O that the “Spirit of grace and supplication” may ever rest upon us! May we plead for ourselves with God, as Jacob, when he wrestled for the blessing; or Bartimeus, when he besought the Saviour to restore his sight! May we plead for sinners, as Abraham for Sodom, as Moses for Israel, as Daniel for the captives, as the Centurion for his servant, and as the woman of Canaan for her daughter!
IV. The Holy Ghost is called “another comforter;” which suggests a difference between his office in the church, and that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ, by his personal ministry on earth, was the Comforter of his little flock; and by his death upon the cross, the procurer of all the comforts of them that believe; and when he ascended, “another comforter” came down to take his place in the church, and communicate the blessings which he bought with his blood. “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” who hath “entered into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us;” while his agent and representative on earth dwells with his followers, leads them into all truth, and carries on within them the process of sanctification. Both are comforters—both are advocates—Christ above, and the Holy Spirit below—Christ by his personal presence before the Father, and the Holy Spirit by his gracious influence in the believer’s heart.
Christ is making intercession on our behalf without us, and independently of us. But the Holy Spirit is making intercession through us—pleading in our prayers “with groanings that cannot be uttered.” He never acts without us. True repentance and faith are his gifts, but they are also our exercises. He draws us to Christ, but we must yield to his attractions. He inspires us to pray, but the act of prayer is our own. He “worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure,” but he does not will and do for us. He gives us the life and the power, but he requires us to use them. He leads us into all truth, but not unless we follow him. He sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, but not unless we open our hearts to receive the communication. He destroys the old man within us, and creates the new; but not unless we cordially resign ourselves to his influence, and earnestly co-operate with his grace.