third and last general Head, which is, to enquire into the feveral Acts, or Instances, or Expreffions of this Advocate ship of the Holy Ghost, (by which he began to adminifter this Office for the Church, and by which he continues ftill to do it, and will do fo to the End of the World) and to fhew which of them were peculiar to the Times of the Apostles, and which of them are common to all the Times and Ages of Chriftianity.

III. It is very eafy to gather from what hath been faid, that the Holy Ghost was a Patron or Advocate for the Chriftian Caufe in the Times of the Apoftles, in a way quite different from that in fucceeding Ages; for the Reason is obvious: The World was then to be convinced of Sin, Righteoufnefs, and Judgment: Now the World is convinced of all these in the manner I have before defcribed. The Gofpel was then to be effectually preached and propagated among Unbelievers, and idolatrous Nations: Now the Gospel is preached, and Churches are planted. Chriftianity was then to meet with a World of Oppofition: Now it is entertained as the publick Religion of many Kingdoms and Nations. There was then all Sorts of divine Evidence to be given for the Truth and Credibility of it, in order for the Converfion of the World to it: But now we enjoying the Benefits of those miraculous

Mat. 10.

18.

V. 19.

Evidences, and having (befides) other abundant Proofs of the Truth of Christianity, (which they in that Age had not) there is no need that thofe Miracles fhould be continued or repeated.

This Difference of the Times and States of Things, makes the Administration of the Holy Ghoft's Office in thofe Times to be different alfo from what it is in thefe. Tho' yet he is ftill as much the Advocate for Chrift, and the Church, as he was at firft: And doth and will abide with it for ever, as our Saviour promised in my Text.

1. Well as to those Instances of the Holy Ghost's Advocateship, which were peculiar to the Apostles and their Times, the Scripture mentions these four following.

First of all, the Holy Ghoft fhewed himfelf an Advocate for the Chriftians, in that he fpoke in them and for them to Kings and Governors, before whom they were convened for the Cause of Chrift: Bestowing upon them likewife an extraordinary Boldnefs and Presence of Mind in preaching the Gofpel. This Affiftance of the Holy Spirit we find our Saviour promised to his Difciples when he gave them their firft Commiffion to preach: Ye shall be brought, fays he to them, before Governors and Kings for my Name's fake, for a Teftimony to them, and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how, or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that fame Hour

what

what ye fball Speak. For it is not ye that v. 20. Speak, but the Spirit of your Father which Speaketh in you. And this Promise we find was abundantly made good in St. Peter and St. Stephen, and others of the firft Martyrs. Now tho' I doubt not but God will fufficiently affift all pious Perfons in thefe Days, when they are called out to bear Teftimony to the Caufe of Chrift; yet, I much doubt, whether in any Cafe they are to expect the fame Inspiration that is here promised the Apoftles; fo that Words fhall be put into their Mouths when they preach, or when they pray, or when they make any other Difcourfe, without ufing the common Means of Meditation, and the like.

Secondly, Another Inftance of the Holy Ghoft's Advocatefhip for the Apoftles, was the bringing all Things to their Remembrance whatever Chrift had faid to them; fo that no Paffage of our Saviour's Difcourfes to them, was forgot by them, but was ready at hand in their Memories when there was occafion for it. This our Saviour himself inftanceth in as one of the Things that the Advocate when he came fhould do for them: As we have it in the 26th Verfe of this Chapter, These things, faith he, have IJohn 14. Spoken unto you, being yet prefent with But the Advocate, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will fend in my Name, he shall bring all Things to your Remembrance, whatfoever I have faid unto you. Now it is plain,

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be

25, 26.

beyond all Contradiction, that this must be spoken to the Apostles only, who heard what he had faid, and could not poffibly relate to any that came after them.

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Thirdly, The Holy Ghoft did not only bring all Things to their Remembrance, but furnished them with a Power of judging unerringly as to Matters of Faith. So that they should not only remember the Doctrine of our Saviour, but rightly understand it; and be able, without any Miftake, to propose it to others. (And certainly this was a Privilege which no particular Man, and no particular Church, fince the Apostle's Time, could with any Reafon pretend to.) Every Chriftian Truth that was neceffary or expedient to be known in the Church, the Apoftles were made acquainted with, and could certainly and infallibly diftinguish it from what was Error: This is another Effect which is attributed to the Advocate when he should come; thus in the forementioned Verfe, when the Advocate shall come, he shall teach you all Things: And again, in the 16th Chapter of this Gospel, V.13. when the Spirit of Truth is come, he fall guide you into all Truth.

Now by virtue of thofe three beforenamed Powers which were conferred by the Advocate upon the Apostles, they were not only furnished compleatly for the Preaching of the Gospel, but also for the putting it into Writing, (that it might be faithfully

and

and entirely tranfmitted to all fucceeding Times,) or, at leaft, taking Care that others fhould do it for them. And accordingly to

these Effects of the Holy Spirit's Advocatefhip, to this extraordinary Affistance that went along with the Apoftles, we owe all the Books of the New Teftament. Which now are, and muft for ever be, the Rule and Standard of our Faith.

Fourthly and Laftly, The Holy Ghoft appeared as an Advocate for the Christian Caufe, in furnishing the Apostles, and other first Converts to Chriftianity, with fuch extraordinary miraculous Powers, as could not fail to procure Credit to their Doctrine and Preaching; and fpeedily to bring off the World from Judaism and Heathenifm to the Belief of Jefus Chrift, notwithstanding all the Oppofition that was made thereto by the Powers of the World, and Kingdom of Darkness. We all know what a Divine Power our Saviour was acted with, and what aftonishing Works he wrought among the Jews for the proving himself to be fent from God; yet, fays he, Verily, verily, 1 John 14. Jay unto you, He that believeth on me the Works that I do, he fhall do alfo; and greater Works than thefe fhall be do, because I go to my Father. And this Promife of his he made good to a Tittle after his Afcenfion into Heaven, not only to the Apostles, but to all thofe Believers on whom they laid their Hands, as we have abundant Evidence E 2

from

12.