He that loveth me not, keepeth not my word: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. Verse 24.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet with you. Verse 25.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Verse 26.
Now, How does your Lordship prove that this promise belongs only to the primitive church? Why, 1. You say, “It is very clear from the bare recital of the words.” I apprehend not. But this is the very question, which is not to be begged, but proved. 2. You say, “The Spirit’s bringing all things to their remembrance, whatsoever he had said unto them, cannot possibly be applied to any other persons but the apostles.” “Cannot be applied!” This is a flat begging the question again, which I cannot give up without better reasons. 3. “The gifts of prophecy and of being guided into all truth, and taught all things, can be applied only to the apostles, and those of that age who were immediately inspired.” Here your Lordship, in order the more plausibly to beg the question again, “Jumbles together the extraordinary with the ordinary operations of the Spirit.” The gift of prophecy, we know, is one of his extraordinary operations; but there is not a word of it in this text: nor, therefore ought it to be “confounded with his ordinary operations,” such as the being guided into all truth, (all that is necessary to salvation) and taught all (necessary) things, in a due use of the means he hath ordained. Verse 26.
In the same manner, namely, in a serious and constant use of proper means, I believe the assistance of the Holy Ghost is given to all Christians, to bring all things needful to their remembrance, whatsoever Christ hath spoken to them in his word. So that I see no occasion to grant, without some kind of proof, (especially considering the occasion of this, and the scope of the preceding verses) that even “this promise cannot possibly be applied to any other persons but the apostles.”
7. In the same discourse of our Lord we have a third promise of the Comforter, the whole clause runs thus:
If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. Chapter xvi. verse 7.
And when he is come, he will reprove (or convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Verse 8.
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more: