He mentions the Spirit, not to note out a thing divers from God, seeing he is of one essence with him.1 For in one essence of God we acknowledge three persons: but he names the Spirit, because he is the only teacher and conductor of all the Prophets. S. Paul saith,2 That none can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost: and by and by after he saith, that the gifts of God are divers, and yet it is one and the same spirit, which works all things in all, 1. Cor. 12.3.4. In this place also we have a manifest proof of the divinity of the Holy Ghost,3 because he sends the Prophets, which appertains to none but God, even as Ambassadors are sent by the only authority of the Prince. Seeing the holy Ghost sends the Prophets then, and directs and gives them power and efficacy, he must needs be God. Besides, hence we gather, that we are to abandon all such as have not this direction of Gods spirit, notwithstanding they crake, they be sent of God: I mean this troupe of popish wolves, who glory in the titles of Pastors, and Teachers,4 and impudently brag of their sending; seeing they are wholly destitute not only of the holy spirit, but of his doctrine. For in vain do they boast that they are instituted and sent of God, when they are utterly unfurnished of those gifts and graces of the holy ghost which are fit for the execution of such a charge. Moreover, it is too great a sauciness in them to pretend the illumination of the spirit of Christ, seeing themselves are wholly void of faith,5 and knows not a B from a battle-door in the doctrine of salvation. There are horned Bishops which sit in the chair, and God wot the most part of them as ignorant as beasts: nay, there is not ten of them among ⟨p. 509⟩three hundred who have so much as tasted the first rudiments of piety, Is any thing more absurd, then to say that such an assembly is governed by the holy Ghost?
He mentions the Spirit, not to note out a thing diuers from God, seeing he is of one essence with him.1 For in one essence of God we acknowledge three persons: but he names the Spirit, because he is the only teacher and conductor of all the Prophets. S. Paul saith,2 That none can say Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost: and by and by after he saith, that the gifts of God are diuers, and yet it is one and the same spirit, which works all things in all, 1. Cor. 12.3.4. In this place also we haue a manifest proofe of the diuinitie of the Holy Ghost,3 because he sends the Prophets, which appertaines to none but God, euen as Ambassadors are sent by the only authoritie of the Prince. Seeing the holy Ghost sends the Prophets then, and directs and giues them power and efficacie, he must needs be God. Besides, hence we gather, that we are to abandon all such as haue not this direction of Gods spirit, notwithstanding they crake, they be sent of God: I meane this troupe of popish wolues, who glorie in the titles of Pastors, and Teachers,4 and impudentlie brag of their sending; seeing they are whollie destitute not only of the holy spirit, but of his doctrine. For in vaine doe they boast that they are instituted and sent of God, when they are vtterlie vnfurnished of those gifts and graces of the holy ghost which are fit for the execution of such a charge. Moreouer, it is too great a saucines in them to pretend the illumination of the spirit of Christ, seeing themselues are whollie void of faith,5 and knows not a B frō a battle-dore in the doctrine of saluation. There are horned Bishops which sit in the chaire, and God wot the most part of them as ignorant as beasts: nay, there is not tenne of them among ⟨p. 509⟩three hundred who haue so much as tasted the first rudiments of pietie, Is any thing more absurd, then to say that such an assemblie is gouerned by the holy Ghost?
- 1The holy Ghost of one essence with the Father.
- 2Three distinct persons in one essence.
- 3A manifest proof of the divinity of the holy Ghost.A manifest proofe of the diuinitie of the holy Ghost.
- 4Popish wolves will needs deck themselves with the titles of pastors and teachers.Popish wolues will needs deck themselues with the titles of pastors and teachers.
- 5Few of the horned Bishops in the Papacy that know the first rudiments of religion.Few of the horned Bishops in the Papacie that know the first rudimēts of religion.
