3. The sufficiency of his grace —
[Conflicts innumerable both with sin and Satan will still remain, even such conflicts as may bring the believer some- times to the borders of despair. But then the Spirit again proceeds in his work of glorifying Christ : he shews the soul, that there is, by the Father's own appointment, an inex- haustible fulness of grace treasured up in Christ11, out of which his people shall receive all the grace that they shall stand in need of e : and that, whatever their conflicts or temptations may be, his grace shall be sufficient for themf. How precious does Christ then become, when the believer, after crying, " O wretched man that 1 am! who shall deliver me?" is enabled to add, " I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lordg:" " In the Lord have I righteousness and strength'"!"]
4. The extent of his love —
[Of this no finite being can form any adequate idea ; much less can the language of mortality express it. But in some degree it is the privilege of " all saints to have" it "re- vealed to them by the Spirit." The times and seasons, as well as the manner and degree, of making this revelation to the soul, are altogether ordered by that Spirit " who divideth to every man severally as he will." Generally it is in some sea- son of trial or affliction, and by means either of some remark- able providence, or of the written word, that he thus glorifies Christ : but, O ! when he does take of the love of Christ, and discover unto men " its length and breadth and depth and height1, what joy and transport does he impart! truly it is " a joy that is unspeakable and glorified ;" a very heaven upon earth. Such manifestations of the Saviour's glory cannot be made to the world, because the world has no dispositions suited to them : but to the believer they are made ; and they produce in him a determination of heart to consecrate himself wholly and for ever to the Lord.]
5. The greatness of his salvation —
[Salvation, when first embraced, is regarded almost exclu- sively as a deliverance from everlasting punishment. But when the Spirit of God brings it more fully to our view, how amazing does it appear : and how glorious does that Saviour appear who has obtained it for us ! The renovation of the soul after the Divine image, and the investing of it with all the glory and felicity of heaven, a glory inconceivable, a felicity everlasting ; truly salvation, in this view of it, overwhelms the soul with wonder, and prepares it to do and suffer whatever can be done or suffered, for the ultimate enjoyment of it.]
a Col. ii. 9. e John i. 10. f 2 Cor. xii. 9.
e Rom. vii. 24,2"). '' ls;ii. xlv. 21, 25. ' Eph. iii. 17, 18.
1703. 3 TIIF- spirit's OFFICE TO GLORIFY CHRIST. 99
Such being the office of the Spirit, let us consider, II. Our duty arising from it —
We have an office similar in some respects to that which is sustained by the Spirit himself : we are all in our place and station to glorify Christ, and to take of the things that are his, and shew them unto men.
This is our duty,
1. As Ministers —
[Our Lord particularly marks this connexion between the office of the Holy Spirit, and that which his Disciples were to execute in the world k. They were sent forth, as all other ministers are, to testify of Christ, and to exalt him in the eyes of men. At this day, no less than in the apostolic age, is this the duty of those who are his ambassadors to a guilty world : we are to speak of Christ, to set forth the fulness and excellency of his salvation, and to commend him to the love of all around us. Counting all things but dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ ourselves, we should labour day and night to impart it unto others. How earnest the Apostles were in this blessed work, may be seen from their first ad- dresses to the unbelieving Jews1: and we in like manner should " contend earnestly for the faith," and determine to know nothing among our people but Jesus Christ and him crucified. The treasure of divine knowledge is put into us, as earthen vessels, for this purpose ; and " God has shined into our hearts for this very end, that we may give unto all around us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"1." What a glorious office is this! O that every minister bore it fully in mind : and that all who profess to execute it, might execute it with their whole hearts, and " with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven !"]