Lecture XVII
LECTURE XVII.
ON THE HOLY GHOST.
1 Cor. xii. 8.
For toone ts given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; §c.
1. In the preceding Lecture, we set forth according to our XVIlability to the ears of your love some small portion of the Lect. testimonies concerning the Holy Ghost; and on the present occasion, we will, if it be God's pleasure, proceed to treat, as far as may be, of those which remain out of the New: and as then we restrained our eagerness within bounds in what you heard, (for there is no satiety in discoursing concerning the Holy Ghost,) so now we must say but a small part of what remains. For now, as well as then, we freely own that our weakness is overwhelmed by the multitude of what is written.
Neither to-day will we use the subtleties of men, for that were not convenient; but merely call to mind what comes from the divine Scriptures ; for this is the safest course, ac-
Cor. 2, cording to the blessed Apostle Paul, who so. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, Thus we act like travellers or voyagers, who having one goal to a very long journey, though they with diligence hasten on, yet by reason of human weakness, are wont to take in their way divers cities or harbours.
(2, 2. Therefore though the discourses concerning the Holy Ghost are divided, yet He Himself is undivided, being one
Names of the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, 221 and the same.
For as in speaking concerning the Father, at one time the subject of our teaching was how He is the one ex) per only Cause; and at another, how He is called Father, or ¢***
Almighty; and at another, how He is the Creator of all things; the division of the Lectures making no division of the Faith, in that He, the Object of devotion, both was and is, One ;— and again, as in discoursing concerning the Only-begotten Son of God, we taught at one time concerning His Godhead, and at another concerning His manhood, dividing into many discourses the doctrine concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, yet proclaiming without division faith towards Him;—so now also though the Lectures concerning the Holy Spirit are divided, yet we preach faith undivided towards Him.
For it is One and the Self-same Spirit who divides His gifts to every 1 Cor. man severally as He will, Himself the while abiding un- !? !divided.
For the Comforter is not different from the Holy Ghost, but one and the self-same, called by various names ; who lives and subsists, and speaks, and works; and of all dpeerds. rational natures made by God through Christ, both of Angels asyiac. and of men, He is the Sanctifier.
8. But lest any from lack of learning, should suppose from the different titles of the Holy Ghost that these spirits are divers, and not one and the self-same, who is alone, the Catholic Church guarding thee beforehand hath delivered to us in the profession of the faith, to " believe in one Holy
Ghost the Comforter, who spake by the Prophets;" that thou mightest know, that though His names be many, the Holy
Spirit is but one;—of which names, we will now rehearse a few out of many.
4. He is called the Spirit, according to the Scripture just (3.) now read, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom. | Cor.
He is called the Spirit of Truth, as the Saviour says, When Fehnié, He, the Spirit of Truth, is come.
He is called also the Com-!5forter, as He said, For if I go not away, the Comforter will Ib. v. 7. not come unto you.
But that Heis one and the same, though called by different titles, is shewn plainly from the following.
For that the Holy Spirit and the Comforter are the same, is Ib. 14, declared in those words, But the Comforter, which is the 2%
Holy Ghost; and that the Comforter is the same as the Spirit of Truth, is declared, when it is said, And I will give you jst
292 The Spiritof God, of the Father ,ofthe Lord, of Christ,ofthe Son, Lect. another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever, even
VII: the Spirit of Truth; and agaiu, But when the Comforter is sry * come whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the give, Spirit of Truth.
And He is called the Spirit of God, acIb. 15, cording as it is written, And I suw the Spirit of God deMat. 3, scending ; and again, For as many as are led by the Spirit of zs Sew, God, they are the sons of God.
He is called also the Spint 1,82. of the Father, as the Saviour says, For tt ts not ye (hat speak,
Hom. 8, *but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you; and Mt.
10,again Paul saith, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Eph. 3, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; ... that He would grant
14.16. you to be strengthened by His Sort. He is also called the Spirit of the Lord, according to that which Peter spake,
Acts 5, Why is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of " the Lord? He is called also the Spirit of God and Christ, as Rom. 8, Paul writes, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirtt, +f so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he 1s none of His.
He is called Gal. 4, also the Spirit of the Son of God, as itis said, And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son.
He is 1 Pet 1, called also the Spirit of Christ, as it is written, Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
Phil. 1, in them did signify; and again, Through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
5. Thou wilt find many other titles of the Holy Ghost besides.
Thus He is called the Spirit of Holiness, as it is ere l,written, According to the Spirit of Holiness.
He is also fink g, called the Spirit of adoption, as Paul saith, For ye have not 15. received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
He is also called the Spirit of revelation, as it is written, ape 1, May give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the "knowledge of Him.
He is also called the Spirit of promise, Eph. 1, as the same Paul says, In whom also after that ye believed,
18. ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise. He is also Leki called the Spirit of grace, as when he says again, And hath
"done despite to the Spirit of grace.
And by many other suchaha like titles is He named.
And thou heardest in the foregoing Ps. 143, Lecture, that in the Psalms, He is called at one time the good ic sat.
"Spirit, and at another the princely Spirit; and in Esaias
of Holiness, of Adoption, of Revelation, of Promise, of Grace. 228
He was styled the Spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, and of counsel, and of might, and of knowledge, and of godliness, and of the fear of God.
By all which Scriptures both those before and those now alleged, it is established, that though the titles of the Holy Ghost be different, He is one and the same ; living and subsisting, and always present spires together with the Father and the Son; not uttered or breathed "%*** by the mouth and lips of the Father and the Son, nor . dispersed into the air, but having a real substance, speaking tres.
Himself, and working, and dispensing, and sanctifying ; the """*"saving dispensation which is to usward from the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, being consistent and harmocise. nious and one, as we have also said before.
For I wish you pists to keep in mind those things which were lately spoken, and to know clearly that there is not one spirit in the Law and the Prophets, and another in the Gospels and Apostles; but that it is One and the Self-same Spirit, which both under the Old and under the New Testament, spake the divine Scriptures.
6. This is the Holy Ghost, who came upon the Holy Virgin (4.) Mary; for since He who was born was Christ the Onlybegotten, the power of the Highest overshadowed her, and the Luke 1,
Holy Ghost coming upon her, sanctified her, that she might ® be able to receive Him, by whom all things were made. John},
I have no need of using many words for thee to learn that® that birth was without defilement or taint, for thou hast learned it.
It is Gabriel who says to her, I am the herald of what shall be done, but I have no part in it. Though an Archangel, I know mine place; and though I joyfully bid thee All hail, yet how thou shalt bring forth, is not of any grace of mine.
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Luke 1, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee ; there-*fore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
7. This Holy Spirit wrought in Elisabeth; for He has in knowledge not virgins only, but acknowledges matrons also, so that their marriage be lawful.
And Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied; and that noble handmaiden says of her own Lord, And whence is this to me, that Luke), the Mother of my Lord should come tome?
For Elisabeth ah counted herself blessed. Filled with this Holy Spirit, Zacharias
'The Spirit descended on Christ at His Baptism.
Leor. also, the father of John, prophesied, telling how many LAL good things the Only-begotten should precure, and that John should be His harbinger through baptism.
By this Holy Ghost also it was revealed to just Symeon, that he should not see death, till he had seen the Lord's Christ; and he received Him in his arms, and bore clear testimony in the Temple concerning Him.
8. But John moreover, who had been filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb, was for this cause sanctified, vid. sup. that he might baptize the Lord; not giving the Spirit himself, o te bot preaching glad tidings of Him who gives the Spirit.
Mat. 8, For he says, I indeed baptize you with water to repentance, 11. but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, and the rest; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and ecith fire.
With fire, wherefore? because the descent of the Holy Ghost was in fiery tongues; concerning which the Lord
Lukel3, gays joyfully, J am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled ?
(5.) 9% This Holy Ghost descended on the Lord at His baptism, that the dignity of Him who was baptized might not be
John 1, hidden; as John says, But He which sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
But see what saith the Gospel; the heavens were opened ; they were opened Mat. 8, because of the dignity of Him who descended; for, /o, he says, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: that is, with voluntary motion in His descent. For it behoved,as some have interpreted, that the handsel and first-fruits of the Holy
Spirit in the baptized, should be given to the manhood of the Saviour, who confers such grace.
But perhaps He came down in the form of a dove, as some say, to exhibit a figure of one who is pure and innocent and undefiled, and also helps in the prayers for the children she has begotten, and for forgiveness of sins; as it was emblematically foretold that Christ should be thus manifested in the appearance of His eyes; for in the Canticles she cries concerning the BrideCant. 5, groom, and says, His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the ihe rivers Qf water.
Texts from the New Testament concerning the Holy Ghost. 225
10. Of this dove, the dove of Noe, according to some, was in part a figure.
For as in his time by means of wood and of water salvation came to men, and the beginning of a new creation, and the dove returned to him towards evening with an olive branch, thus, say they, the Holy Ghost also descended upon the true Noe, the Author of the second birth, who draws together into one the wills of all nations, of whom «¢eaéthe various sorts of animals in the ark were a figure:—Him" at whose presence, the spiritual wolves feed with the lambs, in whose Church the calf, and the lion, and the ox, feed in the same pastnre, as we behold to this day the rulers of the world guided and taught by Churchmen.
The spiritual dove tsmastherefore, as some interpret, came down at the season of His *=*"" baptism, that He might shew that it is He who by the wood
_ of the Cross saves them who believe, who should at eventide through His death vouchsafe to them salvation.
11. And of these things perhaps there may be another (6.) exposition; and now too we ought to hear the words of the Saviour Himself concerning the Holy Ghost.
For He says, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, He cannot Sobn 3, enter into the kingdom of God.
And because this grace is" from the Father, He says, How much more shall your heavenly Lutel1,
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.
And}* because we ought to worship God in the Spirit, He says, But the hour cometh and now ts, when the true worshippers Sohn 4, shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
And again, But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of bag God; and immediately afterwards, Wherefore I say unto you, . 3). all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men ; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
And again He says, And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another ka 6,
Comforter, that He may be with you for ever, the Spirit ofs Gyr, Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because tt seeth Him oe not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He direlleth reo.text,
226 Texts from the New Testament concerning the Holy Ghost.
Lect. with you, and shall be in you.
And again He says, These patie things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
Ib. 15, unto you.
And again He says, But when the Comforter ts come, tchom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall
Ib.16,7. testify of Me.
And again the Saviour says, For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.... And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, ver. 19. and of judgment; and afterwards again, J have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them yet.
Howbeit, when He the Spirit of Truth ts come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak, and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto yow.
All things that the Father hath are Mine ; therefore said I, That He shall take of Mine, and shall shew tt unto you.
I have read to thee now what the Only-begotten Himself has uttered, that thou mayest not give heed to human words.
(7.) 12. The fellowship of this Holy Spirit He bestowed on the John20, Apostles: for it is written, And when He had said this He
22. breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost ; whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. vid.supr. This was the second time He breathed, (His first breath mv. 10. having been stifled by wilful sins;) that the Scripture might
Nahum be fulfilled, He went up breathing upon thy face, and deain livering thee from affitction. But whence went He up? From Hades; for thus the Gospel relates, that after His resurrection then He breathed on them.
But though He bestowed His grace then, He was to lavish it yet more bountifully ; and He says to them, "TI truly am ready to give it even now, but the vessel cannot yet hold it; for a while therefore receive ye grace, according as ye can bear it; but look forward for even more;
Luke24, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be invested with power from on high.
Receive it in part now; then, ye shall bear it in its fulness."
For he who receives often, pos-
The Holy Ghost enters and invests the soul.
sesses the gift but in part; but he who is invested, is completely enfolded by his robe.
" Fear not," He says, " the weapons and darts of the devil; for ye bear with you the power of the Holy Ghost."
But remember that the Holy Ghost is not divided, but the grace which is by Him.
13. Jesus therefore went up into heaven, and fulfilled the promise.
For He said to them, I will pray the Father, and Jobn14, He shall give you another Comforter. They were accordingly m3 sitting, looking for the coming of the Holy Ghost; and when the day of Peniecost was fully come, here, in this city of Acts 2,
Jerusalem,—(for this honour also belongs to us; and we speak x not of good which has happened among others, but of that which has been vouchsafed among ourselves,)—on the day of Pentecost, I say, they were sitting, and the Comforter came down from heaven, the Guardian and Sanctifier of the Church, the Ruler of souls, the Pilot of the tempest-tossed, the Enlightener of the lost, who presides in the combat, and crowns the victors.
14. But He came down to invest the Apostles with power, (8.)_ and to baptize them ; for the Lord says, ye shall be baptized
Ib. 1, 5. with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
His grace is not in part, but His power is in full perfection ; for as he who plunges into the waters and is baptized is encompassed on all sides by the waters, so were they also baptized completely by the Holy Ghost.
The water however envelops but outwardly, but the Spirit baptizes also the soul within, and that perfectly. And wherefore wonderest thou? Take an example from matter; poor indeed and common, yet useful for the simpler sort.
If the fire penetrating the mass of the iron makes the whole of it fire, so that what was cold becomes burning and what was black is made bright,—if fire which is a body thus penetrates and works without hindrance in iron which is also a body, why wonder that the Holy Ghost enters into the very inmost recesses of the soul ?
15. And lest men should be ignorant of the greatness of that mighty gift, which was coming down to them, there sounded as it were a heavenly trumpet.
For suddenly there ib. 2, 2. came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,*~ signifying the presence of Him who was to grant unto men, to seize with violence the kingdom of God; that both their
228 The Holy Ghost obliterates sin and brightens the soul.
Lecr. eyes might see the fiery tongues, and their ears hear the XVI: sound. And it filled all the house where they were sitting; ware'. for the house became the vessel of the spiritual water; as the disciples sat within, the whole house was filled.
Thus they were entirely baptized according to the promise, invested soul and body with a divine and saving garment. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and tt sat upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost.
They partook of fire, not of burning but of saving fire; of fire which consumes the thorns of sins, and gives lustre to the soul.
This is now coming upon you also, and that, to strip away and devour your sins which are like thorns, and to brighten that precious possession of your souls, and to give you grace; for He gave it then to the Apostles.
And He sat upon them in the form of fiery tongues, that by fiery tongues their heads might be encircled with new and spiritual diadems.
'The fiery sword barred of old the gates of Paradise; the fiery tongue which brought salvation restored the gift.
(9.) 16. And they began to speak with other tongues, as the er *) Spirit gave them utterance.
The Galilean Peter or Andrew spoke Persian or Median.
John and the rest of the Apostles spake every tongue to those of Gentile extraction; (for it has not arisen in our time that multitudes of strangers assemble here from all quarters, but they have done so since that time.) What teacher can be found so great as to teach men things at once which they have not learned?
So many years are they in learning by grammar and the other arts to speak well Greek only; nor do all speak even this equally well; the Rhetorician perhaps succeeds in it, and the Grammarian sometimes not, and the Grammarian is ignorant of the subjects of philosophy.
But the Holy Spirit taught the Apostles many languages at once, languages which all their life long they had not known.
This is in truth vast wisdom, this is power divine.
What a contrast is their long ignorance in time past, and their sudden utterance of these divers and strange languages?
17. The multitude of the hearers was confounded ;—it was a second confusion, in the room of that first evil one at Babylon.
For in that confusion of tongues, there was division of
The Holy Ghost given wholly, not in part, at Pentecost. 229 purpose, because their feelings were ungodly ; but here minds were restored and united, because the object of interest was godly.
The means of falling were the means of recovery.
Wherefore they marvelled, saying, How hear we them speaktng? No marvel if ye be ignorant; for even Nicodemus was ignorant of the coming of the Spirit, and to him it was said,
The Spirit breatheth where it listeth, and thou hearest the Jotn 3, voice thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and* whither it goeth; but if even though hearing His voice,
I know not whence He cometh, how can 1 explain, what seteraHe is in substance? en.
18. But others mocking said, These men are full of new (10.) wine, and they spoke truly though in mockery. For in truth the wine was new, even the grace of the New Testament; but this new wine was from the spiritual Vine, which had »#e#s. oftentimes ere this borne fruit in Prophets, and had budded in the New Testament.
For as in things sensible, the vine ever remains the same, but bears new fruits in its seasons, 80 also the self-same Spirit continuing what it is, as it had often wrought in Prophets, now manifested a new and marvellous work.
For though His grace had been extended on the Fathers also, yet it came at this time exuberantly; for before they but partook of the Holy Ghost, but now they were baptized wholly.
19. But Peter who had the Holy Ghost, and who knew what he possessed, says, " Men of Israel, ye who preach Joel, Ac a 2, but know not the things which are written, these men are not" drunken as ye suppose.
Drunken they are, not however as ye suppose, but according to that which is written, They Ps.36,8. shall be drunken with the fatness of thy house; and thou Rept, shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
They 'are drunken, yet sober; their drunkenness is a death to sin and a quickening of heart, a drunkenness contrary to that of the body ; for this last even causes forgetfulness of what was known, but that even bestows the knowledge of what was not known. They are drunken, for they have drunk the wine of the spiritual vine, which says, J am the vine and ye are eee the branches. But if ye are not persuaded by me, understands,
=" what I tell you from the very time of the day; for it is the third hour of the day.
For He who, as Mark relates, was
St. Peter's speech at Pentecost.
Luct. crucified at the third hour, has now at the third hour seut XVI. down His grace. For His grace is not other than the Spirit's grace, but He who was then crucified, who also gave this promise, has now made good that which He promised. And if ye would receive a testimony also of this, Listen," he says:
" But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour of My Spirit"—(and this word, J will pour, implied
John 8, a rich gift; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure, for the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand; and He has given Him the power also of bestowing the grace of the All-holy Spirit on whomsoever He will ;)
—I will pour of My Spirit upon all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and afterwards, And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy."
The Holy Ghost is no respecter of persons; for He seeks not dignities, but piety of soul.
Let not either the rich be puffed up, or the poor dejected, but only let each prepare himself for the reception of the Heavenly gift.
(11.) 20. We have said much to-day, and perchance you are weary of listening; yet more still remains.
And in truth for the doctrine of the Holy Ghost there were need of a third lecture; and of many besides.
But we must have your indulgence on both points.
For as the Holy Festival of Easter is at hand, we have this day lengthened our discourse ; yet we had not room to bring before you all the testimonies from the New Testament, which we ought.
For much is still to come from the Acts of the Apostles, in which the grace of the Holy Ghost wrought mightily in Peter and in all the Apostles together; much also from the Catholic Epistles, and the fourteen Epistles of Paul; out of all which we will now endeavour to gather a few, like flowers from a large meadow, merely by way of remembrance. feoddew.
21, For in the power of the Holy Ghost, by the will of Father and Son, Peter standing with the Eleven, and lifting
1s.40,9up his voice, (according to the text, Lift up thy voice with _ Strength, thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalen,)
"avy captured in the spiritual net of his words, about three thoysand souls.
So great was the grace which wrought in all the
Texts from the Acts of the Apostles.
Apostles together, that, out of the Jews, the crucifiers of Christ, this great number believed, and were baptized in the Name of Christ, and continued sledfustly tn the Apostles' tt doctrine and in prayers. And again in the same power of the"
Holy Ghost, Peter and John as they went up into the Temple at the hour of prayer, which was the ninth hour, in the Name of Jesus healed the lame man at the Beautiful gate, who had so been from his mother's womb for forty years; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken, Then shall the lame man leap 1s.35,6, as an hart.
And thus, as they swept into the spiritual samemeshes of their doctrine five thousand believers at once, so they confuted the bewildered rulers of the people and chief priests, and that, not by their own wisdom, for they were Hote 4, unlearned and ignorant men, but by the mighty power of the '% Holy Ghost ; for it is written, Then Peter filled with the Holy Acts 4,
Ghost said to them.
So great also was the grace of the Holy es Ghost, which wrought by means of the Twelve Apostles in them who believed, that they were of one heart and of one soul, v. 32. and their enjoyment of their goods was common, the possessors piously offering the prices of their possession, and no one among them wanting aught; while Ananias and Sapphira, who attempted to lie to the Holy Ghost, underwent their befitting punishment.
22. And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and Acts 5, wonders wrought among the people. And such spiritual grace | wa was shed around the Apostles, that gentle as they were, they «sj. were the objects of dread ; for of the rest durst no man join himself to them ; bul the people magnified them.
And multitudes were added of them who believed in the Lord, both of men and women; and the streets were filled with sick on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, passing by, might overshadow some of them.
And the multitude also of the cities round about came unto this holy Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, who were healed every one in this might of the Holy
Ghost.
23. Again, when the Twelve Apostles, after having been (12.) cast into prison by the chief priests for preaching Christ, and having been marvellously delivered from it at night by an Angel, were brought to the judgment hall to them out of the
Texts from the Acts of the Apostles.
Lect.
Temple, they fearlessly rebuked them, in their discourse to them Ea concerning Christ.
And when they added this, that God hath 32. &e. given His Holy Spirit to them that obey Him, and had been beaten, they went their way rejoicing, and ceased not to teach and preach Christ Jesus.
24. Nor in the Twelve Apostles only wrought the grace of the Holy Ghost, but also in the first-born children of this once barren Church, I mean the seven Deacons; for these
Aots 6, also were chosen, as it is written, being full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom.
Of whom Stephen, rightly so named, the first-fruits of the Martyrs, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, did great wonders and miracles among the people, and vanquished those who disputed with him; for they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
And when he was maliciously accused and brought to the judgment hall, he was radiant with angelic effulgence; for all they who sat in the council, looking stedJasily on him, saw his face, as tt had been the face of an Angel.
And having by his wise defence confuted the Jews, Acts 7, those stiffnecked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, ever oh ee resisting the Holy Ghost, he beheld the heavens opened, and saw the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. He saw Him, not by his own power, but, as the divine Scripture sayspbeing full of the Holy Ghost, he looked up stedSastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
25. In the same power of the Holy Ghost, and in the Name Acts 8, of Christ, Philip at one time, drove away in the city of '
Samaria the unclean spirits, which cried out with a loud voice; and he healed the palsied and the lame, and brought to Chnist great multitudes of believers.
To whom Peter and John came down, and imparted with prayer, and the laying on of hands, the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, from which Simon Magus alone was declared an alien, and that justly.
And at another time Philip was called by an Angel of the Lord in the way, for the sake of that most godly Ethiopian
Eunuch, and heard distinctly the Spirit Himself, saying, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
He instructed the Eunuch, and baptized him, and so having sent into Ethiopia a Lp 68, herald of Christ, according as it is written, Ethiopia shall soon
Texts from the Acts of the Apostles.
stretch out her hands unto God, he was caught away by the Angel, and preached the Gospel in the cities in succession.
26. With this spirit was Paul also filled after his calling (13.) by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let godly Ananias come as a Witness to what we say, he who in Damascus said to him,
The Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee by the way as Acts 9, thow camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy)" sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And He straightway, mightily working, changed the blindness of Paul's eyes into restored sight; and having vouchsafed His seal unto his soul, made him a chosen vessel to bear the Name of the Lord who had appeared to him, before kings and the children of Israel, and out of the former persecutor, fashioned an ambassador and good servant,—one, who from Jerusalem, round about Rom.16, unto Illyricum, fully preached the Gospel of Christ, and" instructed even imperial Rome, and carried the earnestness of his preaching as far as Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, and performing signs and wonders.
Of him for the present enough.
27. In the power of the same Holy Spirit, Peter also, the egerschief of the Apostles, and the bearer of the keys of the kingdom £71", of heaven, healed Aneas the paralytic in the Name of Christ Catech. at Lydda, which is now Diospolis, and at Joppa raised from Daal the dead the charitable Tabitha.
And being on-the housetop in a trance, he saw heaven opened, and the vessel like a Acts 10. sheet let down, full of beasts of every shape and sort, and learnt plainly through this to call no man common or unclean, though he should be of the Greeks.
And when he was sent for by Cornelius, he heard clearly the Holy Ghost Himself saying, Behold, men seek thee; arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.
And that it might be fully ascertained that those of the Gentiles also who believe are made partakers of the Holy
Ghost, the Scripture speaks thus concerning Cornelius and them who were with him, when Peter was come to Cesarea, and taught the things concerning Christ; While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Texts from the Acts of the Apoetles.
Lecr.
28. And when in Antioch, the most renowned city of XVII: Syria, the preaching of Christ took effect, Barnabas was sent hence as far as Antioch to help on the good work, being
Acts 11,8 good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith ; who 24. seeing a great harvest of believers in Christ, brought Paul from Tarsus to Antioch, as his fellow-combatant.
And when by them crowds were instructed and assembled in the Church, v.96.
$¢ came to pass that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch; the Holy Ghost, I consider, bestowing on the believers that new Name, which had been promised before by the Lord.
And the grace of the Spirit being shed forth by God more abundantly in Antioch, there were there prophets and teachers, with whom was Agabus also.
And as they ace 18, ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost satd, > Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto
I have called them.
And after the laying on of bands, they were sent forth by the Holy Ghost.
Now it is manifest, that the Spirit which speaks and sends, is a living Spirit, subdgerrss. sisting, and effectual, as we have said.
(14.) 29. This Holy Spirit, who in unison with Father and Son, has established the New Testament in the Church Catholic, has set us free from the grievous burdens of the Law,—those ordinances, I mean, concerning things common and unclean, and meats, and sabbaths, and new moons, and circumcision, and sprinklings, and sacrifices; which were given for a Heb.10, season, and had the shadow of good things to come, but which when the truth had come, were rightly abrogated.
For when Paul and Barnabas were sent to the Apostles, because of the question moved at Antioch by them who said that it was necessary to be circumcised and to keep the custome of Moses, the Apostles who were here at Jerusalem by a written Epistle set free the whole world from all legal and typical observances; yet they attributed not to themselves the full authority i in this matter, but acknowledge in Acts 15, their Epistle, writing thus, For ét hath seemed good unto the " Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from Jornication; shewing evidently by what they wrote, that though the writing was by the hands of men, even the
Texts from the Acts of the Apostles.
Apostles, yet the decree was universal because of the Holy ssmpsGhost: which decree Paul and Barnabas took and confirmed Darel. through the universal Church.
— 30. And now, having proceeded thus far, I must ask (15.) indulgence from your love, or rather from the Spirit who dwelt in Paul, if I be not able to rehearse every thing, by reason of my own weakness, and your weariness who listen.
For when shall I in terms suitable declare the marvellous deeds wrought by the operation of the Holy Ghost in the Name of Christ? Those wrought in Cyprus upon Elymas the sorcerer, and in Lystra at the healing of the cripple, and those done in Cilicia' and Phrygia and Galatia and Mysia and Macedonia? or those at Philippi; the preaching, I mean, and the driving out of the unclean spirit in the Name of Christ; and the salvation by Baptism of the jailer with his whole house at night after the earthquake? or the events at Thessalonica; or the address at Areopagus in the midst of the Athenians; or the instructions at Corinth, and in all Achaia?
How shall I worthily recount the mighty deeds which at Ephesus by the hands of Paul, were wrought by the Holy
Ghost? whom they of that city knew not before, but came Act 19, to know Him by the doctrine of Paul; and they when Paul i had laid his bands on them, and the Holy Ghost had come upon them, spake with other tongues, and prophesied.
And 80 great spiritual grace was upon him, that not only his touch wrought cures, but even handkerchiefs and napkins, v. 13. brought from his body, healed diseases, and scared away the spirits of evil; and moreover they also who used curtousv. 19. arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men.
$1. I pass by the work wrought at Troas on Eutychus, who sinking down with sleep fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead; yet was saved alive by Paul. I also pass by the prophecy addressed to the Elders of Ephesus anh assembled at Miletus, in which he openly said, That the estas.
Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying,—and the rest; for by saying, in every city, Paul made manifest that the marvellous works done by him in every city, were of the operative power of the Holy Ghost, at the will of God, and in the #«r.
Name of Christ who spake in him.
By the power of this
Texts from the Epistles.
Lecr. Holy Ghost, the same Paul hasted to this holy city JerusaXVU tem, and this, though Agabus by the same Spirit foretold what should befal him; and he spoke to the multitudes with confidence, telling them concerning Christ.
And when brought to Cesarea, and encompassed by the seats of judges, Paul at one time before Felix, and at another before Festus the governor and King Agrippa, obtained of the Holy Ghost grace so great, and of such overcoming wisdom, that at last
Agrippa himself the king of the Jews said, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
This Holy Spirit granted to Paul, when he was in the island of Melita also, to receive no harm when bitten by the viper, and to effect divers cures on the diseased.
This Holy Spirit guided him, the persecutor of old, even as far as imperial Rome, a herald of Christ; and there he persuaded many of the Jews to believe in Christ, Acts 28, and to them who gainsayed he said plainly, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet, saying unto your fathers, and the rest.
32. And that Paul was full of the Holy Ghost, and his fellow Apostles, and they who after them have believed in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, hear his own plain words in ree sh his Epistles; And my speech, he says, and my preaching
; was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but with Jems » demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
And again, Who 'hath also seuled us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit. ie 8, And again, He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit which dwelleth in aed you.
And again, writing to Timothy, That good thing which lioves, 48 committed to thee keep by the Holy Ghost which is given
Cyr. toe to us, Beorres lv,dwell- $8. And that the Holy Ghost subsists, and lives, and roo tect, Speaks, and foretells, 1 have often said already, and Paul
(16.) writes it plainly to Timothy.
Now the Spirit speaketh :
Tima; expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,—which we see in the divisions not only of former times but of our own; so motley and diversified are the errors of Eph.3,5. the heretics.
And again the same Paul says, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it ts now revealed unto the Holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit.
Heb. 3, And again, Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith; and again, oS
Texts from the Epistles.
The Holy Ghost also witnesseth to us.
And again he calls Heb.10, unto the champions of righteousness, saying, And take the oh be helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the 7.
Word of God, by all prayer and supplication.
And again, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled eal with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns,
— and spiritual songs.
And again, The grace of our Lord?
Cor.
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the eee Holy Ghost.
$4. By all these proofs, and by more which have been passed over, is the personal, and hallowing, and effectual !7»»%power of the Holy Ghost established to them of understand-""" ing; for the time would fail my discourse, did I set about alleging what yet remains from the fourteen Epistles of Paul, wherein he has taught with such variety, completeness, and piety.
And to the power of the Holy Ghost it must belong, to grant to us forgiveness for our deficiencies by reason of the scantity of the time, and upon you the hearers to impress the more perfect knowledge of what yet remains; while trom the frequent reading of the sacred Scriptures you who are diligent come to understand these things, and by this time hold more stedfastly, both from these present Lectures, and what has before been told you, the Faith in the " One God the Father Almighty ; and in our Lord Jesus Christ, His Onlybegotten Son; and in the Holy Ghost the Comforter." Though the word itself, and the title of Spirit, is used widely in the sacred Scriptures,—for it is said of the Father, God is a Spirit, Joka 4, as it is written in the Gospel according to John; and of the ~ Son, A Spirit before our face, Christ the Lord; and of the mee 4,
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, as was said ;—yet ; the very arrangement of articles observed in the Faith, if religiously understood, disproves the error of Sabellius also.
Now therefore return we to the point which now presses and is profitable to you.
35. Beware lest by any means thou come to the dispensers (17.) of Baptism, like Simon, in pretence, thy heart the while not seeking the truth.
It is ours to warn, but it is thine to secure thyself.
If by faith thou standest, blessed art thou; if thou Rom. hast fallen by unbelief, from this day forward cast away thine
" unbelief, and take up an undoubting faith.
For, at the season
The Holy Ghost present in Baptism.
Luor. of baptism, when thou goest to the Bishops, or Presbyters, or eit Deacons,—(for its grace is every where, in villages and in cities, on them of low as on them of high degree, on bondsmen and on freemen, for this grace is not of men, but the gift is from God through men,)—approach the Minister of Baptism, but approaching, think not of the face of him thou seest, but remember that Holy Ghost of whom we are now speaking.
For He is present in readiness to seal thy soul, and He shall give thee that Seal at which evil spirits tremble, ee 1, a heavenly and sacred seal, as also it is written, In whom also
18. after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
36. Yet He tries the soul.
He casts not pearls before vid. sup.swine; if thou pretend, though men baptize thee, the Holy pk g. Spirit will not.
But if thou approach with faith, while men minister outwardly, the Holy Ghost bestows that which is unseen.
Thou art coming to a great trial, to a great muster, in that one hour, which if thou throw away, thy disaster is irretrievable; but if thou be counted worthy of grace, thy soul will be illuminated, thou wilt' receive a might which thou hadst not, thou wilt receive weapons terrible to the evil spirits; and if thou cast not away thine arms, but keep the Seal upon thy soul, no evil spirit will approach thee; for he will be cowed; for by the Spirit of God are the evil spirits cast out.
87. If thou believe, thou shalt not only receive remission of (18.) sins, but do also things which pass man's power. And mayest thou be worthy of the gift of prophecy also!
For thou shalt receive grace according to the measure of thy capacity and not of my words; for I may possibly speak of but small things, yet thou mayest receive greater.
For faith is a wide field.
All thy life long will the Comforter abide with thee; He will care for thee, as for His own soldier, concerning thy goings out, and thy comings in, and thy plotting foes.
And He will give gifts of grace of every kind, if thou grieve Him not by sin ; Eph. 4, for it is written, And grieve not the Holy Spirtt of God, a: whereby ye have been sealed unto the day of redemption.
What then, beloved, is it to preserve grace? Be ye ready to receive grace, and when ye have received it, cast it not away.
Blessing.
38. And may the God of All, who spake by the Holy Ghost through the prophets, who sent Him forth upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, in this place send Him forth at this time also upon you; and by Him keep us also, imparting
His benefit in common to all of us, so that we may ever render up the fruits of the Holy Ghost, love, joy, peace, longGal. 5, suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, ** *°in Christ Jesus our Lord:—By whom and with whom, together with the Holy Ghost, be glory to the Father, both now, and ever, and for ever and ever.
Amen.