Matthew Poole and continuators on John 14:17

17 Even the Spirit of truth , whom the world cannot receive , because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him : but ye know him , for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you .

He here explaineth himself, and tells them, that by that other Comforter mentioned, ver. 16. he meant the Spirit, whom he here calls the Spirit of truth, either because he is a Spirit that declareth and revealeth the truth, as in 1 Iohn 5.6. or because he teacheth us truth, 1 Iohn 2.27. he guideth us into all truth, Iohn 16.13. Or in opposition to the lying Spirit of the Devil, 1 Kings 22.22. Most probably the holy Spirit is here called the Spirit of truth, because of the Efficiency he hath as to it. It is he who hath revealed all the truth contained in the Scriptures, to the World. Holy men wrote as they were inspired by him, Acts 1.16. 2 Pet. 1.21. It is he that more particularly and specially revealeth truth to the particular Soul, 1 Cor. 2.12. hence persons enlightned, are said to be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Heb. 6.4. He leadeth his people into truth, Chap. 16.13. he sealeth and confirmeth truth to the Soul: hence we read of the demonstration of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.4.

This Spirit of truth, the World, that is, men of carnal hearts that are of the World, and in whom worldly lusts predominate, 1 Iohn 2.16. Chap. 17.9 This World,

through natural impotency, 1 Cor. 2.14. Through wisdom, 1 Cor. 10.21. through lusts and passions, cannot receive, that is, be made partakers of,

because it neither seeth him, who is not to be seen with mortal Eyes, nor knoweth him affectionately, and experimentally; he being not to be know by men whose hearts are carnal and full of lusts,

but ye know him believingly, experimentally, affectionately, savingly:

for he dwelleth in you by a mystical union, Rom. 8.11. 1 Cor. 6.17. and he shall abide with you, by his dwelling in you, and influences upon you.