These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. Ver. 1. _That ye should not be offended_] As with a thing unexpected and intolerable. Darts foreseen are dintless. Crosses coming on the sudden find weak minds secure, make them miserable, leave them desperate.... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. Ver. 2. _Whosoerer killeth you, &c._] Maximinian, the persecutor, thought that the blood of Christians would be a well pleasing sacrifice to his gods: _Christianorum sang... [ Continue Reading ]
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. Ver. 3. _Because they have not known_] Through blind zeal. "The dark corners of the earth are full of cruelty," saith the Psalmist. And "they shall not destroy in all mine holy mountain;" "for knowledge shall co... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _Ye may remember, &c._] And act, what I have foretold and taught you. The difference between divinity and... [ Continue Reading ]
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? Ver. 5. _None of you asketh me, &c._] This they had asked him, but not as well paid of his going; this he would have of them, and of us, when we part with friends that die in the Lord, say as he, _Tulisti libero... [ Continue Reading ]
But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Ver. 6. _Sorrow hath filled your hearts_] So that you are, for the time, not more uncomfortable than uncounsellable. Thus also it fared with those Israelites in Egypt; their ears were so full of gall, that meek Moses even... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _I will send him unto you_] This our Saviour often repeats, that they might once take notice of it, as an inestim... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Ver. 8. _And when he is come, &c._] This text had been easy, had not commentators made it so knotty. _ He will reprove_] Or undeceive the world, by refuting those odd conceits and erroneous opinions, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Of sin, because they believe not on me; Ver. 9. _Of sin, because they believe not in me_] Our Saviour points out the greatest of sins, unbelief; which was the first sin, and is still the root of all the rest, Hebrews 3:12. It is a sin against the gospel, and rejects the remedy, that bath of Christ'... [ Continue Reading ]
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Ver. 10. _Of righteousness, because, &c._] What strength is there in that reason? This: Christ took upon him to be our surety, and he must acquit us of all our sins ere he can go to his Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Ver. 11. _Of judgment, because the prince, &c._] Satan is, by the mighty work of the Holy Ghost, cast out of his trenches, forts, cages, castles, heaven of men's hearts, οχυρωματα, 2 Corinthians 10:4; corruption is dejected, though not utterl... [ Continue Reading ]
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Ver. 12. _But ye cannot bear them now_] Because your spirits are dulled with worldly sorrow. But the Spirit shall be unto you a powerful _removens, prohibens._... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _He will guide you into all truth_] Many are the benefits that we receive by the Spi... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew _it_ unto you. Ver. 14. _He shall glorify me, &c._] And if the Holy Ghost could not use any better means to glorify Christ, than to take his excellencies, and hold them out to the world, what should ministers, the mouth of the Holy G... [ Continue Reading ]
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew _it_ unto you. Ver. 15. _All things that the Father hath, &c._] So that if we can but marry the heir, we have all. The Father saith unto him, as he did to his eldest son, Luke 15:31; "Son, thou ar... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _A little while, and ye shall not see me_] This "little" seemed a long while to them, so that they began to doubt (though it were but the third day after his death) whether... [ Continue Reading ]
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 h... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 19. _Now Jesus knew that they were, &c._] He graciously prevents their requests, so he... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _Ye shall weep and lament_] So long as ye abide in this valley of tears, as the Septuagint render that, Psalms 86:6; εις την κοιλ... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _A woman when she is in travail_] The sorrow of a saint is often compared to that of a travail... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _And ye now therefore have sorrow_] No sorrow like to that, when we see not Christ in his favour. He hides his love often, as Joseph did, out of increasement of lo... [ Continue Reading ]
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give _it_ you. Ver. 23. _And in that day ye shall, &c._] _q.d._ Ye shall be so exact and so expert, that you shall not need to ask such childish questions as hitherto ye h... [ Continue Reading ]
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Ver. 24. _Hitherto ye have asked nothing_] To what ye should have asked, and might have obtained. Prayer, as those arrows of deliverance, should be multiplied, 1 Kings 13:19; the more often we come to G... [ Continue Reading ]
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. Ver. 25. _These things have I spoken, &c._] He spake plain enough, but they were so slow of hear and dull of hearing, that they thought... [ Continue Reading ]
At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: Ver. 26. _At that day ye shall ask, &c._] Christ had promised them further light, but yet expects they should pray for it. Prayer is a putting the promises in suit; we must pray them over ere we get th... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. Ver. 27. _For the Father himself loveth you_] We say majesty and love cannot dwell together. _Non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur maiestas et amor:_ because love is the abasing of the... [ Continue Reading ]
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. Ver. 28. _Again, I leave the world, &c._] So Plotinus the philosopher, when he died, said, το εν εμοι θειον αναγω επι το πρωτογονον θειον. (_Sponte etiam non rogante me. Ut apud_ Hom. σπειδοντα... [ Continue Reading ]
His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Ver. 29. _His disciples said unto him_] How apt are we to overween our little nothing of knowledge or holiness, to swell with big conceits of our own sufficiency! and, when we see never so little, to say presently,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Ver. 30. _Now we are sure, &c._] What! not till now? Nicodemus was before you then, John 3:2. But better late than never: _Nunquam sero, si serto._... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Ver. 31. _Do ye now believe?_] I know, ere trouble comes, you are jolly fellows. But it is easy to swim in a warm bath: and every bird can sing in a sunshine day. We shall see shortly what you can do. "If ye faint in the day of adversity, your strength is sma... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Ver. 32. _Behold, the hour cometh, &c._] So bladder-like is the soul, that filled with earthly vanities, though but wind, it... [ Continue Reading ]
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Ver. 33. _These things have I spoken_] This sermon of our Saviour then would be read in time of trouble. It hath _virtutem pacativam, _ if mi... [ Continue Reading ]