第52章

Therebediverseotherplacesoutofwhichmaybedrawnthelikeconclusion。Tomenthatunderstandthesignificationofthesewords，substanceandincorporeal(asincorporealistakennotforsubtlebody，butfornotbody)，theyimplyacontradiction：insomuchastosay，anangelorspiritisinthatsenseanincorporealsubstanceistosay，ineffect，thereisnoangelnorspiritatall。ConsideringthereforethesignificationofthewordangelintheOldTestament，andthenatureofdreamsandvisionsthathappentomenbytheordinarywayofnature，Iwasinclinedtothisopinion，thatangelswerenothingbutsupernaturalapparitionsofthefancy，raisedbythespecialandextraordinaryoperationofGod，therebytomakeHispresenceandcommandmentsknowntomankind，andchieflytoHisownpeople。ButthemanyplacesoftheNewTestament，andourSaviour’sownwords，andinsuchtextswhereinisnosuspicionofcorruptionoftheScripture，haveextortedfrommyfeeblereasonanacknowledgementandbeliefthattherebealsoangelssubstantialandpermanent。Buttobelievetheybeinnoplace，thatistosay，nowhere，thatistosay，nothing，asthey，thoughindirectly，saythatwillhavethemincorporeal，cannotbyScripturebeevinced。

Onthesignificationofthewordspiritdependeththatofthewordinspiration；whichmusteitherbetakenproperly，andthenitisnothingbuttheblowingintoamansomethinandsubtleairorwindinsuchmannerasamanfillethabladderwithhisbreath；orifspiritsbenotcorporeal，buthavetheirexistenceonlyinthefancy，itisnothingbuttheblowinginofaphantasm；whichisimpropertosay，andimpossible；forphantasmsarenot，butonlyseemtobe，somewhat。ThatwordthereforeisusedintheScripturemetaphoricallyonly：aswhereitissaidthatGodinspiredintomanthebreathoflife，*nomoreismeantthanthatGodgaveuntohimvitalmotion。ForwearenottothinkthatGodmadefirstalivingbreath，andthenblewitintoAdamafterhewasmade，whetherthatbreathwererealorseeming；butonlyasitis“thathegavehimlife，andbreath“；*(2)thatis，madehimalivingcreature。Andwhereitissaid“allScriptureisgivenbyinspirationfromGod，“*(3)speakingthereoftheScriptureoftheOldTestament，itisaneasymetaphortosignifythatGodinclinedthespiritormindofthosewriterstowritethatwhichshouldbeusefulinteaching，reproving，correcting，andinstructingmeninthewayofrighteousliving。ButwhereSt。Petersaiththat“Prophecycamenotinoldtimebythewillofman，buttheholymenofGodspakeastheyweremovedbytheHolySpirit，“*(4)bytheHolySpiritismeantthevoiceofGodinadreamorvisionsupernatural，whichisnotinspiration：norwhenourSaviour，breathingonHisDisciples，said，“ReceivetheHolySpirit，wasthatbreaththeSpirit，butasignofthespiritualgraceshegaveuntothem。Andthoughitbesaidofmany，andofourSaviourHimself，thathewasfulloftheHolySpirit；yetthatfullnessisnottobeunderstoodforinfusionofthesubstanceofGod，butforaccumulationofhisgifts，suchasarethegiftofsanctityoflife，oftongues，andthelike，whetherattainedsupernaturallyorbystudyandindustry；forinallcasestheyarethegiftsofGod。SolikewisewhereGodsays，“IwillpouroutmySpirituponallflesh，andyoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy，youroldmenshalldreamdreams，andyouryoungmenshallseevisions，“*(5)wearenottounderstanditinthepropersense，asifhisSpiritwerelikewater，subjecttoeffusionorinfusion；butasifGodhadpromisedtogivethempropheticaldreamsandvisions。Fortheproperuseofthewordinfused，inspeakingofthegracesofGod，isanabuseofit；forthosegracesarevirtues，notbodiestobecarriedhitherandthither，andtobepouredintomenasintobarrels。

Inthesamemanner，totakeinspirationinthepropersense，ortosaythatgoodspiritsenteredintomentomakethemprophesy，orevilspiritsintothosethatbecamephrenetic，lunatic，orepileptic，isnottotakethewordinthesenseoftheScripture；

fortheSpiritthereistakenforthepowerofGod，workingbycausestousunknown。AsalsothewindthatistheresaidtofillthehousewhereintheApostleswereassembledonthedayofPentecost*

isnottobeunderstoodfortheHolySpirit，whichistheDeityitself；butforanexternalsignofGod’sspecialworkingontheirheartstoeffectinthemtheinternalgracesandholyvirtu