John 14:16–17

In these verses is contained the argument of consolation it selfe, and the promise of the Spirit, which is subjoyned to the former direction, as a fruit following thereupon, and as an encouragement against the difficulties they would meet with in doing their duty; Not that formerly they were wholly destitute of the Spirit, but that now they were to receive him in more ample measure. The gift promised is here described. 1. From the way of his coming, Christ interceeds with the Father, and he sends him, not secluding the Sonne as God, from whom he proceeds and who also sends him from the Father, Chap. 15.26. and 16.7. though here he speak only of himself as Mediatour. 2. From his titles, taken from his office and work in beleevers; He is a Comforter, and Advocate, as the Word also is rendred, 1 Joh. 2.1. and another Comforter, as being a distinct person from the Father and the Sonne, and working comfort in beleevers in a distinct way of applying Christs purchase to them, and sealing and bearing witnesse to it in them, he is likewise called the Spirit of truth, ver. 17. not only in his own essence, but in his operation in beleevers, leading them in all truth. Of which afterward, ver. 26. and Chap. 16.13. 3. From his permanency in beleevers, that he will abide with them for ever, and not depart from them, as Christ took away his bodily presence. 4. From the singularity of the gift, as being peculiar to beleevers; For the world cannot receive him because of their ignorance; but they having knowledge of him by his begun presence, their knowledge and communion shall be continued and augmented. By the word here, we are not to understand only these who are eminent in it, or all without the Church; but all who are of the world, in the state of nature, and addicted to the world and under the power of sin. And while it is said, the world cannot receive him, it holds true of reprobates, whom the Lord hath determined to leave in their woful natural condition, that they can never receive the Spirit of regeneration, nor any comfort flowing therefrom, though they be partakers of the common, and even extraordinary, gifts of the Spirit. But if we take the world more generally, for men in the state of nature (whereof there may be many elect) the meaning is, that they cannot receive him, to wit, so long as they continue in that state, and till he translate them. Far lesse are they capable of such a gift in the increase thereof, (which is the thing here promised) more then a dead man is capable of nourishment. Though in this place he seemeth chiefly to point at the reprobate world, who are of the world, and continue so. And albeit the promise be made particularly to the Apostles, and they had the accomplishment thereof in a singular way; yet the encouragement is to be extended to all beleevers, who finde the Spirit a Comforter and Spirit of truth to them, though not in so extraordinary a manner.

From ver. 16. Learn, 1. None can expect the consolations of Christ by his Spirit, unlesse they testifie their love to him by obedience; And they who do so, have his Word, whereupon they may expect needful comfort; for, upon these tearms mentioned, ver. 15. I, saith he, will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter. 2. Christs bodily presence was a great comfort to his disciples, and during the time of his converse with them, he was so tender of them, so kinde to them, and took such burthen and care of them, as did much refresh and ease them; for, while he promiseth another Comforter, in stead of himself, it intimates he had been a Comforter himselfe. Hence it was that he would not let them fast, nor did put hard burthens on them, but let them see his glory, preached sweetly unto them, and went betwixt them and all difficulties, 3. Christ doth not remove one Comforter from his people, but he will give another, and make up their losse; for, when he is to remove, another Comforter is promised. 4. As disciples can have no true comfort but by the Spirit, so a large measure thereof is allowed them, to supply the want of Christs bodily presence; for, he is the Comforter during Christs absence, namely, in a larger measure then they had before. 5. Whatever be the operations of the Spirit of Christ in beleevers; Yet the scope of all his employments, and his exercising of them, tend in end to comfort them; Therefore gets he this stile, of a Comforter, in relation to them. 6. The Spirit of God in beleevers is not only a Comforter, to plead, apply, and bear in the consolations of God, purchased by Christ, upon their hearts; But is their Advocate also, who pleads their cause with God, by furnishing them with prayers and groans that cannot be uttered, to be put up in the hands of Christ, the Mediatour of intercession: for, the Comforter, is the Advocate also, as the Word imports. See Rom. 8.26, 27. 7. The Holy Ghost is a person in the Godhead distinct from, and equal with the Father and the Sonne; for, he is another Comforter, distinct from the Son, and equal with him, in that he is a Comforter also, as he is: And he is given by the Father, and so distinct from him; and his giving, or sending, him is no note of superiority, nor being sent, of inferiority, for equals may send one another; but it only points at the order of the persons in their substance and operation: And so, as the holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, so he is given by both, in their order of subsistence, to beleevers. 8. In expecting this great promise of the Comforter, beleevers ought not to look to their own merits, or the worth of their obedience, which can promise no such thing; But their eye must be fixed on the free grace of God, who doth freely gift his Spirit to his own: for, albeit a duty be required of them who expect this mercy, ver. 15. Yet, saith he, the Father shall give you another Comforter. 9. As it is Christs work in heaven to intercede for his people, and to procure their comforts, notwithstanding the sinfulnesse and short coming of their prayers, and the difficulty of things desired; And therefore he should be acknowledged in all the comforts they receive, as minding them in heaven: So in particular, the Spirit, who is the great Comforter, is conferred upon them through his Mediation, which is the channel through which free grace runs out toward sinners, For, I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter. 10. Albeit many, yea, all the outward comforts of beleevers are moveable; yet the holy Spirit is given unto them without reversion, and is an abiding consolation and Comforter, for all times, and all cases; for, he is given, that he may abide, (and abide a Comforter, answerable to his name) with you for ever.

From ver. 17. Learn, 1. As the Spirit of God is true, yea, truth it self in his essence and person, so is he true in his office of Comforter to beleevers; all his consolations being solid and real, and free of delusion; for, the Comforter is the Spirit of truth. 2. As the holy Ghost is the revealer of truth; So he comforts by the Word of truth, and by leading beleevers to relye thereupon; for, thus is he the Spirit of truth, leading men to the Word of truth, and making it effectual for their comfort. So that without the Word there is no enjoying of the Spirit of Christ. 3. As the gift of the Spirit, in his special dispensations, is very rare; So it will adde to the commendation of this encouragement, if we study the singularity thereof, and what a difference the Lord puts therein betwixt his own and the world; Therefore is he commended from this, the world cannot receive him, but ye know him. So also are other mercies commended, and to be studied, Psal. 147.19, 20. Deut. 4.7, 8. 4. The world and natural men are great strangers to the Spirit of Christ; they are not capable of such a gift, nor do they desire after it, but beleevers live on hid Manna to them; for, he is the Spirit of truth, whom the Word cannot receive. 5. As the Spirit of Christ, where he is received, bringeth light and knowledge along with him; So the reason why he is so little desired, is, because he is so little known, and what sweetnesse is to be had in enjoying of him. And so it rubs no indignity on him, that the world desireth him not; for, that which is subjoyned, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, is both a cause of their not receiving him, as 1 Cor. 2.14. and a proofe that they have not received him, since they do not know him, as on the contrary, in the end of the verse, disciples know him, because he dwells with them; Their knowledge is a fruit of inhabitation. As for the two words here used, of seeing, and knowing, we need not be curious to put a difference betwixt them, as if the first pointed out, that as they saw him not with bodily eyes, so they took as little notice of his visible operations; and the second charged upon them, that they did as little understand with their heart, as they did see with their eyes: Or, that the first points out their simple ignorance and not seeing of him, and the second, that since they have not seen him, they do not esteeme of nor desire him, since knowledge must draw out affections. It sufficeth to know, that by these expressions is pointed out their utter ignorance of him, and Christ prevents all curious criticismes, by comprehending the contrary case of disciples in this one for both, ye know him. 6. A cause of mens ignorance, and not desiring of the Spirit, is, that they are of the world, and so transformed into a conformity with these things they lust after, as they become brutish, and can neither discern nor desire what is their true excellency and happinesse; for, they are the world, and therefore cannot receive him, not see or know him. 7. The brutish stupidity of the world, will not hinder Gods kindnesse to his own, in communicating and revealing his Spirit unto them; Nor should it hinder disciples to study to know and desire after him; for, saith he, But ye know him, ye both know and desire after him. 8. No light will discover the Spirit but himself; nor can any know him, but they who enjoy him: for, ye know him, for he dwelleth with you. 9 The Spirits presence in beleevers is very intimate and familiar; for, he not only dwelleth with you, to be assisting in what they need, but shall be in you, as in his Temple, 1 Cor. 3.16. and 6.19. 10. Where the Spirit is given, he will not change his dwelling; but beleevers enjoyment of him shall be blessed with constant and encreasing enjoyment; for, as he dwelleth with you, so he shall be in you, in a more large measure, and constant abode.