úlsCOtiRs what he did, that he was gene to the Father, or assum- ed up into glory. The poor blind man, whose eyes were opened by him, pleaded this as a forcible argu- ment against the Jews, that he was no sinner, in that God heard him, so as that he hod opened his eyes; whose evidence and conviction they could not bear, but it turned them into rage and madness, John ix . 30, 31, 32, 33, so. How much more glorious and effectual must this evidence needs be of his righteousness and ho= liness, and God's approbation of him, that after all he did in this world, he went unto his Father, and was taken up'into glory. For such is the meaning of those words, Ye shall see ose no more, that is, there shall be an end put onto my state of humiliation; and of my converse with you in this world, because I am to enter into my glory. That the Lord Christ then Went unto his Father, thnt he was so gloriously exalted, undenia- ble testimony was given by the Holy Ghost unto the Conviction of the world: So this argument is pleaded by Peter, Acts ii. 33. This is enough to stop the Mouths of all the world in this cause, that he sent the Holy Ghost from the Father to Communicate spiritual gifts of all sorts unto his disciples. And there could be no higher evidence of Isis acceptance, power, and glory with him. And the same testimony he still continueth in the'communication of ordinary gifts in the ministry of the gospel: Respect also may be had (which sense I would not exclude) unto the righteousness of his office. There ever was a great contest about the righteousness of the world. This the Gentiles looked after by the light of nature, and the Jews by the works of the law. In this state the Lord Christ is proposed as the Lord our righteousness, as he who was to bring in, and had brought in, everlasting righteousness, Dan. ix. 24. be- ing the end ofthe laterfor righteousness unto all that be- lieve, Rom. x. 4. This the Gentiles rejected as folly, Christ crucified was foolishness unto them, and to the Jews it was a stumbling -blouse, as that which everted the Whole law: and, generally, they all concluded, that he could not save himself, and therefore it was not pro- bable that others should be saved by him. But here- in also is the Holy Spirit the advocate of the church. For in the dispensation of the word, he so convinceth as oÀt 'Mg men of an impossibility for them to attain a righteous neseof their own, as that they must either submit to the righteousness of God in Christ, or die in their sins. 3r He convinceth the world ofjudgment, because the Prince of this world is judged. Christ himself was judged and condemned by the world. In that judg- ment, Satan, the grand adversary of mankind, had the principal hand; for it was effected in the hour, and um. der the power of darkness. And no doubt but he hoped that he had carried his cause, when he had pre- nailed to have the Lord Christ publicly judged and eon - demned. And this judgment the world sought by all means to justify and make good. But the whole of it is called over again by the Holy Ghost, pleading in the cause, and for the faith of the church. And he doth it so effectually, as that the judgment is turned on Satan himself. Judgment with unavoidable conviction passed on all that superstition, idolatry, andwickedness which he had filled the world withal. And whereas he had borne himself under carious masks, shades, and pre- tences, to be the god of this world, the supreme ruler over ail, and accordingly was worshipped all the world over, he is now by the gospel laid open and manifested to be an accursed apostate, a murderer, and the great enemy ofmankind. Wherefore, taking the name Paraeletusin this sense, for an advocate, it is proper unto the Holy Ghost in some part of his Work in and towards the church. And whensoever we are called to bear witness unto Christ and the gospel, weabandon our strength, and betray our cause, if we do not use all means appointed of God unto that end, to engage him in our assistance. But it is as a Comforter that he is chiefly promised unto us, and as such is he expressed unto the church by this name. Fourthly, That he bath a peculiar work committed unto him suitable unto this mission, commission, and name, is that which will appear in the declaration of the particulars wherein it loth consist. For the present* we only assert, in general, that his work it is tosupport, cherish, relieve, and comfort the church in all trials and distresses. And this is all that we intend, when we say that it is his office so to do.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=