F not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 13 12" Greater"—that is, to a greater extent. In after ages my ministers shall extend the Gospel into every part of the world. than these shall he do ; because 13 To ask any thing "in the name of Christ" is to ask with a reference to his doctrine, and spirit, and will. the Son. If ye shall ask any Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter*, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in 15 18 you. " I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to 15 This precept involves a principle of universal application. Parents, masters, friends, you naturally tes all professions of duty, service, and love, by a readiness to do your will. 18 Since Christ is thus ready to come to you, O receive Him gladly! you. Yet a little while, and the 20 Complete and blessed union of the Church with the Father and his Christ. 21 What a joyful motive for obedience! Almighty God will love the obedient servant of Christ. world seeth me no more; but ye see me because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that 1 am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me * Was Jesus, when on earth, all in all to his disciples-their guide, their companion, their friend-his strength, his counsel, his comfort, theirs? All these blessings are now yours, in that other Comforter, who abideth with you for ever! O rejoice in his holy comfort! This Judas was called, also, Lebbeus, or Thaddeus. being a Syriac word; Judas, a Hebrew word. (Matt. x. 3.) Thaddeus send in my name, he shall teach things to your remembrance, 27 The peace of God does not prevent your sharing the troubles of the world; but it enables you either to bear them patiently, or contend with them triumphantly. 28 My Father greater than I am in my human nature. not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet 26 That Comforter is thine, if thou present with you. 26 But the wilt ask and seek his guidance and Comforter, which is the Holy consolation. Ghost, whom the Father will you all things, and bring all whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 28 Ye 30 In me is no sin-therefore Satan hath nothing in me. Over me he hath no controul. I have broken his power. 31 Were the disciples happy, that in going thence they had Jesus as their companion and friend? Arise thou in the same happy trust, that when thou goest forth from studying his word, He will be also with thee. CHAPTER XV. MARCH 28, JULY 27, Nov. 23. Our Lord compares the Church to a vineyard, himself to the vine therein planted, individual members of the Church to its branches, and our heavenly Father to the husbandman, who tends every branch, carefully trains and prunes it, and looketh that it bringeth forth good fruit. I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that 2 beareth not fruit he taketh 3 have spoken unto you. 2 If, called Christians, we lead not Christian lives, we cut ourselves off from the benefits of our Christian profession. 3" Ye are clean through the word" -that is, ye are sanctified through the word. (See Chap. xiii. 10.) Abide in me, and I in you. As the 66 branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; 5 The converse is true. "Through Christ we can do all things" necessary for our salvation. (Phil. iv. 13.) in him, the same bringeth forth 6 When the soul casts off its union with Christ, it withers, as a branch severed from its stem. withered; and men gather them, no more can ye, except ye ye abide in me, and my words my Father glorified, that ye 7 Be ye grounded and established in my doctrine; then ye will ask only what is so pleasing to God, that He will, for my sake, hear and an swer you. s What a noble motive for a holy life, that our God himself is thereby glorified. bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends*, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it 19 If ye were of 10 A love of sin maketh men unbelievers. A holy life leads a man to rejoice in the love of God, and to obey his word. hated you. love his own: but because * If 19"If ye taught easy doctrines, and pandered to the weaknesses of men, ye would find ready auditors: but because ye inculcate unworldly fears Friendship has ever been esteemed the greatest earthly comfort. Lo! our Saviour and our God, the all-powerful and the all-merciful, stands forth our friend! Blessed be his holy name! Welcome, his loving-kindness ! ye are not of the world, but and unworldly hopes, your counsel is I have chosen you out of the unpalatable; your actions are misreworld, therefore the world presented; your motives maligned *." 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 they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but 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 a cause. 26 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 me: and 22 They had been free from the sin of rejecting Jesus. Our responsibility is in proportion to our knowledge. If 26 And this Spirit does testify of Christ, when it sanctifies your thoughts, counsels your goings, and soothes your sorrows. What stronger testimony can we require, or wish, in proof that the promised Spirit is given in answer to our prayers! ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. CHAPTER XVI. MARCH 29, JULY 28, Nov. 24. 'THESE things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, 1 "That, when difficulties occur in your religious course, they may not deter you from perseverance." 2 Witness the noble array of martyrs. 3 Cruelty can never consist with a knowledge of God, who is all mercy and loving kindness. Under like circumstances, let us remember that Jesus endured patiently the contradiction of sinners; and that as the servant is not above his master, nor the disciple above his Lord, it behoveth us to be resigned and patient, even as He was. 4 nor me. But these things have I told you, that when The immediate presence of Christ was a continual guard and comfort. 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. 'But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I 5 Who that knows the value of a friend, can wonder that in the prospect of losing such a friend as Christ, the disciples should feel their hearts to sink with sorrow? have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. '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 7 It was advantageous—or pe dient: because if the Comforter abode with the Church, as its guide and comforter on earth, Jesus could then ascend into heaten, sit on the right hand of God, and ever live to make intercession for us there. unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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 be speak and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shew it unto you. 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. 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? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 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? 20 Verily, 20 At first ye will have sorrow; but verily, I say unto you, That when ye find my spiritual kingdom 19 Does Jesus know our very thoughts! let those thoughts be holy, and just, and good; and we shall rejoice that He knoweth them. |