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SERMON XI.

ON THE GIFT OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT.

John xiv. 16, 17.

AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, WHICH SHALL ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER; EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE.

SUCH

dis

is the charming, animating language of our blessed Lord to his poor consolate disciples, before he left them. They had for saken all to follow him; perhaps not from the purest motives; for it is plain that their notions run very high on worldly matters, and from thence were induced at first, to become followers of Christ. It even appears that they had indulged those wild chimeras in their last journey to Jerusalem, when a contention arose among

them who should be the greatest. (a) And that may appear the more strange, because our Lord had all along warned them against any thing of the kind, and frequently intimated to them, that his disciples must not expect either riches, or honour in this life; for that he, their master, did not come to reign in this world, but to die for sinners; and that he was now going to Jerusalem to be mocked, scourged, spit upon and that finally he should be crucified. These were heavy tidings on various accounts. All their towering expectations were blasted, and we may suppose, that the holy life and miracles of our blessed Lord, had attached his person to them; so that they found much natural affection to him.

THEREFORE the thoughts of his leaving them sat exceeding heavy upon them, and filled their minds with sorrow. Hence it is that our Lord, forgetting as it were the awful sufferings, which were just at hand, gives them the most comfortable discourse that was ever delivered, contained in the chapter from whence the text is taken, and the two which follow it. Let not your heart be troubled, says the friend of sinners, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to

(a) Mark ii. 4.

prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. If a thousand volumes were written to comfort these mournful disciples, they would not equal these three inimitable verses. And what does he require of them? only to love him, and give the proof of it.

IF ye love me, keep my commandments; and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter which shall abide with you for ever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive. He tells them in plain terms who the other comforter is, namely, the ever blessed Spirit, the divine paraclete, which they waited for at Jerusalem, called emphatically in the text, the Spirit of Truth, the true comforter, which shall abide with the church for ever.

BUT it may be here said, Was not the Spirit given long before this time? Were not the patriarchs and prophets inspired by the Holy Spirit? They were undoubtedly so; but in a much more limited sense; the Spirit was now poured out in a more extraordinary manner, and extensive measure, than ever it was before, and for nobler purposes. Even the promises to the Old. Testament Church run much in a temporal strain, consisting of corn, wine and oil. But now the blessings were of a superior nature, even the power of God to an endless life.

MOREOVER, under the law, the promises are much confined to the Israelitish nation; but now it was to all that were afar off, even to every nation, so that the words of Joel were fulfilled, wherein God says, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and therefore called his servants to go into all the world and preach his gospel to every

creature.

I MUST now call your attention to the text, and to the doctrine which this day

commemorates.

FIRST, I shall enquire how the Holy Spirit acts the part of a comforter.

SECONDLY, Why the world will not receive this Comforter ?

THIRDLY, Consider why we should receive the heavenly guest.

FIRST, I am to enquire why the Divine Spirit may be stiled, the Comforter. I shall here illustrate this important character by a few plain similies.

1. SUPPOSE we were born blind, and were necessitated to take a difficult journey? How discouraging would such situation be? In such a case who would act the part of a comforter? Surely any one that could give us sight. That is exactly to the point in hand. We are dark and blind, as to the things which belong to our peace; but the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, discovers our own darkness, and the emptiness of the world, the devices of satan, and the

mercy of God in Christ Jesus; or, as the Apostle nervously expresses it, God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, and hath given us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (a) Also, our blessed Lord said, When he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he shall guide you into all truth.

SUCH a guide we certainly need, or we shall miss our way. But as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God; and being thus led shall go by a right way to a city of habitation. This was emblemised by the cloud which conducted the Israelites through the wilderness; it was not only a guide, but a cooling cloud by day, to screen them from the vehement heat, and gave them cheering light by night.

2. BUT supposing we had light, yet if we had no strength, we could not accomplish our journey. In such a case who would act the part of a comforter? doubtless, he that could restore strength to our relaxed limbs, and vigor to our exhausted spirits, by which we might be enabled to pursue our way with cheerfulness and alacrity. Such is our case; we have no might or power of our own. Man is often called a worm, a flower, even grass; and his life

(a) 2 Cor. iv. 6.

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