A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

Again, as to w •at may be objected from the Lords appearing sometimes in the l •ke •ess of a man, or the Spirits descending as a Dove, or as cloven tongues of fire: It is answered,

1. There is a great difference betwixt a sign of the Spirits presence, and a representation of the Spirit. 2. Betwixt what representeth the Spirit, as he is one of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, and what resembleth some gift of his: The similitude of a Dove descending upon Christ was to show his taking up his residence ⟨p. 57⟩in him, and furnishing him with gifts and graces, and particularly holy simplicity and meekness without measure, and so his appearing in cloven tongues was to show his communicating the Gift of tongues to the Apostles. 3. Neither is there any warrant for drawing him in these shapes, more than to look on every living Dove, as representing him: and the like may be said of Gods appea •ing sometimes in humane likeness, it was but that men might have some visible help to discern something of Gods presence, but not to give any representation of him, and these bodies were but for a time assumed, as a prelude and forerunning evidence of the Sons being to become man.

1. There is a great difference betwixt a sign of the Spirits presence, and a representation of the Spirit. 2. Betwixt what representeth the Spirit, as he is one of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, and what resembleth some gift of his: The similitude of a Dove descending upon Christ was to shew his taking up his residence ⟨p. 57⟩in him, and furnishing him with gifts and graces, and perticularly holy simplicity and meekness without measure, and so his appearing in cloven tongues was to shew his communicating the Gift of tongues to the Apostles. 3. Neither is there any warrant for drawing him in these shapes, more than to look on every living Dove, as representing him: and the like may be said of Gods appea ing sometimes in humane likeness, it was but that men might have some visible help to discern something of Gods presence, but not to give any representation of him, and these bodies were but for a time assumed, as a praeludie and forerunning evidence of the Sons being to become man.