Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

CHAP. VII. The Spirit an Earnest; And how.

AGAIN the Holy Spirit as thus Communicated unto us, is said to be an Earnest. [Greek or Hebrew] the Word in the Original is no where used in the New Testament but in this matter alone, 2 Cor. 2. 22. Chap. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 14. The Latin Translator renders this Word by Pignus, a Pledge. But he is corrected therein by Hierom on Eph. 1. Pignus, saith he, Latinus Interpres pro arrabone possuit. Non id ipsum autem Arrabo quod pignus sonat. Arrabo enim futurae emptioni quaesi quoddam testimonium, & obligamentum datur. Pignus vero, hoc est [Greek or Hebrew] pro mutua pecunia apponitur, ut quam illa reddita tuerit, reddenti debitum pignus a Creditor redditur. And this Reason is generally admitted by Expositors. For a Pledge is that which is committed to and left in the Hand of another to secure him, that Money which is borrowed thereon, shall be repaid, and then the Pledge is to be received back again. Hence it is necessary that a Pledge be more in value than the Money received, because it is taken in ⟨p. 92⟩security for repayment. But an Earnest is a Part only of what is to be given or paid, or some lesser thing that is given to secure somewhat that is more or greater in the same or another kind. And this Difference must be admitted if we are obliged to the precise signification and common use of Pledges and Earnests among Men, which we must enquire into. The Word is supposed to be derived from the Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew]; and the Latins make use of it also, Arrabon, and Arrha. It is sometimes used in other Authors; as Plutarch in Galba. [Greek or Hebrew]; he prepossessed Oninius with great Sums of Money as an Earnest of what he would do afterwards. Hesychius explains it by [Greek or Hebrew], a Gift beforehand. As to what I apprehend to be the Mind of the Holy Ghost in this Expression, I shall declare it in the ensuing Observations.

AGAIN the Holy Spirit as thus Communicated unto us, is said to be an Earnest. the Word in the Original is no where used in the New Testament but in this matter alone, 2 Cor. 2. 22. Chap. 5. 5.