1

Proofs of my Authority, and undeniable Evidence of the Truth of my DoEtrine; and yet wilfully and obftinately perfifting to reject it, because inconfiftent with their Lufts; 'tis plain their difhonouring Me, is a Difhonour done to God himself, and a direct Contempt of his Commands: So that they are utterly inexcufable.

25. But 'tis no Wonder, when Men have given themselves wholly up to be governed by worldly Affections, Paffions and Vices; they should act contrary to all the Reafon and Evidence in the World. For this is but the natural Confequence of obftinate and habitual Wickedness; And hereby is only fulfilled in Me, what holy David long fince prophetically complain'd of, (Pfal. xxxv. 19.) that they hated him without a Cause.

26. Nevertheless, notwithstanding all this Oppofition that wicked and incorrigible Men will make against my Doctrine, there will not be wanting abundantly powerful Promoters of it, who fhall effectually overcome all Oppofition. For the Comforter, whom I faid I will fend you from Heaven, even That Spirit of Truth which cometh forth and is fent from the Father, fhall, when he comes, with wonderful Efficacy bear Teftimony to the Truth of my Doctrine, and caufe it to fpread through the World with incredible Succefs.

27. Nay, and ye your felves alfo, though now fo weak, fearful and doubting; fhall then very powerfully bear Teftimony to the Truth of all the things, whereof ye, having been all along prefent with me, have been Eyewitnefles from the Beginning.

CHAP. XVI.

Perfecution and Oppofition must be expected, ver. 1. The Promife of the Holy Ghoft, ver. 7. And the Effect of its coming, ver. 8. The Difciples terrified at the Thoughts of Jefus's Departure, ver. 17. But comforted with the Promife of his Returning, ver. 20. And of God's Readiness to hear their Prayers in his Name, ver. 23.

1.

TH

HUS have I warned you before-hand, of the Oppofition and Perfecution ye muft expect to meet with in the World; that, when it comes, ye may not be furprized and terrified, fo as to be difcouraged thereby from perfifting in the Performance of your Duty.

2&3. Ye muft expect particularly, that the Chief Priests and Rulers of the Jews, Men of great Hypocrifie and Superftition, zealous for their Ceremonies and ritual Traditions, but carelefs to know or obey the Will of God in Matters of great and eternal Obligation, and invincibly prejudiced against the Spiritual Holinefs and Purity of my Doctrine; will excommunicate you, as Apoftates; and caft you out of all their Societies, as the vileft of Malefactors. Nay, to fuch an abfurd Height of Malice will their Superftition carry them, that they will even fancy they promote the Service of God and the Caufe of Religion, when they most barbarously murder and deftroy you.

4. But I have warned you of all this before-hand, that ye may prepare and fortifie your felves against it; and that, ber I foretold it to you, when it comes to pass, ye may rememand in Me may thereby be strengthned. I your Faith

did

did not indeed tell you particularly of thefe Things at the Beginning, when you firft followed me and became my Difciples; because then I was to continue with you my self in Person, and to fupport you in all Things by my immediate Prefence. But now, being about to leave you, I think it neceffary to acquaint you what things are likely to come upon you after my Departure, and alfo at the fame Time what Comfort ye may expect to fupport you

under them.

5 & 6. Now the melancholy Part of what I tell you; namely, that I must depart from you, and that great Temptations will befal you in my Abfence; Abfence; this, indeed, ye readily apprehend, and fuffer your Hearts to be overwhelmed with Grief for it. But the comfortable Part of my Difcourfe; namely, that my Departure is only in order to return to Him that fent Me, and that I will foon after fend you the Holy Spirit, and what other Advantages to you will be confequent thereupon; this ye confider not, nor are inquifitive about it.

tell

7. But now, if ye would attend, I you the Truth plainly: So far are ye from having Reafon to be dejected thus at the Thoughts of my Departure, that on the contrary 'tis really profitable and expedient for you that I fhould depart at this Time. For fuch is the Order and Difpenfation of Providence towards you, and the Appointment of my Father's eternal and All-wife Counfel; that, before I go and take Poffeffion of my Kingdom, the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, cannot be fent unto you; but when I am departed from you, and have all Power in Heaven and Earth committed unto me, then I fhall fend him to you.

come, he will reprove the world of fin, and of righteouf nefs, and of judg

ment:

8 And when he is 8. And when he comes, he fhall abundantly fupport and comfort you under all your Troubles; fhall powerfully plead your Cause against your Adverfaries; and fhall with wonderful Efficacy caufe the Doctrine of the Gospel to spread and prevail in the World against all Oppofition. Particularly, he shall in a most extraordinary and convincing Manner, make the World fenfible, of the Greatness and Heinoufness of a Sin they were not aware of, of the Righteousnefs and Justice of a Difpenfation they did not understand, and of the Execution of a moft remarkable Judgment which they did not expect.

9 Of fin, because they believe not on

me;

10 Of righteousnefs, because I go to my Father, and ye

fee me no more.

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

9. Firft; By wonderfully attefting and confirming the Truth of my Doctrine, with the Gift of Tongues, and other wonderful Signs; He fhall convince the World of the Greatness and Heinoufness of their Sin, in disbelieving and rejecting Me.

10. Secondly; By demonftrating, that my Departure out of the World, was not perifhing and dying, but only a returning to my Father, in order to be invested with all Power both in Heaven and in Earth; He fhall convince the World of the Righteousness and Juftice of my Caufe, and of the Excellency of that Difpenfation which I preached and declared unto Mankind.

11. Lastly; By mightily destroying the Power of the Devil and the Dominion of Sin, and propagating the Doctrine of true Religion in the World with wonderful Efficacy and Succefs; He fhall convince Men of my Power and Authority to execute Judgment upon my Enemies, for the Eftablifhment of my Kingdom upon Earth.

12. There

*

Such as 12. There are yet many other the taking Things, hereafter to be done, in Relaaway the tion to the Settling and Eftablishing of Jewish my Church; which, if it were proper, CeremoI could now acquaint you with. But nial Law, &c. ye are not yet prepared to understand and receive them.

13. But when the Spirit of truth, whom I promifed you, is come; He fhall enlarge your Understandings, and remove your Prejudices, and inftruct you in all necessary and divine Truths; to enable you to go through that great Work, which I have begun in Perfon, and which I fhall carry on by your Ministry. For the Spirit is not to begin any new Work, or to set upon any new Doctrine of Himself. But as I have taught you, only my Father's Will; fo the Spirit fhall inftruct you, only in my Father's and my Will, and in Things neceffary to promote and carry on the fame Design.

14. Every Thing that He does, fhall be only in order to manifeft my Glory, and establish my Religion in the World: Even as every Thing that I have done, has been only to manifeft my Father's Glory, and reveal hisWill to Mankind. For, as all that I have taught, is only what I received from my Father; fo all that the Spirit fhall teach you, is only what he receives from Me.

15. Whatsoever, I fay, the Spirit shall teach you, is only what he receives from me. For, receiving from my Father, I call receiving from me; and teaching His Will, is teaching mine: Seeing all Things that the Father has, are common to me; and all Power and Dominion is by him committed to me.

3

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can

not bear them now.

13 Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth for he fhall not speak of himfelf; but whatfoever he fhall hear, that shall he speak, and he will fhew you things to come.

14 He fhall glorifie me: for he shall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath, are mine: therefore said I, that he fhall take

of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you.

16 And