(9.) CHAP. II. GENERAL ADJUNCTS OR PROPERTIES OF THE OFFICE OF A COMFORTER, AS EXERCISED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO evidence yet further the nature of this office and work, we may consider and inquire into the general ad= juncts of it as exercised by the Holy Spirit. And they are four: First, Infinite condescension. This is among those mysteriesof the divine dispensation which we may ad- mire but cannot comprehend. And it is the property of faith alone to act and live upon incomprehensible ob- jects. What reason cannot comprehend, it will neglect as that which it path no concernment in, nor can have benefit by. Faith is most satisfied and cherished with what is infinite and inconceivable, as resting absolutely in divine revelation. Such is this condescensionof the Holy Ghost. He is by nature over all, God blessed for ever. And it is a condescension in the divine ex- cellency to concern itself in a particular manner, in any creature whatever. God humbleth himself to behold the things that are done in heaven and earth, Psal, cxiii. 5, 6. Howmuch more doth he so in submitting him- selfunto the discharge ofan office in the behalf of poor worms here below? F This, I confess, is most astonishing, and attended with the most incomprehensible rays of divine wisdom and goodness in the condescension of the Son. For he carried the term of it unto the lowest and most ab- ject condition that a rational, intelligent nature is capa- ble of. So is it represented by the apostle, Phil. ii. 6, 7, 8. For he not only took our nature into personal union with himself, but became in it, in his outward condition as a servant, yea, as a worin and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people, and be- came subject to death, the ignominious, shameful death of the cross. Hence this dispensation of God was filled upwith infinite wisdom, goodness, and grace. How this exinanition of the Son of God was compensated with the glory that did ensue, we shall rejoice in the contemplation of unto all eternity. And then shall the character of all divine excellencies be more gloriously conspicuous on this condescension of the Son of God, than ever they were on the works of the wholecreation, when this goodlyfabric ofheaven and earth was brought, 5 C by divine power and wisdom, through darkness and con- fusion out of nothing. The condescension of the Holy Spirit unto his work and office is not indeed of the same kind, as to the ter- minus adquart, or the object of it. He assumes not our nature, he exposeth not himself to the injuries of an outward state and condition. But yet it is such as is more to be the object of our faith in adoration, than of our reason in disquisition. Consider the thing in itself, how one person in the Holy 'Trinity, subsisting in the unity of the same divine nature, should undertake to execute the love and grace of the other persons, and in their names, what do we understand of it? This holy economy in the distinct and subordinate actings of the divine persons in these external works, is known only unto, is understood only by themselves. Our wis- dom it is to acquiesce in express divine- revelation: nor have they scarcely more dangerously erred by whom these things are denied, thasrthose have done, who by a proud and conceited subtilty of mind, pretend unto a conceptionof them, which they express in words and terms, as they say, precise and accurate, indeed foolish and curious, whether of other men's coining or their own finding out. Faith keeps the soul at an holy dis- tance from these infinite depths of the divine wisdom, where it profits mare by reverence and holy fear, than any can do by their utmost attempt to draw nigh unto that inaccessable light wherein these glories of the divine nature do dwell. But we may more steadily consider this condescension with respect unto its object; the Holy Spirit thereby becomes a Comforter unto us poor miserable worms of the earth. And what heart can conceive the glory of this grace? what tongue can express it? Especially will its eminency appear, if weconsider the ways and means whereby he doth so comfort us, and the opposition from us which he meets withal therein, whereof wemusttreat afterwards. Secondly, Unspeakable loveaccompanieth the suscep- tion and discharge of this office; and that working by tenderness and compassion. The Holy Spirit is said to 56
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