These two discourses, with those formerly published, make up all that Dr Owen perfected or designed on this subject of the Spirit, as the reader may per- ceive in the account which himself hath given in his prefaces to some of the for- mer pieces, published by himself in his lifetime. Not but that there are some other lucubrations of his on subjects nearly allied "unto these, which possibly may be published hereafter,— namely, one entitled, " The Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect," and perhaps some others. What farther he might have had in his thoughts to do is known to Him whom he served so industriously and so faithfully in his spirit in the gospel while he was here on earth, and with whom he now en- joys the reward of all his labours and all his sufferings; for certain it is concerning Dr Ovven, that as God gave him very transcendent abilities, so he did therewithal give him a boundless enlargedness of heart, and unsatiable desire to do service to Christ and his church, insomuch that he was thereby carried on through great bodily weakness, languishing, and pains, besides manifold other trials and dis- couragements, to bring forth out of his treasury, like a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, many useful and excellent fruits of his studies, — much be- yond the expectation and hopes of those who saw how often and how long he was near unto the grave.
But while he was thus indefatigably and restlessly laying out for the service of Christ, in this and succeeding generations, those rich talents with which he was furnished, his Lord said unto him, '; Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." No man ever yet, but Jesus Christ, was able to finish all that was in his heart to do for God. On the removal of such ac- complished and useful persons, I have sometimes relieved myself with this thought, that Christ lives in heaven still, and the blessed Spirit, from whom the head and heart of this chosen vessel were so richly replenished, liveth still.
Nath. Mather.1
October 27, 1692.
l Nathaniel Mather was the son of Richard Mather, an eminent Puritan divine of Lancashire, from whom descended children and grandchildren distinguished as theologians and preachers both in this country and in America. Nathaniel was pastor of a numerous congregation iu Lime Street, Loudon, where he died, a.d. 1697.— En.
A DISCOUKSE
THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER.
CHAPTER I.
The Holy Ghost the comforter of the church by way of office — How he is the church's advocate — John xiv. 16; 1 John ii. 1, 2; John xvi. 8-11 opened.
That which remains to complete our discourses concerning the dis- pensation of the Holy Spirit, is the office and work that he hath undertaken for the consolation of the church ; and, —
Three things are to be considered with respect unto this head of the grace of the gospel : — I. That the Holy Spirit is the comforter of the church by way of especial office. II. What is in that office, or wherein the discharge of it doth consist. III. What are the effects of it towards believers.
It must be granted that there is some impropriety in that expres- sion, by the way of office. An office is not simply, nor, it may be, properly spoken of a divine person, who is absolutely so and nothing else. But the like impropriety is to be found in most of the expressions which we use concerning God, for who can speak of him aright or as he ought ? Only, we have a safe rule whereby to express our con- ceptions, even what he speaks of himself. And he hath taught us to learn the work of the Holy Ghost towards us in this matter by ascrib- ing unto him those things which belong unto an office among men.
Four things are required unto the constitution of an office : — 1. An especial trust; 2. An especial mission or commission; 3. An especial name ; 4. An especial work. All these are required unto an office properly so called ; and where they are complied withal by a voluntary susception in the person designed thereunto, an office is completely constituted. And we must inquire how these things in a divine manner do concur in the work of the Holy Spirit as he is the comforter of the church.
First, He is intrusted with this work, and of his own will hath taken it on himself; for when our Saviour was leaving of the world, and had a full prospect of all the evils, troubles, dejections, and dis-
So 6 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
consolations which would befall his disciples, and knew full well that if they were left unto themselves they would faint and perish under them, he gives them assurance that the work of their consolation and supportment was left intrusted and committed unto the Holy Spirit, and that he would both take care about it and perfect it accordingly.
The Lord Christ, when he left this world, was very far from laying aside his love unto and care of his disciples. He hath given us the highest assurance that he continueth for ever the same care, the same love and grace, towards us, which he had and exercised when he laid down his life for us. See Heb. iv. 14-16, vii. 25, 26. But inasmuch as there was a double work yet to be performed in our behalf, one towards God and the other in ourselves, he hath taken a twofold way for the performance of it. That towards God he was to dis- charge immediately himself in his human nature ; for other mediator between God and man there neither is nor can be any. This he doth by his intercession. Hence there was a necessity that, as to his human nature, the " heaven should receive him until the times of the restitution of all things," as Acts iii. 21. There was so both with respect unto himself and us.