And what is the result of all this ? What, but that in and by the whole of this work, the Holy Spirit performs the office of a Comforter? Under this
u Rom. vii. 18, 19. x Rom. vii. 21 — 24. y Rom. viii. 1, 5.
* 2 Pet. iii. 18. a Eph. iv. 7, 13. * 1 John ii. 12—14.
c Mark iv. 28. d Eph. iv. 24. e Ps. cxlix. 4.
f 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4. s Eph. iv. 23. h 2 Cor. iii. 2, 3.
j 2 Tim. iii. 17.
s2
character, " the world know him not, neither can re- ceive him: but believers do know him; for he dwelleth with them, and shall be in themk" throughout the whole of their earthly pilgrimage. Even at their first coming to Christ, the Holy Spirit, in some measure, dischargeth this office, speaking peace to their trou- bled consciences, and enabling them to rejoice in their unseen, but beloved Saviour1. This was emi- nently conspicuous on the day of Pentecost, when the whole multitude of believers, who had just before been filled with terror, " ate their bread with gladness and singleness of heart, blessing and praising Godm." But through the whole course of their future life, he carries on this work, revealing Christ more and more clearly to them, and applying the promises with sweet assurance to their souls. Hence the word so applied is said to " work by the power of the Spirit of God"," and to " come to men, not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assu- rance0;" and the Holy Ghost himself is called " the Holy Spirit of promise p," because in this way he makes use of the promises for their good. Thus he per- forms the office of a Comforter towards Christ's re- deemed people : he gives them near " access to God" in prayer q; and in their supplications "helps their infirmities r," and " makes intercession for them, and in them, according to the will of Gods." He is in them a Spirit of adoption, enabling them to go to God with confidence, crying, Abba, Father* ; and, " shedding abroad God's love in their hearts11," he " witnesses with their spirits, that they are children of GodV In this way, also, he establishes them in Christ y, and "seals them unto the day of redemp- tion2," and " is within them an earnest of their hea- venly inheritance8." "An earnest" is a part of a
k John xiv. 16,
17.
1 1 Pet. i. 8.
m Acts ii. 46.
n Rom. xv. 19.
0 1 Thess. i. 5.
p Eph. i. 13.
i Eph. ii. 18.
r Rom. viii. 26.
and Jnde, ver. 20.
s Rom. viii. 27.
1 Rom. viii. 15.
u Rom. v. 5.
x Rom. viii. 16.
y 2 Cor. i. 21.
z 2 Cor. i. 22. with Eph. i. 17. a Eph. i. 14.
1866.1 THE spirit's work in believers. 2G1
payment, and a pledge of the remainder ; and such is the Holy Spirit in the believer's soul, giving him already, in possession, a measure of the heavenly felicity, and assuring to him, in due season, the full and everlasting possession of it. In a season of affliction especially do the communications of his grace abound. We read of those who " received the word with much affliction, and joy of the Holy Ghost" ;" and " in proportion as any person's afflic- tions abound, the Holy Ghost will make his con- solations to abound" with still greater and more transcendent efficacy0.
It is worthy, however, of observation, that the comforts which he administers at an earlier, and at a more advanced period, are, for the most part, widely different ; the one being rather of a tumultuous na- ture, the other more serene ; the one more transient, the other more abiding ; the one elevating the spirits of a man on account of the good that has accrued to him ; the other humbling and abasing his soul, on account of his great unworthiness : the one is a fire recently kindled, in which there is a consi- derable mixture of flame and smoke ; the other like a fire that has become bright and solid, and burns with an unobtrusive, but mighty, efficacy. In con- firmation of what I have said, I need only add, that this is the very description which God himself has given us of his kingdom : that it " consists not in externals of any kind, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghostd."