The whole declaration, if viewed in this light only, is of infinite importance : but, without insisting on this doctrine, which only incidentally arises out of the text, we shall turn our attention to the doctrines more directly contained in it ; and shall shew you, I. The office of the Spirit —
The whole of our Saviour's life was a state of hu- miliation : the establishing of his proper character was committed to the third Person in the ever-blessed Trinity, who was in due time to come down from heaven for the express purpose of glorifying Christ. In what way he was to glorify Christ, is specified in the text ; he was to take, as it were, all the excel- lencies of Christ, and to display them before the eyes of all his people. Among these excellencies we will mention a few, which are deserving of more especial notice :
1. The virtue of his sacrifice —
m >} [Man, as soon as he begins to be truly " convinced of sin, is apt to doubt whether his iniquities be not too great to be forgiven But the Holy Spirit discovers to him from the word that the death of Christ was a propitiation, not for the sins of a few only, but for the sins of the whole world; that his blood has an efficacy to cleanse from all sin;" and that all who believe in him " shall be justified from all things," even from sins of a scarlet or crimson dye." How glorious does bhnst then appear in the sinner's eyes!]
2. The prevalence of his intercession — [After a person has believed in Christ, he still is renewed only m part; « the flesh still lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, so that he cannot do the things that he would." Hence he is sometimes led to fear that God will cast him off, and be no more entreated by him. Then the Holy Spirit shews him that Christ is " his Advocate with the .bather c, and that he " ever liveth in heaven on purpose to make intercession for him." He convinces him that Christ can never intercede in vain, for that " him the Father heareth always; and that consequently the backslider, as well as the newly-awakened sinner, shall be saved to the uttermost, if only he look to Christ as his all-prevailing Advocate and Mediator. 1 hus the Spirit still further endears the Saviour to the be- lieving soul.]
c 1 John ii. 1, 2. VOL. xiv. H