Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

NEITHER, (2) Is the signification of an Advocate to be omitted, seeing what he doth as such tendeth also to the Consolation of the Church. And we must first observe, that the Holy Spirit is not our Advocate with God. This belongs alone unto Jesus Christ, and is a part of his Office. He is said indeed to make Intercession with Groans that cannot be uttered, Rom. 8. 26. But this he doth not immediately, nor in his own Person. He no otherwise maketh Intercession for us, but by enabling us to make Intercession according unto the Mind of God. For to make Intercession formally, is utterly inconsistent with the Divine Nature, and his Person, who hath no other Nature but that which is Divine. He is therefore incapable of being our Advocate with God: The Lord Christ is so alone, and that on the Account of his precedent Propitiation made for us. But he is an Advocate for the Church, in, with, and against the World. Such an Advocate is one that undertaketh the Protection and Defence of another, as to any Cause wherein he is engaged. The Cause wherein the Disciples of Christ are engaged in and against the World, is the Truth of the Gospel, the Power and Kingdom of their Lord and Master. This they testify unto; this is opposed by the World, and this under various Forms, Appearances and Pretences, is that which they suffer Reproaches and Persecutions for in every Generation. In this Cause the Holy Spirit is their Advocate, justifying Jesus Christ and the Gospel against the World.

NEITHER, (2) Is the signification of an Advocate to be omitted, seeing what he doth as such tendeth also to the Consolation of the Church. And we must first observe, that the Holy Spirit is not our Advocate with God. This belongs alone unto Jesus Christ, and is a part of his Office. He is said indeed to make Intercession with Groans that cannot be uttered, Rom. 8. 26. But this he doth not immediately, nor in his own Person. He no otherwise maketh Intercession for us, but by enabling us to make Intercession according unto the Mind of God. For to make Intercession formally, is utterly inconsistent with the Divine Nature, and his Person, who hath no other Natare but that which is Divine. He is therefore incapable of being our Advocate with God: The Lord Christ is so alone, and that on the Account of his precedent Propitiation made for us. But he is an Advocate for the Church, in, with, and against the World. Such an Advocate is one that undertaketh the Protection and Defence of another, as to any Cause wherein he is engaged. The Cause wherein the Disciples of Christ are engaged in and against the World, is the Truth of the Gospel, the Power and Kingdom of their Lord and Master. This they testify unto; this is opposed by the World, and this under various Forms, Appearances and Pretences, is that which they suffer Reproaches and Persecutions for in every Generation. In this Cause the Holy Spirit is their Advocate, justifying Jesus Christ and the Gospel against the World.