s alwaies more powerfull in matter then in words Humane writings may shew some faults to be avoided but give no power to amend them What words of Philosophers could ever make of a Leopard a Lambe of a Viper a Child of a Lecher a chast man of a Nabal a Nadib or of a covetous carle a liberall person Philosophy may civilize not sanctifie hide some sins not heal them cover not cure them But the efficacy and virtue of the scripture is such that it produceth the love of God and our enemies it purifieth the heart pacifieth the conscience rectifieth the whole both constitution and conversation of man yea it taketh him off from the delights of the world and the flesh maketh him glory in afflictions sing in the flames and triumph over death All these and more do necessarily conclude the divine verity and authority of the sacred scriptures Moreover if we will open our eyes to see and bring our Judgement to discern we may soon perceive that besides the truth of scripture which will admit no comparison with any writings there is more learning in Moses then in all the learned men of the Gentiles more Rhetorick in Esayas Prophesies then in all Tullies Orations more Logick in Saint Paules Epistles then in all Aristotles Analiticks there is sweeter musick in King David then in all the Lyrick Poets of the heathen there is better Philosophy in Job then in all the Philosophers of Greece there is truer Morality in Salomon then can be
the Ancients they shall surely finde that as the Gentiles did understand many things concerning God and Jesus Christ his only son so some of them have delivered some things although but darkly concerning this holy spirit For Hermes Trismegistus hath these words All kind of things in this world saith he are quickned by a spirit one spirit filleth all things the world nourisheth the bodies and the spirit the soules and this spirit as an instrument Mercuâ—ie in his Esculapius c. 3. 7. is subject to the will of God And further he saith That all things have need of this spirit it beareth them up it nourisheth them it quickneth them according to every of their capacities it proceedeth from a holy Fountaine and is the maintainer of all living things and of all spirits Here wee see the reason why we call him the holy Ghost namely because he proceedeth from the fountain which is the very holinesse it selfe And least we should think him to be a creature Mercurie in his Sermon in his Poemander c 3 there was saith hee an infinite shadow in the deep whereon was the water and a fine understanding spirit was in that confused mass through the power of God From thence there flourished a certain holy brightnesse which out of the sand and the moyst nature brought forth the Elements and all things else Also the Gods themselves which dwell among the stars tooke their place by the direction and appointment of this spirit of God In the writings of Plotinus Plotin Enn. 5. lib. 2. lib. 3. cap. 35. there be found very significant speeches of the holy Ghost whom hee calleth Vniversi animam Plotin Ennead 3. lib. 9. cap. ult Eâ—n 6. lib. 8 cap. 13. 15. 27. Enn. 3. lib 8. c. 10. lib 9. cap. 1. the soule or life of this whole universe This soule saith hee hath breathed life into all living things in the Air in the Sea and on the land it ruleth the Sun the stars and the Heaven it hath quickned the matter which once was nothing and utterly full of darkness and all this hath it done by the only will of it selfe It is all throughout all like to the father as well in that it is but one as in that it extendeth it self into all places All which doth most apparently prove that the Gentiles themselves were not ignorant of this holy spirit whom they clearly shew to be the true and eternall God And therefore how may this serve to shame the wretched Atheists of this world which notwithstanding such a cloud of witnesses will still continue ignorant and hardned in unbeleife Why the holy Ghost is called a spirit Moreover This third person of the true and only God-head is called a spirit not only because hee is a spirituall that is an immateriall and pure essence for so likewise is the Father a spirit and the son as well as he but first in regard of his person because he is spired and as it were breathed both from the Father and the son Secondly In regard of the creatures Psal 33.6 Joâ—h 20 22. because the Father and the son do work by the spirit who is as it were the breath of Grace which the Father and the son breatheth out upon the saints blowing freely where it listeth Joh 3.8 1 Cor. 2.12.13 Act. 2. â— 3.4 and working spiritually for manneâ—â— meanes and matter where it pleaseth Thirdly In regard of his Property because the property of him is to move to set forward to perswade to comfort to enlighten the spirits hearts of men and at length to worke in them such things as pertain to our sanctification And indeed the saints have such tryall of the marvellous effects thereof as neither reason nor mans wisdome is able to comprehend those things neither can they be discerned by the eyes of men So that as Peter Martyr saith wee beleive in the holy Ghost as in a thing that far exceedeth the capacity of our nature and yet is distinctly set forth unto us in the holy scripture Job 14 26. 1.33 Joh. 16.13.14.15 Mat. 28.19 That the holy Ghost is distinct from the Father and the son for the Apostles are commanded in the Gospell that they should baptize in the name of the Father of the son and of the holy Ghost Which place doth most plainly expresse the distinction of the three persons and do signifie nothing else but that we be delivered from our sins by the name authority and power of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost And in the baptisme of Christ Luke 3 21 22 Mat. 3 16 17 as Luke rehearseth the Voice of the Father was heard and the holy Ghost appeared under the forme of a Dove whereby is signified that the holy Ghost doth so differ from the Father and the son as he is derived from them both In John it is sayd I will pray the Father Joh. 14 16 and hee shall give you another Comforter Here the son prayeth the Father heareth and the Comforter is sent Now if the Father shall give such a Comforter then the Father himselfe cannot be that Comforter neither can Christ that prayeth be the same So that very significantly the three persons herein are plainly set forth unto us For even as the Father and the sonne are two distinct and severall though not sundred persons even so the holy Ghost is another distinct person from the Father and the Son Joh. 15 26 Luke 1 35 That the holy Ghost is a person proved Luke 3 22 And further that the holy Ghost is a person is proved 1. By his apparitions because he hath appeared visibly for seeing he descended in bodily shape upon Christ and sate upon the Apostles Acts 2 3 it followeth that hee is subsisting 2 Hee is proved to be a person 1 Cor. 3 16 Acts 5 3 4 Isa 40 7 30 Ephes 4.4.30 Acts 28.25 1 Cor. 12 11 Luke 12 12 Joh. 16.13 Luke 2 26 Mat. 10 20 because he is called God 3 Because the properties of a person are attributed unto him as that hee distributeth gifts even as he will that hee teacheth comforteth confirmeth ruleth raigneth Likewise that hee sendeth Apostles and speaketh in them So also hee declareth the things to come Acts 16 10 39 20 24 1 Tim. 4 1 He giveth prophesies of Simeons death of Judas the Traitor of Peters journy to Cornelius of Pauls bands and afflictions which should betide himselfe at Jerusalem of a falling away and of the deceiver in the last times Heb 9 8 10 15 of the meaning of the high preists entrance into the holiest of all of the first Tabernacle of the new Covenant 1 Pet. 1 11 of Christs sufferings and his glory which should follow after them and such like He maketh request for us with sighes which cannot be uttered Rom. 8.29 he cryeth in our hearts Abba Father he is
tempted by them who lye unto him hee is a witnesse in Heaven with the Father and the son Acts 5 9 hee commandeth and willeth that the Apostles be separated Act. 13.2 Acts 20.28 And lastly He appointeth teachers in the Church All these things are proper unto a person existing intelligent indued with a will working and living That the holy Ghost is God co-eternall with the Father and the son proved Col. 2.9 Joh. 10.30 1 Joh. 5.7 Jer. 23.24 Joh. 1.18 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 6.19 Rom. 8.11 Gen. 1.2 Joh. 15.26 Aug. lib. de Trinitate 15. cap. 26. That he proceedeth from the Father the Son Gal. 4.6 Joh 15.26 20.22 Joh. 16.14.15 Now that the holy Ghost is God co-eternall with the Father and with the son it may be proved by the unity of the divine Essence because there is but one God-head and by the incomprehensiblenesse of the three persons the same is also proved by the essentiall union of them that is because he is often called the spirit of the Father and of the Son but the Father and the son were never without their spirit therefore hee is God co-eternall with both Also that which saint John saith that the spirit proceedeth from the Father The ancient Fathers holding the right faith do understand cheifly to be spoken of the everlasting proceeding of the spirit from the Father And he proceedeth from the son first because he is called the sons spirit Secondly Because the son together with the Father giveth him Thirdly Because the holy Ghost receiveth the Wisdome of the son which he revealeth unto us wherefore he proceedeth of the substance of the son because he receiveth that of him which is the sons By this it appeareth what is the proceeding of the holy Ghost namely the communicating of the divine essence whereby the third person of the God-head alone receiveth the same and whole or intire essence from the Father and the son as from him whose spirit hee is for there is nothing in God which is not his essence and seeing that is indivisible it must needs be whole and the same communicated unto him which is in the Father and the son That the Holy Ghost is consubstantiall with the Father and the Son proved Rom. 8.9 Lev. 16.1.34 Heb. 9.7.8.9.10 Psal 95.7 Heb. 3.7 Isa 6 8.9 Acts 28.25.26 As the spirit of man which is in man is of the Essence of man so the spirit of God which is in God is of the Essence of God which divine essence is but one that is but one Jehovah or eternall being one essentially who alone is of none but himself communicateth his being to all things and preserveth it in them Now the Holy Ghost is Jehovah and therefore he is the same with the Father and the son not only God co-eternall but also con-substantiall or God co-essentiall with both That he is co-equall with the father and the Son proved Gen. 1.2 And further That he is co-equall with the Father and the son is proved by those divine Attributes and properties which are attributed and communicated to the holy Ghost As first eternity because he created heaven and earth and because God was never without his spirit Secondly Immensity or unmeasurablenesse as who dwelleth whole and intirely in all the elect Thirdly Omnipotency because he Psal 33.6 1 Cor 12.11 1 Cor. 2.10 together with the Father and the son created and preserveth all things Fourthly Omnisciency that is the knowledge of all things Fifthly Acts 1.16 Psal 143.10 unchangeableness Sixthly Infinite goodnesse and holinesse and the causing of goodnesse and sanctity in the creatures 1 Cor. 6.11 Joh. 15.26 1 Joh. 5.6 Rom. 5 5. 8.26 Isa 63.10 Mat. 12.31 Acts 5.9 Ephes 4.30 Seventhly truth not to be doubted of the fountain of truth Eightly Vnspeakable mercy Ninthly Indignation even against hidden sins All which do sufficiently prove that the holy Ghost is God coequall with the Father and the son Besides the same divine works which are attributed to the Father and the son Mat. 12.28 1 Cor. 12 4. are also attributed to the holy Gâ—ost as the generall creation preservation and government of the whole world Likewise those works which properly belong to the salvation of his Church Job â—â— 13.33 4. Joh. 3.5 2 Cor. 3.18 Joh 14.26 Acts 9.31 Isa 48.16 Acts 20.18 Luke 12.12 1 Cor. 12.7 2 Pet. 1 21. Mat. 28 19. Heb. 9.8 Joh. 16 13. Acts 11 28 Ephes 2 22 1 Cor. 12 13 Joh. 14 26 Ephes 1 17 Rom. 8.14 Acts 16 6 Isa 11 2 Joh. 14 16 Rom 8 15 1 Cor 6 11 Joh. 6 63 Rom. 8 11 as the calling and sending of Prophets The bestowing of competent and fit graces for the Ministry on Ministers The publishing of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles The instituting of sacraments The foretelling and prophesying of things to come The gathering of the Church The enlightning of mens mindes The governing of the Actions and whole life of the Godly The strengthning and preserving of the regenerate against the force of temptation even unto the end The pardoning of sins and adopting the sons of God The bestowing of salvation and life everlasting All these divine workes being attributed to the holy Ghost do likewise clearly prove his co-equality with the Father and the son Moreover Diverse titles of the holy Ghost Wee finde in the sacred scriptures many Titles and Appellations answerable to the manifold effects of his Power Office and Divinity For example The Holy Ghost is called Jehovah Isa 6 9 Act. 28 25 The earnest of our inheritance Ephes 1 14 The power of the most high Luke 1 35 The Teacher of the Faithfull Joh. 14 26 The earnest of the spirit 2 Cor. 1 22 The Oyle of Gladnesse Psal 45 7 The seven spirits of God Rev. 4 5 The spirit of Interpretation Sanctification Supplication Consolation Revelation The grace of God Knowledge Adoption Counsell Eternity Wisdome Prophesie Holinesse 1 Cor. 12 10 Rom. 1 4 Zach. 12 10 2 Thes 2 16 Ephes 1 17 Acts 14 26 Isa 11 2 Rom 8 15 Isa 11 2 Heb. 9 14 Isa 11 2 1 Cor. 12 10 Rom. 1 4 The Holy Ghost is called The spirit of the Father Joh. 15 26 The spirit of the Son Gal. 4 6 The spirit of the Lord. Isa 1 12 The earnest of Gods spirit 2 Cor. 5 5 The teacher of Truth Joh. 14 46 The mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2 16 And he is called An Eternall spirit Heb. 9 14 A Comforter Joh. 14 16 A heavenly gift Heb. 6 4 The holy spirit Ephes 4 30 The spirit of Christ God Right working miracles Power Life Truth Promise Grace Love Rom. 8.9 Gen. 1 2 Joh. 16 8 9 10 11 13 1 Cor. 12.10 2 Tim. 1 7 Rom. 8 2 Rev. 11 11 Joh. 14 17 Ephes 1 13 Heb. 10 29 Zech. 12 10 2 Tim. 17 The hand of God Job 26 13 Luke 1 66 A free spirit Psal
Felle caret Rostro non laedit Optimum granum elegit Gemicum pro cantu habet Juxta flumiâ—a aquarum sedet Innocentia valet Volatu praestat Thom. Aquin. de proprietat columbae she wanteth Gall shee hath no bitternesse in her shee never hurts with her bill nor clawes she is full of Love and yet shee never sings any wanton tune but woo woo is her matutinus vespertinus cantus her mournfull morning and evening song and therefore the holy Ghost descended on Jesus Christ like a Dove to shew these dove-like qualities of this Lambe of God and to teach that we must be thus qualified like Doves if we should have and enjoy the sweet and comfortable presence of this Heavenly Dove this holy spirit of God Joh. 14.16.17.18.26 Rom. 8.15.16 Joh. 16.13 Eph 1.13 4 30. Rom. 8.23 who is in the hearts of the elect as the pledge of Christs presence the witnesse of their adoption the guide of their life the comforter of their soule the seale of their redemption and the first fruits of their salvation Secondly like cloven tongues of fire Secondly He appeared like cloven tongues of fire First Like tongues because as a Father saith Symbolum est lingua spiritus sancti a Patris verbo procedentis The tongue is a symbole of the holy Ghost proceeding from the word of the Father for as the tongue hath the greatest cognation 1. Why the holy Ghost appeared like tongues and the neerest affinity with the word and is moved by the word of the heart to expresse the same by the sound of the voice saith Saint Gregory so the holy Ghost hath the neerest affinity that may be with the word of God and is the expressor of his voice and the speaker of his will Joh. 16.14 that receiveth of him and revealeth all unto us Secondly Like cloven tongues 2. Why he appeared like cloven tongues because all tongues and all languages are alike knowne and understood of God and because this holy spirit can teach all men all Languages and the gift of tongues is a gift of God Thirdly 3. Why he appeared like cloven tongues of fire He appeared like cloven tongues of fire because the spirit of God delighteth rather in the zealous and the fervent tongues of saint Paul and Apollo's that warme the heart then in those eloquent tongues of Cicero and Demosthenes that delight the eares for this is the desire of Gods spirit to kindle the hearts of men and to set them on fire with the love of God and to make them zealous in all good things Indeed zeal derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word that 's framed from the very sound and hissing noise that hot burning coales do make when they meet their contraries in any moystned substance and so zeal expresseth heat and zealous men are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as burn or such as waxe fervent in spirit Acts 18.25 Psa 39.3 so as the Prophet saith The fire kindled and at the last I spake with my tongue zeal is the highest degree of affection good or bad therefore he that doth any thing moderately though hee may be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of that thing yet he cannot be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because a Zelot is so intensive Vt quicquid vult valde vult as that to all the objects of his affections he is excessively disposed Omnis animi impetus a ratione vel recta vel perversa proveniens ad destruendum vel ad sâ—uendum aliquid sub hoc verbo zelus significatur and most earnestly stretching himself to the very height of his abilities his love is fervent his desire eager his delights ravishing his hopes longing his hatred deadly his anger fierce his greif deep his feare terrible and so of all the rest of his passions he hath them all in the highest pitch so that such a man all the men in the world had most need to have his biasse right and to be furnished with that most necessary paire of spirituall endowments namâ—â— Wisdome and understanding Of wisdome understanding by way of digression first what they are two excellent graces and gifts to be desired above all the wealth of this world if wee would but consider the difference betwixt a Wise man and a foole that is void of understanding Now there are two sacred scriptures which do tell us what is Wisdome and Understanding for in the Book of Job it is sayd Job 28.28 Behold the feare of the Lord that is Wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Deut. 4.4 5 6. And Moses sheweth the same also saying Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements c. Keepe therefore and do them for this is your Wisdome and your Vnderstanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people Moreover Sap 7.22 concerning wisdome the wise man sayth that in her is an understanding spirit 2 Of the sundry properties in wisdome holy one only manifold subtill lively clear undefiled not subject to hurt plain loving the thing that is good quick which cannot be letted ready to do good Kinde to man Sap. 7.23 stedfast sure free from care having all power overseeing all things and going through all understanding pure and most subtill spirits For wisdome is more moving then any motion Sap. 7.24 shee passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness 25. For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her 26. For shee is the brightnesse of the everlasting light the unspotted mirrour of the power of God and the image of his goodnesse 27. And being but one she can do all things and remaining in her lelf she maketh all things new and in all ages entring into holy soules shee maketh them freinds of God and Prophets 28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdome 29. For shee is more beautifull then the Sun and above all the order of the stars being compared with the light shee is found before it so that as Menander saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wisdome is a more precious possession then all riches and therefore Nihil sapientiâ ardentius diligitur nihil dulcius possidetur nothing is loved nothing is desired more than Wisdome and though one man affecteth honour another desireth wealth and a third loveth his pleasure Aristot Meâ—a l 1. yet all men affect wisdom which as Aristotle saith is Cognitio primarum altissimarum causarum Cicero Tusc l 4. or as Cicero defines it Sapientiae est divinarum humanarum rerum scientia and it is the greatest glory and eminency of any man because a wise man in raggs is more to
naribus ejus rest not in man whose spirit is in his nostrills and therefore least the like might be thought to be in these divine persons we find Power ascribed to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justia Martyr in expos fideâ— Cy il l. 8 cont Jul. Wisdome unto the Son and Goodness unto the Holy Ghost wheras indeed each one of them is of the same power wisdome and goodness as the others be so we say with Justin Martyr according as God hath revealed himselfe unto us both in his word his works that the unity is understood in the trinity the Trinity is acknowledged in the unity Moreover S. Cyril saith that the Philosophers have affirmed the Essence of God to be distinguished into three subsistences and sometimes to have delivered the very name of Trinity and the Jewish Rabbins Galaâ—in de ar can fide l. v. 2. c. 11. 12 as Galatinus saith have observed this mystery out of the Hebrew names of God that there are three in one but one in three Vide. N. N n celium iâ— pâ—â—â—mio p 20. and so Hermes Trismegistus affirmed that there was one divinity or deity in the Trinity in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There was an intellectuall light before the intellectuall light A mind full of light and there was alwaies an enlightned mind of the mind and this was nothing else then the unity of these and the spirit which containeth all things besides this there is no God nor Angell nor any other substance because he is the Lord and Father and God of all things and all things are under him and in him Verbum ejus â—â—â—sectam â—â—sum insâ—◠〈◊〉 natura aqua secunda prolificam fecit aquam Quae verba quia sunt in eis quaedam carminum vestigia deinde restituta qui dam Orpheo vindicarunt for his perfect word existing and being fruitfull and a worker or maker of all things fallen in a fruitfull nature hath plentifully produced all things And then having sayd these things he prayeth unto this God saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Heaven the most excellent worke of the great God I do adjure thee and I do adjure thee the voice and speech of the Father which hee first uttered and spake when hee established all the world and I beseech thee by thine only begotten word and the Father which containeth or upholdeth all things be thou favourable and mercifull unto me There is no man but he would wonder to see in this Author the very words of Saint John and yet notwithstanding his bookes were translated by the Platonists a long time before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ And it is no marvell though we find sayings of his in diverse places which are not written in his Poemander considering that hee wrote six and thirty thousand five hundred and five and twenty Volumes that is to say Rolls of Paper Jambilicus in his 39. chap. of mysteries as Jambilicus reporteth This Hermes or Mercurius sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the greatest Philosopher the cheifest Preist and most prudent Prince of Aegypt he flourished before Pharaoh in the time of Moses and was called Ter Maximus thrice great because hee writ of the Trinity yea Saint Augustine affirmeth Aug. l. 5. c. 3. de haeresibus that hee did compose a booke whose Title was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the perfect word and that therein hee left written Monas genuit monada in se suum reflexit ardorem which is as much as if hee had said the Father begat the Sonne or the minde begate the word and from both proceeded the Holy spirit Also Theodorus the Platonist as it is in Proclus affirmeth that there are three cheife workers whereof hee calleth the one a substantiall minde the other a mentall substance and the third the Fountain of all life and Theodoret doth affirme That Plotinus and Numenius have collected out of Plato That there are three eternities Bonum mentem universi animam Goodnesse which answereth the Father that is the Fountaine of the Deity the minde which signifieth the Son and the soule or life of this whole Universe which is the holy spirit that as in the beginning of the Creation Gen. 1.2 hee presently moved upon the Waters to sustain the same so ever since hee spireth and preserveth every living thing and so Amelius and many others are as full and as plaine in this point as may be as any man may see that will looke into Nancelius his Proem Nancel in Proem Chalcidius Avicen which hee confesseth to have taken out of Eugubinus Thus we see how the Ancient Philosophers were all of one Opinion and judgement in the Doctrine of the Trinity The Gentiles did conceive a certaine kinde of knowledge and understanding though undigested and imperfect overshadowed as it were with humane reasonings concerning this mystery wherein they had so much knowledge as not only was able I say not with Clemens Alexandrinus to bring them to salvation but to make them without excuse in the day of Tribulation because that they knowing God glorified him not as God but also as doth exceede the knowledge of many which make profession of Christianity and will no doubt rise in judgement to condemn them in the later day Yet further God â—oe and indivisible as the Philosopers have affirmed the essence of God to be distinguished into three subsistences so likewise they have acknowledged the divine Essence to be only one impartible and indivisible For First Hermes Trismegistus teacheth Although many of the Ancient Philosophers through custome did celebrate the plurality of Gods yet notwithstanding they did acknowledge buâ—â—ne only true God by nature Du. Plessis That there is but one only God That One is the roote of all things and that without that One nothing hath been of all things that are That the same One is called the only good and the goodness it selfe which hath universall power of creating all things That it is impossible that there should be many makers That in Heaven he hath planted immortality in earth interchange and universally life and moving That unto him alone belongeth the name of Father and of God and that without blasphemy those titles cannot be attributed either to Angells Fiends or to men or to any of all those whom men do call Gods as in respect of honour and not of nature He calleth him the Father of the world the Creator the Beginning the Glory the Nature the End the Necessity the Renewer of all things the worker of all powers and the power of all works the only Holy the only unbegotten the only everlasting the Lord of everlastingnesse and the everlastingnesse it selfe Vnto him alone will hee have us to offer up our prayers our praises and our sacrifices and never to call upon any other Secondly Pythagoras teacheth Alledged by Cicero Plutark Clemens