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

AND this he doth three ways. (1) By suggesting unto, and furnishing the Witnesses of Christ ⟨p. 14⟩with Pleas and Arguments to the Conviction of Gainsayers. So it is promised that should do, Mat. 10. 18, 19, 20. And ye shall be brought before Governors and Kings for my sake, for a Testimony against 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 same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. They were to be given up, that is, delivered up as Malefactors unto Kings and Rulers for their Faith in Christ, and the Testimony they gave unto Him. In this Condition the best of Men are apt to be solicitous about their Answers, and the Plea they are to make in the Defence of themselves and their Cause. Our Saviour therefore gives them Encouragement not only from the Truth and Goodness of their Cause, but also from the Ability they should have in pleading for it unto the Conviction or Confusion of their Adversaries. And this he tells them should come to pass not by any Power or Faculty in themselves, but by the Aid and Supply they should receive from this Advocate, who in them would speak by them. This was that Mouth and Wisdom which he promised unto them, which all their Adversaries should not be able to gainsay or resist, Luke 21. 15. A present Supply of Courage, Boldness and Liberty of Speech above and beyond their Natural Temper and Abilities, immediately upon their receiving of the Holy Ghost. And their very Enemies saw the Effects of it unto their Astonishment. Upon the Plea they made before the Council at Jerusalem, it is said, That when they saw the Boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were ignorant and unlearned Men, they marvelled, Acts 4. 13. ⟨p. 15⟩They saw their outward Condition, that they were poor and of the meanest of the People, yet carried it with Courage and Boldness before this great Sanhedrin, with whose Authority and unusual Appearance in Grandeur, all Persons of that sort were wont to be abashed and tremble at them. They found them ignorant and unlearned in that Skill and Learning which the World admired, yet plead their Cause unto their Confusion.