Why is the Holy Ghost called a Person? Because those atributes and expressions which apply to distinct persons, are used in the Scriptures when speaking of him. He is said to understand, to will, to give, to call, to do, to come, to send, to speak, to hear, &c., which all imply personality. He appeared in a visible shape. Luke iii. 22. Acts ii. 3. He enabled them to work many signs and wonders. Acts ii. 43. Gives men wisdom, knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor. xii. 8-10. He divides these severally as he will. 1 Cor. xii. 11. What proof have you that the Holy Ghost is God? The various attributes and works of God are ascribed to him and he is expressly called God in the Scriptures. 1. Creation is ascribed to him. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen. i. 2. All the host of [heaven were made] by the breath (or spirit) of his mouth. Ps. xxxiii. 6. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit: they are created. Ps. civ. 30. 2. Omnipresence. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Ps. cxxxix. 7. Through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit. Eph. ii. 18. 3. Omniscience. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or, being his counsellor, hath taught him, &c.? Isa. xl. 13, 14. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. ii. 10. 'The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. ii. 11. The Holy Ghost commands and appoints. The Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, &c. Acts viii. 29. Acts So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed. Acts xiii. 4. The flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. Acts xx. 28. They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. Acts xvi. 6. They assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not. Acts xvi. 7. We are baptized in his name. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matt. xxviii. 19. We are blessed in his name, as one of the Trinity. The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Num. vi. 24-26. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. Compare the following passages of Scripture, for a further proof of his divinity. The Lord said-hear ye indeed, but understand not, &c. Isa. vi. 9. Well spake the Holy Ghost, saying, Hearing, ye shall hear, and shall not understand, &c. Acts xxviii. 25, 26. [The Israelites in the wilderness] tempted the Lord. Exod. xvii.7. As the Holy Ghost saith-Harden not your hearts as in-the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me. Heb. iii. 7-9. This shall be the covenant that I will make-saith the Lord. Jer. xxxi. 33. Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us, saying-This is the covenant that I will make. Heb. x. 15, 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim. iii. 16. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. i. 21. Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? Acts v. 3. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Acts v. 4. The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. iii. 17. Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? 1 Cor. vi. 19. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matt. iv. 7. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Acts v. 9. There is none good but one, that is God. Matt. xix. 17. The Holy Ghost is called, Good Spirit, Neh. ix. 20. Ps. cxliii. 10. Spirit of God, Gen. i. 2. Matt. xii. 28. Holy Spirit, Luke xi. 13. Holy Spirit of Promise, Eph. i. 13. Spirit of Truth, John xiv. 17; xv. 26; xvi. 13. Quickening Spirit, 1 Pet. iii. 18. Spirit of Adoption, Rom. viii. 15. Spirit of Holiness, Rom. i. 4. Spirit of the Lord; Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding; Spirit of Counsel and Might; Spirit of Knowledge and Fear of the Lord; Isa. xi. 2. Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, Eph. i. 17. Holy Ghost, Matt. xii. 32. Mark i. 8. The Spirit, Mark i. 12. Luke ii. 27. Spirit of Promise of the Father, Luke xxiv. 49. Acts i. 4. Comforter, John xiv. 16; xv. 26; xvi. 7. Spirit of Grace, Heb. x. 29. Zech. xii. 10. Spirit of Glory, 1 Pet. iv. 14. Spirit of Life, Rom. viii. 2. Spirit of Grace and Supplication, Zech. xii. 10. Searcher of the Things of God, 1 Cor. ii. 10. The Holy Spirit is named above three hundred times in the Old and New Testaments. When is the descent of the Holy Ghost celebrated? On Whitsunday, which is the anniversary of the day of Pentecost, when the disciples being all with one accord in one place, they were all suddenly filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Is the Holy Ghost necessary to men? Yes. Without him we cannot worship God acceptably, nor be regenerated, nor live a holy life. They that worship God must worship him in Spirit. John iv. 24. They that are after the Spirit, [do mind] the things of the Spirit. Rom. viii. 5. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. viii. 9. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom. viii. 14. I will pour out my Spirit, &c. Prov. i. 23. Isa. xliv. 3. Joel ii. 23. Acts ii. 17, 18. My Spirit shall not depart out of my mouth. Isa. lix. 21. I will put a new Spirit within you. Ezek. xi. 19. I will put my Spirit within you. Ezek. xxxvi. 27; xxxvii. 14. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi. 13. What is the work of the Holy Spirit? He effects all holy changes in the natural man. My Spirit shall not always strive with man. Gen. vi. 3. He enlightens the natural man. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii. 14. Praying that God may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Eph. i. 17, 18. He teaches, and opens the understanding to understand The Holy Ghost shall teach you what ye ought to say. Luke xii. 12. He shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26. Words which the Holy Ghost teacheth. 1 Cor. ii. 13. My speech and my preaching was-in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power. 10 1 Cor. ii. 4. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Eph. i. 17, 18. He convinces of sin. When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin. John xvi. 8, 9. He regenerates. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, &c. John iii. 5, 6. He renews. He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit. iii. 5. He dwells in the heart. He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John xiv. 17. Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? 1 Cor. iii. 6. 19. He strengthens with might. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit, in the inner man. Eph. iii. 16. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Gal. v. 17. He is a source of consolation: He comforts us, and assures us of the willingness of God to receive and bless us. He shall give you another Comforter-even the Spirit of truth. John xiv. 16, 17. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. John xiv. 26. He reveals the promises to the awakened soul. God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit. We have received not the Spirit of the world, but of God. 1 Cor. ii. 10-12. He guides into all truth, glorifies Christ, and takes of the things of Christ, and reveals them unto us, so as to incline us to part with sin. The Spirit will guide you into all truth. John xvi. 13. For he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. John xvi. 14. He testifies of Christ. He shall testify of me. John xv. 26. He gives access to Christ. Through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Eph. ii. 18. sin, works repentance, produces grace, wisdom, knowledge, piety, truth, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, holiness, love, joy, peace, consolation, hope, trust; and all that makes holy, or fits for heaven. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, &c. Gal. v. 23. Eph. v. 9. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim. iii. 16. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify, &c. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. i. 21. He witnesses with us, not by particular impulses, but by coinciding with the testimony of our consciences, that we are upright in giving ourselves to God, and also by producing in us the tempers and affections of his children. The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Rom. viii. 16. My conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. Rom. ix. 1. God bearing them witness-with gifts of the Holy Ghost. Heb. ii. 4. Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us. Heb. x. 15. He intercedes. The Spirit maketh intercession for us. Rom. viii. 26 The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. vii. Î7. God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of love. 2 Tim. i. 7. He sheds abroad the love of God in the heart. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Rom. v. 5. He sanctifies. Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 16. Ye are sanctified by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. vi. 11. He seals us, and is an earnest of our inheritance. Who hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22. Sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance. Eph. i. 13, 14. Whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. iv. 30. It is by the Spirit alone that we can do any good thing, and we are warned not to slight or grieve him. If he |