BOOK 8. THE ASCENSION.
CHAPTER 1.
8.1.10. Of the Measure of the Holy Ghost now given.
Of the Measure of the Holy Ghost now given.
For the measure, What or how much of the Spirit was now given? This question is necessary, because we bring in the Spirit's mission after Christ's ascension, as if the Holy Ghost had not been given before this time. That this was the time of the coming of the Holy Ghost, is very plain, but that the Holy Ghost was not given before this time, we cannot say, certainly the prophets spake by him, and the apostles had him, not only when they were first called, but more fully when "He breathed on them, and said unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost," John xx. 22. So that if ye study the reconciliation of these things, I know not any way better than to put it on the measure, or degrees of the Spirit's mission. I know some go about to reconcile it thus, The Holy Ghost was given before secretly with grace, but now he was given in a visible shape with power. Others thus, that the Holy Ghost was before given in respect of grace and ministerial gifts, but now he was given in respect of virtue, or ghostly ability to work wonders, and to speak with divers languages. But we find that the prophets and apostles before this had not only grace, and ministerial gifts, but a miraculous virtue, even the Spirit of powerful and extraordinary operations: only here was the difference, that before this the Spirit was but sprinkled (as it were) upon them, but now it was poured upon them; before this they were gently breathed on, and refreshed with a small gale; but now they were all blown upon with a mighty wind; without controversy a difference there is in the Spirit's mission, and that some lay down chiefly in these three things. As, --
1. In the manner of the Spirit's mission to the old church, the Spirit came usually in dreams, or visions, or in a low still voice, or in some latent ways: but now he came in power, in evidence, and demonstration; and therefore it is called "the Spirit of revelation and knowledge," Eph. i. 17. At the apparition of God to Elijah, it is said, that the Lord passed by, and a great, and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice, and then Elijah "wrapped his face in his mantle, as knowing the Lord's presence was therein" 1 Kings xix. 11, 12, 13. The Spirit came not of old, save in a vision, or dream, or in a still small voice; but now the Spirit came in a rushing mighty wind, in fiery tongues, in earthquakes, in so much that "the place was shaken where they were assembled, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost," Acts iv. 31. The Spirit now made choice to come in such apparitions, as should have in them a self-discovering property, which would not be hidden; and here is one difference.
2. Another difference is, in respect of the subjects unto whom he was sent; before now he came only upon the enclosed garden of the Jews, but after the ascension of Christ the Spirit was poured upon all flesh, now every believer is of the Israel of God; every Christian is a temple of the Holy Ghost; now we receive the Spirit too, or else it is wrong with us, for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," Rom. viii. 9. At Peter's sermon to Cornelius, it is said, that "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost," Acts x. 44, 45. It was some wonder at first, even to the apostles themselves, but in this sermon Peter acknowledges, "of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him," Acts x. 34, 35. Mark, "in every nation, upon all flesh, I will pour out my Spirit." Here is another difference.
3. One difference more, is in the measure of his mission. At first, he was sent only in drops and dew, but now he was poured out in showers in abundance, "The Holy Ghost (saith Paul) was shed on us abundantly through Jesus our Saviour," Tit. iii. 6. As these are degrees of the wind, 'aura ventus procella,' a breath, a blast, a stiff gale: so we cannot deny degrees in the Spirit, the apostles at Christ's resurrection received the Spirit, but now they were filled with the Spirit; then it was but a breath, but now it was a mighty wind. And indeed never was the like measure of the Spirit given to men as at this time; the fathers before this, and we and our fathers since this have but (as it were) a hin (a gallon measure) of the Spirit to their ephah (a 9 gallon measure); such a Pentecost as this, never was but this, never the like before or since; it was Christ's coronation day, the day of placing him in his throne, when he gave these gifts unto men, and therefore that day was all magnificence showed above all other days; thus for the measure of the Spirit now given to the church of Christ.