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of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-1 Cor. xv. 20, 23. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

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Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. xix. 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Luke, xxii. 30. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me: that ye may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 1 Cor. vi. 2. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Matt. xxv. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righ teous into life eternal.

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SECT. XV.

Of the Holy Ghost, his Divine Nature, Personality, and Office.

1. Q. What does the third part of your Creed contain?

A. It contains all that is needful to be known and professed by us, with relation to the Holy Ghost. 2. Q. What do you account needful to be believed concerning him?

A. Not only that there is a Holy Ghost, but that he is the third person in the ever-blessed Trinity ; and as such, of the same Divine Nature with the Father and the Son.

3. Q. How does this appear?

A. By the plain testimony of the Holy Scriptures; by which alone we are capable of knowing any thing in these matters. Now those sacred writings evidently speak of him, not only as a person, but as a Divine Person; and that distinct from the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Q. Wherein do the Holy Scriptures speak of this blessed Spirit, as of a person?

A. * They give him the proper names of a person: GOD. Acts, v. 3, 4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? unto men, but unto God. the Lord is that spirit: Lord is there is liberty.

Thou hast not lied LORD. 2 Cor. iii. 19. Now and where the Spirit of the The SPIRIT. 1 Sam. xvi.

14. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. John, xvi. 13. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. The COMFORTER. John, xiv. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. xvi. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him

unto you.

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*They ascribe to him the properties of a person: UNDERSTANDING. 1 Cor. ii. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. WILL. I Cor. xii. 11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. They represent him as doing PERSONAL ACTS: He is SENT; he COMETH; GOETH; HEARETH; TEACHETH; Matt. iii. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. John, xiv. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father,

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he shall testify of me. xvi. 7. If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. xvi. 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. Is TEMPTED, RESISTED, GRIEVED: Acts, v. 9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Speaketh, commandeth, intercedeth: Acts, x. 19. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. xiii. 2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for, as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.

*They join him with those who are confessedly PERSONS, viz. God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. In the form of baptism: Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. In St. Paul's wish for the Corinthians: 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. In St. John's catalogue of witnesses: 1 John, v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. They OPPOSE him to such spirits, as we all allow to be persons:

1 Sam. xvi. 14. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

*They represent him under PERSONAL APPARITIONS: Matt. iii. 16. Lo! the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. Acts, ii. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And, by all this, undoubtedly assure us that he is a person.

5. Q. By what arguments from the Holy Scriptures do you prove that he is a Divine Person?

A. By the same by which I before shewed the Son so to be. They ascribe to him the names of God: Acts, v. 3, 4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own; and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 2 Cor. iii. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The attributes of God. Heb. ix. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Psalm cxxxix. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Job, xxvi. 13. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens. The honour of God. They tell us, that he is the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. ii. 11, 12. The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now,

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