_THE CONSOLATION AND MUTUAL LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS MEMBERS, UNDER THE PARABLE OF THE VINE. A COMFORT IN THE HATRED AND PERSECUTION OF THE WORLD. THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND OF THE APOSTLES._ _Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE TRUE VINE,— Our Lord, having gone with his disciples to the mount of Olives, (see the last note of the former chapter,) spent the remaining hours of his ministryin preaching to his disciples a long and excellent sermon, recorded in this and the following chapter. He began with the parable o... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY BRANCH IN ME, &C.— "Though by the outward profession of my religion you become members of the visible church of God, you must never forget, that this, of itself, is not sufficient to constitute you true members of the spiritual church of God, of the mystical body of Christ: you must be accepte... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YE ARE CLEAN, &C.— "The doctrine that I have preached to you, by the power of divine grace, has inspired you with holy desires; has invigorated you with good resolutions; and, in a measure, has cleansed you from evil affections; so that, like the _pruned_ branches of the vine, you are fitted to... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU.— "Continue steadfast in your love and attachment to me, live in constant communion with me, let your hearts be stayed upon me with habitual and full confidence and faith, and I will abide in you; for this is the methodtoderivefrommeallneedful supplies, particularly the inf... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN ABIDE NOT IN ME,— "To shew you further the necessity of abiding steadfastlyin this union and communion with me, and, ofcourse, in the experience of the power of my religion, producing the fruits of holiness internal and external, I would propose to your consideration the dreadful effects an... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE ABIDE IN ME, &C.— "If, on the contrary, you steadfastly cleave to me, and I dwell in your hearts by faith, and by means of my word, as a principle that guides and governs, quickens and establishes you; whatsoever you, as thus abiding in me, and depending on me, shall ask according to my will,... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN IS MY FATHER GLORIFIED,— "By your thus abiding in me, and my abiding in you, and by your petitions being thus granted, the glory of my heavenly Father's wisdom, faithfulness, and grace, is exalted (ινα,) to the end that you may abound in fruits of righteousness, whereby he may be still furthe... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE.— Or, "Keep your place in my affection: continue to deserve my love." So again in the next verse, _As long as ye keep my commandments, ye shall continue in my love;_ that is "I shall continue to love you.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN— "I have spoken these things, hoping they will influence you to keep my commandments, whereby you will continue the objects of my love; and, in the consciousness thereof, will be filled with the same kind of joy which I feel from obeying my Father's commandments, and from... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT,— "As I told you before, ch. John 13:34.—_the chief_ of all the _commandments_ which I enjoin you, whether as apostles or private Christians, _is, that ye love one another._—I do not mean after the hypocritical manner of the world, who often love in word, and in tongue, while... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,— "My _love_ to you is _stronger_ than death; for I will lay down my life for you: a greater degree of love than this never existed in the world; this is the love that I bear towards you, and which I recommend as the pattern of your love to one another. _Ye are my... [ Continue Reading ]
HENCEFORTH I CALL YOU NOT SERVANTS;— "Though the distance that is between you and me, and your obligations to obey me, might have warranted me to treat you as servants, and particularly to conceal from you my counsels and designs, I have not acted in this manner towards you; but I have treated you a... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME,— "You have not, as principals in this affair, adopted me as your associate; but I, the great author of the gospel, have adopted you as my associates, to share with me in the honour and happiness of giving a new dispensation of grace to the world. For I have ordained you my apo... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS I COMMAND YOU,— 'Εντελλομαι υμιν, _I inculcate upon you._"I haveexplained to you the high nature and vast importance of your office, as my apostles; and I have put you in mind of my loving you so as to die for you, that I may inspire you with ardent love to one another; and you will muc... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WERE OF THE WORLD, &C.— "If your dispositions and actions were like those of the bulk of mankind; if you flattered men in their vices, and framed your doctrines into a consistency with their passions and interests, no doubt you would meet with general approbation, and be much caressed: but bec... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY HAVE KEPT MY SAYING,— "Had they received the truth in the love of it from me, no doubt but they would do the same from you.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ALL THESE THINGS WILL THEY DO, &C— "None of the evils which you shall suffer on my account, or the gospel's, will flow from any deficiency in the evidences of my divine mission, or from any fault that can justly be found with the gospel. They will allflow from your persecutors being wilfully ign... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I HAD NOT COME AND SPOKEN, &C.— "The ignorance of the Jews in particular will not however excuse them, (see the last note,) since they have had more than sufficient means of information. If I had not appeared in person among them, agreeablyto their own prophesies, and proved my divine mission by... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATETH ME, &C.— How much is it to be wished, that those who make light of Christ, while they pretend a great veneration for the Father, would seriously attend to this weighty admonition, _lest haply they be found even to fight against God!_ Acts 5:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I HAD NOT DONE AMONG THEM— "If I had not done among them such extraordinary works as no other person ever did,—not even their prophets, or Moses himself,—they had not had any degree of sin, comparable to that which they now lie under: but now, as they have rejected my superior miracles, which the... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE WORD MIGHT BE FULFILLED— "Be not surprised that I, who am the Messiah, have been rejected of the Jews: it has happened according to the prediction of their own prophets, and particularly that of David, Psalms 35:19." See also Isaiah 53:3. Daniel 9:26 and Zechariah 12:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME,— "For your encouragement, however, Iassure you, that all of them will not continue thus obstinately bent against me and my religion. When he who is to comfort you under all your troubles by his divine inspiration and the aid he will afford you, and who, on that accoun... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE ALSO SHALT BEAR WITNESS,— "In process of time men's eyes shall be opened, to discern the authority of your testimony. They shall give credit to your reports concerning me, because you have been my companions from the very first, consequently eye and ear-witnesses of all that I have done and s... [ Continue Reading ]