He divideth to every man severally as He will.
He knoweth all things, yea, the deep things of God—this can never be said of a mere point of light.
Personal actions are ascribed to him in not less than twenty particulars in the new Testament—
He shall convince the world of sin; then he must be a person if he be capable of convincing another of his mistakes, as all the following actions prove this point.
He teacheth all things; a human teacher is a person, so surely is a divine one.
He is a comforter—sheds abroad the love of God—takes of the thing, of Christ—shews them unto us—applies the promises—declares our pardon is the earnest and seal of a promised heaven—he is one of the Three that bears witness in heaven—testifies of Christ—bears witness to the Saints—acts as a spirit of grace and supplication—helps the saints in prayer—makes intercession in them—gives gifts to his people—calls, qualifies, orders, commands, and directs his ministers—dwells in the saints and will raise their bodies in the last day.
Now if all these are not personal actions, I leave every sensible person to judge; surely none but persons destitute of reason can deny such infallible testimony; besides, love, grief, being rebelled against, vexed, provoked, lied unto, blasphemed, sinned against with an unpardonable sin, which can never apply to a mere breath, a quality, an attribute, or an emanation. I judge how you, sir, and in general all that have been and now are in the ditch. Apply these glorious scriptures—that they belong to the Father, say some; no, they belong to Christ, says another; whereas, it is plain that the blessed Spirit is distinct from both. The Redeemer declares, “The Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.” He is called the Spirit of his Son—he is to be sent from the Father. His work which is set forth in the above-mentioned texts is distinct from the work of the Father and the Son. His glorious appearance at the baptism of Christ proves the same fact; so his name mentioned at the baptism of believers. He is called Jehovah Lord and God; the incommunicable perfections of God are in him, and all the glorious works peculiar to God are said to be done by him. Eternity—he is the eternal Spirit—he is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent—he brought creation into order—gave life to all—formed the starry heavens—made man—directs the affairs of providence—endited the Bible—formed the sacred body of Christ—and at last raised it from the dead; he is also worshipped with the Father and the Son, and so must be distinct from both; he is not the godhead of the Son, because he is distinct from the Son, hence he is called the Spirit of his Son.
A few more proofs of the dignity, Godhead, and personality of the Holy Spirit out of a vast abundance I shall here introduce. My design in this little tract is the glory of the blessed Spirit—the establishing and confirming those who are taught of God—to put a sword into the hands of the young Christian to recover backsliders, and to shame those who have apostatized from their profession of this truth. Oh for a blessing upon this humble attempt! but this is dependant upon God the Holy Ghost.
I am not writing a body of divinity. I have not abilities for that; but only stating those truths which are dear to my heart, and producing a few out of the many Scriptures, to prove the Godhead of the Saviour and the ever-blessed Holy Spirit. A few must suffice here.
John iii. 6.—“That which is born of the Spirit.”