The Spirit's Work and the Humanity of Christ

A gift, so that if you hear the commandments, he says, and bring forth fruit, and your requests will be fulfilled. And requests are granted to you from God, those being offered through my name; for through me you have access to God by my name and with boldness (John 15:17). As they are about to hate you by all, he commands them to love one another.

He will convict the world as having been condemned under sin because of unbelief; for faith has loosed sin, but unbelief has bound it, and appearing among those believing, the Spirit was a condemnation of those unbelieving; for being deprived of the gift, they were convicted of the one present to those having believed, and this showed them to be vessels unfit for the Spirit (John 16:8). He also showed the righteousness in the believers, and this was not for the sake of anyone else, except for the ascent of Christ; for this kindled the men, that the flesh from us and a human appearance might ascend the heavenly throne and sit beside the Father. And this itself had the condemnation of the world, when, having been seized by man and having fallen under his feet, he trod upon the head of him. So it is rightly said that the presence of the Spirit in us has a demonstration of these three: the sin of the world, the righteousness of faith, and the condemnation of the devil.

the energy and teaching of the Spirit will be directed toward me, for even by me the Spirit moves (John 16:14). And that which is saying 'by me' is clear, and that which is 'from the Father'; for the Father's things are mine. Therefore, that which is from me shall be received, according to the same manner again heard, not as some knowledge being added to the Spirit in this present time; for that would be troubling and raise doubts, if the Spirit then receives the learning whenever it is about to bring it to men.

And it is terrible if someone should set it as being entirely taught; for it will no longer be believed, dwelling in men and bringing all wisdom into them, if it is not some natural wisdom, but he himself needs to be taught.

So, instead of saying that the Spirit moves entirely from himself, he said, 'he will receive from mine and will announce to you' (John 16:7). For voices are smaller toward a more known man, but the glory of the Spirit is greater toward that which is more at home with divinity.

And it is said that God hears the words of man, and it is clear that not only at a certain time does knowledge of God approach, but also before our words, he knew our prayers and the whole according to thought from the beginning from the creation; knowing also the movements of his own creatures that are changing, and yet it was said, 'hear, O Lord' and 'the Lord heard.' Even though it is fitting that God should receive nothing of this sort chronologically, nor should any change occur concerning God from human prayers, nor is there knowledge of the so-called later things to God, but the words are human, as I said, while they are understood divinely by the pious; and the unchangeable and unwavering glory of God shall not be shaken in your suspicions because of Him hearing men speaking.

So then, neither in the Spirit is hearing and receiving an addition of some knowledge, nor a change upon the unchangeable essence of the Spirit. Alluding to the ascension into the heavens to the others, to whom the said thing was not yet clear, they hesitate to ask. Therefore they observe for themselves and speak quietly. And it was not necessary to inquire by word, since he knew the seeking in their hearts even before the question (and Christ hears the thoughts in the heart before the words on the lips), and how they would ask them and how to propose the seeking to them; he answers by indicating to them and through this the divinity for the confirmation of faith: 'for you seek,' he says, concerning the word which soon declares my departure, and soon again there shall be the return (John 16:16-20).

This shall be so. It is also said that through sorrow it is necessary for joy to appear to you, and injustice shall rejoice for a little while as if it had prevailed, but when I have passed over the passion: but you shall be grieved as if you no longer had the Savior. But change shall follow quickly the matter, and you from the sorrow of death the [...]