George Hutcheson
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
In the next place, Christ who sends them, doth also furnish them with the gifts of the Spirit for that office; some fruits whereof, before that full measure was let out upon them, Acts 2. doth appear in what is recorded of them, Acts 1.15, &c. Whence, learn, 1. Where Christ doth employ and send out any about his work, their call from him, (being embraced and followed in obedience thereunto, and with dependance upon him, who hath sent them) doth assure them of furniture for their calling also; for, they are conjoyned here, I send you, v. 21. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, &c. 2. The furniture of Ministers for discharge of their calling, must be the Spirit of God communicate unto them by Christ, in his gifts and qualifications sutable and requisite to their work, and who must be daily sought for quickening and keeping fresh that furniture which floweth from him, and for making the exercise of these gifts effectual; for, it is the Holy Ghost, who furnisheth the Apostles in their measure and station, and so also other Ministers. They were indeed extraordinarily gifted without any previous study, and acquired abilities; and other Ministers, albeit they ought to make conscience of ordinary means for enabling them to that work, 1 Tim. 4.13. yet it is from the Spirit of God, that they must be gifted with the Spirit of that emploiment, and with common and ordinary gifts for it, and it is he who must accompany them in that work, and make it lively and effectual. 3. The Holy Ghost cometh upon every Professour, and particularly Ministers, by free donation and gift from Christ; He is the acquiter of that furniture unto them, and their great work is to receive it of his liberality; for, saith he, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 4. This breathing on them, when he communicate this furniture, being an extraordinary signe of his communicating this extraordinary furniture, it is therefore not to be imitate by any in ordinary, who have not the dispensing of these endowments. Only, Christs making use thereof, may serve, partly, to point out some resemblance betwixt this signe of breathing, and the inspirations and refreshful breathings of this Spirit upon them, and their gifts who receive it; and as the Spirits descending at the signe of fiery cloven tongues, Acts 2.3. served to point out their being furnished to speak divers languages; so his being communicate by the signe of breathing, holds out, that where he cometh, he quickens and puts life in mens spirits, (as by Gods breathing, the first man was made a living soul, Gen. 2.7.) and doth refresh and make them fruitful, as Caut. 4.16. partly, it serveth to point out Christs God-head, who hath the gifting of the Spirit in his hand, and who can easily, as by a breathing, furnish the most rude and unlearned, and make them extraordinarily able; according as the soul of the first man was easily created.
