Jesus forewarns his followers A. M. 4037. fended. A. D. 33. THESE things have I spoken unto || because they have not known the A. M. 4037. you, that ye a should not be of Father, nor me. NOTES ON CHAPTER XVI. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. you, that none will be your enemies but the worst Verses 1,2. These things have I spoken, that you of men. Observe, reader, 1st, Many that pretend to should not be offended-I have informed you before-know God are wretchedly ignorant of him, for he hand concerning the opposition which you are to that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandexpect from the world, and the proportionable sup- ||ments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 1 John ports which you will receive from the Holy Spirit, || ii. 4. Israel of old transgressed the covenant, and that you may not be discouraged in, or turned aside || yet cried, My God, we know thee. · 2d, They that from, the path of your duty; by my leaving you, or are ignorant of Christ cannot have any right knowby the troubles which you will meet with from my ||ledge of God. In vain do men pretend to know enemies and yours, whose rage will excite them to || God and religion while they slight Christ and Chrisuse all manner of violence and cruelty against you. tianity. 3d, Those are wretchedly ignorant of God They shall put you out of the synagogues-The || indeed, who think it an acceptable piece of religion Jews will excommunicate you, as the most execrable to persecute good people. For they that know of men: yea, whosoever killeth you, will think he || Christ, know that he came not into the world to dedoeth God service-That he doth the most accepta-stroy men's lives, but to save them; that he rules by ble thing possible; or that he offers sacrifice to God,|| the power of truth and love, not by fire and sword. as Dr. Campbell and others render λaтрειаv проσ- 4th, It is possible for those that are real enemies to pepεiv TW Dεw; observing, that as harpeia properly God's service to pretend a mighty zeal for it. Satan's signifies the public service of religion, when it is work has often been done in God's livery, and one of joined, as in this place, with проσpɛρεw, (to offer up,)||the most mischievous enemies Christianity ever had, can only mean sacrifice; and it is so rendered in || sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he the Syriac and Gothic versions. This gives a beau- || is God, 2 Thess. ii. 4. Nay, 5th, It is common to tiful turn to our Lord's sentiment, which is, "The patronise enmity to religion, with the colour of duty time shall come when the killing you will be thought || to God and service to his church. God's people a part of the worship of God, and equally meritorious have suffered the greatest hardships from conand acceptable with the offering of sacrifices." Arch- scientious persecutors: Paul verily thought he ought bishop Leighton's observation on the passage is, that || to do what he did against the name of Jesus, Acts "the servants of Christ should be considered not || xxvi. 9. This, however, does not lessen the sin of only as sheep for the slaughter, but as sheep for the || persecutors, for villanies cannot be consecrated by altar too." The rage of the persecuting enemies of God's church, and, beyond all comparison, the murders committed by Papal cruelty in the name of the Lord, in the hecatombs of whole burnt-offerings, (if an expression may be allowed which falls far short || of the dreadful truth,) too justly illustrate the remark. But how justly God has already resented, and will still resent, the murder of his children upon his altar, the day in which he makes inquisition for blood does and will declare. || their being acted in God's name; but it greatly increases the sufferings of the persecuted to cause them to suffer under the character of being enemies to God; but there will be a resurrection of names, as well as of bodies, at the great day. Verses 4-6. But these things have I told you-And forewarned you of them; that when the time shall come-In which they shall happen; ye may remember that I told you of them-And so may turn what has so discouraging an aspect into a further confirmVerse 3. And these things will they do-These || ation of your faith. And these things I said not at cruelties will they exercise upon you, not because the beginning-Of my ministry; because I was ye have done them any harm; but because they || with you-And could easily suggest proper instruchave not known the Father nor me-Which, if they tions and consolations, as new circumstances of had done, instead of injuring me, and exercising difficulty arose; and because, being with you, I such inhumanities toward you, my apostles, they could bear the chief shock of persecution in my own would have received us with the greatest affection || person, and so screen you from it. But no: I go and gratitude. Here we have the true root of per- || to him that sent me-But now, that my ministry is secution in all its forms; it is ignorance of God and drawing toward a conclusion, and I am going to of Christ, and of the real nature of Christianity: it || leave you, I could no longer defer speaking of these is a spirit that is hostile to all true piety and virtue; things to you; because it is of great importance you and our Lord here says in effect, Let this comfort || should know them, in order that when they come Jesus explains the nature and effect CHAPTER XVI. of the Holy Spirit's influence. A. M. 4037. 5 ¶ * But now & I go my way to him || but if I depart, I will send him unto A. M. 4037. that sent me, and none of you asketh you. me, Whither goest thou? k A. D. 33. 1 8 And when he is come, he will 1 reprove the 6 But because I have said these things unto world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judg you, 1 sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, i the Comforter will not come unto you; *Fourth Sunday after Easter, gospel, verse 5 to verse 15. & Verses 10, 16; Chapter vii. 33; xiii. 3; xiv. 28.— h Verse 22; Chap. xiv. 1. to pass you may not be surprised and stumbled. fies both an advocate and a comforter; he observes, And none of you asketh me-Now when it is most in explanation of the terms, "He performed the seasonable; whither goest thou?—Though I men- part of an advocate in respect of Christ and his tioned to you my departure once before, (chap. xiii. | gospel, by convincing the world of sin in their not 33,) none of you has inquired of me the reasons of believing on him, and of the righteousness [the inmy departure, nor the effects of it; nor is concern-nocence and holiness] of Christ; and by confirming ed to make those inquiries about that better world, || the apostles' testimony of him, by signs and mirawhich surely might well become you in such a cir- || cles, and various gifts imparted to them, Heb. ii. 4; cumstance. But because I have said these things || 1 John v. 6-8; and by pleading their cause before -Have spoken of leaving you for a time, and have || kings and rulers, and against all their adversaries, informed you of the persecutions you will meet with Matt. x. 18, 19; Luke xxi. 15; Acts vi. 10. In rewhen I am gone; sorrow hath filled your heart-spect of the apostles and the faithful he also did the Hath engrossed your thoughts, and filled you with || part of a comforter, as being sent for their consolasadness. tion and support in all their troubles, filling their hearts with joy and gladness, and giving them an inward testimony of God's love to them, and an assurance of their future happiness, Rom. viii. 15, 16." Verses 7, 8. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth-I || acquaint you with the case just as it is, and tell you the reasons of my going away, though you have not asked them. It is necessary even on your account that I should depart, because, if I go not Verses 9-11. Of sin, because they believe not on away, and enter upon my mediatorial office, the me-He will convince the world of that aggravated Comforter-By whose assistance, as I told you, you || sin of which they are guilty, in that they do not beare to convert the world, will not visit you: whereas, lieve in me, to the truth of whose mission he will if I depart-And take possession of my kingdom; bear an unanswerable testimony, by his enlightenI will send him unto you—As the first-fruits of the || ing influences and miraculous operations. With reexercise of my kingly power, to answer all the gard to the latter, it may be observed, that they had great and glorious purposes for which you and my been withdrawn from the Jews about four hundred church shall need him. And when he is come, he years since, and their being restored, according to will reprove the world of sin, &c.—Greek, ɛhɛyğɛɩ | Christ's promise, was sufficient to evince that Jesus, тоν коσμоν пερι aμaprias, &c.; rather, he will convince || who had restored them by shedding the Holy Spirit the world concerning sin, and concerning righteous- || upon his disciples, was the true Messiah, and so to ness, and concerning judgment. So Dr. Campbell, convince them of sin, who believed not in him, as who interprets the passage as follows: "Concerning we see it did, Acts ii. 37-41. Of righteousness— sin―That is, their sin in rejecting me, whereof the He will convince them of my innocence and holiSpirit will give incontestable evidence, in the mira-ness; because I go to, and am accepted of my Facles which he will enable my apostles to perform in || ther-Which will evidently appear, when I send the my name, and the success with which he will crown || Spirit from him in so glorious a manner; and ye see their teaching. Concerning righteousness-That || me no more-Appearing among you in the form of is, my righteousness, or innocence, the justice of my a servant; but are assured, that, having finished cause; of which the same miraculous power, exert- || what I was to do on earth, I am taken up to heaven, ed for me by my disciples, will be an irrefragable || and received into glory. Though Christ was con proof, convincing all the impartial that I had the || demned by the Jews as an impostor, yet his being sanction of Heaven for what I did and taught, and || received into heaven, and sending the Holy Spirit that, in removing me hence, God hath taken me to thence upon his disciples, was a sufficient evidence himself. Concerning judgment—That is, divine || that the Father owned him as a righteous person, judgment, soon to be manifested in the punishment and his true prophet and messenger. Hence, from of an incredulous nation, and in defence of the this effusion of the Holy Spirit, Peter argues, that truth:" Dr. Whitby gives nearly the same inter- this Jesus was by God made Lord and Christ; and pretation of this important paragraph; remarking || that the Jews had crucified that holy and just One, that the original word, πapakλntos, here used, signi- | whom the Father hath glorified, Acts ii. 36; and iii 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 16 qu*A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 13 Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, she will guide you into all truth for he 17 Then said some of his disciples among shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will || A little while, and ye shall not see me and show you things to come. again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive || Because I go to the Father? of mine, and shall show it unto you. 18 They said therefore, What is this that he 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: || saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. • Acts xxvi. 18.—P Luke x. 18; Chap. xii. 31; Eph. ii. 2 Col. ii. 15; Heb. ii. 14.9 Mark iv. 33; 1 Cor. iii. 2; Heb. v. 12.———— Chap. xiv. 17; xv. 26.————3 Chap. xiv. 26; 1 John ii. 20, 27. || 13, 14. Of judgment—He will convince them of my being invested with a power of executing judgment; because the prince of this world-The great || head of the apostacy, is now, as it were, already judged and condemned, and shall be triumphed over in a very remarkable manner, when his oracles are silenced, and he is cast out from many persons and countries also, which he before possessed. Whence || it may appear that all who belong to his kingdom, and choose rather to serve him than Christ, their lawful Prince and Judge, shall be condemned with him. || treasures of the Father's wisdom, power, and goodness, truth, justice, mercy, and grace are mine; yea, in me dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Could any mere creature say this? things to come—His revelation shall be so full and complete, that he will discover unto you all such future events as you may be any way concerned to know. He shall glorify me-He shall do me great honour in this respect, that all his revelations to you shall be perfectly conformable to the doctrines which I have taught you in person; for he shall receive of mine-Or of those doctrines which relate to me, and those benefits which I procure and bestow; and will show it unto you-In the most clear and attractive light; will enable you clearly to understand the doctrines, and will assure you of your Verses 12-15. I have yet many things to say unto || possession of the benefits, manifesting to you at the you-There are many other things concerning || same time their unspeakable excellence. All things which I must give you information. But ye cannot || that the Father hath are mine-Be not surprised bear them now—But the weakness of your under- that I said, he shall receive of mine; for all the standing, your desire and expectation of my erecting a temporal kingdom, your prejudices in favour|| of your own nation and law, and your aversion to the Gentiles, are so great, that you cannot yet bear the || discovery. For which reason I judge it more pru- Verses 16-22. A little while-When I am dead dent to be silent for the present. The things which || and buried; and ye shall not see me—I shall not our Lord had in view probably concerned his pas-converse with you on earth, as I have hitherto done; sion, death, resurrection, and the consequences of and again-For your encouragement and comfort, it; the abrogation of the ceremonial law, the aboli- || I assure you it will be but a little while longer, and tion of the whole Jewish economy, the doctrine of || ye shall see me-And that to your much greater justification by faith without the deeds of the law, || comfort and advantage; because I go to the Father the rejection of the Jews, and the reception of be- -When I shall be so mindful of your interest with lieving Gentiles, without subjecting them to the law || him, as, ere long, to bring you to an eternal abode of Moses. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, with him. Then said some, What is this that he (so called on account of his office,) is come-Ac-|| saith-The terms in which Jesus had spoken of his cording to the promise I have given you; he will || death, resurrection, and ascension, being very obguide you into all truth-All necessary truth: so || scure, the disciples were altogether at a loss to unthat you will sustain no loss by my not discovering || derstand them. Wherefore, having revolved them these things to you now; for when the Comforter a while in their own minds, they asked one another comes, he will inspire you with the knowledge of privately if they could comprehend what he meant. them, and of every other matter necessary for you || But each of them declared, with a kind of astonishto understand. For he shall not speak of himself, ment, that he could affix no idea to his words at all. &c.-That you may have the greater confidence in, || Jesus, observing their perplexity, and knowing that and satisfaction from, the revelations which he shall they inclined to ask him about this matter, preventmake to you, know that he shall speak to you by ed them, by signifying that he knew what they had my direction, revealing to you nothing but what he been saying. He therefore said, Do ye inquire is commissioned to discover. And he will show you among yourselves of that I said, A little while, &c. || Jesus encourages his disciples A. M. 4037. A. D. 33. 23 * And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. a Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were || joice, and your joy no man taketh A. M. 4037. desirous to ask him, and said unto from you. them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me : and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? || 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 × A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and 2 your heart shall re * Isa. xxvi. 17.—y Verse 6.——” Luke xxiv. 41, 52; Chap. xiv. 1, 27; xx. 20; Acts ii. 46; xiii. 52; 1 Pet. i. 8.* Fifth Sunday after Easter, gospel, verse 23 to the end. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy || may be full. || --I will explain myself upon this point: Verily, I|| nifies, to present a request, as the other word does say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament-When | to make inquiry, or ask questions. Hitherto ye have ye see me dead; but the world shall rejoice-Your || asked nothing in my name-Not having been used not seeing me is an event which shall occasion great to regard me under the character of a Mediator begrief to you, and joy to my enemies. However, || tween God and man; but then, having received a your sorrow shall be turned into joy-When ye see || fuller revelation of the doctrine of my intercession, me risen. A woman when she is in travail hath || you may come with a cheerful boldness to the throne sorrow, &c.-"The state of mind you shall be in of grace, and freely ask whatever shall be necessary, when the events happen of which I am speaking, I || or conducive to the success of your great undercannot better describe than by comparing it to the taking, or your support and comfort amidst your condition of a woman in travail. During her labour temporal discouragements; and, I assure you, you she hath exquisite pain, because the birth approaches; || shall receive such gracious answers as will exceedbut as soon as she is delivered, she forgets the an- ingly increase your joy. guish she was in, being filled with joy that she has Verses 25-28. These things-Though very weighty brought one of the human species into the world. and important; have I spoken unto you in proverbs Just so, you, my disciples, will be in the greatest || —In the obscurity of parables, which have appeared distress during the time of my departure. But, as || dark and mysterious to you; but the time cometh, I am to rise again from the dead, and to ascend into || &c.-You may comfort yourselves with this thought, heaven, you will forget your sorrow, and rejoice ex- that the time is at hand when I shall speak unto you ceedingly; and from that time forth your joy shall || no more in proverbs—No more in that obscure manbe of such a kind, as that it shall not be in the power || ner; but I shall show you plainly of the Father— of men to rob you of it."-Macknight. Shall, by the teaching of my Spirit, declare to you, || Verses 23, 24. In that day ye shall ask me nothing || in plain terms, the whole counsel of God relating to -Еμε 8к εрwтησere dev, you shall not inquire any || the erection of his church and the salvation of men. thing of me, or, as Dr. Campbell renders it, you will || At that day ye shall ask in my name, &c.—I repeat put no questions to me. That is, when I have sent it to you again, that after my ascension you shall the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth, you shall || offer up all your addresses unto the Father, through have no need to ask for information in any thing as || my mediation; I say not that I will pray the Father now you do, or to inquire after the sense of any for you-I do not mean that I will solicit the Father thing suggested to you by the Spirit, as you now || in your behalf, as if he were unwilling to bestow on sometimes ask the meaning of my words. Verily, you the blessings you stand in need of; for the Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father, &c., in my|| Father himself loveth you—In a peculiar manner; name—And if ever you stand in need of instruction, and therefore will be always ready to grant your or assistance, or any other blessing, whether for the requests, and to watch over you with paternal affecpropagation of the gospel or your own salvation, the tion and care; because ye have loved me- ---With sinFather will immediately supply you with it, upon || cerity and fervency; and have believed that I came your asking it in my name. The word airŋonte,|| out from God-As the Messenger of his grace to rendered, ye shall ask, in this latter clause, is differ- men; and have accordingly relied on me with such ent from that used in the former, and properly sig-⇓ steadfastness, that you have ventured your all upon VOL. I. 641 ( 41 ) 8 Jesus promises ST. JOHN. his disciples peace. k A. D. 33. A. M. 4037. 27 d For the Father himself loveth || ask thee: by this h we believe that A. M. 4037. A. D. 33. you, because ye have loved me, and thou camest forth from God. have believed that I came out from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 28 fI came forth from the Father, and am 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come into the world: again, I leave the world, come, that ye shall be scattered, * every man to and go to the Father. 5 his own, and shall leave me alone: and 1yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that min me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. 4 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should m n xiv. 10, 11.-- Isa. ix. 6; Chap. xiv. 27; that belief. And you have therein acted a very pru-|| seems, through the whole of this discourse, Jesus dent and happy part; for indeed I came forth from|| had obviated the objections and answered the questhe Father, and am come into the world—For pur- tions which his apostles were going to propose, or poses of infinite importance to the glory of God and would gladly have proposed to him. Jesus anthe happiness of the human race; again-Having|| swered, Do ye now believe-Are ye now at length finished the work I came to do, I leave the world and fully persuaded that I am the promised Messiah ?-go to the Father-From whom I came, with whom || Be on your guard. Your faith in me is not so firm I shall continually abide, and into whose presence I but it may be shaken. Behold the hour cometh that will shortly conduct you, putting you in possession || ye shall be scattered, &c.—The time is coming, of a more glorious kingdom than you ever expected, || nay, is come already, when every one of you shall or could expect on earth. || Verses 29-32. His disciples-Struck with the correspondence of what he said to what was secretly passing in their own minds; said, Lo, now speakest || thou plainly—We acknowledge that now thou speakest in such a manner as we can easily understand; and speakest no proverb-Usest no obscure form of expression; now we are sure that thou knowest all things-Now, by this further token, even by dis- || cerning our inmost doubts on this subject, we are persuaded that nothing is hid from thee; and thou needest not that any man should ask thee-"By the things which thou hast now spoken to us we clearly || perceive, that thou so perfectly knowest the hearts of men, that in conversing with them thou hast no need that they should tell thee their thoughts, by asking any question. For, although no question is asked thee, thou answerest the thoughts of every one. In short, thy knowledge of our hearts fully convinces us that thou art come from God." It desert me, fleeing wherever you think to be in safety from approaching danger; so that I shall be left singly to encounter mine enemies. Nevertheless, I am not alone, because my Father is with me continually. Verse 33. These things I have spoken, that ye might have peace-"I have said these things to you concerning my departure out of the world, the coming of the Holy Ghost, my resurrection from the dead, the Father's hearing your prayers, and concerning the great trial you are to be exposed to, in order that you may have consolation in the prospect of the benefits you are to receive, and not be terrified when afflictions draw nigh which are to overtake you. The truth is, you shall have great tribulation in this present life, because the malice of men will everywhere pursue you; nevertheless, be not discouraged, rather take heart, by reflecting how, through constancy and patience, I have overcome the malice of the world, and that I am able to make you overcome it in like manner also.”—Macknight. CHAPTER XVII. In this chapter our Lord, having finished his ministry, and given his disciples all the instructions he judged necessary, closes the whole with a solemn prayer to God, asking, (1,) For himself, that he might be reinstated in his original glory with God, 1-5. (2,) For the apostles, that they might be kept from evil through his name, and preserved in unity, 6–16; and that they might be sanctified through the truth, 17-19. (3,) For all believers, that they might be united to the Father, to him, and to one another; that by this love and unity, apparent among them, the world might be brought to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, 20-23. (4,) He prays for all believers, that they might be with him for ever in heaven, and so enjoy the happy effects of such love of the Father as he bore to Christ himself, 24–26. 642 ( 41* ) a |