John 7:39

Here we have Johns commentary upon this last promise; who, belike, not understanding this himselfe; (as they were ignorant of many things) till Christ was risen from the dead, doth now take pains to clear others who might be in the like condition. He declareth that by this living water is meant the Spirit and graces thereof, which beleevers were afterward to receive, the giving whereof was suspended till the glorification of Christ the head of beleevers. This began in that solemne day, Act. 1. and doth continue still throughout all ages of the Church. Doctrine, 1. As the doctrine of Christ in Scripture doth oft times need to be interpreted, because of our shallow capacity; So the best Commentary upon Scripture, is it selfe, and the comparing of one Scripture with another; for, John by this exposition, doth not only expresse his simpathy with these who might, possibly, be in the same condition that sometime he was; but doth point out the safe way of expounding Scripture, and sheweth that it doth explain it selfe. 2. Whatsoever vertue is in water, for cleansing of filth, for cooling and refreshing the thirsty, and fructifying of barren ground; And whatever is promised in Scriptures, under the Metaphor of waters, is all to be found in a spiritual way, in receiving of the Spirit and graces thereof by faith; for, so is here explained, But this he spake of the Spirit, &c. compare, Chap. 4. 10, 13, 14. Zech. 14.8. 3. While he saith, beleevers should receive the Spirit, and the Spirit was not yet given, or, was not yet, (not in respect of his personal subsistence, but in respect of the measure of his gifts and graces to be poured out upon beleevers) it doth relate, partly, to the times of the law, and teacheth, That albeit beleevers under the law did partake of the Spirit in some measure, yet all that is nothing in comparison of that measure which is poured out under the Gospel; In that respect the holy Ghost was not yet given, which may shame them who make not use of their ample allowance, but do, under the Gospel, come far short of many who lived under the Pedagogie of the law. Partly, it relates to the present condition of the disciples, and his followers, who were not yet endued with power from on high, and therefore were but weak and ignorant in many things. And it teacheth, That were men even in Christs company, yet they will not profit much without the Spirit. 4. It pleased our blessed and glorious Lord to abase himselfe, by undergoing a state of humiliation, till he perfected the work of mans redemption; for, so is here imported, and in this respect the Lord of glory was not yet glorified, but continued under the vail of his state of humiliation. 5. The pouring out of the Spirit in ample measure, as, in the wisdome of God, reserved till the glorification of Christ as Mediatour, that so the proportion might be kept betwixt the head and the members; for, the holy Ghost was not yet given to beleevers, because, that Christ was not yet glorified. And as our blessed Lord did once abase himselfe so far, as beleevers must be kept back from their allowance, till he, who was a worme and not a man, be glorified; So we may expect that he will not rest, till we come up to share with him, now that he is exalted: And we should be content to stoop and share with him in the sad sufferings of his cause and interests, expecting that when he exalts himselfe in it, he will respect the desolate, Psal. 102.16, 17. And we having now to do with an exalted Lord, should expect much from him, Psal. 68.18. Act. 2.23. and 5.31. 6. While as under this promise is comprehended, all that pouring out of the Spirit which followed upon the glorification of Christ, and these gifts in the primitive times, among the rest, as a peculiar instance, The meaning is not to put the saving graces of the Spirit, conferred upon beleevers, in the same rank with these extraordinary gifts that were conferred upon some temporary beleevers then; Nor yet is it the meaning, that beleevers now should expect the same fruits of the Spirit for kinde, that were conferred on some beleevers then; But it tends to shew: That the saving graces of the Spirit are as excellent (and more) then many gifts that had a greater lustre, and the promise is richly fulfilled when men get these, albeit they want the other; That albeit all beleevers do not work the like visible wonders with the Apostles, yet by the receiving of the Spirit, as great wonders are wrought upon themselves in a spiritual way; for, thereby the dead are quickened, the deafe made to heare, the blinde to see, the lame to leap, the withered made fresh, and they get new tongues to speak the language of Canaan, which they understood not before; And, That their way of carriage and deportment, who received the holy Ghost in these primitive times, should be a pattern to all these who would prove that they do now partake of the Spirit.