A53713:1049
Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Of communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...Of communion with God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by A. Lichfield for Tho. Robinson, 1657
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.
Let us see then the tendency of this expression, as comprising the first General rule of our communion with the Holy Ghost. Grieve not the spirit.
Let us see then the tendency of this expression, as comprizing the first Generall rule of our communion with the Holy Ghost. Grieve not the spirit.
The term of grieving, or affecting with sorrow, may be considered either Actively, in respect of the Persons grieving; or Passively in respect of the Persons grieved. In the latter sense the expression is Metaphorical; the Spirit cannot be grieved, or affected with sorrow, which infers alteration, disappointment, weakness, all incompatible with his infinite perfections: yet men may actively do that which is fit and able to grieve any one that stands affected towards them, as doth the Holy Ghost. If he be not grieved it is no thanks to us, but to his own unchangeable nature. So that there are two things denoted in this expression.
The terme of grieving, or affecting with sorrow, may be considered either Actively, in respect of the Persons grieving; or Passively in respect of the Persons grieved. In the latter sense the expression is Metaphoricall; the Spirit cannot be grieved, or affected with sorrow, which inferrs alteration, disappointment, weakenesse, all incompatible with his infinite perfections: yet men may actively do that which is fit and able to grieve any one that stands affected towards them, as doth the Holy Ghost. If he be not grieved it is no thanks to us, but to his own unchangeable nature. So that there are two things denoted in this expression.
First, That the Holy Ghost is affected towards us, as one that is loving, careful, tender, concerned in our good, and welldoing, and therefore upon our miscarriages is said to be grieved. As a good friend of a kind, and loving nature is apt to be so on the miscarriage of him whom he doth affect. And this is that we are principally to regard in this caution as the ground and foundation of it; the Love, Kindness, and tenderness of the Holy Ghost unto us. Grieve him not.