DISCOURSES ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS WORK, CHAP. I. The HolyGhostthe comforter of the church, by way ofoffice. Hon, he is the church's Advocate, John xiv: 16. I John ii, 1, 2. John xvi: 8, 9, IO, II. opened. THAT which remains to complete our discourses concerning the dispensation of the 1-loly Spirit, is the office and work that he bath undertaken for the conso- lation of the church. And, Three things are to be considered with respect unto this head of the grace of the gospel: (I.) That the Holy Spirit is the Comforter ofthe church, by way of especialoffice. (2-) What is in that office, or wherein the discharge of it doth consist, (3.) What are the ef- fects of it towards believers. It must be granted, that there is some impropriety in that expression, try -tray of efface. An office is not simply, nor it may be properly spoken of a divine per. son, who is absolutely so, and nothing else. But the like impropriety is to he found in most of the expres- sions which we use concerning God; for who can speak of him aright, or as he ought. Only we have a safe rule whereby to express our conceptions, even what he speaks of himself. And he bath taught us to learn the work of the Holy Ghost towards us ín this matter, by ascribing unto him those things which belong unto an office among men. Four things are required unto the constitution of an office: (I.) Ah especial trust. (2.) An especial mission or commission. (3.) An especial name. (4.) Ah es- pedal work. All theseare required unto an officepro- perly so called; and where they are complied withal by a voluntary susception in the person designed thereúnto, en office is completely Constituted. And we !Mist in- quire how these things, in a divine manner, do concur . in the work of the Holy spirit, as he is the Comforter, of the church. First, He is intrusted with this work, and ofhis own will hash taken it on himself: Pot, when our Saviour was leaving ofthe world, andhad a full prospect of all he evils, troubles; dejections, and discbhsolationswhich A would befal his disciples, and knew, full well, that if they were left unto themselves, they would faint and perish under them, he gives them assurance, that the work of their consolation and supportment was left in trusted and committed unto the Holy Spirit, and that he would both take care about it, and perfect it açcor. dingly. The Lord Christ, when he left this world, was very for from laying aside his love unto and care of his dis- ciples: He hath given us the highest assurance, that he continueth for ever the same care, the same love and grace towards us he had and exercised when he laid clown his life for us. Sec Heb. iv. 14, 15, 16. chap. vii. 27: But inasmuch as there was a double work yet to beperformed in our behalf, one towards God, and the other in ourselves, he bath taken a twofold way for the performance of it. That towards God he was to discharge inttnediatcly himself in his human nature: for other mediator between God and Man there neither is, nor can be any. This he doth by his intercession, I-Ience tliere was a necessity, that, as to his human na- ture, the heavens should receive him until the times of restilration Van things, as Acts iii. 21: There was so, both with respect Onto himself and us. Three thingswith respect Unto himself, made the ex- altation of his human nature itl heaven to be necessary: For, 1. It was to be a pledge find token of God's accepta- tion of him; and approbation of what he had done in the world, John xvi. 7, 8. For what could more de- clare or evidence the content or delight of God in what he had done and suffered, than after he had been co ignominiously' treated in the world, to receive him visi- bly, gloriouAly, and triumphantly into heaven. He was manifested in the'flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, and, in the issue, received up into glory, 1 26
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