OF THE HOLY GHOST. HIS GODHEAD. Q. 276. What are the names of the third person in the Holy Trinity? A. The third person in the Holy Trinity is called in Scripture, the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit. Q. 277. Why is he so called? A. He is called holy, both because he is perfectly holy in himself-necessarily hating all evil; and because he is the author of all holiness in his creatures. He is called Ghost, or Spirit, because he is of the same essence with the Father, and the Son; truly God. Q. 278. You say that the Holy Ghost is truly God, of the same essence with the Father and the Son; how do you prove this? A. The proper divinity of the Holy Ghost is evident from various considerations; First, from his personality, i. e. that he is really a divine person, and not merely a quality of God. (a) (a) John xvi. 7-15; where the personal pronoun "he" is constantly used. (xiv. 16; and xv. 26.) Secondly, from the operations ascribed to him, which none other could perform but God only; such as the government of the church, (a) and the communication of various spiritual gifts to his ministers. (b) (a) Acts xx. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. (Rom. viii. 26.) (b) 1 Cor. xii. 11. But all these worketh that one and the self-same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Matt. xvi. 15-17; compared with 1 Cor. xii. 3. Thirdly, from the divine attributes that are assigned to him, such as omnipotence, (a) omniscience, (b) omnipresence, (c), and eternity. (d) (a) Ps. xxxiii. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath (spirit) of his mouth.-Ps. civ. 30. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created, and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Gen. i. 2.) (b) 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11. For the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the 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. (c) Ps.cxxxix. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (d) John xiv. 16; also compare xvi. 7, with Matt. xxviii. 20. Fourthly, from the divine honours that are to be paid to him. (a) (a) 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.-2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the commuAmen. nion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Fifthly, from his being the sole author of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. (a) (a) 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.—Acts xxviii. 25. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers. Sixthly, from the express testimony of the Holy Scriptures. (a) (a) Acts v. 3, 4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan ... thou OF HIS OFFICES. § 1.-TEACHER. Having now very clearly proved the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, and having told me, on a former occasion, (Q. 128.) that he sustains three offices in the economy of redemption, viz. those of Teacher, Sanctifier, and Comforter; Q. 279. Can you now explain to me the nature of his office as a Teacher ? A. The Holy Ghost, in fulfilling the office of a Teacher, first awakens the attention to divine things, (a) and then enlightens the understanding, so as to perceive the excellence and importance of divine truths and doctrines, (b) which, on account of its natural darkness and dulness, it cannot comprehend, but esteems foolishness; (c) and then brings those truths and doctrines to our recollection, as circumstances may require. (d) (a) Acts xvi. 14. Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Eph. v. 14.) L (b) Eph. i. 17, 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.-1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.-And, ver. 12, 13, it is added, Now 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; 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.-1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (2 Cor. iii. 14-17.) (c) Eph iv. 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. -1 Cor. ii. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (d) 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. Q. 280. What are the ordinary means by which the Holy Spirit fulfils the office of a Teacher? A. They are three, viz. his holy word, (a) together with such compositions as are founded upon the Scriptures; his Ministers, (b) who faithfully dispense the word of life in the ordinances of the sanctuary; and his own immediate influence, vouchsafed in answer to humble prayer. (c)* (a) Ps. xix. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.-2 Pet. i. 19, 20. We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private (or peculiar) interpretation.-James i. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. (Jer. xxiii. 29.) (b) Acts xxvi. 15-18. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations.— 1 Cor. ii. 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.—(Acts xiv. 3; Rom. i. 16; 1 Thess. i. 5.) (c) Ezek. xxxvi. 27, 37. And 1 will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them. Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.-Also David prays thus, Ps. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous The Catechist should frequently urge the great duty of prayer, and will find the subject handled in Q. 342.-2nd Ed. |