[The sin of rejecting Christ was that which the Spirit was more particularly to reveal to the world ; and he discovered it fully by his miraculous operations on the Disciples a, and wrought an irresistible conviction of it by his gracious in- fluences on the hearts of thousands.]
This office too he yet executes in the Christian Church —
[The external testimony which he gave, remains the same in all ages : the internal witness is given to those only whom " God has ordained to life." To them the Spirit shews the number, the greatness, the malignity of their sins ; and parti- cularly, the guilt, and danger of that unbelief, in which they have ignorantly lain. This is the Spirit's work; nor is it wrought in any, but by his almighty powerb.]
If he proceeded no farther, he would not be a Comforter ; but it is his office also,
II. To convince the world " of righteousness " —
This also was accomplished by him on his first descent from heaven —
[Christ, though professing himself the Saviour of the world, had been crucified as a malefactor. The Spirit there- fore was to evince, both that Christ was a righteous person, and that through his righteousness others also might be saved. Accordingly, by his descent, the Spirit proved these things beyond a doubt. He shewed that Christ was accepted of the Father (which he would not have been, if he had been an impostor), and had finished all that was necessary for our sal- vation ; seeing that, if any thing had remained to have been done on earth, he must have returned hither in order to complete itc. He moreover inclined, and enabled multitudes to believe on him for righteousness, whom they had just before reprobated as worthy of universal execration.]
And yet daily is he occupied in glorifying Christ among us —
[Whomsoever the Spirit convinces thoroughly of sin, he leads also to discoveries of Christ. He shews to the soul
a Christ had rested, as it were, the whole credit of his Messiahship on this one point : consequently, the visible descent of the Spirit, ac- companied with the miraculous gift of tongues, was such an attesta- tion to Christ, as could not be doubted, and such a reproof to his murderers as could not be withstood.
b Zcch. iv. (>. 2 Cor. v. 5. 1 Cor. xii. 1 1.
'' See the text.