But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. (27) And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning,
If the Reader recollects what was observed, in the preceding Chapter, on the one, chief, and great subject, of this Sermon of our Lord's, namely, concerning the Person, Godhead, Work, and Ministry of the Holy Ghost; he will remember, that it was reserved to the subsequent parts of Christ's discourse, to notice the several offices of God the Spirit, as they were mentioned. Now here, in those verses, the Lord Jesus takes observation of two of them, namely, as the Comforter, and as the Spirit of truth. I therefore beg the Reader to remark with me, some few particulars relating to those blessed offices of God the Holy Ghost.
First, as the Comforter. Now it is the special work of God the Spirit, to bring comfort into the conscience of the Lord's people, in taking of the things of Christ and shewing to them; whereby he fills their hearts with joy and peace in believing, while he makes them to abound in hope through his own sovereign power. His very employment is consolation. And hence nothing can be more suited to him as a name, than the Holy Ghost the Comforter! And, if a child of God at any time feels refreshed with the consolations of Jesus, or the contemplation of the love of God the Father; these precious things are of His working. And hence we are taught to pray for the quickenings of the Spirit; because the Lord the Holy Ghost by those sweet influences, opens a communion between Christ and our souls. He manifests the love of the Father and the Son to the heart; and thus by holding up to our view their love, he awakens his own graces in our hearts, and leads forth the actings of faith and love in them, upon the Persons of the Godhead. Oh! the blessedness of the Holy Ghost, when acting as the Comforter of the Church! What are all the promises and encouragements in the Word, until they are opened and applied by the Lord the Spirit? Blessed God! do thou prove thyself to my soul's joy, as the Holy Ghost the Comforter, in all thy sevenfold gifts; that by opening and keeping open, a continual communion between Christ and my soul, I may hourly rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Secondly. The Lord Jesus speaks of him as the Spirit of truth, to lead into all truth. And what a gracious, compassionate, and wise office, is this? How would the poor, dark ignorant, and senseless children of men, under the Adam-nature of a fallen sinful state, ever have the least apprehension of divine things, but from his divine teaching? Oh! thou Matchless Instructor! hadst thou not shewn me the utterly lost estate of my poor nature by the fall, how should I have ever known my ruin and misery? And hadst thou not opened mine eyes to see the glory and suitableness of the Lord Jesus, what should I ever have apprehended of his glory, and my need of him? Yea! gracious God the Spirit! hadst thou not warmed my soul with his love, as well as informed my understanding by thy grace, thousands of errors would have remained; and though I had obtained an head knowledge, yet no heart influence would have followed, but from thy sovereign saving power. But now, dearest Lord, whilst thou art mercifully pleased to be to me a Spirit of truth, leading to the right apprehension of all truth, and a Spirit of grace, leading to the right performance of all prayer; then the whole comes home warmed and endeared to my heart. I hear the voice behind me, and I feel a power within me, when at any time exercised with doubts or misgivings, saying, This is the way, (even Christ the way), walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21. See John 16:8.