And these are some of the principal instances of the operation of the Holy Spirit on the human nature of the Head of the church. The whole of them all, I confess, is a work that we, can look but little into ; only what is plainly revealed we desire to receive and embrace, considering that if we are his, we are predestinated to be made conformable in all thiugs unto him, and that by the jDower- ful and effectual operation of that Spirit which thus wrought all things in him, to the glory of God. And as it is a matter of unspeak- able consolation unto us to consider what hath been done in and upon our nature by the application of the love and grace of God through his Spirit unto it; so it is of great advantage, in that it directs our faith and supplications in our endeavours after conformity with him, which is our next end, under the enjoyment of God in glory. What, therefore, in these matters we apprehend, we embrace; and for the depth of them, they are the objects of our admiration and praise.
II. There is yet another work of the Holy Spirit, not immedi- ately in and upon the person of the Lord Christ, but toivards him, and on his behalf, with respect unto his work and oflice; and it compriseth the head and fountain of the whole office of the Holy Spirit towards the church. This was his witness-bearing unto the Lord Christ, — namely, that he was the Son of God, the true Messiah,
] 84 WOEK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AND ON [BOOK II.
and that the work which he performed in the world was committed unto him by God the Father to accomphsh. And this same work he continueth to attend unto unto this day, and will do so to the consum- mation of all things. It is known how the Lord Christ was reproached whilst he was in this world, and how ignominiously he was sent out of it by death. Hereon a great contest ensued amongst mankind, where- in heaven and hell were deeply engaged. The greatest part of the world, the princes, rulers, and wise men of it, affirmed that he was an impostor, a seducer, a malefactor, justly punished for his evil deeds. He, on the other side, chose twelve apostles to bear testi- mony unto the holiness of his life, the truth and purity of his doc- trine, the accomplishment of the prophecies of the Old Testament in his birth, life, work, and death ; and, in especial, unto his resurrection from the dead, whereby he was justified and acquitted from all the reproaches of hell and the world, and their calumnies refelled. But what could the testimony of twelve poor men, though never so honest, prevail against the confronting suffi'age of the world? Wherefore, this work of bearing witness unto the Lord Christ was committed unto Him who is above and over all, who knoweth how, and is able, to make his testimony prevalent: John xv. 26, "When the Com- foiter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." Accordingly, the apostles plead his concurring testimony: Acts V. 32, " We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." And how he thus gave his testimony our apostle declares, Heb. ii. 4, " God also bearing witness with them" (that is, the apostles), " both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will." The first priucipal end why God gave the Holy Spirit to work all those miraculous effects in them that believed in Jesus, was, to bear witness unto his person that he was indeed the Son of God, owned and exalted b}'' him; for no man not utterly forsaken of all reason and understanding, not utterly blinded, would once imagine that the Holy Spirit of God would work such marvellous operations in and by them who believed on him, if he designed not to justify his person, work, and doctrine thereby. And this in a short time, together with that effectual power which he put forth in and by the preaching of the word, carried not only his vindication against all the machinations of Satan and his instru- ments throughout the world, but also subdued the generality of man- kind unto faith in him and obedience unto him, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. And upon this testimony it is that there is real faith in him yet main- tained in the world. This is that which he promised unto his dis- ciples whilst he was yet with them in the world, when their hearts
CHAP. IV.] THE HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST. 185
were solicitous how they should bear up against their adversaries upon liis absence. " I will," saith he, " send the Comforter unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righte- ousness, and of judgment : of sin, because they believe not on me ; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this Avorld is judged," John xvi. 7-11. The reason why the world believed not on Christ was, because they believed not that he was sent of God, chap. ix. 29. By his testi- mony the Spirit was to rej^rove the world of their infidelity, and to convince them of it by evidencing the truth of his mission; for hereon the whole issue of the controversy between him and the world did depend. Whether he were righteous or a deceiver was to be deter- mined by his being sent or not sent of God; and, consequently, God's acceptance or disapprobation of him. That he was so sent, so ap- proved, the Holy Spirit convinced the world by his testimony, mani- festing that he " went to the Father," and was exalted by him ; for it was upon his ascension and exaltation that he received and poured out the promise of the Spirit to this purpose, Acts ii. 33. Moreover, whilst he was in the world there was an unrighteous judgment, by the instigation of Satan, passed upon him. On this testimony of the Spirit, that judgment was to be reversed, and a contrary sentence passed on the author of it, the prince of this world ; for by the gospel so testified unto was he discovered, convicted, judged, condemned, and cast out of that power and rule in the world which, by the dark- ness of the minds of men within and idolatry without, he had ob- tained and exercised. And that the Holy Spirit continueth to do the same work, though not absolutely by the same means, unto this very day, shall be afterward declared.