Exposition of John, Chapter 7 · Verse 23
Verſe 39. (But this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that beleeve on him, ſhould receive, For the holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified.)
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.