320 clxxvi. The Spirit, when he comes, will testify of him. SECT. had no sin; but now they have no excuse or pre- but now they have no tence for their sin, but, being committed against cloak for their sin. so clear and strong a light, it stands exposed in XV. 23, its most odious colours: Yea, it appears re John 23 He that bateth also. 24 If I had not done which none other man have both seen, and bellion against God, as well as ingratitude to me, hateth my Father me; for he that hateth and opposeth me, hateth and opposeth my Father also, whose commission I bear; and this is what they have done, after all reasonable methods have been taken for 24 their conviction. If I had wrought no miracle at all, nay, if I had not done among them among them the works such extraordinary works as no other man ever did, they had not had did, not even their prophets, or Moses himself, sin: but now they they had not had any degree of sin, comparable hated both me and my to that which they are now under; but now, as Father. they have rejected my superior miracles, which they have seen with their own eyes, at the same time that they own the evidence of those which Moses wrought, of which they have heard only by distant report, they manifest such an obstinate perverseness of temper, that I may truly say, they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father; and God himself will justly resent and punish it, as an indignity that shews their 25 enmity to him. But this is all permitted], that the word which is written in their law, or in their sacred volume, concerning David (Psal. xxxv. 19), might eminently be fulfilled in me, as many ancient prophecies foretold that it should, "Surely they have hated me without a causei." 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom, as I told you (chap. xiv. 26), I will shortly send to They would have had no sin.] It is so evident from the word of God (see Rom. i. 20, 21. and ii. 12-15), as well as from the reason of things, that sin may be imputed to those who have no revelation, that it is most evident this is only a hebraism; as when, according to the pathetic manner of speaking, especially in use among the eastern nations, that is said to be nothing at all which, when compared with something else, is inconsiderably small. See Psal. xxxix. 5. Isa. xl. 17. I Cor. i. 28. iii. 7. and compare John ix. 41. h Hateth my father also.] How much it is to be wished that those who make light of Christ, while they pretend a great veneration for the Father, would seriously attend to this weighty admonition, lest haply they be found even to fight against God! (Acts v. 39.) you 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word is written in their law, might be fulfilled that They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send un to i They have hated me without a cause.] It appears to me very evident that Psal. xxxv. cannot be, strictly speaking, a prophecy concerning the Messiah, especially from ver. 13, 14, which represent a person incapable of helping others in their sickness, otherwise than by fasting and prayer, whereas Christ (and, so far as we can find, he alone) had a power of working miracles whenever he pleased. Nevertheless, that the encinies of the Messiah should hate him without a cause was expressly foretold (Isa. liii. 3-9. Dan. ix. 26. and Zech. xii. 10.) not to mention the argument arising from comparing all the places in which his innocence and holiness are described, with those which refer to his sufferings. So that I apprehend the turn given in the paraphrase sufficiently justified, testify of me. Reflections on the world's hatred of Christ, &c. 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 321 clxxvi. to you from the Father, you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, SECT. even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, and is to reside which proceedeth from the Father, he shall in my church, he shall bear a convincing testi- John mony to me, to vindicate my character from all XV. 26. the infamy they are maliciously attempting to throw upon it. And you also, weak as you 27 now appear, shall by his powerful assistance bear a courageous and convincing testimony to me, because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry, and therefore are the best qualified to give an account of my whole conduct; which the better it is known, the more it will justify my cause, and expose the wickedness of those that rise up against me. IMPROVEMENT. THE Son of God condescends to speak under the character of Ver. a Friend; and with what humble gratitude should we attend to 15 his words! He lays aside the majesty of a sovereign to assume this more tender relation; and surely our overflowing hearts must inquire, blessed Jesus, what shall we do to express the friendship on our side? Let us observe what he has here declared, Ye are myl friends indeed, if ye do whatever I command you. Lord, we will run the way of these thy commandments, when on this noblest principle thou shalt enlarge our hearts! (Psal. cxix. 32.) He has loved us with an unexampled affection, which has ap- 12, 13 proved itself stronger than death; and, in return, he requires us to love one another. How gracious a command! How merciful to our fellow-creatures and to ourselves, who should infallibly feel the benefit of the practice of it, both in the delight inseparable from benevolent affections, and in the circulation of kind and friendly offices, which, degenerate as human nature is, few are so abandoned as not to endeavour to repay! Who would not imagine that the whole world should feel and obey the charm? And yet, instead of this, behold, they hate Christ, and his ser- 18, 25 vants for his sake, though without a cause, and against the strongest engagements. Miserable creatures! who by a necessary consequence, whatever they may fondly imagine, hate the Father also, 23, 24 and stand daily and hourly exposed to all the dreadful terrors of an almighty enemy. Let us not wonder if the world hate us; nor greatly regard if 19, 20 it injure us. We are not of the world, nor is the servant greater than his lord: but surely the opposition which the gospel brings along with it, is nothing when compared with those blessings which it entails on all who faithfully embrace it. Were the suf ferings 322 Christ warns his disciples to expect persecution. SECT. ferings and difficulties a thousand times greater than they are, we clxxvi. ought to esteem the Pearl of price, the most happy purchase at any Ver, rate; and to be daily returning our most thankful acknowledg ments, that Christ sent forth his apostles, qualified with such a knowledge of himself, and assisted by such power from his Spirit, 26 appointing them to go and bring forth fruit, even fruit which should remain to the remotest ages. Through his guardian care it still remains in the world: Oh may it flourish more abundantly among us! and may its efficacy on our hearts and lives be more apparent! And may Divine Grace convince those who now reject and oppose it, that in the midst of such various evidence of 22 his having come and spoken to them, they have no cloak for their sin! but with whatever fond excuses they may amuse themselves and others, it will quickly appear, that the bed is too short to stretch themselves on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap themselves in. (Isa. xxviii. 20.) SECT. John SECT. CLXXVII. Christ warns his disciples of the sufferings they must expect, and JOHN XVI. 1. offended. JOHN XVI. 1. HRIST farther added in his discourse to his THESE things have I CH spoken unto you, clxxvii. disciples, These things I have spoken to you that ye should not be concerning the opposition which you are to exXVI. 1. pect from the world, and the proportionable supports you will receive from the Spirit, that when the storm arises, you may not be offended and discouraged, and much less be drawn to renounce your profession, in order to avoid the 2 danger. They shall indeed excommunicate, or cast you out of the synagogues; yea, that is not all, for the hour is shortly coming, that whosoever that whosoever killeth killeth you, shall think that he offers [an accept a Whosoever killeth you.] As the lower kinds of excommunication among the Jews were attended only with separation from synagogueworship, and from familiar converse (Luke vi. 22), or, in cases of greater guilt, with confiscation of goods and forfeiture of all their substance (Ezra x. 8), the highest kind of it was a capital sentence (Lev. xxvii. 29); the execution of which, when regu able] 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, you, They lamented his going, but it was for their advantage. doth God service. 3 And these things because they have not know the Father, nor ше. 323 clxxvii. you, will think that he able] service to God; to so mad a rage shall SECT. their zeal arise, and so thick is the darkness with which their minds are veiled. And all these John will they do unto you, cruel things they will do unto you, because they XV1 3. have not known either the Father, or me: which if they had done, instead of injuring me, and exercising such inhumanities towards you, my apostles, they would have received us with the greatest pleasure and thankfulness. But I have 4 have I told you, that spoken these things plainly to you, and forewarnwhen the time shall ed you of them, that when the season comes in ber that I told you of which they shali happen, you may remember them. And these that I told you of them; and so may turn what you at the beginning, has so discouraging an aspect into a further because I was with confirmation of your faith. And I did not 4 But these things come, ye may remem things I said not unto you. 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither Joest thou? 6 But because I have Baid these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. indeed say these things to you from the beginning to the high priest, as if it were meritorious rather than criminal; (Acts xxiii. 14, 15). And to such sort of facts these words of our Lord may peculiarly relate.—Permit me to digress so far as to add, that I apprehend, in other cases, after they were thus disarmed of the power of life and death, they had (as I may elsewhere prove) a dependance upon the interposition of providence to add that efficacy to their censures which their power, infringed as it was, could not give: in reference to which this highest sentence of excommunication was in the decline of their state called Anathema Maran-atha, or a sentence which the Lord would remarkably come to execute, though they themselves could not carry it into effect. St. Paul therefore, with a peculiar beauty and propriety (but never, so far as I can find, fully explained), applies it to a crime not capable of conviction before any human judges; even the want of a sincere love to Christ, VOL. VII. But though under a Christian profession. See b Shall think that he offers [an acceptable] S s He 324 SCECT. The Spirit will convince of sin, righteousness, and judgment. But I tell you the exact truth of the case, when 7 Nevertheless I tell lxxvii. I say that it is on the whole advantageous to you the truth; it is expedient for you that I John you, as well as proper for me, that I should go go away, for if I go XVI. 7. away, considering the agreement made between not away, the Comfor the Father and me in the counsel of peace be- ter will not come unto 8 And when he is display the efficacy of his grace, not only in the the world of sin, and 9 Of sin, because 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Fa ther, and ye see me no more: 9 ment. He will convince the world of that e He will convince the world.] So the word hy properly significs. Compare John vii. 9. 46. 1 Cor. xiv. 24. Tit. i. 9. 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. |