Menno Simons on ... the Holy Ghost
As
we have now pointed out and made known our faith and confession of the
true divinity of Jesus Christ; so we will also, now, by the grace of God,
set forth in few words, our faith and confession of the Holy Ghost. Let
the God fearing judge. We believe and confess the Holy Ghost to be a true,
real, or personal Holy Ghost; and that in a divine way —even as the
Father is a true Father, and the Son a true Son; which Holy Ghost is a
mystery to all mankind, incomprehensible, inexpressible and indescribable
(as we have shown above of the Father and the Son); divine with his divine
attributes, going forth from the Father through the Son, although he ever
remains with God and in God, and is never separated from the being of
the Father and the Son. And the reason that we confess him to be such
a true and real Holy Spirit, is because we are impelled to this by the
Scriptures. [p. 186]
He guides us into all truth; he justifies us; he cleanses, sanctifies,
pacifies, consoles, reproves, cheers and assures us; he testifies to our
spirit that we are the children of God. This Spirit all receive who believe
on Christ; Paul admonishes us, not to grieve him. Whosoever sins against
this Spirit (says Christ), unto him it shall not be forgiven. David desired
that God might not take from him this Spirit, for all that have not this
spirit are not of Christ, Acts 2:26; Luke 3:22; John 1:33; Acts 2: 3;
Zach. 7:12; Jude 14; Joel 2:29; 2 Cor. 12:4; Luke 2:25; Acts 13:2; 10:19
Jn. 14:26; 15:26; Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:16; Matt. 8:13; Ps. 51:11; Rom. 8:9.
Yea, my brethren, from these plain Scriptures, testimonies and references,
and a great many other texts which are too lengthy to mention, and which
may be found in abundance in the Scriptures and read, we believe the Holy
Spirit to be the true, essential Holy Spirit of God, who adorns us with
his heavenly and divine gifts, and through his inspiration, according
to the good pleasure of the Father, frees us from sin, makes us cheerful,
peaceful, pious, satisfies our hearts and minds, and makes them holy in
Christ Jesus. [p. 187]
All excerpts are from The complete works of Menno Simon (Elkhart, Ind., 1871).