Christ is hated without a cause.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not

had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is

come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

LECTURE 337.

Consolations under enmity.

It seems scarcely to be believed that One so gracious and good as our blessed Lord should have been hated by those amongst whom He lived. But hear what he saith Himself: "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." The works of Christ gave proof to the beholders of who He was, and who was his Father. So that in hating Him they must have known, or might have known, whom they hated; they knew sufficiently to know that they were sinning, to be conscious that they were sinning against God. And how could it be that any one hated Christ? The reason is, that they who love sin are at enmity with every thing, and with every one, that is good. Especially are they at enmity with those whose words or actions are a reproof unto themselves. Thus the miracles and preaching of Jesus convicted the unbelieving Jews of sin. Thus the zeal and piety which it is our duty to make manifest, will be sure, if we are zealous and pious as we ought to be, sure to bring on us the hatred of the world. For though all with whom we dwell are now Christians in profession, and all, or nearly all, baptized into the faith and service of Christ, yet are there many of these Christians who love to sin, many who are at enmity with God, many

who are, therefore, still of the world, many who still hate them that are of Christ.

We, therefore, if we are like minded with our Saviour, if it be the purpose of our will to fulfil his pleasure, if it be the study of our hearts to be what we profess, and to save our souls alive, we must not wonder, any more than the apostles, if the world bate us. We must call to mind, if we are thus hated, that the world hated first our Saviour Christ. We must console ourselves with thinking, that this very hatred, if we are not worldly minded, is a proof that we are not of the world, but have been chosen in Christ out of the world. And why should we be disheartened at persecution, when we consider what Christ Himself endured? when we remember that "the servant is not greater than his Lord ?” Why should we despair at the indifference of the world to all that we can say or do for good, when we call to mind how little they have kept his word? All these things they do unto us for his name's sake, if only we be really believing in his name, and truly walking in the ways of his commandments. All these things they do in ignorance of God; which ignorance, though wilful, and therefore no cloke for their sin, is yet a strong motive for us to forgive their hatred, and to be contented under it. All these things are but a fulfilment of what is written in the Scripture. We should neither be surprised nor dejected at having that happen to us, which we are assured of beforehand, which we know that God knows of long before, and which we may be sure He permits for greater good. For so also it was said of our Lord Himself; "They that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty." Ps. 69. 4.

Only let us take heed that we give no cause for the hatred of the world. Let us be watchful that we never provoke persecution, that we take no pride in being persecuted, that we seek rather to be beloved than hated, that we give no one heedlessly any manner of offence. Let the servant herein follow the example of his Master, who took pains not to provoke but to conciliate his enemies; not to encounter, but to avoid their malice. For what can be more opposite to a Christian spirit than to provoke our brother to do wrong, with a view to our own supposed profit by his ill doing? We ought rather to be concerned that he should sin, than glad that we ourselves are sinned against. We ought to be content to suffer when we must, but anxious to escape when conscientiously we may. We ought to administer unwelcome but wholesome counsel, in such a spirit of meekness, gentleness, and love, as shall win the souls of others, besides delivering our own. We ought to make our light shine before men, not with that vain glory, at which they close their eyes, but with that pleasant and profitable radiance which will at once shew them our good works, and glorify our Father which See Matt. 5. 16.

is in heaven.

PART II.

Tt

Christ promiseth to send the Comforter.

I These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

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

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

5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you

asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, 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, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 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;

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

no more ;

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

LECTURE 338.

The offices of the Holy Ghost.

Our Lord here tells his disciples both what they would have to suffer, and his reasons for warning them beforehand. These were, first, that they should not be offended; secondly, that when the time should come, they might remember that He had warned them. It is profitable then for us also to know, that what here we suffer is no more than what our Lord has foretold. It may prevent our being made to stumble, if we are aware of what offences are in our path. It may help us in bearing the cross of Christ, if we are aware that He warned us we must bear it. To be disciples of Christ in the very heart is not the sure road to worldly wealth, or ease, or peace. It will indeed give within a heavenly composure; but without it often exposes us to tribulation and anxiety, to hatred and scorn and persecution. Do we wonder that our Saviour, Lord as He is of heaven and earth, has secured no better lot for his disciples? It may be strange, but it is no more than He has forewarned us. He was Himself aware that such would be the case. He has told us, in order that we might be aware of it. He held out no delusive hopes of unmingled happiness on earth. And the very certainty which we have hence of his knowing all the future, convince us that He knows in all things what is best.

should

The suffering here spoken of by Christ was to be fulfilled on the disciples as soon as He should go away from them. And at these tidings their hearts were so filled with sorrow that they could not

so much as ask Him, "Whither goest thou ?" Yet it was expedient, it was profitable, that He thus should go away. For on his departure Ĥe engaged to send both to them and to us the Holy Ghost, here called the Comforter. And so excellent a gift is here intended, that our Lord tells us, that for the sake of the coming of the Comforter, it was good for us that He Himself should go. Could any thing more clearly shew that the Holy Ghost and the Son are distinct persons, than that one would not come till the other had departed? Could any thing more clearly prove that the Son and the Holy Ghost are equal, than that it is good for us that one should go in order that we may have the gift of the other? Be with us then, blessed Comforter, in all our troubles and adversities; be with us, thou Holy Spirit, in all our trials and temptations! Be to us all that Christ was when on earth, all that we can need now that He is gone up to heaven!

And let us next see what the Comforter was to do, what it is that He has done, for the world and for the church. "When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment." This must be a great blessing both for the world and for the disciples of Christ. For, if the world be convinced of sin, by reason of its unbelief, if it be convinced that unbelief is sin, nay if it be only convicted though not convinced, it is made manifest at the same time by the Comforter that, for as many as believe there is justification, they are justified before God by faith through Christ. And thus does the Comforter reprove the world of righteousness; proving, whether we will hear, or whether we will forbear; proving, by the ascension of Jesus Christ, by his going to the Father, that He whom they slew was the Holy One and the Just, a man too good for earth, a God, the Lord of heaven. And of judg ment also does the Comforter put the world in mind, in reproof of all love of earthly things; "because the prince of this world is judged," because Satan is fallen like lightning from heaven; see Luke 10. 18; because the many cases in which good now prevails against evil, prove that in the last day it will be triumphant. These things did the Comforter when first He came to the apostles. These things He has continued ever since to do. These things He has done by the inspired volume, written by holy men of old, "as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. 1. 21. These things He has done by the growth of Christianity in the world, and by the growth of piety in the church. These things may He do by his influence in our hearts; by turning our thoughts from sin to righteousness, from the praise of men to the judgment seat of Christ.

Christ has yet many things to say to the disciples.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

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 you things to come.

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

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

16 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.

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.

19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire 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 your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. LECTURE 339.

Of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. There are several proofs that the apostles were men deeply prejudiced with the mistakes prevailing amongst the Jews. And this was the reason that they could not at this time bear the many things which Jesus had yet to say to them. Such for instance were the abolishing of the ceremonial law, the calling of the Gentiles, the atonement to be made by his death, and justification through faith in his blood. On these things, and others like to these, Christ could not with so much profit discourse to them at any length, till they had been prepared by the gifts of the Holy Ghost. And this doubtless is the reason that these things are only hinted at in the Gospels, but argued and explained at great length in the Epistles. They are things which Jesus had to say to the apostles, which they could not bear, were not fitted to hear, before his death, and which afterwards the Holy Ghost revealed by them to the Christian church.

For this was done by the Holy Spirit of God, here called "the Spirit of truth." He it was who guided the first preachers of the gospel, and the writers of the Christian oracles, "into all truth."