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SERMON XXI.
THE PARACLETE
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” – John xiv. 16, 17.
The Bible is a most wonderful book. It came to us from heaven, and is stamped with the Spirit and the character of heaven. It assails our favorite maxims and customs, and declares that he who will be the friend of this world is the enemy of God. It will consent to no compromise with sin. It will not in the least accommodate itself to the carnal inclinations of the human heart. What is written is written, and not one jot or tittle can be altered till heaven and earth shall pass away. It is the sword of God, by which he conquers the nations – the instrument of his grace, by which he renovates the world. Like the ark in the land of the Philistines, which was mightier than all their lords, and Dagon their god, it is more than a match for the cunning and prowess of the Prince of Darkness and his hosts. He who disobeys it kindles a volcano; he who obeys opens to himself a fountain of living waters. And the secret of all its wonderful qualities and achievements is found in its Divine inspiration, and the power of the Holy Ghost which accompanies its truths. It is “the sword of the Spirit,” and the Spirit that brought it into the world continues in the world to wield it, and render it quick and powerful.
These remarks introduce to our consideration the mission and office of the Holy Ghost, of which our Saviour speaks in the language of the text. And,
I. We remark, that the Holy Ghost is evidently not a Divine attribute merely, but a Divine person.
His personality is proved by the terms applied to him in the text – the “Comforter,” and “the Spirit of Truth;” and by many other passages where he is spoken of in similar language – language wholly incompatible with the idea of his being a mere attribute, and not a person.
The doctrine of his Divinity is sustained by so many texts that their mere quotation would be an irrefutable argument in its favor. David says – “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue; the God of Israel said,” &c. Here the Holy Ghost is called “the Spirit of the Lord,” and “the God of Israel.” When Ananias “lied to the Holy Ghost,” it is said he “lied to God.” The ordinance of Baptism is ordered to be administered “in the name of the Holy Ghost,” as well as “the name of the Father and the Son;” and his “fellowship” is equally invoked with the love of the former, and the grace of the latter, in the apostolical benediction. Besides, every attribute that belongs to the Deity belongs to him. He is omnipresent, omniscient, and eternal. He is the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of grace, and the Spirit of life. His works also are the works of God. He creates and quickens, which is the prerogative of God alone. He renovates the soul. He raised the body of Jesus, and will raise the bodies of all men in the last day. Finally: Blasphemy against the Son may be forgiven; but “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, neither in this world nor in that which is to come.” If, then, the Father is God, and if the Son is God, so also is the Holy Spirit.
II. The Holy Ghost is the messenger and representative of Jesus Christ in the Church.
Two promises, like heavenly merchant-vessels, brought salvation to our world. The first was given in Eden, and fulfilled on Calvary. The Son of God descended from heaven, suffered in our stead the curse of the law, spoiled the powers of death and hell, and returned to his Father, leaving another promise, shortly to be fulfilled upon his people. With what supernatural power and unction the Holy Spirit manifested himself on the day of Pentecost! Divine Comforter! what treasure bringest thou in thy vessel of grace? “The things of Christ; and I will unload them to-day in the region of Calvary. I have come to fulfil the promise, to endow the disciples with power from on high, and finish the work which the Son of God has begun.” See those tongues of flame sitting upon the fishermen of Galilee; while strangers from many different countries hear from them, each in his own language, “the wonderful works of God.” Only think of three thousand conversions in a day – under a single sermon. Three thousand hearts were wounded by the arrows of Divine love, through the strongest breastplate ever made in hell. This was the work of the Holy Spirit, taking of the things of Christ and showing them to the disciples. It was Christ himself, manifesting himself through his agent. The first promise brought the Messiah into the world in the flesh; the second, in the Spirit – the first, to be crucified; the second, to crucify the sins of his people – the first, to empty himself; the second, to fill the believer with heavenly gifts and graces – the first, to sanctify himself as a sin-offering upon the altar; the second, to give repentance and pardon as a Prince and a Saviour.
The Holy Spirit is still on earth, prosecuting his gracious work, and communicating his heavenly gifts. He strives with sinners, and quickens believers into spiritual life. He dwells in the saints, leads them into all truth, and bears witness with their spirits that they are the Children of God. He illuminates their understanding, subdues their will, purifies their thoughts, and plants within them all holy principles and affections. And this he does, not by an audible voice from heaven, but through the instrumentality of the word, and by secret impressions upon the soul. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” The operations of the Holy Ghost are seen only in their effects. It is a drop of water becoming a fountain “that springeth up unto everlasting life.” It is a spark of fire, kindling a conflagration, which all the rivers of Belial cannot quench.
III. The Holy Ghost is the Paraclete; that is, the Counselor and Consoler. In our text, he is called the “Comforter.” “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,” – according to the original, one to plead your cause. The word is the same as that used to designate the Roman ambassadors, who were sent to other countries, as representatives of the Roman power, to persuade enemies to submit, or offer terms of peace.
A certain author observes, that the office of the Comforter is to reconcile enemies, and invigorate friends – to console the dejected, strengthen the enfeebled, and support the people of God in all the conflicts and trials of life. It is by his grace that the believer’s youth is renewed as the eagle’s, and all his languishing virtues are revived, so that he can “run and not weary – walk and not faint.”
Another part of his office in the Church is intercession. As he pleads with sinners on behalf of Christ in the gospel, so he pleads for believers in the court of heaven; not personally, like our blessed Lord, but by inspiring the spirit of supplication in their hearts. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
When other nations had offended the Romans, it was common for them, fearing the revenge of that mighty empire, to send messengers to Rome, to plead their cause, and treat for peace. “The Spirit of Truth,” having brought sinners to repentance by pleading with them for Christ in the gospel, pours down upon them the spirit of grace and supplication, so that they cry out for mercy, and this is virtually the Spirit of God crying out within them. What is the meaning of all that prayer and agony in the congregation? The Spirit of God is there. His hammer has broken the rock – his fire has melted the iron. No other power could conquer those proud rebellious hearts, and turn the blasphemer into a man of prayer. Listen! “If thou shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who could stand?” Hark again! “But thou art a God ready to pardon; there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” It is the voice of the Spirit, pleading in the awakened soul. See that publican in the temple, smiting upon his breast, and saying, – “God be merciful to me a sinner!” The Holy Ghost has both convinced him of sin, and inspired him to pray for mercy. No other agency can thus quicken the “dead in trespasses and sins,” and turn the hearts of the children of men to the Lord. The gospel, in the hand of the Holy Spirit, “is the power of God unto salvation.” The Holy Spirit can convince the world – can rend the veil from the mind, and dissolve the ice around the heart. He applies the truth to the conscience, and makes the guilty read their own sentence of condemnation by the light of the fires of Sinai; and then he shows them the atoning blood, and prompts them to pray for pardon. He first convinces them that they are sinking in “the horrible pit of miry clay;” and then lets down to them the rope of the promise, bids them take hold by faith, draws them out, and sets their feet upon a rock, and puts into their mouth the new song of salvation – “O Lord, I will praise thee; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me!”
O that the “Spirit of grace and supplication” may ever rest upon us! May we plead for ourselves with God, as Jacob, when he wrestled for the blessing; or Bartimeus, when he besought the Saviour to restore his sight! May we plead for sinners, as Abraham for Sodom, as Moses for Israel, as Daniel for the captives, as the Centurion for his servant, and as the woman of Canaan for her daughter!
IV. The Holy Ghost is called “another comforter;” which suggests a difference between his office in the church, and that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ, by his personal ministry on earth, was the Comforter of his little flock; and by his death upon the cross, the procurer of all the comforts of them that believe; and when he ascended, “another comforter” came down to take his place in the church, and communicate the blessings which he bought with his blood. “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” who hath “entered into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us;” while his agent and representative on earth dwells with his followers, leads them into all truth, and carries on within them the process of sanctification. Both are comforters – both are advocates – Christ above, and the Holy Spirit below – Christ by his personal presence before the Father, and the Holy Spirit by his gracious influence in the believer’s heart.
Christ is making intercession on our behalf without us, and independently of us. But the Holy Spirit is making intercession through us – pleading in our prayers “with groanings that cannot be uttered.” He never acts without us. True repentance and faith are his gifts, but they are also our exercises. He draws us to Christ, but we must yield to his attractions. He inspires us to pray, but the act of prayer is our own. He “worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure,” but he does not will and do for us. He gives us the life and the power, but he requires us to use them. He leads us into all truth, but not unless we follow him. He sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, but not unless we open our hearts to receive the communication. He destroys the old man within us, and creates the new; but not unless we cordially resign ourselves to his influence, and earnestly co-operate with his grace.
Christ in heaven pleads for the reconciliation of sinners to God. The Holy Spirit on earth awakens sinners, convinces them of sin, draws them to the throne of grace, and breathes into them intense prayers for pardon. He renews them, and purifies them, and makes them temples of his grace, and heirs of glory. He opens the blind eyes, and unstops the deaf ears, and makes the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing. All the true conversions ever effected on earth are the results of his gracious power.
Christ has bound up all the covenants, and carried them with him into heaven, and laid them down before the throne, having obtained eternal redemption for us; and the Holy Spirit has taken of the things of God, and brought them down to men. Christ received gifts for us, and the Holy Spirit confers them upon us. Christ receives from the Father; the Spirit receives from Christ; and we receive from the Spirit. Christ bought the church with his own blood, and the spirit prepares and presents her to him as his bride. Christ opened a way into the Holy of Holies, and the Spirit aids us to offer our sacrifices before the mercy-seat. Christ is the appointed medium of our intercourse with God, and the Spirit helps us to avail ourselves of that unspeakable privilege. Christ in heaven is the life of our redemption, and the Spirit upon earth is the life of the gospel and the ordinances. “I will draw all men unto myself” – is the motto of Christ; “I will draw all men unto Christ” – is the motto of the Spirit.
V. The Holy Ghost has taken up his permanent residence among the people of God. “That he may abide with you for ever – for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.”
His miraculous gifts were temporary; being no longer necessary, when the truth was established in the conviction of mankind. But his renovating and sanctifying grace is as much needed now as ever, and therefore has never been taken from the world. The primitive Christians, and Christians of the present day, in this respect, share the same privilege. It is a “common salvation;” and the streams will never cease to flow, while there remain “vessels of mercy” to be filled.
The church in every age has suffered great loss in the death of her most able and efficient ministers. The strongest pillars in the house have fallen; the tallest trees in the forest have been cut down. “The fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?” Where are the apostles and evangelists? What has become of the great reformers of every age? They have gone the way whence they shall not return. They have ascended in their chariots of fire. Though safe in heaven, they are lost to earth. But the Holy Spirit is a “Comforter” that shall “abide with you for ever.” The hands have all departed, one after another, and new crews have been shipped from age to age; but the Captain is still alive; and has remained on board, ever since he first took the register and the compass, on the day of Pentecost; and will never leave the ship, till he brings her in from her last voyage, and lays her up for ever!
Brethren in the ministry! this is our consolation. The Spirit that blessed the labors of David Jones, Daniel Rowlands, and Howell Harris, still “dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” O let us seek his aid in our holy work, and pray for his outpouring upon our congregations!
Delegates of the different churches! be of good courage! You may not have seen as many additions lately as in former times; but the Holy Spirit has not yet departed from the faithful. You have heard of wonderful revivals in America, as well as in some parts of Wales. The “Comforter” is yet at work. The illuminator of souls is yet at hand. The office is yet open. The blessing is yet offered. O, let us all pray for the Holy Spirit! let us look for his coming! let us wait for his salvation!
SERMON XXII.
THE FATHER AND SON GLORIFIED
“Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore, said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” – John xvi. 13–15.
The wonderful Providence which brought the Children of Israel out of the house of bondage was a chain of many links, not one of which could be omitted without destroying the beauty, and defeating the end of the Divine economy. The family of Jacob come to Egypt in the time of famine – they multiply – they are oppressed – their cries reach to heaven – God manifests himself in the burning bush – Moses is sent to Egypt – miracles are wrought by his hand – Pharaoh’s heart is hardened – the first-born are slain – the passover is eaten – the people depart, led by the pillar of God – the sea is divided – and with many signs and wonders, the thousands of Israel are conducted through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Had one of these links been wanting, the chain of deliverance had been defective.
So, in the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ, all the conditions and preparatives were essential to the completeness and glory of the scheme. The Son of God must consent to undertake our cause, and become our substitute – the promise must be given to Adam, and frequently repeated to the patriarchs – bloody sacrifices must be instituted to typify the vicarious sufferings of Messiah – a long line of prophets must foretell his advent, and the glory of his kingdom – he must be born in Bethlehem, crucified on Calvary, and buried in Joseph’s new tomb – must rise from the dead, ascend to the right hand of the Father, and send down the Holy Spirit to guide and sanctify his church. Without all these circumstances, the economy of redemption would have been incomplete and inefficient.
The last link in the chain is the mission and work of the Holy Spirit. This is quite as important as any of the rest. Our Saviour’s heart seems to have been much set upon it during all his ministry, and especially during the last few days before his crucifixion. He spoke of it frequently to his disciples, and told them that he would not leave them comfortless, but would send them “another Comforter,” who should abide with them for ever; and that his own departure was necessary, to prepare the way for the coming of the heavenly Paraclete. In our text, he describes the office of the Holy Spirit, and the specific relation which he sustains to the work of salvation: – “Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
These words teach us two important truths —first, That the Son is equal with the Father; and secondly, That the Father and the Son are alike glorified in the economy of salvation.
I. The Son claims equality with the Father. “All things that the Father hath are mine.”
This sentence is very comprehensive and sublime – an unquestionable affirmation of Messiah’s “eternal power and Godhead.” The same doctrine is taught us in many other recorded sayings of Christ, and sustained by all the prophets and apostles; and when I consider this declaration in connection with the general strain of the inspired writers on the subject, I seem to hear the Saviour himself addressing the world in the following manner: —
“All things that the Father hath are mine. His names are mine. I am Jehovah – the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father – the Lord of Hosts – the Living God – the True God, and Eternal Life.
“His works are mine. All things were made by me, and I uphold all things by the word of my power. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work; for as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. I am the author of universal being, and my hand moves all the machinery of providence.
“His honors are mine. I have an indisputable right to the homage of all created intelligences. I inhabit the praises of eternity. Before the foundation of the world, I was the object of angelic adoration; and when I became incarnate as a Saviour, the Father published his decree in heaven, saying: – ‘Let all the angels of God worship him!’ It is his will, also, that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father – in the same manner, and the same degree. He that honoreth the Son, honoreth the Father; and he that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father: for I and my Father are one – one in honor – possessing joint interest and authority.
“His attributes are mine. Though as man and mediator I am inferior to the Father; yet my nature is no more inferior to his, than the nature of the Prince of Wales is inferior to the nature of the King of England. You see me clothed in humanity; but in my original state, I thought it not robbery to be equal with God. I was in the beginning with God, and possessed the same eternity of being. Like him, I am almighty, omniscient, and immutable; infinite in holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. All these attributes, with every other possible perfection, belong to me in the same sense as they belong to the Father. They are absolute and independent, underived and unoriginated – the essential qualities of my nature.
“His riches of grace are mine. I am the mediator of the new covenant – the channel of my Father’s mercies to mankind. I have the keys of the house of David, and the seal of the kingdom of heaven. I have come from the bosom of the Father, freighted with the precious treasures of his good will to men. I have sailed over the sea of tribulation and death, to bring you the wealth of the other world. I am the Father’s messenger, publishing peace on earth – a peace which I have purchased with my own blood upon the cross. It hath pleased the Father that in me all fulness should dwell – all fulness of wisdom and grace – whatever is necessary for the justification, sanctification, and redemption of them that believe. My Father and I are one in the work of salvation, as in the work of creation. We have the same will, and the same intention of mercy toward the children of the great captivity.
“The objects of his love are mine. He hath given them to me in an everlasting covenant. He hath given me the heathen for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession. They were mine by the original right of creation; but now they are doubly mine by the superadded claim of redemption. My Father, before the world was, gave me a charter of all the souls I would redeem. I have fulfilled the condition. I have poured out my soul unto death, and sealed the covenant with the blood of my cross. Therefore all believers are mine. I have bought them with a price. I have redeemed them from the bondage of sin and death. Their names are engraven on my hands and my feet. They are written with the soldier’s spear upon my heart. And of all that the Father hath given me, I will lose nothing. I will draw them all to myself; I will raise them up at the last day; and they shall be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory – the glory which I had with the Father before the foundation of the world.”
II. The Father and the Son are equally glorified in the economy of redemption, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Son glorifies the Father. I hear him praying in the garden: – “Father, I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” I hear him again, amid the supernatural gloom of Calvary, with a voice that rings through the dominions of death and hell, crying – “It is finished!”
What mighty achievement hast thou finished to-day, blessed Jesus? and how have thy unknown agony and shameful death glorified the Father?
“I have glorified the Father, by raising up those precious things which fell in Eden, and were lost in the abyss.
“I have raised up my Father’s law. I found it cast down to the earth, and trampled into the dust. I have magnified and made it honorable. I have vindicated its authority in the sight of men and angels. I have satisfied its demands on behalf of my redeemed, and become the end of the law for righteousness to all who will receive me as their surety.
“I have raised up my Father’s name. I have declared it to my brethren. I have manifested it to the men whom he has given me. I have given a new revelation of his character to the world. I have shown him to sinners, as a just God and a Saviour. I have restored his worship in purity and spirituality upon earth. I have opened a new and living way to his throne of grace. I have written the record of his mercy with my own blood upon the rocks of Calvary.
“I have raised up my Father’s image. I have imprinted it afresh upon human nature, from which it was effaced by sin. I have displayed its excellence in my own character. I have passed through the pollutions of the world, and the territory of death, without tarnishing its lustre, or injuring its symmetry. Though my visage is marred with grief, and my back plowed with scourges, and my hands and feet nailed to the accursed cross, not one trace of my Father’s image has been obliterated from my human soul. It is as perfect and as spotless now as when I lay in the manger. I will carry it unstained with me into heaven. I will give a full description of it in my gospel upon earth. I will change my people into the same image from glory to glory. I will also renovate and transform their vile bodies, and fashion them like unto my own glorious body. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; and because I live, they shall live also – the counterpart of my own immaculate humanity – mirrors to reflect my Father’s glory for ever.”
2. The Father glorifies the Son. He prayed in the garden: – “And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Was the petition granted? Answer, ye Roman sentinels, who watched his sepulchre! Answer, ye men of Galilee, who gazed upon his chariot, as he ascended from the Mount of Olives!
The glorification of the Son by the Father implies all the honors of his mediatorial office – all the crowns which he won by his victory over the powers of death and hell. The Father raised him from the dead, and received him up into glory, as a testimony of his acceptance as the sinner’s surety – an expression of perfect satisfaction with his vicarious sacrifice upon the cross. It was the just reward of his work; it was the fruit of his gracious travail. He is “crowned with glory and honor for the sufferings of death.” “Because he hath poured out his soul unto death,” therefore “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name that is above every name.”
What an honor would it be to a man, to receive eight or ten of the highest offices in a kingdom! Infinitely greater is the glory of Emmanuel. His name includes all the offices and titles of the kingdom of heaven. The Father hath made him “both Lord and Christ” – that is, given him the supreme prerogatives of government and salvation. “Him hath God exalted to be a prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.” He is “head over all things in the church” – Prime Minister of the kingdom of heaven – Lord Treasurer, dispensing the bounties of Divine grace to mankind – Lord High-Chancellor of the realm, and Keeper of the Great Seal of the living God; holding in his hand the charter of our redemption, and certifying the authenticity of the Divine covenant – Lord Chief Justice of heaven and earth, having all power and authority to administer the laws of Providence throughout the universe – the Chief Prince – the General of the army – the Captain of the Lord’s host – the Champion who conquered Satan, Sin, and Death; bruising the head of the first, destroying the power of the second, and swallowing up the third in victory. He hath the keys of hell and of death. He shutteth, and no man openeth; he openeth, and no man shutteth. He bears all the honors of his Father’s house; and concentrates in himself all the glories of Supreme Divinity, redeemed humanity, and “mediator between God and man.”
3. The Holy Spirit glorifies Father and Son together. He is procured for the world by the blood of the Son, and sent into the world by the authority of the Father; so that both are alike represented in his mission, and equally glorified in his office. The gracious things which the Father gave into the hands of the Son when he descended from heaven, the Son gave into the hands of the Spirit when he returned to heaven. “All things that the Father hath are mine; and he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
This is the object of the Spirit’s advent, the communication of the things of Christ to men. What are the things of Christ? His merit, his mercy, his image, his gospel, his promises, all the gifts of his grace, all the treasures of his love, and all the immunities of eternal redemption. These the Father hath given to the Son, as the great Trustee of the church; and the Son hath given them to the Spirit, as the appointed agent of their communication.
A ship was laden in India, arrived safe in London, unloaded her precious cargo, and the goods were soon distributed all over the country, and offered for sale in a thousand stores. The Son of God brought immense riches of Divine grace from heaven to earth, which are all left to the disposal of the Holy Spirit, and freely proffered to the perishing wherever the gospel is preached.
The Holy Spirit came not to construct a new engine of mercy, but to propel that already constructed by Christ. Its first revolution rent the rocks of Calvary, and shook the rocky hearts of men. Its second revolution demolished the throne of death, burst his prison-doors, and liberated many of his captives. Its third revolution carried its builder up into the heaven of heavens, and brought down the Holy Spirit to move its machinery for ever. Its next revolution, under the impulse of this new Agent, was like “the rushing of a mighty wind” among the assembled disciples at Jerusalem, kindled a fire upon the head of every Christian, inspired them to speak all the languages of the babbling earth, and killed and quickened three thousand souls of the hearers.
