9 Holy Ghost
HOLY GHOST
The third person in the Trinity.
I. The Holy Ghost is a real and distinct person in the Godhead. 1. Personal powers of rational understanding and will are ascribed to him, 1 Cor 2:10,11. 1 Cor 12:11. Eph 4:3.—2. He is joined with the other two divine persons, as the object of worship and fountain of blessings, Matt 28:19. 2 Cor 13:14. 1 Jn 5:7.—3. In the Greek, a masculine article or epithet is joined to his name Pneuma, which is naturally of the neuter gender, John 14:26. 15:26. 16:13. Eph 1:13.—4. He appeared under the emblem of a dove, and of cloven tongues of fire, Matt 3. Acts 2.—5. Personal offices of an intercessor belong to him, Rom 8:26.—6. He is represented as performing a multitude of personal acts; as teaching, speaking, witnessing, &c. Mk 13:11. Acts 20:23. Rom 8:15,16. 1 Cor 6:19. Acts 15:28. 16:6,7. &c. &c. &c.
II. It is no less evident that the Holy Ghost is a divine person equal in power and glory with the Father and Son. 1. Names proper only to the Most High God are ascribed to him; as Jehovah, Acts 28:25, with Is 6:9. and Heb 3:7,9. with Ex 17:7. Jer 31:31,34. Heb 10:15,16. God, Acts 5:3,4. Lord, 2 Cor 3:17,19. “The Lord, the Spirit.”—2. Attributes proper only to the Most High God are ascribed to him; as Omniscience, Ps 139:7. Eph 2:17,18. Rom 8:26,27. Omnipotence, Lk 1:35. Eternity, Heb 9:14.—3. Divine works are evidently ascribed to him, Gen 1:2. Job 26:13. Ps 33:6. Ps 104:30.—4. Worship, proper only to God, is required and ascribed to him, Is 6:3. Acts 28:25. Rom 9:1. Rev 1:4. 2 Cor 13:14. Matt 28:19.
III. The agency or work of the Holy Ghost is divided by some into extraordinary and ordinary. The former by immediate inspiration, making men prophets, the latter by his regenerating and sanctifying influences making men saints. It is only the latter which is now to be expected. This is more particularly displayed in, 1. Conviction of sin, Jn 16:8,9.—2. Conversion, 1 Cor 12. Eph 1:17,18. 1 Cor 2:10,12. Jn 3:5,6.—3. Sanctification, 2 Thess 2:13. 1 Cor 6:11. Rom 15:16.—4. Consolation, Jn 14:16,26.—5. Direction, John 14:17. Rom 8:14.—6. Confirmation, Rom 8:16,26. 1 Jn 2:24. Eph 1:13,14. As to the gift of the Holy Spirit, says a good writer, it is not expected to be bestowed in answer to our prayers, to inform us immediately, as by a whisper, when either awake or asleep, that we are the children of God; or in any other way, than by enabling us to exercise repentance and faith and love to God and our neighbour. 2. We are not to suppose that he reveals any thing contrary to the written word, or more than is contained in it, or through any other medium. 3. We are not so led by, or operated upon by the Spirit as to neglect the means of grace. 4. The Holy Spirit is not promised nor given to render us infallible. 5. Nor is the Holy Spirit given in order that we may do any thing, which was not before our duty.
Charles Buck (1771-1815) was an English Independent minister, best known for the publication of his “Theological Dictionary”. According to the “Dictionary of National Biography”, a Particular Baptist minister named John C. Ryland (1723-1792) assisted Buck by writing many of the articles for the aforementioned publication. One may conclude, based not only Buck’s admiration for his friend Ryland, but also on the entries in his Theological Dictionary, that he stood head and shoulders with the High-Calvinists of his day.
Charles Buck on the Biblical Covenants (Complete)
Charles Buck's Theological Dictionary
