ag S MO N . CXLIV. Of the Coining of the HolyGhoft, as an Advocate for Chriit. J o H N XVI. 7, 8. Neverthelefs, 1 tell you the Truth ; It is expedient for you that Igo assay: For if i go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if 1 depart, 1 will fend him unto you - And when he is come, he will re- prove the Worldof Sin, andof Righteoufnefs, andof judgment. HESE Words are Part of our Saviour's laft Sermon, which be made to his Difciples a little before he left the World : And this Sermon is only recorded by thisEvangelift, who bath fet it down at large in the t4th, 15th, and 16th Chapters of his Gofpel. The main Scope of it is, firft to perfwade them to theObedience and Pra&ice of that holyDoctrine, which he had delivered to them while he was with them; and then, becaufe their Hearts were full of Sorrow at the Thoughts of his Departure from them, knowing that for his Sake they fhould be ill treated by theWorld, he arms them againft there Difçouragements ; hepro- mired], not long after his Departure from them, to fend down his Holy Spirit upon them in miraculous Powers and Gifts, as a Teftimony to the World of the Truth of his Docrine, and a. clear Convi&ion that he came fromGod; Ver. 26. of the 15th Chap. But when the Comforter (or rather the Advocate) is come, whom Iwillfend unto you from theFather, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedsfrom the Father, he fbætl tefiify of me. Andye (hall elfo bear Witnefr, becaufe ye have been with me from the Beginning. The Teflimony which the Holy Spirit fhould give to them, fhould give Credit and Strength to their Teftimony. And this Confideration he makes use of to comfortthem under thefad Thoughts of his Departure, becaufe his Absence would be abundantly recompenfed to them, by theComing of the Holy Ghoft, which could not be till he had left the World : Becaufe this Comforter, or Advocate, was to be tent in hie Name, to come upon his Account, and in his Stead, to fupply his Absence. So that tho' they were greatly troubled at the Thoughts of his Departure, there was no Caufe for it, when all Things were confidered ; for in Truth, it was for their Advantage, that he fhould depart from them, Verfi the 6th of this Chapter : But becaufe I have f id theft Things unto you, Sorrow bath filledyour Heart. Nevertheleft, I tell you the Truth i It is expedient for you, that 1go away : For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come Cato you ; but if I depart, I willfind him unto you. Andwhen he is come, he will reprove the World ofSin, and of Righteoufnefs, and of yudgment. From which Words, I (hall confider there two Things : Firft, The Neceffityof Chrift's leaving the World, in order to the Comingof the HolyGhoft : IfIgo not away, the Comforter will not come untoyou ; but if I de- part, I will find him untoyou. Secondly, Thehappy Confequence andEle& of the Coming ofthe Holy Ghoft : And when he is come, he Jhall reprove the World of Sin, and of Righteoufnefs, and of judgment. I (hall as briefly as I can explain both thefe. Firfi, The Neceflity of Chrift's leaving the World, in order to the Coming of the Holy Ghoft : Neverthelef I tell you the Truth ; It is expedient for you that Igó away : For if Ïgo not away, the Comforter will not come untoyou; but ofIdepart, Iwill find him untoyou. That it is the Holy Ghoft which is here fpoken of, and that as a Perfon, and not as a Quality, or Power, or Virtue, is plain from our Saviour's Difcourfe all along this Sermon, in which he is fpoken of under the Notion of a Perfon,
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