Wesley Corpus

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, can not 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 extra ordinary 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 pro mise 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. “And when he is come, he will reprove,” or convince, “the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “Of sin, because they believe not on me; “Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.