(3dly.) He " convinceth the world of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." Christ himself was judged and condemned by the world. In that judgment Satan, the prince of this world, had the principal hand ; for it was effected in the hour and under the power of darkness. And no doubt but he hoped that he had carried his cause when he had prevailed to have the Lord Christ publicly judged and condemned. And this judgment the world sought by all means to justify and make good. But the whole of it is called over again by the Holy Ghost, pleading in the cause and for the faith of the church; and he doth it so effectually as that the judg-
SC8 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A COMFORTER. [BOOK VIII.
ment is turned on Satan himself. Judgment, with unavoidable conviction, passed on all that superstition, idolatry, and wickedness, which he had filled the world withal. And whereas he had borne himself, under various marks, shades, and pretences, to be "the god of this world," the supreme ruler over all, and accordingly was wor- shipped all the world over, he is now by the gospel laid open and manifested to be an accursed apostate, a murderer, and the great enemy of mankind.
Wherefore, taking the name Paracletus in this sense for an advo- cate, it is proper unto the Holy Ghost in some part of his work in and towards the church. And whensoever we are called to bear wit- ness unto Christ and the gospel, we abandon our strength and betray our cause if we do not use all means appointed of God unto that end to engage him in our assistance.
But it is as a comforter that he is chiefly promised unto us, and as such is he expressed unto the church by this name.
Fourthly, That he hath a peculiar work committed unto him, suitable unto this mission or commission and name, is that which will appear in the declaration of the particulars wherein it doth consist. For the present we only assert, in general, that his work it is to support, cherish, relieve, and comfort the church, in all trials and dis- tresses; and this is all that we intend when we say that it is his office so to do.
CHAPTER, II.
General adjuncts or properties of the office of a comforter, as exercised by the
Holy Spirit.
To evidence yet farther the nature of .this office and work, we may consider and inquire into the general adjuncts of it, as exercised by the Holy Spirit; and they are four: —
First, Infinite condescension. This is among those mysteries of the divine dispensation which we may admire but cannot compre- hend; and it is the property of faith alone to act and live upon in- comprehensible objects. What reason cannot comprehend it will neglect, as that which it hath no concernment in nor can have bene- fit by. Faith is most satisfied and cherished with what is infinite and inconceivable, as resting absolutely in divine revelation. Such is this condescension of the Holy Ghost. He is by nature " over all, God blessed for ever ; " and it is a condescension in the divine ex- cellency to concern itself in a particular manner in any creature whatever. God " humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth," Ps. cxiii. 5, 6 ; how much more doth he do
CHAP. II.] GENERAL PROPERTIES OF HIS OFFICE. 369
so in submitting himself unto the discharge of an office in the behalf of poor worms here below !
This, I confess, is most astonishing, and attended with the most incomprehensible rays of divine wisdom and goodness in the con- descension of the Son; for he carried the term of it unto the lowest and most abject condition that a rational, intelligent nature is cap- able of. So is it represented by the apostle, Phil. ii. 6-8 : for he not only took our nature into personal union with himself, but be- came in it, in his outward condition, as a servant, yea, as a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people ; and be- came subject to death, the ignominious, shameful death of the cross. Hence this dispensation of God was filled up with infinite wisdom, goodness, and grace. How this exinanition of the Son of God was compensated with the glory that did ensue, we shall rejoice in the contemplation of unto all eternity. And then shall the character of all divine excellencies be more gloriously conspicuous on this con- descension of the Son of God than ever they were on the works of the whole creation, when this goodly fabric of heaven and earth was brought, by divine power and wisdom, through darkness and confu- sion, out of nothing.
The condescension of the Holy Spirit unto his work and office is not, indeed, of the same kind, as to the " terminus ad quern/' or the object of it. He assumes not our nature, he exposeth not himself unto the injuries of an outward state and condition ; but yet it is such as is more to be the object of our faith in adoration than of our reason in disquisition. Consider the thing in itself: how one person in the holy Trinity, subsisting in the unity of the same divine nature, should undertake to execute the love and grace of the other persons, and in their names, — what do we understand of it? This holy eco- nomy, in the distinct and subordinate actings of the divine persons in these external works, is known only unto, is understood only by, themselves. Our wisdom it is to acquiesce in express divine revela- tion. Nor have they scarcely more dangerously erred by whom these things are denied, than those have done who, by a proud and con- ceited subtilty of mind, pretend unto a conception of them, which they express in words and terms, as they say, " precise and accurate;" indeed, foolish and curious, whether of other men's coining or their own finding out. Faith keeps the soul at a holy distance from these infinite depths of the divine wisdom, where it profits more by reve- rence and holy fear than any can do by their utmost attempt to draw nigh unto that inaccessible light wherein these glories of the divine nature do dwell.