SCO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
in the holy Trinity, hath been before declared. But as both the names Jesus and Christ, though neither of them is the name of an office, as one hath dreamed of late, yet have respect unto the work which he had to do and the office which he was to undergo, without which he could not have rightly been so called ; so hath the Holy Ghost a name given unto him, which is not distinctive with respect unto his personality, but denominative with respect unto his work, and this is 6 UapdxXi^rog.
1. This name is used only by the apostle John, and that in his Gospel only, from the mouth of Christ, chap. xiv. 16, 26, xv. 26, xvi. 7; and once he useth it himself, applying it unto Christ, 1 John ii. 1, 2, where we render it "An advocate."
The Syriac interpreter retains the name NOvipa, Paraclita; not, as some imagine, from the use of that word before among the Jews, which cannot be proved. Nor is it likely that our Saviour made use of a Greek word barbarously corrupted; ^D^l1 was the word he employed to this purpose. But looking on it [as] a, proper name of the Spirit with respect unto his office, he would not translate it.
As this word is applied unto Christ, — which it is in that one place of 1 John ii. 1, — it respects his intercession, and gives us light into the nature of it. That it is his intercession which the apostle in- tends is evident from its relation unto his being " our propitiation;" for the oblation of Christ on the earth is the foundation of his interces- sion in heaven. And he doth therein undertake our patronage, as our advocate, to plead our cause, and in an especial manner to keep off evil from us: for although the intercession of Christ in general respects the procurement of all grace and mercy for us, every thing whereby we may be "saved to the uttermost/' Heb. vii. 25, 26, yet his intercession for us as an advocate respects sin only, and the evil con- sequents of it; for so is he in this place said to be our advocate, and in this place alone is he said to be so only with respect unto sin: "If any man sin, we have an advocate." Wherefore, his being so doth in particular respect that part of his intercession wherein he under- takes our defence and protection when accused of sin : for Satan is o -/.arriyopos, the accuser, Rev. xii. 10 ; and when he accuseth be- lievers for sin, Christ is their nrapan'kriTos, their patron and advocate. For, according unto the duty of a patron or advocate in criminal causes, partly he showeth wherein the accusation is false, and aggra- vated above the truth, or proceeds upon mistakes ; partly, that the crimes charged have not that malice in them that is pretended; and principally he pleadeth his propitiation for them, that so far as they are really guilty they may be graciously discharged.
[As] for this name, as applied unto the Holy Spirit, some translate it a Comforter, some an Advocate, and some retain the Greek word
CHAP. I.] HIS OFFICE AS A COMFORTER. 361
Paraclete. It may be best interpreted from the nature of the work assigned unto him under that name. Some would confine the whole work intended under this name unto his teaching, which he is prin- cipally promised for ; for " the matter and manner of his teaching, what he teacheth, and the way how he doth it, is," they say, " the ground of all consolation unto the church." And there may be some- thing in this interpretation of the word, taking " teaching" in a large sense, for all internal, divine, spiritual operations. So are we said to be " taught of God " when faith is wrought in us, and we are en- abled to come unto Christ thereby. And all our consolations are from such internal divine operations. But take " teaching" properly, and we shall see that it is but one distinct act of the work of the Holy Ghost, as here promised, among many. But, —
2. The work of a comforter is principally ascribed unto him; for, — (1.) That he is principally under this name intended as a com- forter is evident from the whole context and the occasion of the promise. It was with respect unto the troubles and sorrows of his disciples, with their relief therein, that he is promised under this name by our Saviour. " I will not," saith he, " leave you orphans," John xiv. 18; — "Though I go away from you, yet I will not leave you in a desolate and disconsolate condition." How shall that be prevented in his absence, who was the life and spring of all their comforts? Saith he, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you aXXov '7rapdx\rirov!" verse 16; that is, "another to be your comforter." So he renews again his promise of sending him under this name, because "sorrow had filled their heart" upon the apprehension of his departure, chap. xvi. 6, 7. Wherefore, he is principally consi- dered as a comforter: and, as we shall see farther afterward, this is his principal work, most suited unto his nature, as he is the Spirit of peace, love, and joy; for he who is the eternal, essential love of the Divine Being, as existing in the distinct persons of the Trinity, is most meet to communicate a sense of divine love, with delight and joy, unto the souls of believers. Hereby he sets up the " kingdom of God" in them, which is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Rom. xiv. 1 7. And in nothing doth he so evidence his presence in the hearts and spirits of any as by the disposal of them unto spiritual love and joy; for, "shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts," as chap. v. 5, he produceth a principle and frame of divine love in our souls, and fills us with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." The attribution, therefore, of this name unto him, The Comforter, evidenceth that he performs this work in the way of an office.