But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
Our blessed Lord here gives us the clearest discovery of the ever-glorious three persons in covenant for our salvation. In this knowledge lies all our hope. From this belief springs all our comfort. In the love of this is our heaven upon earth. For the knowledge, belief, and love of this truth, we are wholly indebted to the Comforter. He teaches all things; not by a new revelation; but he graciously instructs and comforts us by the same light of truth and love which beamed in the first promise, and which shone brighter and brighter in prophecies, types, and shadows, until the substance, Jesus, was come. Then the canon of revealed truth was completed by the apostles, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost. The substance of which is, what Jesus spake, did, and suffered on our account, as our substitute, and for our salvation.
It is the peculiar office of the Spirit to glorify Jesus and to sanctify us. This he does by the word of truth: teaching us the Father's electing love in Jesus, and directing our eyes to him, as of God made to us "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." Let no man deceive us with expectations of new revelations from heaven, or new truths to comfort us; but ever hear Paul, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Gal. 1:8.
Let us prize and study the Gospel. In and by that the Spirit teaches and comforts. In everlasting love, and the most ancient truth, he establishes us. We are poor sinners from day to day. We feel many things in and around us to deject and distress us. When we remember what sin hath done to us, brought on us, and exposed us to, we are in fears and doubts .what will become of ns. But the Comforter brings to our minds the transcendantly rich love of Jesus; what he undertook, spake, and did in life, suffered in death, and still lives to plead for, before the throne, in our behalf. O the heartfelt joy of this! He relieves our minds, and refreshes our spirits by the knowledge of the truth. So he teaches us self-despair, animates us to go on in' the path of holiness, and fortifies us to withstand all that is against us. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephes. 4:30.
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