unto men.

we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. That a sin may be immediately committed against him: Mått. xii. 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven That his dwelling in us makes our bodies the temples of God: 1 Cor. iii. 16. Know ye not that ye are the temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? That Christ, by being conceived by him, became the Son of God: Luke, i. 35. The angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also, that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. They teach us to baptize in his name, together with those of the Father and Son: Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

And by all this evidently declare to us, that he is not a created, but a Divine person.

6. Q. How do you prove him not only to be a Divine person, but a person distinct both from the Father and the Son?

A. He proceedeth from the Father; and therefore is not the Father. John, xv. 26. When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

He is sent by the Son; and therefore is not the Son. John, xvi. 7. If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him

unto you. He is sent, sometimes by the Father, in the name of the Son; and sometimes by the Son, from the Father; and therefore is neither the Father nor the Son. John, xiv. 26. 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 unto you. xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Compare Matt.iii. 16. xxviii. 19. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And, lo! a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 1 John, v. vii. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

7. Q. But did not you before say, that there is but one God? And how now do you say, that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God?

A. That there is but one God, the Holy Scriptures plainly declare; and even reason itself confirms it to us. And yet the same Scriptures as plainly déclare every one of these three to be God. And the only way we know of reconciling these two, seem

ingly contrary, assertions, is to say, that these three are of one and the same Divine nature, communicated from the Father to the Son; and from both to the Holy Ghost: and that therefore they, together, make but one God.

8. Q. How can three distinct persons so partake of the one Divine nature, or essence, as all together to make but one God?

A. That is not my concern to explain: This I am sure, that if the Scriptures be (as we all allow that they are) the word of God, what they plainly deliver must be true, because it is, in effect, delivered by God; who can neither be himself deceived, nor will deceive me. Now, that they deliver both these propositions to me, That the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet that there are not three Gods, but one God; I am as sure as I can be of any thing that is spoken or written for my understanding. That therefore both these assertions are true, and credible, I am sure. But how, or after what manner I am to understand them, so as to remove all shew of contradiction in them, this the Holy Scriptures have not revealed; nor do I therefore presume to pronounce any thing more particularly concerning it. and in s

9. Q. Why then do you say that they are three persons, and but one in the Divine essence?

A. Because I know not how better to express the unity and distinction of them; and they are terms which the church has long received, and I see no reason to depart from them, unless I knew of some better and more apt expressions to use in their stead. 10. Q. Is there any thing farther needful to be own concerning the Holy Ghost?

A. Yes there is; and that is with relation to his office: and upon the account of which he has the attribute of holy, in an eminent manner, ascribed to bim; viz. That it is he who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God.

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PROOFS SUBJOINED. Rom. xv. 16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctifica tion of the spirit and belief of the truth. 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the fa ther, through sanctification of the spirit.

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11. Q. How is it that the Holy Ghost does this? A. HE REGENERATES us at our BAPTISM. John, iii. 5. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. He UNITES us unto CHRIST. 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 John, iii. 24. Hereby we know that he

abideth in us by the Spirit, which he hath given us. CO-OPERATES with us in all our RELIGIOUS UnderTAKINGS. 2 Cor. iii. 3, 5. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. He ILLUMINATES Our UNDERSTANDINGS. Psal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Acts, xvi. 14. And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. DISPOSES Our WILLS. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. SETTLES US IN THE FAITH of Christ. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith. Phil. i. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. ENABLES us to fulfil our DUTY. Rom. viii. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Gal. v. 16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Helps our prayers. Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for, as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. FORTIFIES US AGAINST TEMPTATIONS. 1 Cor. x. 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. And CARRIES us through all the dan