John 16:12–13

Hitherto Christ hath insisted upon the first benefit to be expected by the coming of the Spirit, for their encouragement; The second followeth, in these verses, relating more immediately to the Apostles themselves; wherein is promised, That however, for present, they were not capable of the many things he had to say unto them, v. 12. yet the Spirit should, by his coming, supply that defect: And, 1. Should guide them into all truth, as being the Spirit of truth, and speaking what is common to him with the Father and Sonne. 2 Should shew them things to come, by being a Spirit of prophecie to them, as extraordinarily gifted men, and by revealing the great things abiding them and others, as beelevers, v. 13. how this purpose, v. 12. compared with v. 13. ought to be understood, is already cleared on chap. 14. 25, 26. compare also chap. 15. 15. In summe it imports, That whereas Christ had spoken many things summarily, which he was ready to enlarge, but that their incapacity hindered him; he here undertaketh that the Spirit should make up this, by enlightening their understanding to take up what he had said, and by explaining and enlarging the same more distinctly. They who (to savour unwritten traditions,) do assert from this, that the Spirit did teach somewhat, which Christ had not taught them, do nothing at all promove their own cause; for whatever was taught them by Christ himself, or by the Spirit afterward, was by them faithfully communicated to the Church, and committed to writing. And for these things which men urge as unwritten traditions, beside the Sripture, they are such toyes as Christ needed not say, ye cannot bear them, seeing they might easily be born by them, who have lesse then the Apostles then had, and are more common and trivial then many things he had taught them. From v. 12. Learn, 1. Many are the precious truths of the Gospel, to be learned by beleevers, and which are needful and comfortable for them to know; for, there are many things to say. 2. Christs heart is so large, and so tender toward his followers, that he hath never said enough when he hath said most, for their instruction and encouragement: for, after all the former sweet doctrine, I have yet many things to say unto you, saith he. 3. Our hearing and learning much of divine truth, ought to tend, mainly to let us know that there is more to be learned, that so we may be humbled in what we know, and our desires may be kindled after the knowledge of more; Therefore also doth he break off the former sweet instructions with this, I have yet many things to say unto you. 4. As men by nature are uncapable of divine truths, till they be taught them by the Spirit; so even they who have received the Spirit, in some measure, may yet remain very incapable, so long as they want a further measure of the Spirit, and do continue under weaknesse and errours of minde prepossessing them, or do give up themselves to excessive sorrow; for, so it was even with the disciples, notwithstanding the measure of the Spirit they had received. They continued still so carnal and weak, were so prepossessed with errours concerning Christs Kingdom, and so taken up with sorrow, v. 6. that he must say, ye cannot bear these many things now. 5. Men are never sufficiently capable of divine truths, unlesse their understandings do comprehend them, and their hearts and affections do digest them, as not to be stumbled or quarrelled at, that so they may reap the fruit of them; for so much doth the expression, ye cannot bear them, import. It may allude to burden-bearers, who do shrink under too heavy burdens, as their weak understandings and preoccupied affections were ready to do under these high and spiritual truths; or, to weak stomacks which cast up the strong meat they cannot digest. 6. The most choice of outward means and advantages will not profit men, nor cause them to make progresse, unlesse the Spirit concurre therewith; for, they had even Christ to teach them, and yet they cannot bear his words to profit thereby. 7. Our own infirmity, dulnesse and incapacity, do obstruct our mercies, and hinder the revelation of many precious truths unto us; for, Christ saith, not these many things, because they cannot bear them. 8. As Christ takes particular notice of the state of his disciples; so he tenderly deals with them according to their strength, and condescends to their weaknesse and incapacity; for, he spares at this time to let out these things unto them, because they cannot bear them now. See Mark 4.33.

From v. 13. Learn, 1. There are no infirmities of Saints, wherein they do not approve themselves, for which Christ hath not a remedy; nor do they lose any opportunity which he cannot make up; Therefore, whereas they lost many advantages they might have reaped in his company, by their own greatness, he subjoyns this as a comfort, that it should be made up by the Spirits coming. 2. It is by the Spirit only, that men, who do not profit under outward means, will be enabled to profit; who when he cometh, doth reveal truths clearly, and bear them in with life and power upon the heart, and doth renew mens spirits to embrace and submit unto them; for, it is by this means that the disciples losses are made up, Howbeit, when the Spirit is come, he will guide you. 3. As it is the duty of beleevers, to know all revealed truths, necessary for them in order to salvation, or in their places and stations: so they will need the Spirits teaching and guiding, for taking up all and every divine truth, even the least and smallest point of it; for, it is needful, he guide into all truth. 4. The doctrine revealed by the Spirit unto the Apostle, containeth all necessary truths, and so is a most perfect rule of faith and manners: for, it is promised unto them, that he will guide you into all truth. 5. It doth set forth both the truth and divine authority of the doctrine of the Apostles, that it is taught by the Spirit, who is a Spirit of truth, and that the doctrine is not his only, but communicate by him from the Father and Son also; Therefore is he here called the Spirit of truth. And it is given as a reason why he will guide into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself only, but whatsoever he shall hear (with and from the Father and the Son,) that shall he speak. 6. It contributes to the encouragement of beleevers, that the Spirit of God, who taketh charge of them, knoweth things to come, and so can reveal them that they may be encouraged or warned, and hath a soveraign providence over and about them; for, this his knowledge is imported, in that he will shew things to come. 7. The Spirit of Christ did communicate unto the Apostles, and by them unto the Church, such infallible predictions of things to come, as were needful to be known, and are useful to the Church in all ages; for, he will shew you things to come, saith he. 8. The Spirit of Christ by the doctrine of the Apostles did bring life and immortality, and the future glory of believers to light, 2 Tim. 1.10. And where he cometh, doth so clearly and fully perswade believers thereof, as may bear them out under all present pressures and discouragements: Thus also doth shew things to come, by their doctrine, and to them and all succeeding believers.