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¡CHAPTER VI.

OUR GRACIOUS COMFORTER.

BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS ΤΟ YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU."-JOHN xiv. 26.

"THERE are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." Such is the ever-blessed, and glorious Trinity in Unity. Already we have spoken of the amazing interest which is felt by our Heavenly Father for the Eden family; we have also seen how greatly we are indebted to our Kinsman Redeemer, for the restoration of our forfeited privileges; and it now becomes our duty to give equal honour to the gracious Comforter, without whose regenerating influences and preserving grace, we can never return from our desert wanderings to our Father's house. The Father, the Redeemer, and the Comforter, are alike interested in our rescue from perdition and our return to Paradise. By our merciful Father, the plan of our deliverance was devised; by our Elder Brother the price of our edemption was paid; and by our blessed Comforter we

are brought into the enjoyment of the great salvation of the Gospel of the grace of God. In speaking of the gracious Comforter, observe we,

1. His glorious person.

"But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me,” John xv. 26.

It is of the highest importance to every member of the Eden family to entertain Scriptural views of the third person in the ever-blessed and glorious Trinity. And although it would not comport with our design to give an elaborate proof of his personality and divinity, yet we feel it our duty to affirm that the sacred oracles uniformly assert the proper personality and essential divinity of the Holy Spirit. The very same arguments which prove the divinity of the Father and the Son, are adduced in evidence of the Godhead of the Spirit. It has been questioned whether the Holy Ghost is a distinct person in the Godhead, or only an attribute or influence; and as this subject is one of grave importance, we shall simply endorse the sentiments of one of the greatest Trinitarian writers of the present day, and favour our readers with a brief quotation in the author's own words. On the personality of the Holy Spirit, he observes,

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"The actions and modes of operating ascribed to the Holy Spirit are set forth with great frequency and variety in the sacred writings; and they are such as clearly characterize an intelligent agent. He is represented as speaking- He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak;' Then the Spirit said unto Peter, Behold three men seek thee.' 'The Spirit said to Philip.' 'Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.' 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come.' The Spirit is said to be pleased It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to

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us;' to be vexed-' They rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit; to be grieved-And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.' He is set forth as 'knowing,' 'willing,' 'moving,' striving,' 'helping,' 'interceding,' 'leading,' 'guiding,' 'comforting,' etc. If language can express personality, if actions and states of being can indicate a conscious intelligent agent, we have it undoubtedly presented here in almost every variety of form. And the attempt to resolve such varied representations into mere figures of speech is equally unworthy the scholar and the Christian. "We have searched the whole volume of the sacred records," says the Rev. W. Cooke, "and can confidently assert, what is of the highest importance to our argument, that in every instance where the word HOLY SPIRIT,' or 'HOLY GHOST,' or 'Spirit of God,' or SPIRIT OF CHRIST,' is found, a real personal meaning is intended."

And while the inspired penmen have thus clearly established the doctrine of the distinct personality of the Holy Spirit, they have been careful to furnish the most overwhelming testimonies to his proper and essential Deity. The Holy Spirit is distinguished by the appellations or names of God. He is called " God," "Lord," "Jehovah," and the "God of Israel." The attributes of God are ascribed to Him. He is spoken of as the "Eternal Spirit;" He is Omniscient, searching all things, yea, the deep things of God. He is Omnipotent, possessing and exerting illimitable power, which belongs to God only, such as power to create, and create anew, on which account he is designated, “ power from on high." He is Omipresent, in other words, everywhere present: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, or flee from thy presence ?" He also possesses all the moral attributes of God. He is holy, the Holy Spirit. He is true, the "Spirit of truth." He is benevolent, the "good Spirit.”

Also, the works of God are ascribed to Him; He is

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represented as a principal agent in the works of creation: "The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters ;" thus by his Omnipotent energy He arranged the chaotic elements, and brought out the beautiful harmony and order of the universe from the wild confusion of matter in its original form, as presented after the fiat of the Almighty Trinity had brought it out of nothing into being. And He not only rendered the beautiful earth instinct with life, by his creative energy, but He arranged the glorious order of the sideral heavens, and participated in the work of making rational beings also; as it is written, "By his Spirit He hath garnished the heavens;" and, again, of the origin of man, it is said, "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

In Providence, also, He performs a most important part, as appears from the inspired records, where the preservation of sentient creatures and the renovation and reproduction of inanimate nature is ascribed to his presence and vivifying power: "Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they die; and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy SPIRIT, they are created, and thou renewest the face of the earth.'

He participated largely in the work of redemption. The human nature of Christ is ascribed to his miraculous agency; and of Him it is said, He was "filled with the Holy Ghost." And again, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because He hath anointed me." From the Scriptures it appears that the man Christ Jesus was constantly inspired, and sustained in his redeeming work and mediatorial sufferings, by the unceasing fellowship and sympathy, and power of the Holy Ghost. Herein it is shown "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed, for God was with him." And when his enemies put Him to death, He was raised from the dead by the Holy Ghost, being

put to death in the flesh but quickened in the Spirit. And in the dispensation of grace, as we shall have occasion to show more at large, his agency is so prominent and pre-eminent that the whole economy is designated the dispensation of the Spirit. And as the names, the attributes, perfections, works, and prerogatives of God are ascribed in the Scriptures to our gracious Comforter, they not only establish the glorious doctrine of his distinct personality, but prove to a demonstration his equality and unity with the Father and the Son, unto whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

2. His wondrous advent.

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the place where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

Now, we are not to suppose that all our fathers who lived previous to this pentecostal effusion of the Holy Spirit were utterly destitute of his Divine influences, but rather to understand that the Apostles were now baptized with a much larger measure of the Spirit of God than had ever been vouchsafed to the Prophets. For it is quite evident that David was under the influence of the Spirit when he called Jesus Lord; that the Spirit of God was upon the house of Israel; and that holy men of old wrote and spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Doubtless, the Holy Spirit convinced men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, as well before as after the coming of Christ. Human hearts then, as now, were regenerated by his sanctifying power; and Old Testament saints were sustained and comforted in the way to heaven by his cheering influences. Their deeds of daring were performed, their unparalleled sufferings were endured, and their wondrous works were all achieved under his immediate influence, as it is written,