spired terms
which have been needlessly confounded by not a few writers, viz.: the
words "_Paraclete_," and "_Parousia_." The latter word, which
constantly occurs in Scripture as describing our Lord's second coming,
has been applied in several learned works to the advent of the Holy
Spirit; and since Christ came in the person of the Spirit, it has been
argued that the Redeemer's promised advent in glory has already taken
place. But this is to confuse terms whose use in Scripture marks them
as clearly distinct. Observe their difference: In the Paraclete,
Christ comes spiritually and invisibly; in the Parousia, he comes
bodily and gloriously. The advent of the Paraclete is really
conditioned on the Saviour's personal departure from his people: "If I
go not away the Paraclete will not come to you" (John 16: 7). {50} The
Parousia, on the other hand, is only realized in his personal return to
his people: "For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are
not even ye in the _presence_ of our Lord Jesus Christ _at his
coming_?" (1 Thess. 2: 19.) The Paraclete attends the church in the
days of her humiliation; the Parousia introduces the church into the
day of her glory. In the Paraclete, Christ came to dwell with the
church on earth: "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you"
(John 14: 18). In the Parousia, Christ comes to take the church to
dwell with himself in glory: "I will come again and receive you unto
myself; that where I am there ye may be also" (John 14: 3). Christ
prayed on behalf of his bereaved church for the coming of this
Paraclete: "And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another
Paraclete." The Holy Spirit now prays with the pilgrim-church for the
hastening of the Parousia. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come"
(Rev. 22: 17). These two can only be understood in their mutual
relations. Christ, who gave the new name to the Holy Spirit, can best
interpret that name to us by making us acquainted with himself. May
that name be for us so real a symbol of personal presence that while
strangers and pilgrims in the earth we may walk evermore "in the
_paraclesis_ of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 9:31).

[1] The word _parakletor_ is used in the Septuagint (Job 16:2) with the
meaning of "_Comforter_," and the term _parakletos_ occurs in the
Talmud, signifying "_Interpreter_."

[2] The most obvious reason for concluding that the Holy Spirit is a
person is that he performs actions and s