Lecture XVI
LECTURE XVI.
ON THE ONE HOLY GHOST, THE COMFORTER, WHICH SPAKE IN
THE PROPHETS.
1 Cor. xii. 1, 4.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you tgnorant.... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1. NEED have we truly of spiritual grace, that we may discourse concerning the Holy Spirit; not that we may speak suitably to His dignity, for this is impossible, but that in alleging the words of the divine Scriptures, we may not put ourselves in jeopardy.
For surely a very fearful thing is written in the Gospels, where Christ says plainly, Whosoever Mat. 12, speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, tt shall not be? forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
And there is often fear, lest a man, either from ignorance, or from what is considered religion, speaking what he ought not concerning Him, should receive this doom.
The Judge of quick and dead, Jesus Christ, has declared that he hath no forgiveness; if then any man stumble, what hope has he?
2. To Jesus Christ's very grace, therefore, it must belong to grant both to us to speak without deficiency, and to you to hear with discretion ; for discretion is needful not to them only who speak, but also to them that hear, lest they hear one thing, and receive a different impression.
Let us then speak nothing concerning the Holy Ghost but what is written; and if any thing be not written, let us not busy ourselves about it. The Holy Ghost Himeelf spake the Scriptures ;
There ts but One Holy Ghost.
Lect. He has also spoken concerning Himself as much as He V1. pleased, or as much as we could receive.
Be those things therefore spoken, which He has said; for whatsoever He has not said, we dare not say.
(2.) 8. There is One Only Holy Ghost, the Comforter ; and as there is One God the Father, and no second Father;—and as there is One Only-begotten Son and Word of God, who hath no brother ;—so is there One Only Holy Ghost, and no second spirit equal in honour to Him.
The Holy Ghost then is Power most mighty, of a divine and unsearchable nature; for He is a living and intelligent Being, and is the sanctifying principle of all things made by God through Christ.
He it is who illuminates the souls of the just; He was in the Prophets, He was also in the Apostles in the New
Testament.
Abhorred be they who dare to separate into parts the active power of the Holy Ghost!
There is One God, the Father, Lord of the Old and of the New Testament ; and One Lord, Jesus Christ, who was prophesied of in the Old Testament, and came in the New; and One Holy Ghost, who through the Prophets preached of Christ, and when
Christ was come, descended, and manifested Him.
4. Let no one then divide the Old from the New Testament"; let no one say that the Spirit in the former is one, and in the latter another; for thus he offends against the Holy Ghost Himself, who together with the Father and the Son is honoured, and at the observance of Holy Baptism is included with them in the Holy Trinity.
For the OnlyMat.28, begotten Son of God said plainly to the Apostles, Go ye, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Our hope is in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
We preach not three Gods; let the Marcionites be mute; but we preach One God, by One Son, with the Holy Ghost.
The Faith is indisheifua. visible; religious worship is undistracted. We neither divide the Holy Trinity, like some; nor do we as Sabellius introduce cwade confusion.
But we know according to godliness One Father, who sent His Son to be our Saviour; we know One Son, whe promised that He would send the Comforter from the Father; we know the Holy Ghost, who spake in the Prophets, and * As did the Gnostice and Manichees. Philast. Her. 196.
Heretics concerning the Holy Ghost; the Gnostics.
who on the day of Pentecost descended on the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues, here, in Jerusalem, in the Upper
Church of the Apostles'; for all the choicest privileges belong to us.
Here Christ came down from heaven; here the Holy Ghost came down from heaven.
And in truth it were most fitting, that as we discourse concerning Christ and Golgotha, upon this Golgotha, so also we should speak concerning the Holy Ghost in the Upper Church; yet since He who descended there jointly partakes of the glory of Him who was crucified here, we here speak concerning Him also who descended there: for religious worship is indivisible.
- 5. We would now say somewhat concerning the Holy (3.) Ghost; not to declare with exactness His substance, for this ese were impossible; but to speak of the diverse mistakes of some
_ concerning Him, (lest we unawares fall upon them;) and to block up the paths of error, that we may journey on the King's one highway.
And if we now for caution's sake repeat any of the statements of these heresies, let it recoil on their heads, and let us be guiltless, both we who speak, and ye who hear.
6. For the heretics, who are most profane in all things, have sharpened their tongue against the Holy Ghost also, Ps. 140 and have dared to utter atrocious things; as Irenswus the ry é teacher has written in his directions against heresies.
For «4. some of them have dared to say that they were the Holy rere"
Ghost;—of whom the first was Simon, the sorcerer spoken of in the Acts of the Apostles: for when he was cast out, he presumed to teach such doctrines; and they who are called
Gnostics, impious men, have spoken other things against the Spirit, and the abandoned Valentinians again something else; and the profane Manes dared to call himself the Comforter sent by Christ.
Others again have taught that the Spint is different in the Prophets and in the New Testament.
Great then is their error, or rather their blasphemy.
Abhor therefore such, and flee from them who blaspheme the Holy Ghost, and have no forgiveness.
For what fellowship hast thou with the desperate, thou, who art to be baptized now, and into the Holy Ghost also?
If he who attaches himself to a thief and > On Mount Sion, and divided into vid. Epiphan. de Mena. 14. two parts, the Upper and the Lower.
Marcionists, Montanists, Manichees.
Lect. concurs with him, is punishable, what hope shall he have, XVI. who offends agaipst the Holy Ghost?
7. And abhor the Marcionists also, who tear away from the New Testament the text of the Old.
For Marcion first, that most impious of men, who first asserted three Gods, knowing that in the New Testament are contained testimonies concerning Christ from the Prophets, cut out those taken from the Old Testament, that the King might be left without witness.
Abhor those above-mentioned Gnostics, men of knowledge by name, but fraught with ignorance; who have dared to say such things of the Holy Ghost, as I dare not repeat.
(4.) 8. Let the Catapbrygians also be thy abhorrence, and Montdnus, their ringleader in evil, and his two so-called prophetesses, Maximilla and Priscilla.
For this Montanus, who was out of his mind and really mad, (for he would not have said such things, had he not been mad,) dared to say that he was the Holy Ghost,—he, miserable man, and filled with all uncleanness and lasciviousness*; for it suffices but to hint at this, out of respect for the women who are present.
And having fixed his abode at Pepuza, a most insignificant hamlet of Phrygia, he falsely named it Jerusalem; cutting the throats of wretched little children, and chopping them up into horrid food, for the purposes of their so-called mysteries, —(wherefore till but lately in the time of persecution, we were suspected of doing this, because these Montanists were called, falsely indeed, by the common name of Christians;)— yet he dared to call himself the Holy Ghost, filled as he was with all impiety and savage cruelty, and condemned by a sentence beyond mitigation.
9. And he was seconded, as was said before, by that most impious Manes also, who blended together what was bad in every heresy; who being the very lowest pit of destruction, collected the doctrines of all the heretics, and wrought out and set forth a yet more novel error.
And he dared to say that he himeelf was the Comforter, whom Christ promised to send.
But the Saviour when He promised Him, Luke2¢, said to the Apostles, But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
uniil ye be endued with power from on high.
What then?
© These tharges against the Montaother writers. nists are not satisfactorily borne out by
The duty of hating heretics,
did the Apostles who had been dead two hundred years, wait for Manes, until they should be endued with power; and will any dare to say, that they were not from that time full of 'the Holy Ghost?
And in truth it is written, Then they laid Acts 8, their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost; was He not this before Manes, yea, many years ago, when the Holy
Ghost descended on the day of Pentecost ?
10. Wherefore was Simon the sorcerer condemned? Was it not that he came to the Apostles, and said, Give me also Acts 8, this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive a. the Holy Ghost?
For he said not, " Give me also the fellowship of the Holy Ghost," but " Give me the power;" thathemight sell to others that which might not be sold, of which he had not himself possession.
And he brought money to them who bad nothing; and this, seeing men bringing the prices of the things sold, and laying them at the Apostles' feet.
And he considered not that they who trod under foot the wealth which was brought for the maintenance of the poor, were not likely to give the power of the Holy Ghost for a bribe.
But what say they to Simon? Thy money pertsh with thee, because Ib.v.20. thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money ; thou art a second Judas, who for money hast expected to buy the grace of the Spirit.
If then Simon, who wished to get this power for a price, is to perish, how impious is Manes, who said that he was the Holy Ghost?
Let us hate them who are worthy of hatred; withdraw we from them whom God withdraws from ; let us also say unto
God with all boldness concerning all erenan Do not I hate Pe 189, them, O Lord, that hate Thee, and am not I grieved with™ them that rise up against Thee? For there is also an enmity which is right, according as it is written, I will put enmity Gen. 3, between thee and her seed; for friendship with the serpent uh works enmity with God, and death.
11. Let then thus much suffice concerning those outcasts; (5.) and now let us return to the divine Scriptures, and let us drink waters out of our own cisterns, (that is, the holy Prov. 5,
Fathers,) and running waters oul of our own wells.
Drink !® we of that living water, which springs up into everlasting 3 yobs 4, life ; but this spake the Saviour ofthe Spirit, which they that j Ib
7,88 believe on Him should receive.
For observe what He says,
The various gifts of the Holy Ghost.
He that believeth on me, (not simply this, but,) as the Scripture hath said, (thus He hath sent thee back to the Old
Testament,) out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, Lect.
XVI. alréarel, Tivers, not perceived by sense, and merely watering the earth with its thorns and trees, but bringing light to the soul. And in another place He says, But the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up inio everlasting life,—a new water, living and springing up, springing up to them who are worthy.
John 4, 14, 12. And why has He called the grace of the Spirit by the name of water? because by water all things subsist ; because of water are herbs and animals created ; because the water of the showers comes down from heaven; because it comes down one in form, yet manifold in its working.
For one fountain watered the whole of the Garden, and one and the same rain comes down upon all the world, yet it becomes white in the lily, and red in the rose, and purple in the violets and pansies, and different and varied in each several kind: so it is one in the palm tree, and another in the vine, and all in all things ; being the while one in nature, not diverse from itself; for the rain does not change, when it comes down, first as one thing, then as another, but adapting itself to the nature of each thing which receives it, it becomes to each what is suitable.
Thus also the Holy Ghost, being one, and .of one nature, and undivided, divides to each His grace, according as He will: and as the dry tree, when it partakes of water, puts forth shoots, so also the soul in sin, when it has been through repentance made worthy of the Holy Ghost, brings forth clusters of righteousness.
And He, being One in nature, . yet at the will of God and in the Name of Christ works many excellences.
For He employs the tongue of one man for wisdom; the soul of another He enlightens by Prophecy ; to another He gives power to drive away devils; to another
He gives to interpret the divine Scriptures.
He invigorates one man's self-command ; He teaches another the way to give alms ; another He teaches to fast and exercise himself; another He teaches to despise the things of the body ; another
He trains for martyrdom: diverse in different men, yet not 1Cor.12, diverse from Himself, as it is written, But the manifestation
7—11. of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to
Different senses of the word Spirit.
one t given by the Spirtt the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as 'He will.
13. But since concerning that which is called Spirit, many (6.) and diverse things are written in the divine Scriptures, and there is reason to fear lest some out of ignorance fall into confusion, not knowing what sort of spirit is spoken of; it will be well now to certify you, of what kind the Scripture declares the Holy Spirit to be.
For as Aaron is called Christ, and David and Saul and others are called Christs, i.e. but there is only one true Christ, so, since the name of the eq ae Spirit is given to different things, it is right to see what is rp. x. meant in particular by the Holy Spirit. For many things are called spirits. Thus an Angel is called spirit, and our soul is called spirit, and this wind which is blowing is called spirit; and great excellence is spoken of as spirit; and an unclean deed as spirit; and a devil our adversary is called spirit. Beware therefore when thou hearest these things, lest from their having a common name thou mistake one for another.
For concerning our soul the Scripture says, His spirit shall go Ps. 146, Sorth, and he shall return to his earth: aud of the same soul * ee it says again, Which formeth the spirit of man within him. 3, 1.
And of the Angels it is said in the Psalms, Who maketh His Pa. 104, Angels spirits, and His ministers a flaming fire. And of the Say wind it saith, Thou shalt break the ships of Tarshish with a7. Sept. violent spirit; and, As the tree in the wood is moved by the Bac spirit; and, Fire, hail, snow, tce, spirit of storm.
And of py. 148, good doctrine the Lord Himself says, The words that I speak & Sohn 6, unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; instead of, " are 63, spiritual."
But the Holy Spirit is not pronounced by the tongue; but He is Living, and He it is who gives to speak wisely, speaking and discoursing Himself.
14. And wouldest thou know that He discourses and speaks?
Philip by revelation of an Angel went down to the way which leads to Gaza, when the Eunuch was coming ;
Instances of the Holy Ghost speaking.
Lecr. and the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this 1. chariot.
Seest thou the Spirit talking to one who hears Him? And Ezekiel speaks thus, And the Spirit of the Lord
Fac Sell upon me, and said unto me, Speak ; Thus saith the Lord. i Acts 1s, And again, The Holy Ghost said, unto the Apostles who were in Antioch, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunio I have called them.
Beholdest thou the Spirit living, separating, calling, and with authority sending forth ?
Acts20,S0 Paul said, Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
For this the good Sanctifier of the Church, and her Helper, and Teacher, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, of whom the Saviour gee, said, He shali teach you all things, (and He said not only,
He shall teach, but, He shall bring to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you; for the teachings of Christ and of the Holy Ghost are not different, but the same ;) He,
I say, testified before to Paul what should befal him, that he might be the more stout-hearted, from knowing them previously.—1 have been led to make these remarks in consequence of the text, The words which I speak unto you, they are spirit; that thou mayest understand this, not of the utterance of the lips, but of good doctrine.
(7.) 15. In Scripture too sin also is called spirit, as I have already said; but in another and opposite sense, as when it is
Hos. 4, said, The spirit of whoredoms caused them to err. The name '
© spirit" is given also to the unclean spirit, the devil; but with the addition of, " unclean;" for to each is joined its distinguishing name, to mark its proper nature. When the Scripture uses " spirit" in reference to the soul of man, it is with the addition, " of man ;" if it mean the wind, it says, the " spirit of storm ;" if sin, it says, the " spirit of whoredoms;" if the devil, it says, "an unclean spirit :" that we may know which particular thing is spoken of, and thou mayest not suppose that it means the Holy Ghost; God forbid!
For this word spirit is common to many things; and every thing which has not a gross body is in a general way called spirit. Since, therefore, the devils have not such bodies, they are called spirits: but great is the difference; for the unclean devil, when he comes upon the soul of a man, (may the Lord deliver from, him every soul that hears me, yea, and that is away!) he comes
Contrast between inspiration and demoniacal possession. 211 like a wolf upon a sheep, ravening for blood, and ready to devour.
His presence is most cruel; the sense of it most oppressive; the mind is darkened; his attack is an injustice also, and the usurpation of another's possession.
For he tyrannically uses another's body, another's instruments, as his own property; he throws down him who stands upright; (for he is akin to him who fell from heaven ;) he Lukelo, perverts the tongue and distorts the lips.
Foam comes'® instead of words; the man is filled with darkness; his eye is open, yet the soul sees not through it; and the miserable man quivers convulsively before his death.
The devils are truly focs of men, using them basely and pitilessly.
16. Such is not the Holy Ghost; God forbid!
For His (8.) doings tend the contrary way, to what is good and salutary.
First, His coming is gentle ; the perception of Him is fragrant; most light is His burden; beams of light and knowledge gleam forth before His coming.
He comes with the bowels of a true guardian; for He comes to save, and to heal, to teach, to admonish, to strengthen, to exhort, to enlighten the mind, first of him who receives Him, and afterwards of others also, through him.
And as a man, who having been previously in darkness, on a sudden beholds the sun, receives light in his bodily sight, and sees plainly things which he saw not, so in like manner he who is vouchsafed the Holy Ghost, is illuminated in his soul, and sees things beyond man's sight, which he knew not; his body is on earth, yet to his soul are mirrored forth the heavens.
He sees, like Esaias, the Lord sitting upon a throne high and Is.6,1. lifted up; he sees, like Ezekiel, Him who ts above the Fisk: a Cherubim; he sees, like Daniel, thousand thousands, and ten pan. 7, thousand times ten thousand; and the man, little though he !% be, beholds the beginning of the world and the end of the world, and the times intervening, and thesuccessions of kings,— things which he had not learnt: for the True Enlightener is present with him. The man is within walls; but the power of his knowledge reaches far and wide, and he sees even what other men are doing.
17. Peter was not with Ananias and Sapphira when they sold their possessions, but he was present by the Spirit;
Why, he says, hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the ps 5, P2
Gift of supernatural knowledge through the Spirit.
Lect. Holy Ghost?
There was no accuser; there was no witness; = whence knew he what had happened?
Wahiles it remained was tt not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in Acts 4, thine heart?
The unlettered Peter, by the grace of the it Spirit, learnt what not even the sages of the Greeks had known.
Thou hast the like, in the case also of Elisseus.
For when he had freely healed the leprosy of Naaman, Gehazi received the reward, the reward of another's achievement; and took the money from Naaman, and bestowed it
Ps. 139,in a dark place.
But the darkness is no durkness to the 12.
Saints.
And when he came, Elisseus asked him; and like Aets5,8. Peter, when he said, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so 2 Kings much? he also enquires, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? Not 5s ae a ignorance, but in surrow ask 1 whence comesi thou?
From darkness art thou come, and to darkness shalt thou go; thou hast sold the cure of the leper, and the leprosy shall be thy heritage.
I have fulfilled, he says, the bidding of Him Mat. 10,who said to me, Freely ye have received, freely give; but thou hast sold this grace; receive now the terms of thy purchase.
But what says Elisseus to him?
Went not mine heart with thee?
I was here shut in by the body, but the spirit which has been given me of God, saw even the things afar off, and shewed me plainly what was doing elsewhere.
Thou seest how the Holy Ghost not only rids of ignorance, (9.) but invests with knowledge ; thou seest how He illuminates souls.
18. Esaias lived nearly a thousand years ago; and he Iv, 1,8. beheld Sion as @ cottage.
The city was still standing, and beautified with public places, and robed in majesty; yet he
Mic. 3, Says, Zton shall be ploughed as a field, foretelling what is 13. fulfilled in our days.
And observe the exactness of the proIx, 1,8, Phecy ; for he said, And the daughter of Zion shall be left as Sept.
@ cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers.
And now the place is filled with gardens of cucumbers.
Seest thou how the Holy Spirit illuminates the holy ones?
Be not therefore carried away to other things, by the force of a common term, but keep fast what is exactly meant. ee 19. And if ever, while thou hast been sitting here, thoughts concerning chastity or virginity have come into thy mind, it
The Holy Ghost gives power over the flesh, the world, and the devil.213 has been His teaching.
Has not often a maiden, already at the bridal threshold, fled away, He teaching her the doctrine aerdof virginity? Has not often a man high in court, spurned" wealth and rank, being taught by the Holy Ghost?
Has not often a young man, at the sight of beauty, closed his eyes, and fled from the sight, and escaped the defilement? Askest thou whence it came to pass? The Holy Ghost taught the soul of the young man.
Many ways of covetousness are there in the world; yet Christians refuse possessions: wherefore? by the instigation of the Holy Ghost.
Awful in truth is that Spirit, holy and good; and fittingly are we baptized into Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
A man, still with a body about him, wrestles with many fiercest demons; and often the demon, whom many men could not master with iron bands, has been mastered by him with words of prayer, through the power which is in him of the Holy Ghost; and the mere breathing of the Exorcist becomes as fire to that unseen foe.
A mighty Succour and Protector, therefore, have we of God; a great Teacher of the Church, a mighty Champion on our behalf.
Let us not be afraid of the demons, nor of the devil; for our Champion is mightier.
Only let us open to Him our doors; for He goes Wind.6, about seeking such as are worthy, and searching on whom ©
He may confer His gifts.
20. And He is called the Comforter, because He comforts (10.) us, and encourages us, and helpeth our infirmities; for we Rom. 8, know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered, that is, to God.
Oftentimes, a man for Christ's sake has been outraged and injuriously dishonoured ; m: om is at hand; tortures on every side, and fire, and sword, and savage beasts, and the deep pit. But the Holy
Ghost softly whispers to him, " Wait thou for the Lord, O man; what is now befalling thee is a small matter; that which is bestowed on thee is great.
Suffer thou a little while, and be with Angels everlastingly; the sufferings of Rom. 8, this present time are not worthy to be compared with the & glory which shall be revealed in us." He pourtrays to the man the kingdom of heaven; He almost shews him even the paradise of delight; and the martyrs, whose bodily countenances
214 Diversity of operations of the Spirit in the Church Catholic.
Lect. are of necessity turned to their judges, but who in spirit XVI are already in Paradise, despise those hardships which are
9 durdau. seen.
21. And wouldest thou be sure that through the power of the Holy Ghost the Martyrs bear their witness?
The Lukel2, Saviour says to His disciples, And when they bring you unto LOS the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour, what ye ought to say.
For it is impossible to suffer martyrdom for Christ's 1Cor.1, sake, except a man suffer by the Holy Ghost; for if no man
; can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, how shall any man give his own life for Jesus' sake, but by the Holy Ghost?
(11.) 22. Great indeed, and all-powerful in gifts, and wonderful, is the Holy Ghost.
Consider, how many of you are now sitting here, how many souls of us are present.
For each He is working as is suitable, and being in the midst, He beholds the temper ofeach.
He beholds also his thoughts and his conscience, and what we say, and what we imagine.
What I have now said is great indeed, yet is it small.
For consider, I pray, with thoughts illuminated by Him, how many Chriswage' tians there are of this diocese, and how many in the whole eae: province of Palestine, and carry forward thy mind from this xist. province, to the whole Roman empire; and after this, consider the whole world; races of Persians, and nations of Indians,
Goths and Sarmatians, Gauls and Spaniards, and Moors Libyans and Ethiopians, and the rest for whom we have no names; for of many of the nations not even the names have reached us.
Consider, I pray, of each nation, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Solitaries, Virgins, and other laity; and then behold the great Protector, and Dispenser of their gifts ;— how throughout the world He gives to one chastity, to daenueanother perpetual virginity, to another almsgiviag, to another om voluntary poverty, to another power of repelling hostile spirits.
And as the light with one gleam sheds radiance on all things, so also the Holy Ghost enlightens thuse who have eyes; for if any from blindness is not vouchsafed His grace, let him not blame the Spirit, but his own unbelief.
, (12.) 28. Thou hast seen His power, which is throughout the
Operations of the Spirit inthe Heavenly Host and in the Prophets. 2\5 world; tarry now no longer upon earth, but ascend on high.
Ascend, I say, in imagination even unto the first heaven, and behold how many uncounted myriads of Angels are there.
Rise up in thy thoughts, if thou canst, yet higher; do but consider the Archangels, do but consider the Spirits; consider the Virtues, consider the Principalities, consider the Powers, consider the Thrones, consider the Dominions;—the Comforter is of all these the Ruler from God, and the Teacher, and the Sanctifier.
Of Him bas Elias need, and Elisseus, and Esaias, among men; of Him Michael and Gabriel have need among Angels.
Nought of things created is equal in honour to Him: for the families of the Angels, and all their hosts assembled together, have no equality with the Holy
Ghost.
All these the all-excellent power of the Comforter overshadows.
And they indeed are sent forth to minister ; but He searches even the deep things of God, according as the Apostle says, For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, thet) oe i deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a' man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
24. He preached concerning Christ in the Prophets; He wrought in the Apostles; He to this day seals the souls in Baptism.
And the Father indeed gives to the Son; and the Son shares with the Holy Ghost.
For it is Jesus Himself, not I, who says, All things are delivered unto Me of My Mot.11,
Father; and of the Holy Ghost He says, When He, the 5 alle Spirit of Truth, shall come, and the rest .... He shall glorify 15. 14.
Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
The Father through the Son, with the Holy Ghost, bestows all things; the gifts of the Father are none other than those of the Son, and those of the Holy Ghost; for there is one Salvation, one Power, one Faith; One God, the Father; One
Lord, His only-begotten Son; One Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
And it is enough for us to know these things; but enquire not curiously into His nature or substance: for had it done been wnitten, we would have spoken of it; whatis not written,
~ let us not venture on; for it is sufficient for our salvation to know, that there is Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
25. This Spirit descended upon the seventy Elders in the (13.) days of Moses.
(Now Ict not the length of the discourse,
216 The Holy Ghost given to some, but not to all, before Pentecost. beloved, produce weariness in you: but may He of whom
XVlour discourse is, grant strength to every one, both to us who Lect. speak, and to you who listen!) This Spirit, as I said, came down upon the seventy Elders in the time of Moses; and I say this to thee, that I may set before thee, that He knows all things, and worketh as He rill. The seventy Elders were chosen; And the Lord came down in a cloud, and took of the Spirit that was upon Moses, and gave it unto the seventy
Elders; not that the Spirit was divided, but His grace, according to the vessels of it, and the capacity of the recipients.
But there were present sixty and eight, and they prophesied; but Eldad and Medad were not present: therefore that it might be shewn that it was not Moses who bestowed the gift, but the Spirit who wrought, Eldad and Medad, who had been called, but had not as yet presented themselves, prophesy.
1 Cor.
12, 11.
Numb.
1], 24.
25.
26. Jesus the Son of Nun, the successor of Moses, was amazed; and coming to him he says, " Hast thou heard that Eldad and Medad prophesy? They were called, and they came not; my lord Moses, forbid them."
"TI.cannot forbid them," he says, " for this grace is from heaven; nay, so far am I from forbidding them, that I even think ita mercy.
I think not, however, that thou hast said this in envy; yet hast thou not rivalry for my sake, because that they prophesy, and ver. 38.
29.
. thou prophesiest not yet? wait for the proper season; and O that all the Lord's people were prophets, whenever the Lord shall put His Spirit upon them!" saying this also prophetically, Whenever the Lord shall put; "However He has not as yet given it; so thou hast it not yet."—Had not then
Abraham this, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph? And they of old, had they it not? Nay, but the words plainly mean,
"' when He shall put it upon all; as yet indeed this grace is partial, then it shall be given lavishly."
And he secretly alluded to what was to happen on the day of Pentecost among us; for He descended among us, yet He had before also descended upon many.
For it is written, And Jesus the son Of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom ; for Moses had laid his hands upon him. Thou seest the same figure in the Old and New Testament;—in the days of Moses, the Spirit was given by the laying on of hands; and Peter also gives
Deut.
34, 9.
(14.)
The Holy Ghost in all the just, in all Prophets,
the Spirit by the laying on of hands. And on thee also, who art about to be baptized, shall His grace come; yet in what maoner I say not, for I will not anticipate the proper season.
27. He also came upon all the just, and the Prophets; Enos, I mean, and Enoch, and Noah, and the rest; upon Abraham, Isaac, Jacob ; for as regards Joseph, even Pharaoh v. Gen, understood that he had the Spirit of God within him. And!»
5* of Moses, and the wonderful works wrought by the Spirit in his days, thou hast heard often.
This Spirit had Job, that most enduring man, and all the saints, though we repeat not all their names.
He also was sent when the tabernacle was Exod. in making, and filled with wisdom the wise-hearted men who sates were with Bezaleel.
1, deo.
28. In the might of this Spirit, as we have it in the Book of Judg. 8, Judges, Othniel judged; Gideon was made strong ; Jephtha it", 34. conquered; Deborah, a woman, waged war; and Samson, ° il, so long as he wrought righteousness, and grieved Him not, achieved things beyond man's power.
And as for Samuel and David, we have it plainly in the Books of Kings, that by the Holy Ghost they prophesied, and were the chiefs of the prophets ;—and Samuel was called, the Seer; and David says1 Sam. distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and in they'...
Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from me, and again, 25,3.
Let thy good Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousA Bl, ness.
And as we have it in the Books of Chronicles, Azariah, ie ei in the time of King Asa, and Jahaziel in the time of King B. vers.) Jehoshaphat, partook of the Holy Ghost ; and again, another} ice
Azariah, he who was stoned.
And Ezra says, Thou gavest Ib. 20, also Thy good Spirit totnstruct them.
Butas touching Elias Ley 34, who was taken up, and Elisseus, those spirit-instinct* and 90.21; wonder-working men, it is manifest, without our saying 80,20.' that they were full of the Holy Ghost.
29. And if a man peruse all the books of the Prophets, (15.) both of the twelve, and of the others, many will he find the texts to be concerning the Holy Ghost ; as when Micah says in the person of God, Unless I fulfil might by the Spirit of Mic.8,8. the Lord; and Joel cries, And it shall come to pass afterJoo 3
| 4 eroparepicnr.
" Used in a bad to holy men by ecclesiastical writers." renee, a8 apes Sor to false prophets, in Ed. Ben.
Hos. 9,7. Zeph.
3, 4. Sept. but applied
218 Texts from the Old Testament concerning the Holy Spirit.
Eeor: wards, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all ficsh ; and I. Haggai, For I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts; My
Bag ' Spirit remaineth among you; and in like manuer Zechariah, Zeck 1, But receive My words and My statutes which I command by od pe My Spirit, to My servants the Prophets ; and the rest. le. 11,2.
90. And Esaias too, with his majestic voice, says, And the Sept. gpirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and godliness; and the fear of the Lord shall fill
Him ; signifying that the Spirit is one and undivided, but Is. 42,1. His operations various.
So again, Behold My servant, and 1s.44,8.the rest; J have put My Spirit upon Him.
And again, ue 48, I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed; and again, dnd now i so, ! the Lord God and His Spirit hath sent Me ; and again, Thes
21. ts My covenant with them, saith the Lord, My Spirit which Ib.61,1.¢8 upon thee; and again, The Spirit of the Lord God ts upon Me, because He hath anointed Me, and the rest; and Ib. 63, again in bis charge against the Jews, But they rebelled and a4 1. vexed His Holy Spirit, and, where is He that put His Holy
Spirit within Him?
Also thou hast in Ezekiel, (if thou be not now weary of listening,) what has already been quoted, ar And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me,
"Speak ; Thus saith the Lord.
But the words, fell upon pre we must understand in a good sense, that is, "' lovingly
;" yo Gen. Jacob also, when he had found Joseph, fell upon his oir 46,99. and as the loving father, in the Gospels, on seeing his son
Lukel5, who had returned from his wandering, had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And again in rea Ezekiel, dnd he brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God tnto Chaldea, to them of the captivity.
And other texts thou Manian -heardest before, in what was said about Baptism; Then will
16, 1 sprinkle clean water upon you, and the rest; a new heart Ezek.86, also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you;
™ and then immediately, And I will put my Spirit within you.
Ezek.
And again, The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried 3751. me out in the Spirit of the Lord.
(16.) $1. He endued with wisdom the soul of Daniel, that ames young as he was he should be judge of Elders.
The ohatle 13,22, Susanna was condemned as a wanton; there was none to plead her cause ; for who should deliver her from the rulers?
The gifts of the Spirit in Daniel.
She was led away to death, she was now in the hands of the executioners.
But her Helper was at hand, the Comforter, the Spirit who sanctifies every intelligent nature.
Come rari. hither to me, He says to Daniel; young though thou be, convict those elders who labour under the sins of youth ; for it is written, God raised up the Holy Spirit upon a young v. 45. stripling ;—in a word, (to cut the subject short,) by the sentence of Daniel that chaste lady was saved.
We bring this forward as an instance; for this is not the season for expounding.
Nebuchadnezzar also knew that the Holy Spirit was in Daniel; for he says to him, O Belteshazzar, Dan. 4, master of the magiciuns, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy Gods is in thee.
One thing he said truly, and one falsely ; for that he had the Holy Spirit was true, but he was not the master of the magicians, for he was no sorcerer, «4s. but was wise through the Holy Ghost.
And before this also, he interpreted to him the vision of the Image, which he who had seen it himself knew not; forhe says, Tell me the vision, v. Dan. which I who saw it know not.
Thou seest the power of the" hE Holy Ghost ; that which they who saw it know not, they who saw it not know and interpret.
32. And indeed it were easy to collect very many texts out of the Old Testament, and to discourse more largely concerning the Holy Ghost.
But the time is short; and we must confine ourselves to a hearing of suitable length.
Wherefore, being now content awhile with passages from the Old Testament, we will, if it be God's pleasure, proceed in the next Lecture to what remains to bring out of the New
Testament.
And may the God of peace, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, count all Ro
15, 80. of you worthy of spiritual and heavenly gifts :—To whom be glory and power for ever and ever.
Amen.