and accounted him as 66

a deceiver of the people." Now, on this subject, the Spirit, when he descended, was to teach three great lessons: He was to convict the world of sin, because they believed not on Christ, -by demonstrating, that he whom they rejected as a deceiver, was indeed what he professed to be, and by giving such a proof of his divine mission as should involve them in aggravated guilt, should they continue to resist, or deny, or question his claims. He was to convict the world concerning righteousness, by which I understand the righteousness of Christ, declaring him to be a righteous person, whom the Jews had condemned as a malefactor, and not only righteous in his own private character, but in his official relation as the Redeemer of his people," the very end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." And he was to convict the world of judgment,-of judgment in general, as evinced by the whole work of redemption, but more particularly of the judgment that had been executed on Satan, the head of the great apostasy, when he who was the "seed of the woman bruised the serpent's head," and when he who ascended up on high "led captivity captive," and "spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross."

These three lessons or doctrines have reference to one and the same great subject-which is Christ himself; and they are all taught by one and the same Spirit, and evinced by the same kind of proof. The proof in each instance is furnished by the Spirit,-and

by his mere descent, as well as by the revelations which he made. The mere fact of the Spirit's advent after our Lord's ascension, was, in the circumstances, sufficient of itself, and apart from any new communication of truth, to prove against the world each of the doctrines or lessons to which I have already referred. It was sufficient to convict the world of the sin of unbelief, since it proved that Christ, whom they rejected, was the Anointed of God; to convict the world of his perfect righteousness, since it proved that Christ, whom they condemned, was accepted as righteous with God; and to convict the world of judgment, since it proved that Christ, whom they had unjustly doomed to die, had been constituted Judge of all, and had executed judgment on the prince of the world himself. So that the mere fact of the Spirit's descent after Christ's ascension, when viewed in connection with his prediction and promise, was of itself a demonstrative proof of his character and office as the Lord's Anointed, and as such, sufficient to convict, if it did not convince, -to condemn, if it did not convert, those who believed not in his name.

It may appear, at first sight, to be somewhat difficult to connect the proof with the doctrine, or to see the bearing of the one on the other, as they are here stated; but a little reflection will serve to convince you that in reality no demonstration could be more cogent or more conclusive, than what is afforded by the gift of the Spirit in favour of the mediatorial character and offices of the Lord Jesus Christ: For, let us only realize the fact as it is set forth in the New Testa

ment; let us bear in mind, that before leaving his disciples, the Lord Jesus had intimated to them, that after his ascension to glory, and as a fruit and effect of his exaltation, he would send down upon them the Holy Spirit, and they should be endued with power from on high and recollecting this prediction or promise, let us place ourselves in their situation, and endeavour to conceive what must have been their convictions and feelings when that promise was fulfilled : -oh! when they heard the sound of the mighty rushing wind, and when they saw the cloven tongues, like as of fire, resting on every forehead; and when they felt themselves inwardly moved by a new power; and when they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,-who can doubt that, in that solemn hour, it would be the first recollection of every disciple, that the Lord had spoken of this, and the innermost conviction of every mind, that Jesus was indeed exalted, that Jesus was indeed the righteous one,—that Jesus was indeed both Lord and Christ! And what must have been the effect of this manifestation on the minds of unbelievers themselves, we may conceive from the sacred narrative, where it is not only said, that "they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, are not all these which speak Galileans? and how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" but also, that when Peter explained to them the prophecy which predicted such an effusion of the Spirit, and connected it with the ascension and exaltation of that same Jesus whom they had crucified, they felt instinctively the force of those very

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considerations which our Lord states; they felt at once, that this miraculous manifestation of the Spirit was a sufficient proof that Christ was exalted, and if exalted, then righteous; and if he was righteous, then they were sinful in disbelieving and rejecting him, and accordingly "they were pricked in their hearts, and exclaimed, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Christ's exaltation, of which the gift of the Spirit was the predicted proof, is sufficient, when it is duly realized, to carry home the conviction "of sin, and righteousness, and judgment;" for it was just a vivid view of Christ in his exaltation that disarmed Saul the persecutor, and changed him into a zealous preacher of the Cross. These examples may suffice to show that the gift of the Spirit is fitted to convict the world by the proof which it affords of Christ's exaltation and of his mediatorial power; to convict the world of “ their sin, because they believe not on him; of his righteousness, because he has gone to the Father ; and of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."

In reference, again, to God's people, or the Church which he has gathered out of the world, the gift of the Spirit was designed for their instruction, and edification, and comfort. Christ said to his disciples, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit

of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." "He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."

The apostles were to be qualified by the gifts of

the Spirit for exercising the office with which the Lord had invested them,-for preaching the Gospel among all nations, and for putting on record, for the instruction of the Church in all ages, the precious truths of God. They received the gift of tongues on the day of Pentecost, which enabled them to address every man in the language in which he was born; and Christ's promise bore, that along with the gift of tongues, they should obtain such assistance as was needful for recalling the truth to their recollection, and completing the scheme of revelation. The New Testament consists partly of a narrative, and the Spirit was promised in these terms,-" He shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you;" it is partly doctrinal, and the Spirit was promised in these terms,-" He shall teach you all things, he shall guide you into all truth;" it is partly prophetical, and the Spirit was promised in these terms,—" And he will show you things to come." The apostles completed the Gospel, and thus fulfilled the Lord's intimation" I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

But not the apostles only-all the private members of the Church, and all believers, without exception, were interested in the gift of the Spirit. They were not all inspired, nor were they all endued with miraculous gifts; but they were all partakers of his renewing and sanctifying grace. And to this inward and spiritual work on the soul, our Lord refers as one of