f° DISCOURSES ON rations. All the story of the church is filled with in- stances of persons, mean in their outward condition, timorous by nature, and unaccustomed unto dangers, unlearned and low in their natural abilities, who, in the face of rulers and potentates, in the sight of prisons, tortures, fires provided for their destruction, have pleaded the cause of the gospel with courage and suc- cess, unto the astonishment and confusion of their ad- versaries. Neither shall any disciple of Christ, in the same case, want the like assistance, in some due mea- sure and proportion, who expects it from him in a way of believing, and depends upon it. Examples we have hereof every day in persons acted above their own natural temper and abilities unto their own admiration. For being conscious unto themselves of their own fears, despondencies, and disabilities, it is a surprisal unto them, to find how all their fears have disappeared, and their minds have been enlarged when they have been called unto trial for, their testimony unto the gospel. We are in such cases to make use of any reason, skill, wisdom, or ability of speech which we have, or other I honest and advantageous circumstances which present themselves unto us, as the apostle Paul did on all occa- sions. But our dependance is to be solely on the pre- sence and supplies of our blessed Advocate, who will not suffer us to be utterly defective in what is necessary unto the defence and justification of our cause. (2.) He is the Advocate for Christ, the church, and the gospel, in and by his communication of spiritual gifts, both extraordinary and ordinary, unto them that do believe. For these are things at least in their effects visible unto the world. Where men are not utterly blinded by prejudice, love of sin, and of the world, they cannot but discern somewhat of a divine power in these supernatural gifts. Wherefore they openly testify unto the divine approbation of the gospel, and the faith that is in Christ Jesus. So the apostle confirms thé truths that he had preached, by this argument, that wherewith and thereby, or in the confirmation ofit, the Spirit as unto the communication of gifts was received, Gal. iii. 2. And herein is he the church's Advocate, justifying their cause openly and visibly, by this dispen- sation of his power towards them and in their behalf. But because we have treated separately and at large of the nature and use of these spiritual gifts, I shall not here farther insist on the consideration of them. TILE (3.) By internal efficacy in the dispensation of the word. Herein also is he the Advocate to the church against the world, as is declared, John xvi. 8, 9, 10, 11. ss For when he is come he will reprove the world " a of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of ss sin, because they believe not on me. Of righteous - " ness, because I gó to my Father, and ye see use no " more. Of judgment, because the Prince of this a world is judged." That which is ascribed unto him with respect unto the world, is expressed by the word nsy(.c He shall reprove or convince: ïzsyxa in the scripture is used variously. Sometimes it is to mani- fest, or bring forth unto light, Eph. v. 13. TO Ss rrarra lAsyxeresrx into pare, garsgarar. For all things that are re- proved or discovered, are made manifest by the light. And it bath the same sense, John iii. 20. Sometimes it is to rebuke and reprove, t Tim. v. 20. sas r<pcag"rarerrxs l,ewso, orarrar >,syxs. Those that sin rebuke before all. So also, Rev. iii. 19. Titus i. 13. Sometimes it is so to convince, as in that, to stop the mouth of an adversary, that he shall have nothing to answer or reply, John viii. 9. Lae vns umsshesue MVO/MM. Being convicted by their own consciences, so as not having a word to reply, they deserted their cause. So Titus i. 9. rus árrsreyorrxs itayn,, To convincegainsayers, is explained, ver. 11. by is se,asasr, to stop their mouth, namely, by the convincingevidence of truth. 'Eosyxos is an uncontrollable evidence, or an evident argument, Heb. xi. 1. Wherefore soayxas, here, is by undeniable argument and evidence so to convince the world, or the adversaries of Christ and the gospel, as that they shall have nothing to reply. This is the work and duty of an advocate, who will absolutely vin- dicate his client when his cause will bear it. And the effect hereof is twofold. For all persons up- on such an overpowering conviction take one of these two ways: (I.) Theyyield unto the truth arel embrace it, as finding no ground to stand upon its refusal. Or, (2.) They fly out into desperate rage and madness, as being obstinate in their hatred against the truth, and destitute of all reason to oppose it. An instance of the former way we have in those Jews, unto whom Peter preached on theday of Pentecost. Reproving and con- vincing of them beyond all contradiction, they were pricked in their hearts, and cried out, menand brethren, what shall we do? And therewithal came over unto the faith, Acts ii. 37, 44. Of the latter we have many in-
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