A26951:670
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
Part 3 › Chapter 3: Directions to live by Faith on the Holy Ghost.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. III. Directions to live by Faith on the Holy Ghost.
This is not the least part of the life of Faith. If the Spirit give us Faith it self, then Faith hath certainly its proper work to do towards that Spirit which giveth it: And if the Spirit be the worker of all other grace, and Faith be the means on our part, then Faith hath somewhat to do with the Holy Ghost herein. The best way that I can take in helping you to believe aright in the Holy Ghost, will be by opening the true sense of this great Article of our Faith to you, that by understanding the matter aright, you may know what you are here both to do, and to expect.
THis is not the least part of the life of Faith. If the Spirit give us Faith it self, then Faith hath certainly its proper work to do towards that Spirit which giveth it: And if the Spirit be the worker of all other grace, and Faith be the means on our part, then Faith hath somewhat to do with the Holy Ghost herein. The best way that I can take in helping you to believe aright in the Holy Ghost, will be by opening the true sense of this great Article of our Faith to you, that by understanding the matter aright, you may know what you are here both to do, and to expect.
Direct. 1. The name of the Holy Ghost, or Spirit of God, is used in Scripture for the third person in the Trinity as constitutive, and as the third perfective principle of operation; and most usually as operating ad extra, by communication. And therefore many Fathers, and ancient Divines and Schoolmen, say. That the Holy Ghost, the third person and principle is THE LOVE OF GOD; which as it is Gods Love of himself, is a constitutive ⟨p. 202⟩person or principle in the Trinity; but as it is pregnant and productive, it is the third principle of operation ad extra; and so that it is taken usually, for the pregnant, operative Love of God.