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ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONOURS IS TO BE MADE ACQUAINTED WITH THE PURPOSES OF GOD, AS REVEALED IN THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES.

JOHN XV. 12-.6.

12 that my joy xapan eun might-remain in you, and that your joy might-be-full. This is my commandment evroλnn eun, That ye-love one-another, as I-have-loved you. 13 Greater love hath no-man than-this, that a-man lay-down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye-do whatsoever I command you. 15, Henceforth- I-call you-not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I-have-called you friends; for all-things that I-have-heard of my Father I-have-made-known unto-you. 16 Ye have-not-chosen eseλekao me, but I have-chosen you, and ordained enkα you, that ye should-go and bring-forth fruit, and that your fruit should-remain: that whatSCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jno. xv. 11. my joy, &c.-ch. xvi. 24, infra, p. 396; xvii. 13, infra, p. 402; 1 Jno. i. 4. 12. my commandment, &c.-see on ch. xiii. 34, p. 374. 13. Greater love hath, &c.-1 Jno. iii. 16, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:'-so iv. 9, 10-see also Jno. iii. 16, $ 12, p. 86; x. 11, .8, § 55, pp. 115, ..7; Rom. v. 7, 8; Eph. v. 2; 1 Pe. iii. 18.

14. friends-Abraham, who believed in the Lord,' Ge. xv. 6, having also acted according to the law of love, xiii. 8, 9; xiv. 22-.4; xviii. 1-8- was called the Friend of God,' Ja. ii. 23-see Is. xli. 8.

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16. Ye have not, &c.-1 Jno. iv. 10, Not that we loved God,' &c.

I have chosen you-Is. xli. 8, 9, But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.' ordained you-The choosing of the twelve apostles is mentioned, Lu. vi. 13-.6, § 27, p. 206-see also Mt. x. 1, § 39, p. 294-Our Lord had before referred xiii. 18, p. 370, supra. to his having chosen them, Jno. vi. 70, § 43, p. 334; that ye should go-Mt. x. 6, § 39, p. 295. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'-See also xxviii. 19, § 96; Mk. xvi. 15, § 98. and bring forth fruit-The gospel, Col. i. 6, 'is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:' and that your fruit should remain-Is. lv. 11, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the NOTES.

15. friends; for all, &c.-Ge. xviii. 17, The LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;'-Ps. xxv. 14, The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.'

have made known, &c. ch. xvii. 8, 26, p. 400, infra-When the Lord, Psa. cxlvii. 2, 'gathereth together the outcasts of Israel,' it will be said, ver. 11,The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.'-19, 20, He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation:"

[Jno. xv. 11. That my joy, &c. That is, as the best commentators explain, "that my joy in you [at your love, faith, and obedience] may be enduring, and that your joy [continuing in my love] may be complete and perfect."-See ch. xvi. 24, 33, p. 396; xvii. 13, p. 401; 1 Jno. i. 4; 2 Jno., ver. 12. Xapà iv bui denotes "joy felt on your account," and is distinguished from xapà suv.'-Bloomf.]

12. This is my commandment. The peculiar law of Christianity, called hence the new commandment.See ch. xiii, 34, p. 374.

As I have loved you. That is, with the same kind of tender affection, willing to endure trials, to practise self-denials, and, if need be, to lay down your lives for each other, 1 Jno. iii. 16.

here (not very clearly developed) may best be expressed by the following paraphrastic version: [I say friends; for] I no longer style you servants, since the servant [differeth from the friend, inasmuch as he] knoweth not what his master is doing (i.e., his plans of action). But you I call friends, [and as such I have treated you,] since whatsoever I have learned from my Father I have made known to you, [thus treating you with the most unreserved confidence,] to establish it.' Our Lord had, indeed, up to this time (agreeably to the custom of the Jewish Rabbins), called them servants, though he had not treated them as such.'-Bloomf.]

freeness with which our Lord had communicated to [All things, &c. Expressing in general terms the the apostles what he had heard from his Father: and not as meaning literally that he had already made by his Father to teach them; for many of these known to them all things which he was commissioned things were kept back from them for the present.Hale.] Comp. ch. xvi. 12; xvii. 26, p. 404.'-Lonsdale and 16. Ye have not chosen me. Ye have not elected me as your Teacher: I have called you to be my disciples; witnesses and depositories of the truth. It was customary among the Jews for every person to choose his own teacher. This is said to excite them to gratitude and obedience, by shewing them that the obligation was all on their side. By his effectual sovereign grace he called them to the honourable office of apostles. Bring forth fruit. That you should be rich in good works; faithful and successful in spreading my PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[13. Greater love, &c. The connection of this verse with ver. 12, will appear from supplying after it some such words as these :-"This love I am about to shew towards you (see NOTE, ch. x. 15, § 55, p. 116), and ye must be prepared to shew the like towards one another."-Comp. I Jno. iii. 16.-Lonsdale and Hale.] It greatly enhances the love of Christ, that while the instances of those who have been willing to die for friends have been so rare, he was willing to die for enemies-bitter foes, who rejected his reign, persecuted him, reviled him, and sought his life, I Jno. iv. 10; Rom. v. 6-10. It also shews us the extent of his love, that he gave himself up, not to common sufferings, but to the most bitter, painful, and protracted, that man had devised, and that he thus suffered, not for himself, not for friends, but for a thoughtless and unbelieving world. [15. Henceforth I call you not, &c. The full sense

[Jno. xv. 12. How kind the commandment of Christ, that we love one another! But ah! how difficult to love, like Him, through life, and even unto death, such erring, faithless creatures as we are. Do we not sometimes find it difficult even to bear with each other? We must look to our Divine Pattern, if we would possess a copy of the love which was, and is, in Christ towards us.]

Can we treat with indifference the friends of Him
who died for us, and who hath directed us to shew
our gratitude unto Him, by our kindness to each
other?
14 ver. It is alone in the way of humble obedience
that we can become truly exalted. Let us shew
that we are indeed the friends of Jesus, by our ac-

13 ver. With what kindness does the Saviour in-knowledging his right to rule over us. troduce his disciples to each other! He calls them 15 ver. See margin.

his friends whom he hath redeemed with his own [16 ver. Be it ours to submit entirely to the disblood. Can they then dislike or despise each other? posal of our Lord, who hath bought us for himself VOL. II.] INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD;-Col. i. 10.

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THE BEST PREPARATION FOR STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES IS A HOLY DEVOTED LIFE; OR BEING IN TRUTH THE FRIENDS OF JESUS.

WHAT OVERWEENING PRIDE WOULD IT BE IN US, TO SUPPOSE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE

JOHN XV. 17-22.

17 soever ye-shall-ask of-the Father in my name, he-may-give it you. These-things I18 command you, that ye-love one-another. If the world hate you, ye-know that it-hated 19 me before it hated you. If ye-were of the world, the world would love his-own To idiov: but because ye-are not of the world, but I have-chosen you out-of the world, therefore 20 the world hateth you. 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 21 they-have-kept my saying, they-will-keep your's also. But all these-things will-they-do 22 unto-you for my name's-sake, because they-know not him that-sent me. If I-had-notcome and spoken unto-them, they-had-not-had sin: but now they-have no cloke

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

thing whereto I sent it.' So lix. 21; lxi. 1-3, -The work must abide the trial by fire, 1 Co. iii. 12-5-1 Jno. ii. 28, Abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.'-2 Jno., ver. 8, Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.'

Jno. xv. 16. that whatsoever, &c.-1 Jno. iii. 22, .3, 'And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,' &c.

18. If the world hate you-see Mt. x. 25, § 39, p. 3001 Jno. iii. 13, Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.'

19. the world would love his own-1 Jno. iv. 5. ye are not of the world-The same recognised, ch. xvii. 14, infra, p. 402.

chosen you out of, &c.-2 Co. vi. 17, Wherefore come out from among them,' &c.-1 Pe. ii. 9, A peculiar people-who must be prepared to suffer for righteousness' sake,' iii. 14-8-and for having separated from the world, iv. 2-6.

20. Remember the word-which he spoke at the time of their appointment to the apostleship, Lu. vi. 40, § 27, p. 209-see also Mt. x. 17, 24, § 39,

pp. 298, 300, The disciple is not above his master,'-
see on Mk. viii. 34, § 50, p. 42, And follow me.'
sought to kill him.'-Lu. xiii. 31, § 66, p. 178, Depart
persecuted me, &c.-ch. vii. 1, § 52, p. 71, The Jews
hence: for Herod will kill thee. The Saviour's
words were soon fulfilled, Ac. v. 17, .8; xii. 1–3.
kept my saying, &c.-They watched Jesus that
they might catch him in his words, Lu. xi. 53, .4, § 62,
p. 157; xx. 20, § 84, p. 296-Fulfilment to the dis-
ciples, Ac. vi. 13, .4.

21. my name's sake, &c.-1 Pe. iv. 12-.4.

know not-Rom. x. 2, 'I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. -1 Co. ii. 8, Which none of the princes of this world knew:'

22. spoken unto them-They had acknowledged the Jno. vii. 46, § 55, p. 96-ix. 41, § ib., p. 113, If ye were superiority of his teaching, Mt. vii. 28,.9, § 19, p. 142; blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.'

no cloke-Lu. xii. 47, § 63, p. 168, That servant, which knew his lord's will,' &c.-As having the light of nature, we are without excuse, Rom. i. 20, .1, 32Much more were the Jews, as being instructed out of the law, ii. 17, .8, 23-see also 2 Pe. ii. 20, .2. NOTES.

gospel. This was the great business to which they
were set apart, and this they faithfully accomplished.
It may be added, that this is the great end for which
Christians are chosen. It is to do good, and to spread
abroad the rich temporal and spiritual blessings
which the gospel is fitted to confer on mankind.
Jno. xv. 18-21. If the world hate you, &c. Having
given the above injunction to mutual love, our Lord
adverts to what would afford an additional argument
for its cultivation, the hatred of the world towards
them; and fortifies them against the persecutions to
which they would be thereby exposed, by the consi-
deration that whatever they may have to endure, is
no more than their Master has endured before them.
19. If ye were of the world. Ee, as it properly de-
notes descent from, so it may very well figuratively
import affinity to. Render,If ye had been of the
world, the world would have loved its own.'
21. Because they know not, &c. our oidaos. Import-

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ing not an involuntary ignorance, but self-produced blindness, as to the true nature of the evidence for a Divine legation. And in all ages and nations, they who know not God, will for this cause hate and persecute those who do.

[22. And spoken unto them. Declared unto them the will of God, and made known his requirements. Jesus had not less by his own arguments shewn that he was the Messiah, and truly commissioned by God, than he had by his miracles. By both these kinds of proof their guilt was to be measured.-See ver. 26. No small part of the gospel of John consists of arguments by the Saviour to convince the Jews that he came from God. He here says if he had not used these arguments, and proved to them his Divine mission, they had not had sin. And this sin, and the punishment to which it exposed them, remain; for they still reject the Lord who bought them.] They had not had sin. That is, their rejection of PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. with his own blood; and unto whose sovereign grace we are to ascribe whatever we are according to the will of God. May we feel that we are given our position, not by our own power, but according to the design of God, that we should be his messengers to the nations.]

[If we desire that God should hear and answer our requests, then let us see that we answer the design of God, in the good of those to whom we are sent, or among whom we are placed: but let not our confidence in prayer be grounded upon our own performances; it is only in the name of Jesus that we can approach our heavenly Father acceptably.]

[Jno. xv. 17. Let us shew the truthfulness of our service to Christ, by our love one to another. Our love one to another can only be maintained by our continuing to bring forth fruit unto God in prayerful dependence upon the supplies of his grace, through the Son of his love.]

The bringing forth fruit by missionary exertion, and otherwise doing good in the world, looking to God for direction and blessing, is the best way for sustaining love among the brethren. If Christians neglect communion with God, and philanthropic

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effort, they will not long enjoy the blessing of brotherly love among themselves.

18, .9 ver. The Christian must not be cast down on account of being hated by the world. Let us look to our Lord, and see what he suffered, although he was perfection itself, and the very Delight of God. [It is expected of even the world, that it love its own. How much more should we esteem and cherish those who are in Christ Jesus, and who require the manifestation of our love the more, on account of their being hated by the world !]

[20 ver. The Christian should not complain, if he suffer the like contempt and persecution from the world which Christ hath suffered for him. After all his forewarnings, are we surprised that we have to follow the Captain of our salvation in painful conflict with the powers of darkness ?]

Our Lord does not approve of his disciples indulging in vain expectations. He would have them so forewarned of opposition and discouragements, as that they may never be disconcerted, and may always have to thank God that their sufferings are so light, and their mercies so many and so great.

[21 ver. Lamentable is the world's ignorance, not
[VOL. II.

LET THEM CURSE, BUT BLESS THOU:-Psa. cix. 28.

EXEMPT FROM THOSE INDIGNITIES TO WHICH THE SON OF GOD WAS FOR OUR SAKES EXPOSED!

LET US REJOICE WITH TREMBLING WHEN WE CONTEMPLATE OUR PRIVILEGES WITH REGARD TO THE GOSPEL.

JOHN XV. 23-.7.

23 popaσ for their sin. He that-hateth me hateth my Father also. 24, If I-had-notdone among them the works which none-other-man did, they-had-not-had sin: but 25 now have-they-both-seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might-be-fulfilled that is-written in their law, They-hated me without-a26 cause dwpeav. 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 27 me and ye also shall-bear-witness, because ye-have-been with me from the-beginning.*

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xv. 23. He that hateth, &c.-1 Jno. ii. 23-Let see on ver. 20-Ps. xxxv. 19, Mine enemies wrongus beware of flattering unbelieving Jews with the fully,' &c.-lxix. 4-9, They that hate me without a idea that they are the people of the God of Abraham, cause,' &c.- cix. 3, Fought against me without a Jno. viii. 44, § 55, p. 106. cause.'-God would not execute the long-threatened 24. works-ch. vii. 31, § 55, p. 94; Ac. ii. 22. wrath until he had utterly left them without excuse, until they had indeed hated him gratuitously, Is. seen-ch. xiv. 9, supra, p. 381, He that hath seen lxv. 2, 6, 7; Mt. xxiv. 34-7, § 86, p. 340. me hath seen the Father;'

and hated, &c.-see ver. 23-so that in them was to be fulfilled the threatening against idolaters, the breakers of the second commandment; and it has been fulfilled in the Jews, notwithstanding their supposed freedom from idolatry-Ex. xx. 5, I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto,' &c.

25. But.... that the word might be fulfilled-The word written in the second commandment as above,

26. the Comforter-see on ch. xiv. 16, supra, p. 383. from the Father-Rom. viii. 15, The Spirit of adop tion, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.'

the Spirit of truth-see ch. xiv. 17, p. 383. shall testify of me-It is the special work of the Spirit to testify of Jesus; and the Spirit of God is by this to be distinguished from the spirit of error, 1 Co. xii. 3; 1 Jno. iv. 2, 3.

27. ye also shall bear witness-see on Lu. i. 2, § 1.

NOTES.

me would not have been laid to their charge. The rejection of the Messiah was the great crowning act of rebellion which brought down the vengeance of God, and led on their peculiar national calamities.

[Jno. xv. 24. But now have they both seen, &c. That is, But now they have seen both me working, and my Father working in me-comp. ch. xiv. 9-11, p. 382and yet have hated and rejected us both; so that they are without excuse.'-Lonsdale and Hale.]

Lord, having in ch. xiv. 16, 26, pp. 383, ..4, told the apostles that, at his desire, the Father would send the Holy Ghost to them here, and in xvi. 7, p. 393, declares that he himself "will send" the Holy Ghost shewing himself to be "in the bosom of the Father"to them "from the Father"-comp. Ac. ii. 33-thus comp. Jno. i. 18, § 7. p. 48-and one in will, power, and nature, with the Father.-See NOTES, ch. i. 1, [§ ib. p. 46].'-Lonsdale and Hale.]

Which proceedeth from the Father. These words, [25. Written in their law. See on ch. x. 34, § 56, p. when taken together with that which is said of the 122. These words are taken from Ps. Ixix. 4. This sending of the Holy Ghost "from the Father," and psalm is applied to Christ, Jno. ii. 17, § 12, p. 81; xix. by both the Father and the Son-see preceding note 28, § 91, p. 467; to the vengeance of God against Ju-shew a perfect unity of nature in the Three Perdæa, Ac. i. 20. The psalm seems entirely prophetic sons of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the of Christ. His deep abasement is referred to, ver. Holy Ghost.'-Ibid. 2-5; his prayer for his disciples and followers, ver. 6; that for himself, in the garden of Gethsemane, ver. 15-9; his crucifixion, ver. 20-2; the vengeance of God against the Jews, from ver. 23-.9; the glorious manner in which he gets out of all his sufferings, ver. 30; the abolition of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies, ver. 31, compared with Is. lxvi. 3; and, finally, the establishment of the gospel through the whole world, in the 33rd and following verses. The reader will do well to consult the psalm.'-A. C.] 26. The Comforter.... the Spirit of truth. NOTES on ch. xiv. 16, .7, p. 383. [Whom I will send unto you from the Father. Our

See

[26, .7. He shall testify... and ye also shall bear witness. The connection here is obscure, and has thereapprehend, best pointed out by Calvin, as follows:fore been disputed.. ... The true connection is, I The world will indeed persecute you; your docothers; but no violence of men will be able to shake trine will be mocked at by some, and be reviled by the firmness of your faith, when the Holy Spirit shall have been given unto you, to confirm and stablish you by his testimony."-Bloomf.]

27. From the beginning. This qualification in their selection of one in the room of Judas, the apostles were careful to observe, Ac. i. 21-6.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

so much of worldly things, as of the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ; ignorance of the message
and evidence to the mission of the Son of God, the
Saviour of the world. Let us seek to make persecu-
tion cease, by making the world better acquainted
with the truth which it opposes, and against which
we may well expect that war should be waged by the
powers of darkness.]
Jno. xv. 22. See margin.

[23 ver. He who rejects the Saviour is not to be acknowledged as a worshipper of the true God, who can only be approached in Christ Jesus. The unbelieving Jews,although not like their idolatrous fathers, were yet contemplated in the second commandment, in which God threatens to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him.]

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[27 ver. Although the great witness for Jesus is the Living Spirit of God; yet this is not to prevent, truth. The witness of the apostles with regard to but encourage man in bearing testimony to the what they had seen and heard during their attendance upon Christ, in his going about doing good, has been put upon record in the gospels, affording [24 ver. Let us beware of treating with indifference indubitable evidence to the truth that Jesus is the seal of the Most High God. Let us not only indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God.] attend to the written word of God, but behold Him [Having been with Jesus from the beginning, in his working as foretold in the scriptures. The disciples were especially qualified to testify of his Jews boasted of their reverence for the words of identity when raised from the dead. And this was God, but they regarded not the operation of his subject of the united testimony of them and of the Holy hands the revelation which God was making of Ghost, Ac. iv. 33.-See He. ii. 3, 'How shall we,' &c.] *[Our Lord has throughout this discourse a principal reference to the apostles; but it may be observed that1. The spiritual union spoken of by Christ is not necessary for the primitive disciples alone, but VOL. II.]

SAFE ONLY IN CHRIST.

the

the

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HAVE OUR UNDERSTANDINGS BEEN ENLIGHTENED BY THIS SPIRIT OF TRUTH?

HAVE OUR HEARTS BEEN REJOICED BY THE COMFORTER?

CAUSE ME TO HEAR THY LOVING KINDNESS IN THE MORNING; FOR IN THEE DO I TRUST:

No. 87 continued.-[Lesson 89.]-Christ fortifieth his disciples against tribulation by the promise of the Holy Ghost, and of his resurrection and ascension: 23 their prayers made in his name acceptable to his Father. 33 Peace in Christ.-John xvi.

Jno. xvi. 16-.8. Jesus speaks enigmatically of his death and resurrection.

ANALYSIS. Jno. xvi. 1-3. Jesus forewarns his disciples that the time approaches when through ignorance their brethren will think that by putting them to death they are doing God service. 4. Jesus tells them why he so forewarns them, and did not, so plainly, at the beginning. 5, 6. None of the disciples now ask whither Jesus is going; sorrow having so filled them. It is THE TRUTH;' and it is also expedient for them that he go away: without this the

19-22. He replies to their unexpressed desire to know the import of his words; comparing their approaching anguish and subsequent joy to those attendant upon the birth of a man child. 23, .4. Jesus encourages the disciples to ask the Father in his name. 25-7. These things have been spoken in proverbs, but the time approaches when he will shew them plainly of the Father: then they will ask in his name, and will know the Father's love for them, 8. The Comforter having come, will as having loved and believed in the Son. 28. He tells them of his pre-existence with the Father and his incarnation, also of his ascension and glorification.

7.

Comforter cannot come.

convince the world of sin, &c.

9.

10.

11.

How convince of sin.

How convince of righteousness.
How convince of judgment.

12, .3. The disciples cannot yet bear all that Jesus has to communicate: but the Spirit of truth, when come, will guide them into all truth.

-

29, 30. The disciples acknowledge that now he speaks plainly; and thus speaking to their thoughts, he gives evidence of his Divine origin. 31, .2. Jesus questions whether they be lieve; saying, that the hour is come when they will all be scattered, leaving him alone with the Father. 33. These things Jesus has spoken, that in him the disciples may have peace. JOHN xvi. 1-3.

14, .5. The Spirit will glorify Jesusshewing that what belongs to the Father, belongs also to the Son.

1

2, They

These-things have-I-spoken unto-you, that ye-should-not-be-offended. shall-put you out-of-the-synagogues: yea, the-time cometh, that whosoever killeth you 3 will-think that-he-doeth poo pepew God service Auтpelav. And these-things will-they

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xvi. 1. These things, &c. -Jesus had fore- | dealt with Jesus, Lu. iv. 28, .9, § 15, p. 105-The Jews warned his disciples of the hatred they were to meet had already agreed to excommunicate those who with from the world, ch. xv. 18, .9, supra, p. 390- confessed him to be the Christ, Jno. ix. 22, § 55, p. 111 They were to be dealt with as their Lord had been, and they had acted accordingly, ver. 34, p. 113 ver. 20-The guilt of their persecutors was that of ig-xii. 42, .3, § 85, p. 310, Among the chief rulers also norance, ver. 21-but it is implied that their own many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees guilt would be greater, should they be offended in they did not confess him, lest they should be put out Jesus, after having so much better opportunity of of the synagogue: for they loved,' &c. hearing his words and beholding his works, ver. 22-.4, whosoever killeth you-This was soon fulfilled in and having such promise of Divine aid, ver. 26, .7. Stephen's case, Ac. vii. 58, .9-comp. viii. 1; ix. 1, 2. offended-so John the Baptist, Mt. xi. 6, [Lu. vii. God service-Paul, when a religious Pharisee, verily 23, § 29, p. 223-The stony ground hearer, xiii. thought with himself that he ought to do many 20, .1, § 33, p. 255, when tribulation or persecution things contrary to the name of Jesus,' Ac. xxvi. 9-11 ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.' -He mentions it as an evidence of his zeal for the -xxiv. 10, § 86, p. 328-comp. 1 Th. iii. 3, 4, That no Jewish religion, that he had persecuted the church;' man should be moved by these afflictions:' &c.-1 Pe. Ph. iii. 6-He was perfectly sincere, doing it ignov. 9, knowing that the same afflictions are accom- rantly in unbelief,' 1 Ti. i. 12-Pr. xiv. 12, There is plished in your brethren that are in the world.' a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end 2. out of the synagogues-Thus literally they had thereof are the ways of death.'

NOTES.

Jno. xvi. 1. These things, &c. See SCRIP. ILLUS. Not be offended. See on Mt. v. 29, § 19, p. 125. iva μὴ σκανδαλισθῆτε, ' that ye should not be stumbled. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues. They will excommunicate you, and consider you as execrable, and utterly unworthy to hold any commerce with God by religion, or with man by civil fellowship. In these excommunications they were spoiled of all their substance-see Ezr. x. 8; see also He. x. 34-and deprived of their character, their influence, and every necessary of life.-See SCRIP. ILLUS., supra, and NOTE, ch. ix. 22, § 55, p. 111.

[Whosoever killeth.... God service. 867 λarpslav προσφέρειν τ. θ. • Λατρεύειν properly siguites, to serve any one as a slave." But in the New Test., and Sept., it is always used to denote the offering of sacri fice, or rendering worship and service of any kind. Hence λarpsía denotes religious service; and (especially as poopper is a sacrificial term) poopin Aarpsíar will signify "to offer a sacrifice," or a religious service in general. The sense then is, "He will think he is rendering an acceptable religious service to God." Doddridge thinks there is here an allusion to such sort of deeds as the assassination of Paul, planned by the forty conspirators-see Ac. xxiii. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

Jno. xvi. 1. We should endeavour to become well acquainted with the forewarnings of prophecy, that so we may be prepared for those persecutions or tribulations by which we might otherwise be caused to stumble in our christian course.

2 ver. The Christian should be prepared to bear testimony for the truth, whatever the opposition, or however great the sacrifice. See margin. It is not enough that we are sincere; let us see that our sincerity is according to truth.

also for all who would be Christians on earth, and beatified spirits in heaven.-2. The brotherly love here inculcated is the duty and interest of every christian soul on the face of the earth.-3. The necessity of adorning the christian profession, by bringing forth corresponding fruits, is the duty of all who name the name of the Lord Jesus.-4. The appointment to, and preparation for, the work of the sacred ministry, must ever be primarily with Christ: for those who have no higher authority than that which they derive from man, are never likely to be useful in christianizing the world.-5. The persecution to which the apostles were exposed, has been the common lot of Christians from the foundation of Christianity.-6. The consolations and influences of Christ's Spirit have not been the exclusive privileges of the apostles; they are the birthright of all the sons and daughters of God.]

Psa, exliii. 8.

CAUSE ME TO KNOW THE WAY WHEREIN I SHOULD WALK;

FOR I LIFT UP MY SOUL UNTO THEE.

392]

I FLEE UNTO THEE TO HIDE ME.-Psa. cxliii. 9.

[VOL. II.

TRUE BELIEVERS ARE SOMETIMES GRIEVED AT THAT WHICH, WHEN TRULY UNDERSTOOD, IS MORE PROPERLY AN OCCASION OF JOY.

JOHN xvi. 4-10.

4 do unto-you, because they-have-not-known the Father, nor me. But these-things have-I-told you, that when the time shall-come, ye-may-remember that I told you ofthem. 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 goest6 thou? 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 gonot-away, the Comforter will-not-come unto you; but if I-depart, I-will-send him 8 unto you. And when-he-is-come, he-will-reprove eλeyes the world of sin, and of 9 righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they-believe not on me; 10, of righte

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xvi. 3. have not known, &c.-But he had said to his disciples, ch. xiv. 7, supra, p. 381, 'from henceforth ye know him,'-Their guilt therefore would have been greater than that of their unbelieving brethren, had they turned away from the holy commandment,' 2 Pe. ii. 21-The fact that men religiously do wrong, thinking it to be right, may well make us search and try our ways,' La. iii. 40-but it is a less awful state than that of those whose conduct is inconsistent with their convictions of right, Lu. xii. 47, .8, § 63, p. 168; Ja. iv. 17.

4. that when the time, &c.-For the confirmation of their faith in the fulfilment of prophecy, he had already predicted his betrayal by one of the twelve, ch. xiii. 18, .9, p. 370, supra-and spoken of the Father's blessing them, xiv. 26-.9, p. 385, supra.

said not unto you, &c.-He had forewarned of persecution, Mt. v. 11, .2, § 19, p. 122-and when he sent them forth, he had faithfully pointed out the dangers of the way, x. 16-25, § 39, pp. 298-300-but he here intimates that much as he had said, they were not as yet duly impressed with the importance of the subject-comp. xxvi. 56, § 88. p. 421.

I was with you-Mt. ix. 15, § 36, p. 278- Can,' &c. 5. Whither goest thou?-If they had rightly inquired into what our Lord had said on the subject, they would have found cause of rejoicing-ch. xiv. 28, p. 385, supra, I go unto the Father:'-xiv. 2, p. 380, supra, I go to prepare a place for you.'-Not only for their future enjoyment in glory, but also for their present enjoyment of grace-xvi. 7, supra, 'If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;'

7. I tell you the truth, &c.-It was not merely a truth that it was good for the disciples Jesus should go away, as was proved when the Holy Ghost did. come upon them, Ac. ii., but it was the truth' of the Old Testament types-The High Priest had first to enter within the vail, ere the worshippers could have

the comfortable assurance of their acceptance with God, by the knowledge that He who appeared for them died not, Ex. xxviii. 35-so were the disciples to know that He who hath entered for us into heaven itself' ever liveth to make, &c., He. ix. 23-.8, &c. the waiting worshippers into sympathy with the inthe Comforter, &c.-He was to come forth and lead tercession of our Advocate within the vail, ch. xiv. 14, .6, p. 382, supra; Rom. viii. 26, .7. 8. And when he is come-The firstfruits of the Spirit' were given in the apostolic age, Rom. viii. 23, but the fulness of the blessing was yet to be givencomp. 1 Co. xiii. 9, 10, with Eph. iv. 12, .3. he will reprove-or convince the same word is used, ch. viii. 46, § 55, p.106-see NOTE, infra, ver. 8-11. of sin-Peter convicted the Jews of their sin-the sin of rejecting their King, Ac. iii. 13-.8. of righteousness-As the Father testified of Jesus, as being his beloved Son in whom he is well pleased, Mt. xvii. 5, § 51, p. 55, so the Spirit, by Peter, reasoned concerning the LORD our righteousness.'-Our great High Priest, who has been accepted in heaven, and through whom there is the blotting out of sin, Ac. iii. 19-21.

and of judgment-Peter, after convincing of sin and of righteousness, proceeded to speak of the judgment which shall fall upon those who refuse to obey the Holy One and the Just,' Ac. iii. 22-4-so Paul, after having spoken 'concerning the faith in Christ, proceeded to reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,' xxiv. 24, .5.

9. because they believe not on me-Not having faith in him who hath done so much to win our confidence, Rom. v. 7, 8, see margin, p. 374, is the blackest ingratitude, and one of the worst crimes; and on every one that is guilty of this crime, the wrath of God abideth,' Jno. iii. 36, § 13, p. 91; He. x. 29.

NOTES.

14, seq.-and in which they gloried: and certain it is that the greatest enormities recorded in Josephus were perpetrated by the Zelota, who originally were religious zealots.'-Bloomf.]-See SCRIP. ILLUS. Jno. xvi. 3. Because they have not known the Father. See on ch. xv. 25, p. 391. Ignorance of the benevolence of GOD, and of the philanthropy of CHRIST, is the grand fountain of all religious persecution.'-A. C. 7. The Comforter. The Spirit is represented as being to the church in the place of Christ, and for this reason is styled the Comforter,' because his proper office is to comfort the faithful with his gifts and graces until our Lord's second coming.

8. He will reprove. Marg. convince.' 'Abya. He will demonstrate these matters so clearly, as to leave no doubt on the minds of those who are simple of heart; and so fully, as to confound and shut the mouths of those who are gainsayers.-See Ac. ii. 1, &c.

[Reprove. kyk. It is difficult to give in one word the deep meaning; "convince" approaches perhaps the nearest to it, but does not express the double sense of eye, which is manifestly here intended-of a convincing unto salvation and a convicting unto condemnation: "reprove" is far too weak, conveying merely the idea of an objective rebuke; whereas Aéy reaches unto the heart, and works subjectively in both the above-mentioned ways. .. The effect of the ixbyxos of the Divine Spirit in the world may be to harden; but its aim is the deliverance of the world.'-Alford.]

Of righteousness. Of his righteousness and innocence; of the justice of his cause, and the perfection of his obedience to the Divine will. Of judgment. That is, Divine judgment, soon to be manifested in the punishment of an incredulous nation, and in defence of the truth.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

Jno. xvi. 3. Those who have been brought into fellowship with the Father and the Son may be expected to love and cherish the children of God, the brethren of Christ. As we desire to extinguish the fire of persecution, let us spread abroad the knowledge of redeeming love. 4 ver. Let us attend to what our Saviour is pleased to communicate; although it may give us present pain, it will at some future period be found useful. [7 ver. How difficult it has been to communicate to man the truth of God regarding his salvation! By prophet and priest, the atonement and interVOL. II.]

cession of our Blessed Redeemer were pointed forward to from the beginning: and yet those who were the most favoured with revelation were unprepared to acknowledge a suffering Saviour. By the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the world was given abundant evidence that Jesus was indeed the Christ, and that men are guilty in neglecting to obey the Father by putting their trust in his beloved Son.] 9 ver. May we see and avoid the sin of not believing in Him to whom the Law and the Prophets bear witness; and who is commended to our belief by so REPENT;-Rev. ii. 16.

[393

WE SHOULD NEITHER BE HASTY IN COMMUNICATING PAINFUL INTELLIGENCE, NOR BACKWARD TO DELIVER IT AT THE TIME MOST EXPEDIENT.

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