Only here, as in all the particulars following, the manner of the
238 OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
Spirit's working this thing is always to be borne in mind, and the interest of his power, will, and goodness in his working. He doth this, — 1st Poivevfully, or effectually ; Idly. Voluntarily; Sdly. Freely.
1st. Poiuerfully: and therefore doth comfort from the words and promises of Christ sometimes break in through all opposition into the saddest and darkest condition imaginable; it comes and makes men sing in a dungeon, rejoice in flames, glory in tribulation ; it will into prisons, racks, through temptations, and the greatest distresses imaginable. Whence is this? Ti UnZfia hspyir, — the Spirit works effectually, his power is in it; he will work, and none shall let him. If he will bring to our remembrance the promises of Christ for our consolation, neither Satan nor man, sin nor world, nor death, shall interrupt our comfort. This the saints, who have communion with the Holy Ghost, know to their advantage. Sometimes the heavens are black over them, and the earth trembles under them; public, personal calamities and distresses appear so full of hoiTor and dark- ness, that they are ready to faint with the apprehensions of them ; — hence is theh great relief, and the retrievenient of their spirits ; theh consolation or trouble depends not on any outward condition or inward frame of their own hearts, but on the powerful and effectual workings of the Holy Ghost, which by faith they give themselves up unto.
2dly. Voluntarily, — distributing to eveiy one as he will; and there- fore is this Avork done in so gi-eat variety, Iboth as to the same person and divers. For the same person, full of joy sometimes in a great distress, full of consolation, — every promise brings sweetness when his pressures are great and heavy; another time, in the least trial [he] seeks for comfort, searches the promise, and it is far away. The reason is, rii/sD/^a diaifiT xaOijg ^uuXsrai, — the Spirit distributes as he will. And so with divers persons: to some each promise is full of life and comfort ; others taste little all their days ; — all upon the same account. And this faith especially regards ui the whole business of consolation : — it depends on the sovereign will of the Holy Ghost; and so is not tied unto any rules or course of procedure. Therefore doth it exercise itself in waiting upon him for the seasonable accomplish- ment of the good pleasure of his will.
Sdly. Freely. Much of the variety of the dispensation of consola- tion by promises depends on this freedom of the Spirit's operation. Hence it is that comfort is given tinexpectedly, when the heart hath all the reasons in the world to look for distress and sorrow; thus sometimes it is the first means of recovering a backsliding soul, who might justly. expect to be utterly cast off. And these considerations are to be carried on in all the other effects and fmits of the Com- forter: of which afterward. And in this first general effect or work
OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLT GHOST. 239
of the Holy Gliost towards us have we communion and fellowship with him. The life and soul of all our comforts lie treasured up in the promises of Christ. They are the breasts of all our consolation. Who knows not how powerless they are in the bare letter, even when improved to the uttermost by our considerations of them, and medi- tation on them? as also how unexpectedly they sometimes break upon the soul with a conquering, endearing life and vigour? Here faith deals peculiarly with the Holy Ghost. It considers the promises themselves ; looks up to him, waits for him, considers his appearances in the word depended on, — owns him in his work and efficacy. No sooner doth the soul begin to feel the life of a promise wanning his heart, relieving, cherishing, supporting, delivering from fear, entan- glements, or troubles, but it may, it ought, to know that the Holy Ghost is there; which will add to his joy, and lead him into fellow- ship with him.
2. The next general work seems to be that of John xvi. 14, "The Comforter shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." The work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ: whence, by the way, we may see how far that spirit is from being the Comforter who sets up himself in the room of Christ; such a spirit as saith he is all himself: " for as for him that suffered at Jerusalem, it is no matter that we trouble ourselves about him. This spirit is now all. This is not the Comforter. His work is to glorify Christ, — him that sends him. And this is an evident sign of a false spirit, what- ever its pretence be, if it glorify not that Christ who was now speaking to his apostles; and such are many that are gone abroad into the world. But what shall this Spirit do, that Christ may be glorified? " He shall," saith he, " take of mine/' — kx rod s/xou X^-^srai. What these things are is declared in the next verse : " All things that the Father hath are mine ; therefore I said he shall take of mine." It is not of the essence and essential properties of the Father and Son that our Saviour speaks ; but of the grace which is communi- cated to us by them. This Christ calls, " My things," being the fruit of his purchase and mediation: on which account he saith all his Father's things are his; that is, the things that the Father, in his eternal love, hath provided to be dispensed in the blood of his Son, — all the fruits of election. " These," said he, " the Comforter shall receive ; that is, they shall be committed unto him to dispose for your good and advantage, to the end before proposed." So it follows, avayy^Xs?, — " He shall show, or declare and make them known to you." Thus, then, is he a comforter. He reveals to the souls of sinners the good things of the covenant of grace, which the Father hath provided, and the Son purchased. He shows to us mercy, grace, forgiveness, right- eousness, acceptation with God; letteth us know that these are the