Wilson on Article V: Of the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is a spiritual and divine substance, the third Person in the Deity, distinct from the Father and the Son, and yet proceeding from them both. Which thing to be true, both the Creed of Athanasius beareth witness, and may be also easily proved by most plain testimonies of God’s holy word. When Christ was baptized of John in the river Jordan, we read that the Holy Ghost came down in form of a dove ; and that the Father thundered from heaven, saying, ” This is my dear and well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. iii. 17.) Where note three divers and distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost : which all notwithstanding are not three Gods, but one God. Likewise, when Christ did first in- stitute and* ordain the sacrament of Baptism, he sent his disci- ples into the whole world, willing them to baptize all nations, ” in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” (Matt, xxviii. 19.) And in another place he saith, ” 1 will pray unto my Father, and he shall give you another Comforter.” (John xiv. 16.) Again, ” When the Comforter shall come, whom I will send from my Father,” &c. (John xv. 26.) These and such other places of the New Testament do so plainly and evidently confirm the distinction of the Holy Ghost from the other Persons in the Trinity, that no man possibly can doubt thereof, unless he will blaspheme the everlasting truth of God’s Word. Horn, xxviii. 1.

Q. Why is he called holy ? A. Not only for his own holiness, which yet is the highest holiness, but also for that by him the elect of God and the members of Christ are made holy. For which cause the holy Scriptures have called him the ” Spirit of sanctification.”

Q. Iu what things dost thou think that this sanctification consisteth ? A. First, we are by his divine instinct and inspi- ration newly begotten, and therefore Christ said that we must be born again of water and the Spirit. Also by his heavenly breathing on us, God the Father doth adopt us his children, and

■ Teach all nations, baptizing Ghost. 1 John v. 7. The Holy

them in the name of the Father, Ghost descended in a bodily shape

and of the Son, aud of the Holy like a dove upon him. Luke iii. 9%.

Ghost. Matt, xxviii. 19. There are b Jesus said, If a man love me,

three that boar record in heaven, he will keep my words : and my

the Father, the Word, and the Holy Father will love’ him, and we will

and the Son, cis of one substance, majesty, and

therefore he is worthily called the Spirit of adoption. By his expounding, the divine mysteries are opened unto us; by his light, the eyes of our souls are made clear to understand them ; by his judgment sins are either pardoned or reserved; by his strength, sinful flesh is subdued and tamed, and corrupt desires are bridled and restrained. At his will manifold gifts are dis- tributed among the godly, in the manifold aud divers discom- modities, molestations, and miseries of this life, the Holy Ghost with his secret consolations, and with good hope, doth assuage, ease, and comfort the griefs and mourning of the godly, which commonly are in this world most afflicted, and whose sorrows do pass all human consolation : whereof he hath the true and proper name of Paraclete, or the Comforter. Finally by his power our mortal bodies shall rise alive again. Briefly whatso- ever benefits are given us in Christ, all these we understand, feel, and receive by the work of the Holy Ghost. Nowell, p. 63.

It is he which inwardly worketh the regeneration and new birth of mankind. Horn, xxviii. 1.

b He proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Nicene Creed. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created, but proceeding. Athan. Creed.

Our Saviour Christ, departing out of the world unto his Fa- ther, promised his disciples to send down another Comforter, that should continue with them for ever, and direct them into all truth. (John xiv. 16; xv. 26.) Which thing to be faithfully and truly performed, the Scriptures do sufficiently bear witness. Neither must we think that this Comforter was either pre- mised, or else given, only to the Apostles ; but also to the uni- versal Church of Christ, dispersed through the whole world. For, unless the Holy Ghost had been always present, governing and preserving the Church from the beginning, it could never have sustained so many and great brunts of affliction and per- secution, with so little damage and harm as it hath. Horn. xxviii. 2.

come unto him, and make our into all truth : for he shall not abode with him. The Comforter, speak of himself; but whatsoever which is the Holy Ghost, whom he shall hear, that shall he speak : the Father will send in my name, and he will shew you things to he shall teach you all things, and come. He shall glorify me, for he bring- all things to your remem- shall receive of mine, and shall brance, whatsoever I have said shew it unto you. All things that unto you. John xiv. 23, 26. When the Father hath are mine: there- the Comforter is come, whom I will fore said I, that he shall take of send unto you from the Father, mine, and shew it unto you. John even the Spirit of truth which pro- xvi. 13, 14, 15. Because ye are ceedeth from the Father, he shall sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit testify of me. John xv. 26. When of his Son into your hearts. Gal. he (ixiivos to Tlnuf&a,) the Spirit of iv. 6.

truth is come, he will guide you c God hath revealed them unto

glory with the Father and the Son, ‘very and eternal God.

As he promised he sendeth down his Holy Spirit from heaven into our hearts, as a most sure pledge of his good will, by which Spirit he brings us out of darkness and mist into open light ; he giveth sight to the blindness of our minds ; he chaseth sorrow out of our hearts, and healeth the wounds thereof ; and with the divine motion of his Spirit he causeth, that looking up to heaven, we raise up our minds and hearts from the ground, from corrupt affections and from earthly things, upward to the place where Christ is at the right hand of his Father, that we, thinking upon and beholding things above and heavenly, and so raised up and of upright mind, contemn these our base things, life, death, riches, poverty, and with lofty and high courage despise all worldly things. Noivell, p. 56.

Let us, as we are most bound, give hearty thanks to God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, for sending down this Com- forter into the world ; humbly beseeching him so to work in our hearts by the power of his Holy Spirit, that we being rege- nerate, and newly born again in all goodness, righteousness, sobriety, and truth, may in the end be made partakers of ever- lasting life in his heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Horn, xxviii. 1.

c Who art one God, one Lord : not one only person, but three persons in one substance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Com, Service.

As for his proper nature and substance, it is altogether one with God the Father, and God the Son ; that is to say, spiritual, eternal, uncreated, incomprehensible, almighty : to be short, he is even God and Lord everlasting. Therefore he is called the Spirit of the Father; therefore he is said to proceed from the Father and the Son; and therefore he was equally joined with them in the commission that the Apostles had to baptize all nations. Horn, xxviii. 1.

d I believe in the Holy Ghost. Apost. Creed. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life. Nicene Creed.

us by his Spirit : for the Spirit as in a glass the glory of the Lord,

searcheth all things, yea, the deep are changed into the same image

things of God. For what man from glory to glory, even as by

knoweth the things of a man, save the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. iii.

the spirit of man which is in him ? 17, 18. The grace of the Lord

even so the things of God knoweth Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

no man, but the Spirit of God. and the communion of the Holy

1 Cor. ii. 10, 11 . Now the Lord is Ghost, be with you all. 2 Cor. xiii.

that Spirit: and where the Spirit of 14.

the Lord is, there is liberty. But d As many as are led by the Spirit

we all, with open face, beholding of God, they are the sons of God.

The Catholic Faith is this, That we worship one. God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. Athan. Creed.

I believe in the Holy Ghost : — who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the Prophets. Nicene Creed. The Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all oue, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. And in this Trinity none is afore or after other: none is greater or less than another; but the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. Athan. Creed.

Rom. viii. 14. Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. — In whom ye are also builded together for an habi- tation of God through the Spirit. Eph. ii. 18, 22. Christ through the eternal Spirit offered himself, &c. Heb. ix. 14. God created man. Gen. i. 27. The Spirit of God hath made me. Job xxxiii. 4. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are ereated. Ps. civ. 30. Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. — Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God ? How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Acts v. 3, 4, 9. 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. — They, being

sent forth by the Holy Ghost, de- parted. Acts xiii. 2, 4. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. John vi. 45. Isa. liv. 13. Jer. xxxi. 34. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26. Ye are the temple of the living God : God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them. 2 Cor. vi. 11. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. 1 Cor. iii. 16 God raiseth the dead. 2 Cor. i. 9. As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. John v. 21. Jesus Christ was quickened by the Spirit. 1 Pet. iii. 18. 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.

Notes

• Q. What believest thou of the Holy Ghost ? A. I confess that he is the third Person of the most holy Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginning, equal with them both, and of the very same substance, and together with them both to be honoured and called upon. Noicell, p. 62.