[2.] He is the advocate for Christ, the church, and the gospel, in and by his communication of spiritual gifts, both extraordinary and
S64 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
ordinary, unto them that do believe; for these are things, at least in their effects, visible unto the world. Where men are not utterly blinded by prejudice, love of sin and of the world, they cannot but discern somewhat of a divine power in these supernatural gifts. Wherefore, they openly testify unto the divine approbation of the gospel, and the faith that is in Christ Jesus. So the apostle confirms the truths that he had preached by this argument, that therewith and thereby, or in the confirmation of it, the Spirit, as unto the com- munication of gifts, was received, Gal. iii. 2. ■ And herein is he the church's advocate, justifying their cause openly and visibly by this dispensation of his power towards them and in their behalf. But because we have treated separately and at large of the nature and use of these spiritual gifts, I shall not here insist on the considera- tion of them.1
[3.] By internal efficacy in the dispensation of the word. Herein also is he the advocate of the church against the world, as he is declared, John xvi. 8-11, " When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, 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 world is judged." That which is ascribed unto him with respect unto the world is expressed by the word sXsy^si, — " he will reprove" or convince. 'EAsy^w in the Scripture is used variously. Sometimes it is to manifest, or bring forth unto light : Eph. v. 1 3, Td ds wavra, h\zyyj)[LV)a. W roD <purbg, <pavepovrai' — "For all things that are reprov- ed," or discovered, " are made manifest by the light." And it hath the same sense, John iii. 20. Sometimes it is to rebuke and re- prove: 1 Tim. v. 20, Toiig a/j,aprdvovrag h&tem Kuvrwv 'iXiy^s' — "Them that sin rebuke before all." So also Rev. iii. 19; Tit. i. 13. Some- times it is so to convince as in that to stop the mouth of an adver- sary, that he shall have nothing to answer or reply: John viii. 9, 'iCwb rrti <fvviidy}tseu$ ektyyopmc — "Being convicted by their own con- science;" so as, not having a word to reply, they deserted their cause. So Tit. i. 9, Toiig avnX'syovrag sK'sy^s/v, — " To convince gainsayers," is explained, verse 11, by evriSTOfAifyiv, " to stop their mouth," namely, by the convincing evidence of truth. "EXsy-^og is an uncontrollable evidence, or an evident argument, Heb. xi. 1. Wherefore, eXsy^siv here is, "by undeniable argument and evidence, so to convince the world, or the adversaries of Christ and the gospel, as that they shall have nothing to reply." This is the work and duty of an advocate, who will absolutely vindicate his client when his cause will bear it.
And the effect hereof is twofold; for all persons, upon such an overpowering conviction, take one of these two ways: — 1st. They 1 See the following treatise in this volume. — Ed.
CHAP. I.] HIS OFFICE AS A COMFORTER. 365
yield unto the truth and embrace it, as finding no ground to stand upon in its refusal; or, Idly. They fly out into desperate rage and madness, as being obstinate in their hatred against the truth, and destitute of all reason to oppose it. An instance of the former way we have in those Jews unto whom Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. Reproving and convincing of them beyond all contra- diction, " they were pricked in their heart, and said, Men and bre- thren, what shall we do?" and therewithal came over unto the faith, Acts ii. 37, 41. Of the latter we have many instances in the dealing of our Saviour with that people ; for when he had at any time convinced them, and stopped their mouths as to the cause in hand, they called him Beelzebub, cried out that he had a devil, took tip stones to throw at him, and conspired his death with all demon- strations of desperate rage and madness, John viii. 48, 59, x. 20, 31, 39. So it was in the case of Stephen, and the testimony he gave unto Christ, Acts vii. 54-58; and with Paul, Acts xxii. 22, 23, — an instance of bestial rage not to be paralleled in any other case, but in this it has often fallen out in the world. And the same effects this work of the Holy Ghost, as the advocate of the church, ever had, and still hath upon the world. Many, being convicted by him in the dis- pensation of the word, are really humbled and converted unto the faith. So God " adds daily to the church such as shall be saved." But the generality of the world are enraged by the same work against Christ, the gospel, and those by whom it is dispensed. Whilst the word is preached in a formal manner, the world is well enough con- tented that it should have a quiet passage among them ; but where- ever the Holy Ghost puts forth a convincing efficacy in the dispen- sation of it, the world is enraged by it: which is no less an evidence of the power of their conviction than the other is of a better success.