Revenge upon the Oppreffors of it. And even Chriftians, who have a better and more certain Knowledge of the Methods of Providence, cannot but expect, and are allowed fo to do, that if no Discrimination be made between the Good and the Bad in this Life, yet at least that it fhall be in the next; when Innocence fhall be crowned with Rewards, which fhall be enhanced by Patience in Sufferings; and Violence chaftised with Punishments, which shall be fo much the fharper, if referved entire to another World; if no part of them be inflicted in this. This a faithful Chriftian expects from the Juftice of God; and this the Scripture affureth them, Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompenfe tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled, reft; 2 Thef. i. 6. And God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour; Heb. vi. 10. If then this Justice may be fecurely hoped for from God by all the Members of Mankind; how much more by the Son of God, whofe Perfon was of infinite Dignity, his Sufferings fraught with the highest Aggravations of Mifery, and his Perfecutors guilty of the most enormous Wickedness? That the Juftice of God might be therefore vindicated herein; that Sin might no longer triumph, and Innocence pafs unregarded; God exalted his Son to his own right hand, feated him in the Heavens, gave him Dominion

over all things, crowned him with glory and worship.

The Knowledge of this was published to the World by the Miffion of the Holy Ghoft; by whofe Direction and Affiftance the Apostles openly teftified the Afcenfion of their Lord; and by which all might be convinced what Place and Power Chrift now obtained in Heaven, who could fhower down fuch glorious Gifts and Privileges upon his Followers on Earth. These were fo many undeniable Testimonies that the Malice of his Enemies was defeated, that our Lord was yet alive, fet above their Reach and Infults; and not only fo, but invested with fupreme Majefty and Dominion, able to protect his Church, and punifh his Enemies; that his former Sufferings had not been then more calamitous, than his prefent State was now glorious; that if God had for a Time withdrawn in Appearance his Favour and Protection from his Human Nature, he had now in Recompence exalted it to an eternal Throne in Heaven.

The last Thing of which the Comforter was to reprove or convince the World, was of Judgment; and that for this Reason Ver. 11. Because the prince of this world is judged. It is a Principle even of Natural Religion, that God is the fupreme Judge of the World, and that of invifible as well as vifible Beings. The Devil, who is frequently in Scripture called the prince of

this world, had now for many Ages exercifed an uncontrouled Tyranny in the World: He had withdrawn the far greatest part of Mankind from the Worship of the true God; and caused the Worship of himfelf to become the publick Religion of all Nations, except the Jews. Even the Jews he had often feduced to Idolatry, and Difobedience to the Divine Commands ; and had newly instigated them to imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their Meffias. All these enormous Crimes, this continued Rebellion against God, and particularly the laft and greatest, the Death of Chrift, did require from the Judge of all the World a fevere Punishment; which is therefore cal led Judgment in the Text, because a Sentence proceeding from the Rules of Juftice.

This Sentence was to be executed under the Gospel of Chrift, as we are told above in the xiith, 31. Now is the judgment of this world; now Jhall the prince of this world be caft out. The Execution of it was to be performed by the Preaching of the Gofpel, which fhould deftroy the Powers of Hell, free Men from the Captivity of Sin, and withdraw the World from the Worship of Devils. This to those proud Spirits, was the sharpest Punishment which could poffibly be inflicted; and this was begun by the Miffion of the Holy Ghost, and carried on and compleated by the Gifts

and

and Graces derived down, and continued to the Church from his bleffed Influence.

From the Bleffings of this Day it was, that the Apostles received Abilities and Courage to preach the Gospel to the uttermoft Parts of the Earth, to beat down the ftrong Holds of Sin, to ruin the Power of Satan, to turn Men to the Knowledge and Obedience of God. From the Continuation of these Bleffings the Church hath been always defended from the fecret and open Affaults of these infernal Spirits; the Governors and Minifters of the Church have been enabled to preach the Truth, and difcharge their Office fuccefsfully; and all the Members of the Church have been established in the Faith, and fupported against all the Temptations of wicked Spirits. So eminently did God upon this Day exercise Judgment upon the Prince of this World, that thenceforward his Kingdom continually decreased, his Oracles were filenced, his Altars abandoned, his Worship relinquifhed, his Difciples diminished, until a glorious Church was founded in all Parts of the Earth; which by a folemn Engagement, (her Vow in Baptifm) profeffeth Enmity

unto him.

Upon all these Accounts did the Holy Ghoft, as a moft faithful Advocate, at his firft Miffion, plead the Caufe of Christ against his Adverfaries, whether the Devil, or the Jews his Perfecutors: And upon the

fame

fame accounts doth that bleffed Spirit, who was promifed to remain with the Church till the end of the World, and execute the Office of Advocate till the Confummation of all things, ftill continue to plead the Cause of Christ against all his Enemies; and that he fhould do fo, is highly requifite.

The Devil still affaults the Church by open Force, or fecret Temptations; and to these the Holy Spirit oppofeth his Gifts and Graces: Infidels and Hereticks ftill profefs Unbelief to the Doctrines of it; and to these he opposeth the fame Arguments of Conviction, which were before manifefted to have proceeded from his Miffion. All thefe remain yet in their full force. Lastly, Even in the Bofom of the Church, among the Profeffors of Christianity, are many to be found, against whom it is neceffary that the Holy Spirit fhould ftill plead the Cause of Chrift, which they difcredit by their Sins, and blafpheme by their Lives, crucifying afresh the Lord of life, and putting him to an open fhame: In that, no lefs guilty than all those Enemies of Chrift, which the Holy Ghoft at his first Miffion was to convince.

For did the Jews disbelieve the Doctrine of Chrift, before the undeniable Confirmation added to it in the Mysteries of this day? Thefe Men by their Actions proclaim their Unbelief even after the Reception of this Confirmation. Did the Spirit of God take fo much pains to manifeft the unerring VOL. II. C Juftice