Now, as ministering thus to the Lord Jesus, from the first moment of his existence to the period of his restoration from the grave, the Holy Ghost is pecu- liarly entitled to the name given him in my text, " The Spirit of Christ."
But this name further pertains to him on account of his subserviency to Christ in the economy of redemp- tion. Christ, as Mediator, was sent by the Father, and acted in all things as a servant to his Father1, doing nothing, and speaking nothing, but in accord- ance with the Father's will, and in obedience to the Father's commands. He himself says, " I have not spoken of myself ; but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak8." And precisely thus did the Lord Jesus Christ send the Holy Ghost to effect his will. It was by the Holy Ghost that Christ spake in the ministry of Noah to the antediluvian world1, and instructed all his people in the wilderness11. It was by the Holy Ghost that he moved the prophets in succeeding ages to declare future events x, and espe- cially to predict " his sufferings, and the glory that should follow." And in reference to this very thing, St. Peter calls the Holy Ghost, " The Spirit of Christ7" On all these occasions, Christ acted by the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit, who, according to the plan fixed in the Divine counsels, was deputed to fulfil the will of Christ. This was made manifest by our blessed Lord whilst he was yet on earth : for on many different occasions, he promised to his Disciples to " send them the Holy Ghost2." He told them also that the Father would send them the Holy Ghost in his name*: yea, in an authoritative manner, " he breathed on them, and said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost b:" and on the day of Pentecost, he, according to his promise, sent forth the Holy Ghost on all his Disciples, as it is said : " Being by the right hand of
r Isai. xlii. 1. and liii. 11. s John xii. 49.
' 1 Pet. iii. 18—20. u Neh. ix. 20. x 2 Pet. i. 21.
y l Pet. i. 11. z John xvi. 7. a John xiv. 26.
b John xx. 22.