To confine this promise to the eleven Apostles, as some do, seems a narrow and unsatisfactory mode of in- terpreting Scripture. It appears to reach far beyond the day of Pentecost, and the gift of writing inspired books of God's Holy Word. It is safer, wiser, and more consistent with the whole tone of our Lord's last discourse, to regard the promise as the common property of all believers, in every age of the world. Our Lord knows the ignorance and forgetfulness of our nature in spiritual things. He graciously declares that when He leaves the world, His people shall have a teacher and remembrancer.
Are we sensible of spiritual ignorance ? Do we feel that at best we know in part and see in part ? Do we desire to understand more clearly the doctrines of the Gospel ? Let us pray daily for the help of the " teach- ing " Spirit. It is His office to illuminate the soul, to open the eyes of the understanding, and to guide us into all truth. He can make dark places light, and rough places smooth.
Do we find our memory of spiritual things defective ? Do we complain that though we read and hear, we seem to lose as fast as we gain ? Let us pray daily for the help of the Holy Ghost. He can bring things to our re- membrance. He can make us remember " old things and new." He can keep in our minds the whole system of truth and duty, and make us ready for every good word and work.
Notes. John xiv. 21—26.
21, — [He that hath...commandments...lovet7i Me."] Our Lord Beems to return to the lesson of the fifteenth verse, and to repeat it because of its importance. There, however. He spoke specially to His disciples ; here He lays it down as a general principle applicable to all (Christians in all time : — " He that not only possesses and knows my commandments, but also does and practices them, he is the man that really loves Me." Obedi-