constituted by God the Saviour of others. This was, to all appearance, so absurd an idea that it never could have gained any credit in the world, if it had not been confirmed by the most unquestionable testimony. To overcome these obstacles, the Holy Spirit testified of two things, namely, the righteous- ness of his person, and the sufficiency of his salvation. While the Apostles testified of these things to the ears of men, the Spirit confirmed their word with visible signs11, and sealed it on men's hearts by his invisible, but effectual, influence0. This he did, not only on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand were converted at once, but on many other occasions. It is worthy of remark, that when he visibly descended on the Gen- tiles in confirmation of the word that was delivered by Peter, he descended at the very instant that the Apostle began to speak of the fulness and excellency of Christ's salvation1'; as though he designed to intimate, that this was the great truth which he came to attest, and which we ought to receive with our whole hearts.]
2. To be a Comforter to us —
[When a soul begins to feel its guilty and undone state, it needs a comforter : but there is no creature in heaven or earth that can administer effectual consolation ; none but the Holy Spirit is sufficient for so great a work : if he reveal Christ to the soul, all tears will instantly be wiped away ; but if he withhold his influence, sorrow and despondency will over- whelm it utterly. Thus also in all subsequent trials and temptations, it is the Holy Ghost alone that can heal the wounded spirit, or bind up the broken and contrite heart. And it must farther be noticed, that the principal, if not the only, way, in which he administers consolation to us, is by testifying of Christ ; it is by shewing to us his beauty, his sufficiency, his truth and faithfulness, and by enabling us to rest entirely on him : and as there can be no comfort till this be done, so there can be nothing but joy and exultation arising from it.]
This subject naturally leads us to reflect,
1. How great and glorious a person Christ is !
[It has been already shewn that the Holy Spirit is God equal with the Father: yet has Christ authority to send him into our hearts. If Christ say, Go, my Spirit, and quicken that dead sinner; go and dwell in that polluted heart; go and comfort that drooping and desponding soul ; in short, what- ever commission Jesus gives to the ever-blessed Spirit, it is executed instantly, and to its utmost extent. No unworthiness
n Heb. ii. 4. " 1 Thess. i. 5. p Acts x. 43, 44.