JOHN 14:15-1715If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even 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. (John 14:15‑17).JOH 14:15-1715If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even 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. (John 14:15‑17)
“IF ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another COMFORTER, that he may abide with you for ever; 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."
Here we see the Holy Ghost presented in two distinct aspects, as the COMFORTER, (PARACLETE, ADVOCATE,) and as THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. As the latter, the Spirit of truth, He had from the beginning been dwelling, not in, but with, the people of God; by their side, as it were, to guide and to teach them. Who, we ask, taught Abel to bring the firstlings of his flock as an offering to God?
Who was the guide and teacher of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but He, the Spirit of truth? And lastly, was He not as such known to the apostles? Did He not dwell with them even then, as their teacher, and guide, the link between them and their Master? The Lord certainly tells them that: He did.
This however differs from what occurred after the work of redemption was accomplished, and Christ had ascended. Then the Holy Ghost, in both characters as the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and also the COMFORTER, OR ADVOCATE, came down to dwell in the Church, to take up His abode in the mystical body of Christ.