Christ in heaven pleads for the reconciliation of sinners to God. The Holy Spirit on earth awakens sinners, convinces them of sin, draws them to the throne of grace, and breathes into them intense prayers for pardon. He renews them, and purifies them, and makes them temples of his grace, and heirs of glory. He opens the blind eyes, and unstops the deaf ears, and makes the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing. All the true conversions ever effected on earth are the results of his gracious power.
Christ has bound up all the covenants, and carried them with him into heaven, and laid them down before the throne, having obtained eternal redemption for us; and the Holy Spirit has taken of the things of God, and brought them down to men. Christ received gifts for us, and the Holy Spirit confers them upon us. Christ receives from the Father; the Spirit receives from Christ; and we receive from the Spirit. Christ bought the church with his own blood, and the spirit prepares and presents her to him as his bride. Christ opened a way into the Holy of Holies, and the Spirit aids us to offer our sacrifices before the mercy-seat. Christ is the appointed medium of our intercourse with God, and the Spirit helps us to avail ourselves of that unspeakable privilege. Christ in heaven is the life of our redemption, and the Spirit upon earth is the life of the gospel and the ordinances. “I will draw all men unto myself”—is the motto of Christ; “I will draw all men unto Christ”—is the motto of the Spirit.
V. The Holy Ghost has taken up his permanent residence among the people of God. “That he may abide with you for ever—for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.”
His miraculous gifts were temporary; being no longer necessary, when the truth was established in the conviction of mankind. But his renovating and sanctifying grace is as much needed now as ever, and therefore has never been taken from the world. The primitive Christians, and Christians of the present day, in this respect, share the same privilege. It is a “common salvation;” and the streams will never cease to flow, while there remain “vessels of mercy” to be filled.
The church in every age has suffered great loss in the death of her most able and efficient ministers. The strongest pillars in the house have fallen; the tallest trees in the forest have been cut down. “The fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?” Where are the apostles and evangelists? What has become of the great reformers of every age? They have gone the way whence they shall not return. They have ascended in their chariots of fire. Though safe in heaven, they are lost to earth. But the Holy Spirit is a “Comforter” that shall “abide with you for ever.” The hands have all departed, one after another, and new crews have been shipped from age to age; but the Captain is still alive; and has remained on board, ever since he first took the register and the compass, on the day of Pentecost; and will never leave the ship, till he brings her in from her last voyage, and lays her up for ever!