(14) That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (15) В¶ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (16) The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (17) But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. (18) The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
The principal thing to be noticed by us in this paragraph, is in the first verse. And it is indeed, so highly principal and important, that I must beg the Reader's closest attention to it, as among one of the grand and momentous Truths of our most holy faith. May the Lord be my Teacher, while I humbly attempt to speak of it! That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. The first question, which strikes the mind on reading this blessed scripture, (for it is a very blessed scripture), is, to enquire, what good thing the Apostle means? It cannot be the gift of the Holy Ghost himself, for the Apostle immediately connects with it, that God the Holy Ghost dwelleth in us. Then it will follow, that it is not God the Holy Ghost's Person; but his graces, his gifts, his works, in shedding abroad the love of God the Father in our hearts, as his regenerated creatures; and directing our whole spirits, into the patient waiting upon, and enjoyment of, the Lord Jesus Christ. Reader! do observe the preciousness of this expression, which Paul makes use of, concerning that good thing. It is indeed, the one thing, and the only one needful. It includes God the Father, in our knowledge of his love, and favor, manifested in all his purposes, counsel, will, and pleasure, of his Covenant grace in Christ. And it includes no less, all that belongs to Christ and his Person, Christ and his relations, Christ and his offices, Christ and his salvation. The good thing, committed to the Church in Christ, by the gifts, and workings of the Spirit, includes the whole of this blessedness; for it is Christ in you the hope of glory. So that, God the Spirit first comes to renew the soul, and then fills the soul with his graces. He first inhabits our souls and bodies as his temple, and then gives grace to his inhabitation. He first enters our spirit, for his indwelling residence and then gives that good thing for the spirit to keep, by his Almighty Power, being himself that holiness which becometh his house forever. Oh! what a wonder of grace, in a wonder-working God! See 1 Corinthians 6:18-19. and Commentary.
Reader! are you amazed at the grace of God the Spirit? So Amos 1:1. But our amazement at the greatness of the mercy, doth not render it less true, and sure. According to human reasoning, we should be ready to say: Surely the Holy Ghost, whose name is emphatically Holy, will first cleanse the soul and body; and then inhabit them. How can it be possible to suppose, that a Being, who is of purer eyes, than to behold iniquity, will dwell in a body of pollution? But here, as in numberless other instances, God's thoughts are not our thoughts; neither his ways our ways. Most certain it is, that God the Holy Ghost doth dwell in his people. So Jesus promised he should; yea, He himself so said: and the fact is unquestionable. John 14:17; Ezekiel 36:25-27. And equally certain it is, that our bodies are still bodies of sin, and uncleanness; yea, and continue so, during the whole time-state of the Church upon earth. For though the spirit is quickened, and regenerated; the flesh profiteth nothing. Paul felt, and acknowledged to the last, and every man like Paul, whom God the Holy Ghost hath brought acquainted with the plague of his own heart, will acknowledge the same; that in a man's own flesh, dwelleth no good thing. Romans 7:1. But is it not, by this very process, of God the Spirit's indwelling residence, we are sanctified? Doth not the Lord say: I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Ezekiel 36:25. And do we not, in the circumstances of common life, take pure water, to cleanse filthy vessels? Is not the Holy Ghost a Spirit of judgment, and a Spirit of burning? Isaiah 4:4. And will he not, as fire, purely purge our dross, consume all our lusts, and take away all our tin? Isaiah 1:25. Reader! it is very blessed, thus to know God the Holy Ghost, both in his Person, and Godhead, and ministry; and also, in the exercise of his graces, by his indwelling power in our hearts. That good thing, which is thereby committed unto us; we then keep, by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. See Jude 1:20-21
I do not think it necessary to detain the Reader, with any long observations on the latter part of this paragraph. The departure of the mere professors, which the Apostle speaks of, in Asia, is similar to the departure of all such, in every age of the Church. Nothing short of regeneration, constitutes a child of God. Where this blessed work is wrought, there can be no possibility of departure, so as to fall away finally. 2 Timothy 2:19. And where this is not, there must be an everlasting falling away, and a final separation from God forever. If the Reader will read Hebrews 6:1-8. with Commentary he will soon discover, under the Lord's teaching, the striking difference, between Professor, and Possessor; between the Lord's people, and the profane. It is very possible, that these men, Phygellus, and Hermogenes, were persons who had made more noise than others, in talking about religion. False meteors of the night, shine for a moment, with more glare than the stated planets. But soon go out, in obscure darkness. Oh! what numbers have there been, of such as Phygellus, and Hermogenes, in all ages of the Church! Paul's testimony of Onesiphorus, is short, but sweet. I admire the suitableness of his name which signifies, to bring usefulness. And the Lord made him very useful, to his servant the Apostle. But I add no more.