Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Ver. 13. He will guide you into all truth] Many are the benefits that we receive by the Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth," Ephesians 5:9. This our Saviour delivers to his disciples at several times, and by degrees, as they could bear it. Here he represents him as a guide to godliness. Simeon was brought into the temple by the instinct of the Spirit. Paul would have gone to a certain place, but the Spirit would not suffer him. Lo such is the working of the Holy Ghost still in men's hearts, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way," Psalms 37:23. Kings suffer their children to ride with them, but yet set tutors and governors to overrule them. So here. And because Delicata res est Spiritus Dei, therefore we must observe and obey his motions, which are the sound of his goings, the footsteps of his anointed, Psalms 89:51. We should lay ourselves (as instruments) open to the Spirit's touch, submit to his discipline, as Paul did, Galatians 2:20. And this requires a great deal of self-denial.