His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb (30) Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. (31) Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? (32) Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. (33) These things I have spoke n unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
It should seem by those acknowledgements of the Apostles, that now they understood plainly all that Jesus meant, and his sweet words were no longer proverbs; as Jesus just before had said they were, (John 16:25) but plain, and suited to their apprehension. And hence I venture to suppose, (but by no means to speak positively), that the Lord was pleased as he drew near the close of his sermon to enlarge their minds, that they might have more clear and extended views of this great subject, on which he had been speaking to them. And, Reader! it will be our mercy in like manner, on this glorious view Jesus hath here given of the Person, Work, and Offices of God the Holy Ghost; if you and I can join issue with the Apostles, and say, Now speaketh our Lord plainly, and speaketh no parable. Now are we sure that Jesus knoweth all things, and needeth not that any man should ask him. By this we believe that He came forth from God!
It will form I hope no unprofitable conclusion in our Commentary upon this blessed sermon of Christ, if we briefly gather into one point of view, some of the precious things which Jesus hath left in it to his Church, concerning the Person and love-offices of God the Holy Ghost. Sure I am, the review of the whole will be profitable, if so be, (and which I humbly beg both for, myself and Reader), that the Almighty Spirit of whom I write, shall graciously condescend to be our teacher.
We have beheld in these Chapter s, with what a world of tenderness the Lord Jesus hath introduced the subject of the coming of the Holy Ghost, and how Jesus before his departure brought them into an acquaintance with his person, and nature, and offices. We have seen how minutely the Lord Jesus hath dwelt upon the many distinguishing testimonies of character, by which the Holy Ghost should be known. And we have discovered at the close of our Lord's discourse on this most interesting subject, that so much grace from the Lord accompanied his divine instruction on the same, that the Apostles entered into a perfect apprehension both of the person and coming of the Holy Ghost. Here then I would beg the Reader to pause, and before we pass away from our review of the same sermon of Christ, which was made so blessed to them; I would very affectionately ask the Reader, as I desire to put the same question to my own heart, with what sentiments do we close the Lord's discourse, concerning the same momentous truths of God, in our apprehensions of God the Holy Ghost?
Behold him in the eternity of his, nature, and essence, and God-head. One of the Holy undivided Three, which bear record in heaven. 1 John 5:7. Contemplate Him in the numberless, undeniable testimonies, which have been brought before you of his Person, through both volumes of Scripture. Mark well his special offices, in his covenant character as relating to the Church. And here most eminently, and indeed as comprehending every other, in the great work of regeneration; which sovereign and Almighty act becomes so essential to every child of God to partake in, that not a single spiritual mercy can we lay claim to, until this is wrought, and when done, Christ with all his blessings and benefits are ours. For so it is written in the scripture. To them, (saith the Apostle), that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied; according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; being made partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:1-4
And when this gracious act is wrought in the soul of him, who is the highly favoured object of Jehovah's love, in his Threefold character of Person; all the after manifestations of the Holy Ghost, as might be expected, are made to maintain and carry on that divine nature, of which, as the Holy Ghost by the Apostle hath said, the regenerated are made partakers. From this commencement of the renewed life, when quickened by the Spirit in the souls of those who were before dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1
Reader! what saith your experience to these things! Are the Apostles conclusions our conclusions? their views of the Holy Ghost our views of the Holy Ghost? Or, after all, the Lord Jesus hath said in this most blessed Chapter concerning Him, do we say of Jesus, as they did of the Prophet's Sermon, Ah, Lord God! doth he not speak parables ? Ezekiel 20:49.