But further; If the Object of Faith were not one and the same, both to us and to them, then it would follow that we were to know God some other Way than by the Spirit.
But this were absurd: Therefore, &c.
Lastly, This is most firmly proved from a common and received Maxim of the School-men, to wit, Omnis actus specificatur ab objecto, Every Act is specified from its Object: for which if it be true, as they acknowledge; (though for the Sake of many, I shall not recur to this Argument, as being too Nice and Scholastick; neither lay I much Stress upon those Kind of Things, as being that which commends not the Simplicity of the Gospel) it would follow, that If the Object were different, then the Faith would be different also.
Such as deny this Proposition now-a-days, use here a Distinction; granting that God is to be known by his Spirit; but again denying that it is Immediate or Inward, but in and by the Scriptures, in which the Mind of the Spirit (as they say) being fully and amply Expressed, we are thereby to know God, and be led in all Things.
As to the Negative of this Assertion, That the Scriptures are not sufficient, neither were ever appointed to be the adequate and only Rule, nor yet can guide or direct a Christian in all those Things that are needful for him to know, we shall leave that to the next Proposition to be examined. Christians are now to be led by the Spirit, in the same Manner as the Saints of Old.What is proper in this Place to be proved, is, That Christians now are to be led inwardly and immediately by the Spirit of God, even in the same Manner (though it befal not many to be led in the same Measure) as the Saints were of old.
§. X.
Query I. Who is this Comforter?As to the First, Most do acknowledge that there is nothing else understood than what the plain Words signify: which is also evident by many other Places of Scripture, that will hereafter occur; neither do I see how such as affirm otherways can avoid Blasphemy: For, if the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and Spirit of Truth, be all one with the Scriptures, then it will follow that the Scriptures are God, seeing it is true that the Holy Ghost is God. Nonsensical Consequences from the Socinians Belief of the Scriptures being the Spirit.If these Men’s Reasoning might take Place, wherever the Spirit is mentioned in relation to the Saints, thereby might be truly and properly understood the Scriptures: which, what a nonsensical Monster it would make of the Christian Religion, will easily appear to all Men. As where it is said, A Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal; it might be rendered thus, A Manifestation of the Scriptures is given to every Man to profit withal; what notable Sense this would make, and what a curious Interpretation; let us consider by the Sequel of the same Chapter, 1 Cor. xii. 9, 10, 11. To another the Gifts of Healing, by the same Spirit; to another, the working of Miracles, &c. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every Man severally as he will. What would now these great Masters of Reason, the Socinians, judge, if we should place the Scriptures here instead of the Spirit? Would it answer their Reason, which is the great Guide of their Faith? Would it be good and sound Reason in their Logical Schools, to affirm that the Scripture divideth severally, as it will, and giveth to some the Gift of Healing, to others the working of Miracles? If then this Spirit, a Manifestation whereof is given to every Man to profit withal, be no other than that Spirit of Truth, before-mentioned, which guideth into all Truth; this Spirit of Truth cannot be the Scripture. I could infer an Hundred more Absurdities of this Kind, upon this sottish Opinion; but what is said may suffice. For even some of themselves, being at Times forgetful, or ashamed of their own Doctrine, do acknowledge, that the Spirit of God is another Thing, and distinct from the Scriptures, to Guide and Influence the Saints.
Query II. Where is his Place?Secondly, That this Spirit is inward, in my Opinion, needs no Interpretation, or Commentary, He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. This Indwelling of the Spirit in the Saints, as it is a Thing most needful to be known and believed; so is it as positively asserted in the Scripture, as any Thing else can be. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, saith the Apostle to the Romans, Chap. viii. 9. And again, Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. vi. 19. And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. iii. 16. Without this the Apostle reckoneth no Man a Christian. If any Man (saith he) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. These Words immediately follow these above-mentioned, out of the Epistle to the Romans, But ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you. The Spirit within, the main Token of a Christian.The Context of which sheweth, that the Apostle reckoneth it the main Token of a Christian, both positively and negatively: For in the former Verses, he sheweth how the carnal Mind is Enmity against God, and that such as are in the Flesh, cannot please him. Where subsuming, he adds concerning the Romans, that they are not in the Flesh, if the Spirit of God dwell in them. What is this but to affirm, that they, in whom the Spirit dwells, are no longer in the Flesh, nor of those who please not God, but are become Christians indeed? Again, in the next Verse he concludes negatively, that If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his; that is, he is no Christian. He then that acknowledges himself Ignorant, and a Stranger to the Inward In-being of the Spirit of Christ in his Heart, doth thereby acknowledge himself to be yet in the Carnal Mind, which is Enmity to God; to be yet in the Flesh, where God cannot be pleased; and in short, whatever he may otherways know or believe of Christ, or however much skilled, or acquainted with the Letter of the Holy Scripture, not yet to be, notwithstanding all that, attained to the least Degree of a Christian; yea, not once to have embraced the Christian Religion. For take but away the Spirit, and Christianity remains no more Christianity, than the dead Carcase of a Man, when the Soul and Spirit is departed, remains a Man; which the living can no more abide, but do bury out of their Sight as a noisome and useless Thing, however acceptable it hath been, when actuated and moved by the Soul. Lastly, Whatsoever is Excellent, whatsoever is Noble, whatsoever is Worthy, whatsoever is Desirable in the Christian Faith, is ascribed to this Spirit; without which it could no more subsist, than the outward World without the Sun. Hereunto have all true Christians, in all Ages, attributed their Strength and Life. It is by this Spirit, that they avouch themselves to have been converted to God, to have been redeemed from the World, to have been strengthened in their Weakness, comforted in their Afflictions, confirmed in their Temptations, imboldened in their Sufferings, and triumphed in the Midst of all their Persecutions. The great and notable Acts that have been and are performed by the Spirit in all Ages.Yea, The Writings of all true Christians are full of the great and notable Things, which they all affirm themselves to have done, by the Power, and Virtue, and Efficacy of this Spirit of God working in them. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, John vi. 63. It was the Spirit that gave them Utterance, Acts ii. 4. It was the Spirit by which Stephen spake, That the Jews were not able to resist, Acts vi. 10. It is such as walk after the Spirit, that receive no Condemnation, Rom. viii. 1. It is the Law of the Spirit that makes free, Ver. 2. It is by the Spirit of God dwelling in us, that we are redeemed from the Flesh, and from the Carnal Mind, Ver. 9. It is the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, that quickeneth our mortal Bodies, Ver. 11. It is through this Spirit, that the Deeds of the Body are mortified, and Life obtained, Ver. 13. It is by this Spirit, that we are adopted, and cry ABBA Father, Ver 15. It is this Spirit, that beareth Witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God, Ver. 16. It is this Spirit, that helpeth our Infirmities, and maketh Intercession for us, with Groanings which cannot be uttered, Ver. 26. It is by this Spirit, that the glorious Things which God hath laid up for us, which neither outward Ear hath heard, nor outward Eye hath seen, nor the Heart of Man conceived by all his Reasonings, are revealed unto us, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. It is by this Spirit, that both Wisdom, and Knowledge, and Faith, and Miracles, and Tongues, and Prophecies, are obtained, 1 Cor. xii. 8, 9, 10. It is by this Spirit, that we are all Baptized into one Body, Ver. 13. In short, what Thing relating to the Salvation of the Soul, and to the Life of a Christian, is rightly performed, or effectually obtained, without it? And what shall I say more? For the Time would fail me, to tell of all those Things, which the Holy Men of Old have declared, and the Saints of this Day do themselves enjoy, by the Virtue and Power of this Spirit dwelling in them. Truly my Paper could not contain the many Testimonies, whereby this Truth is confirmed; wherefore, besides what is above-mentioned out of the Fathers, whom all pretend to Reverence, and those of Luther and Melancthon, shall deduce yet one observable Testimony out of Calvin, because not a few of the Followers of his Doctrine do refuse and deride (and that, as it is to be feared, because of their own Non-experience thereof) this Way of the Spirit’s In-dwelling, as uncertain and dangerous; that so, if neither the Testimony of the Scripture, nor the Sayings of others, nor right Reason can move them, they may at least be reproved by the Words of their own Master, who saith in the third Book of his Institutions, Cap. 2. on this wise:
Calvin of the Necessity of the Spirit’s Indwelling in us.“But they alledge, it is a bold Presumption for any to pretend to an undoubted Knowledge of God’s Will; which (saith he) I should grant unto them, if we should ascribe so much to ourselves, as to subject the Incomprehensible Counsel of God to the Rashness of our Understandings. But while we simply say, with Paul, that we have received not the Spirit of this World, but the Spirit which is of God; by whose Teaching we know those Things that are given us of God, what can they prate against it, without reproaching the Spirit of God? For if it be an horrible Sacrilege to accuse any Revelation coming from him, either of a Lie, of Uncertainty or Ambiguity, in asserting its Certainty, wherein do we offend? But they cry out, That it is not without great Temerity, that we dare so boast of the Spirit of Christ. Who would believe that the Sottishness of these Men were so great, who would be esteemed the Masters of the World, that they should so fail in the first Principles of Religion? Verily I could not believe it, if their own Writings did not testify so much. Paul accounts those the Sons of God, who are actuated by the Spirit of God; but these will have the Children of God actuated by their own Spirits, without the Spirit of God. He will have us call God Father, the Spirit dictating that Term unto us, which only can witness to our Spirits, that we are the Sons of God. These, though they cease not to call upon God, do nevertheless dismiss the Spirit, by whose guiding he is rightly to be called upon. He denies them to be the Sons of God, or the Servants of Christ, who are not led by his Spirit; but these feign a Christianity that needs not the Spirit of Christ. He takes away the Hope of a blessed Resurrection, unless we feel the Spirit residing in us; but these feign a Hope without any such a Feeling; but perhaps they will answer, that they deny not but that it is necessary to have it, only of Modesty and Humility we ought to deny and not acknowledge it. What means he then, when he commands the Corinthians to Try themselves, if they be in the Faith; to Examine themselves, whether they have Christ, whom whosoever acknowledges not dwelling in him, is a Reprobate? By the Spirit which he hath given us, saith John, we know that he abideth in us. And what do we then else but call in question Christ’s Promise, while we would be esteemed the Servants of God, without his Spirit, which he declared he would pour out upon all his? Seeing these Things are the first Grounds of Piety, it is miserable Blindness to accuse Christians of Pride, because they dare glory of the Presence of the Spirit; without which glorying, Christianity itself could not be. Without the Spirit’s Presence Christianity must cease.But by their Example they declare, how truly Christ spake, saying, That his Spirit was unknown to the World, and that those only acknowledge it, with whom it remains.” Thus far Calvin.