THE PARACLETE - Christmas Evans
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,
p. 268I. 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 p. 269the 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 p. 270were 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, p. 271in 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 p. 272us—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 p. 273the 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!
Christmas Evans