'Tis Peculiarly and Remarkably the Work of the Holy Spirit, whereby Sinners are Converted unto God. There are Three Persons in the Adorable God head; Three Relative Properties, which we fitly call, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. We cannot indeed Fathom it, but yet we must Receive it, that there are those Three Subsistences in the Divine Essence; and indeed even the very first Line of the Bible pointeth at it. This is a Thing, which not the Light of Nature, but the Light of Scripture, has Revealed unto us. If any ask, How we come to know this Trinity in God? I will answer, as Athanasius of old; Go to Jordan, and thou shalt see a Trinity. In Mat. 3.16, 17. On the Banks of Jordan, ⟨p. 142⟩there at once discovered themselves. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Tho' indeed a Trinity of persons in the Godhead, might from the Old Testament also be Evinced, unto the fullest confutation of the Blind Jews, who now deny the Mystery. Now, there is the Glorious Co-operation of all these Three Persons in every Act of God, of which the Creature is the Object; yet there is a distinct manner of working to be ascribed unto each of them. Thus in the Salvation of a Sinner, the Work of Contriving that Salvation, belongs to God the Father; the Work of Effecting it, belongs to God the Son; But the Work of Applying it, belongs to God the Holy Spirit. And thence the Conversion of Sinners is that in which the Holy Spirit has a special Interest. When men are Converted unto God, how is it wrought? We are told, Tit. 3.5. 'Tis by the Renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Regeneration of Men, What cause has it? We find in Joh. 3.5. They that are Born again are Born of the Spirit. The Sanctification of men, what is the Rise of it? It was said of them in 1 Cor. 6.11. Ye are Sanctified by the Spirit of our God. It is the Spirit of God that reduces men from their Slaveries to the Enemies of their Souls; It is the Spirit of God, that produces a •lessed Agreement betwixt God and men; It is the Spirit ⟨p. 143⟩of God, which Turns the Disobedient unto the Wisdom of the Just; which causes the Wicked Man to forsake his Way, and the Unrighteous man his Thoughts, and to Turn unto the Lord. If any man ever come to Know, to Love, to Serve the Blessed God, it is the Spirit of that God, who causes them to do so.
'Tis Peculiarly and Remarkably the Work of the Holy Spirit, whereby Sinners are Converted unto God. There are Three Persons in the Adorable God head; Three Relative Properties, which we fitly call, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. We cannot indeed Fathom it, but yet we must Receive it, that there are those Three Subsistences in the Divine Essence; and indeed even the very first Line of the Bible pointeth at it. This is a Thing, which not the Light of Nature, but the Light of Scripture, has Reveal'd unto us. If any ask, How we come to know this Trinity in God? I will answer, as Athanasius of old; Go to Jordan, and thou shalt see a Trinity. In Mat. 3.16, 17. On the Banks of Jordan, ⟨p. 142⟩there at once discovered themselves. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Tho' indeed a Trinity of persons in the Godhead, might from the Old Testament also be Evinced, unto the fullest confutation of the Blind Jews, who now deny the Mystery. Now, there is the Glorious Co-operation of all these Three Persons in every Act of God, of which the Creature is the Object; yet there is a distinct manner of working to be ascribed unto each of them. Thus in the Salvation of a Sinner, the Work of Contriving that Salvation, belongs to God the Father; the Work of Effecting it, belongs to God the Son; But the Work of Applying it, belongs to God the Holy Spirit. And thence the Conversion of Sinners is that in which the Holy Spirit has a special Interest. When men are Converted unto God, how is it wrought? We are told, Tit. 3.5. 'Tis by the Renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Regeneration of Men, What cause has it? We find in Joh. 3.5. They that are Born again are Born of the Spirit. The Sanctification of men, what is the Rise of it? It was said of them in 1 Cor. 6.11. Ye are Sanctified by the Spirit of our God. It is the Spirit of God that reduces men from their Slaveries to the Enemies of their Souls; It is the Spirit of God, that produces a •lessed Agreement betwixt God and men; It is the Spirit ⟨p. 143⟩of God, which Turns the Disobedient unto the Wisdom of the Just; which causes the Wicked Man to forsake his Way, and the Unrighteous man his Thoughts, and to Turn unto the Lord. If any man ever come to Know, to Love, to Serve the Blessed God, it is the Spirit of that God, who causes them to do so.
