A65285:921
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Answ. This Knot the Scripture unties. Luke 1.35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and overshadow thee, therefore that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, that is, the Holy Ghost did consecrate and purify that part of the Virgins flesh whereof Christ was made. As the Alchemist extracts and draws away the dross from the Gold, so the Holy Ghost did refine and clarity that part of the Virgins flesh, separating it from sin. Though the Virgin Mary her self had sin, yet that part of the flesh whereof Christ was made, was without sin; otherwise it must have been an impure Conception.
Answ. This Knot the Scripture unties. Luke 1.35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and overshadow thee, therefore that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be caled the Son of God. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, that is, the Holy Ghost did consecrate and purifie that part of the Virgins flesh whereof Christ was made. As the Alchymist extracts and draws away the dross from the Gold, so the Holy Ghost did refine and claritie that part of the Virgins flesh, separating it from sin. Though the Virgin Mary her self had sin, yet that part of the flesh whereof Christ was made, was without sin; otherwise it must have been an impure Conception.
Quest. What is meant by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing the Virgin?
Answ. St. Basil saith, It was the Holy Ghost's blessing the flesh of that Virgin whereof Christ was formed. But there is a further Mystery in it, the Holy Ghost having framed Christ in the Virgins Womb, did in a wonderful manner unite Christ's Humane Nature to his Divine, and so of both made one person. This is a Mystery which the Angels pry into with Adoration.