1. As a Comforter, as we render the Word, S. Joh. xiv. 16, 26. in the Text, and in Chap. xvi. 7. 2. To testify of Him, nav paglugńou wèi i 3. To teach them all Things, S. Joh. xiv. 26. 4. To bring all Things to their Remembrance, S. Joh. xiv. 26. 5. To guide them into all Truth, S. Joh.xvi.13. 6. To convince the World of its Infidelity, S. Joh. xvi. 8. V. DOCTRINE. This Promife was punctually fulfill'd by the Holy Spirit's coming, as had been foretold, Aut. ii. 1, &c. This Spirit is to continue with us, as long as the World shall laft, S. Matt.xxviii. 20. S. Job. xiv. 16. 1. Illuminating our Minds with spiritual Truths, 1 Cor. ii. 12. Ephef. i. 17, 18. 2. Sanctifying our Natures, 1 Cor. vi. 11. Tit. iii. 5. 3. Exciting to, and conducting us in the Ways of Holiness, Rom. viii. 14. Gal. v. 25. 4. Comforting and fupporting us under Difficulties and Temptations, Act. ix. 31. Rom. XV. 13. 5. Affifting us in our Devotions, and teaching us how to pray acceptably to GOD, Rom. viii. 15, 26, 27. Gal. iv. 6. 6. Marking us out as the Children of GOD here, and Heirs of eternal Glory hereafter, Rom. viii. 16. Ephes. i. 13. and iv. USES. 30. 1. See here the Faithfulness of our Saviour's Promise, Hebr. x. 23. Act. ii. 1, &c. 2. Let us take Care not to offend this blessed Spirit thus given us, to fuch excellent Purposes, Ephef. iv. 30. 3. Pray for the Spirit, S. Luk. xi. 13. 1. The Neceffity of having it, inasmuch 1. You can know Nothing of GOD, 2. Nor believe in Chrift, S. Joh. vi. 44. 4. Nor enjoy any true Comfort here, 5. Nor get to Heaven hereafter, it be- iv. 30. 2. The Poffibility of obtaining it, Rem, v. 5. Of Sin, because they believe not in Mes OUR Bleffed Saviour having promis'd His Disciples, that upon His Departure, He would fend the Holy Ghoft, the Third Perfon of the Blessed Trinity, to be with them in His Abfence; ver. 8. He informs them, that when He is come, He will reprove the World, of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment. He will reprove, or rather, as it is in the Margin of your Bibles, ixiye, He will convince, will argue them out of their former Opinions, will confirm His Doctrine with fuch undeniable Proof, that they shall not be able to gain-fay Him; inéyxa oè, redarguo te, Suid. The World, that is, the Men of it, I S. Joh. ii. 2. 1. Of Sin, (as it is in the Text) in not believing Him to be the Meffiah, S. Joh. xv. 22. nor hoping to be faved by Him, 1 S. Joh. v. 13. Alt. iv. 12. 2. Of Righteousness, ver. 10. that is, that He was a juft and righteous Perfon, and no Impoftor or Deceiver, as His Enemies endeavoured to reprefent Him, inafmuch as had He been what they would have had Him, He could not have afcended into Heaven, and taken His Place there, as He was about fhortly to do. Of Righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye fee me no more. 3. Of Judgment, because the Prince of this World is judged, as much as to fay, that Satan, the Prince of this World, is now to be difpoffefs'd of his Dominion; and all that belong to his Kingdom, preferring his Service, before that of his lawful Prince and Judge, fhall be condemned too, ver. 11. It is the first of thefe, I have chofen to speak to, Of Sin, because they believe not in me. DOCTRINE. It is a great Sin not to believe in Christ, S. Joh. iii. 18, 19. and xiv. 1. Hoc enim peccatum, quafi folum fit, pra cateris pofuit; S. August. I. What it is to believe in general: Faith is the Affent of the Mind to any Truth, upon the Testimony of another. Quid eft enim Fides, nifi credere quod non vides? S. Auguft. in Evang. Joan. Tract. 40. There is a fourfold Affent we give to Things. 1. We affent to fome Things, from the Evidence of Senfe, S. Matt. xxvii. 42. S. Joh. x. 25, and xx. 8, 24, 25, 27, 28. 2. To others from the Evidence of the Things themselves, without any Arguments to enforce our Belief, Act. xxvi. 26. 2 Tim. i. 5. 3. To others, from demonstrative Arguments; and this is more properly term'd Science or Knowledge, than Faith. Thus we are convinced, that the Whole is greater than a Part, that the three Angles of a Triangle are equal to two right ones; what Things are equal to a third, are equal alfo to one another, &c. 4. From the Credit and Authority of the Af ferter, S. Joh. i. 7. and xiv. 29. Rom. x. 17. S. Joh. V. 47. this is properly call'd Faith. But because there are two forts of Teftimonies, Humane and Divine, there is a twofold Faith. 1. A Humane Faith, whereby we affent to S. Luk. xxiv. 34. Exod. iv. 1. S. Joh. Liv. 41. ? 2. A Divine Faith, fuch as is founded upon II. What is that Faith we are bound to act on Christ? 1. Historical, S. Joh. xx. 31. 1. What is this hiftorical Faith? It is a Habit of the Mind, whereby we assent to whatsoever is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, concerning the Birth, Life, Miracles, Death, Resurrection, Afcenfion, &c. of Christ, S. Luk. i. 3, 4. 2. What Ground have we to believe those Things to be true, which were done fo long ago? Because, 1. They were Eye-witneffes that relate them, S. Luk. i. 2. 2 S. Pet. i. 16, 1 S. Joh. i. 1, 3. 2. Their Writings declare them to be honeft and faithful in all their Dealings, and who therefore would not go about to deceive, 2 Cor. ii. 17. 2 S. Pet. i. 16. 3. Their own Writings discover their Fi- go 4. They. |