(^dly) That which remains, in the last place, for the explanation of the things proposed to be explained as the foundation of the com- munion which we have with the Holy Ghost, is, —
The effects that, being thus sent and thus working, he doth pro- duce; which I shall do, not casting them mto any artificial method, but taking them up as I find them lying scattered up and down in the Scripture, only descending from those which are more general to those which are more particular, neither aiming nor desiring to gather all the severals, but insisting on those which do most obviously occur.
Only as formerly, so now you must observe, that I speak of the Spirit principally (if not only) as a comforter, and not as a sanctifier; and therefore the great work of the Spirit towards us all our days, in the constant and continual supplies of new light, power, vigour, as to our receivings of grace from him, belonging to that head of sanctifi- cation, must be omitted.
Nor shall I insist on those things which the Comforter doth in be- lievers effect towards others, in his testifying to them and convincing of the world, which are promised, John xv. 26, xvi. 8, wherein he is properly their advocate ; but only on those which as a comforter he works in and towai-ds them on whom he is bestowed.
236 OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
CHAPTER III.
Of the tilings wherein we have commnnion with tlie Holy Ghost — He brings to remembrance the things spoken by Christ, John xiv. 26 — The manner how he doth it — The Spirit glorifies Christ in the hearts of believers, John xvi. 14, sheds abroad the love of God in them — The witness of the Spirit, what it is, Rom. viii. 16 — The scaling of the Spirit, Eph. i. 13 — The Spirit, how an earnest ; on the part of God, on the part of the saints — Difference between the earnest of the Spirit and tasting of the powers of the world to come — Unc- tion by the Spirit, Isa. xi. 2, 3 — The various teachings of the Holy Ghost — IIow the Spirit of adoption and of supplication.
The things whicli, in the foregoing chapters, I called effects of the Holy Ghost in us, or towards iis, are the subject-matter of our commu- nion with him, or the things wherein we hold peculiar fellowship with him as our comforter. These are now proposed to consideration: —
1. The first and most general is that of John xiv. 26, " He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, Avhat- soever I have said unto you." There are two parts of this promise : — (1.) Of teaching. (2.) Of bringing to remembrance. Of his teach- ing I shall speak afterward, when I come to treat of his anointing us.
His bringing the things to remembrance that Christ spake is the first general promise of him as a comforter: ' TrrofLvrien b[j.ag 'Trdvra, — " He shall make you mind all these things." Now, this also may be considered two ways: —
[1.] Merely in respect of the things spoken themselves. So our Saviour here promiseth his apostles that the Holy Ghost should bring to their minds, by an immediate efiBcacy, the things that he had spoken, that by his inspiration they might be enabled to write and preach them for the good and benefit of his church. So Peter tells us, 2 EjDist. i. 21, " Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (that is, in writing the Scripture) ; vTh Tiniifiarbi ay'ioM (pipojjjivoi, — borne up by him, carried beyond themselves, to speak his words, and what he indited to them. The apostles forgot much of what Christ had said to them, or might do so ; and what they did retain, in a natural way of remembrance, was not a sufficient founda- tion to them to write what they so remembered for a rule of faith to the church. For the word of prophecy is not ibiag imXCeiui, — from any man's proper impulse ; it comes not from any private conception, understanding, or remembrance. Wherefore, Christ promises that the Holy Ghost shall do this work; that they might infallibly give out what he had delivered to them. Hence tliat expression in Luke i. 8, Yluprjx.bXoijdriKOTi civoikv, is better rendered, " Having obtained per- fect knowledge of things from above," — noting the rise and spring of
OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GH(3ST. 237
his so understanding things as to be able infalHbly to give them out in a rule of faith to the church, than the beginning of the things themselves spoken of; which the word itself will not easily allow of.
[2.] In respect of the comfort of what he had spoken, which seems to be a great part of the intendment of this promise. He had been speaking to them things suited for their consolation ; giving them precious promises of the supplies they should have from him in this life, — of the love of the Father, of the glory he was providing for them, the sense and comfort whereof is unspeakable, and the joy arising from them full of glory. But saith he, " I know how unable you are to make use of these things for your own consolation; the Spirit, therefore, shall recover them upon your minds, in their full strength and vigour, for that end for which I speak them." And this is one cause why it was expedient for believers that Christ's bodily absence should be supplied by the presence of the Spirit. Whilst he was with them, how little efficacy on their hearts had any of the heavenly pro- mises he gave them ! When the Spirit came, how full of joy did he make all things to them ! That which was his peculiar work, which belonged to him by virtue of his office, that he also might be glorified, was reserved for him. And this is his work to the end of the world, — to bring the promises of Christ to our minds and hearts, to give us tlie comfort of them, the joy and sweetness of them, much beyond that which the disciples found in them, when Christ in person spake them to them; their gracious influence being then restrained, that, as was said, the dispensation of the Spirit might be glorified. So are the next words to this promise, verse 27, " Peace I leave with you. my peace I give unto you.'' The Comforter being sent to bring what Christ said to remembrance, the consequent of it is peace, and freedom from trouble of heart; — whatever peace, relief, comfort, joy, supportment, we have at any time received from any work, promise, or thing done by Christ, it all belongs to this dispensation of the Comforter. In vain should we apply our natural abilities to remem- ber, call to mind, consider, the jjromises of Christ; without success would it be, — it is so daily : but when the Comforter doth undertake the work, it is done to the pui-pose. How we have peculiar com- munion with him herein, in faith and obedience, in the consolation received in and by the promises of him brought to mind, shall be afterward declared. This, in general, is obtained : — our Saviour Jesus Christ, leaving the efficacy even of those promises which in person he gave to his apostles in their gi-eat distress, as to their consolation, unto the Holy Ghost, we may see the immediate spring of all the spi- ritual comfort we have in this world, and the fellowship which we have with the Holy Ghost therein.