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He said these things, that they might not desert him and his cause, for any hardships, or persecutions; which he here forewarns them they were to expect.

2. They shall put you out of the synagogue: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

This is always the pretence for persecution. This mistaken thought exposes the best men, in every age of the world, to the rage and malice of the worst: and those who serve God least in other respects, are the forwardest to do it effectually in this.

3. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

With respect to the apostles, we own it to be a clear case, that their persecutors could be no other than godless, christless men. But methinks that what is here said might give some check to this unchristian spirit in all. God does not want to be so served; and so far as any give way to it, they are ignorant of God, and of Christ.

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.

Not having left them to send down the Spirit. He means, that now was the time to apprise them more clearly and fully than ever of the hatred of the world, because they would soon have sufficient support against it, in the spirit with which they should be endowed from on high. Compare ver. 7.

5. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of asketh ine, Whither goest thou?

you

6. But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

As if all their hopes would be gone with him. They were sadly in the dark, and did not yet know how great

a blessing his departure would be to them; and to all the world.

7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

What is this to us, if we do not look for his coming in our own souls? Come, he must, to every one of us, and abide with us, if ever we are made alive unto God. Let us hear what his office is in the next words.

8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me

no more;

Unbelief is total ignorance of God, and ourselves, and it effectually keeps us from God. It is all blindness in the heart, and all perverseness in the will; and besides its own sinfulness, it binds all other sins upon us, and leaves us under their power. Has the Spirit been at work with us here? Has he convinced us of sin, and showed us how the guilt of it is to be taken away?

The Spirit will convince men of "righteousness,” what it is; that is, of Christ's righteousness, which is accepted of God, and imputed to believers. We must have a perfect righteousness wherein to appear before God, and there never was a perfect righteousness, but His. "Because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." Christ's being in heaven, and sending down the Spirit, would be full proof to the world of his righteousness, and of God's approbation of him, notwithstanding his sufferings as a malefactor.

11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

He must quit his possession of us, and yield to Christ. And the devil is only so far judged in us, as we suffer the Spirit to sit in judgment upon our lusts, and to purify our hearts.

Upon the whole, mark the order of the Spirit's work, in our conversion. He brings us by conviction of sin to faith, and by faith to holiness. Thousands, alas! never come to the first.

SECTION LXVI.

Chap. xvi. ver. 12-22.

THE SPIRIT PROMISED.

ye cannot bear

12. I have yet many things to say unto you, but them now. Alas! how should we, without the same Spirit enabling us?

13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak ; and he will shew

to come.

you things

He will guide not the apostles only, but all, into all saving truth, savingly. "But whatsoever he shall hear," as the Spirit of God, and of Christ, acting from, and in union with them. "And he will shew you things to come." We may warrantably apply this to ourselves, in respect to the invisible things, and future glories of another world, set home upon our hearts.

14. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Observe, "of mine;" the things of Christ; the things which belong to our everlasting peace. This is the knowledge which concerns us, and for which the Spirit is given. He could have shown them the same things, and everything himself; but, behold, without the Spirit's showing, and effectual working, it would have been in vain. Why do

we know little, and do less, but because we do not put ourselves into the hands of the Holy Spirit? What is our great purpose, and daily prayer?

15. All things that the Father hath, are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Hence, therefore, our trust must be equally in the Father, and the Son.

16. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again a little while, and shall see me, ye because I go to the Father.

To manifest himself more fully to them than ever, by the Spirit. They saw him before his ascension, both in his person and power, but did not see him in his power in themselves. This sight of him contains every blessing of the gospel, this they could not have till after his departure, and this we may have to our unspeakable comfort, as well as the apostles.

17. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

18. They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

We cannot possibly have a more lively representation of the state of mankind, without the Spirit, and before the Spirit was given, than in the dulness and slowness of the disciples.

19. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto 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 shall see me?

ye

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 your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from

you.

The different states, and ends of the world, and believers, are worthy of remark. A Christian is in sorrow, but it is in order to joy, which naturally springs out of it, as the joy of a mother from the pains of child-bearing. The men of the world have their joy first, such as it is, that is, they know nothing of the pains of repentance, but their joy leads to sorrow, and ends in remorse.

SECTION LXVII.

Chap. xvi. ver. 23–33.

PRAYER TO GOD THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

WILL BE ACCEPTED.

23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing; Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

ye

The disciples would want Jesus in his bodily presence, as a resolver of their doubts, after the day of Pentecost; but they would have access to the Father, and in his name be heard, and answered, in everything.

24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

By asking aright, in the name of Christ, for his blessings, and obtaining what they asked. Earth is not so barren of joy, as we think, if we were but in pursuit of the right kind of joy, namely, the joy of Christ's peace, life, and Holy Spirit.

25. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father,

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