" unto you from the Father, even "the Spirit of truth, which pro" ceedeth from the Father, he shall "testify of me: 27. and ye also "shall bear witness, because ye " have been with (0) me from the "beginning. xvi. 1. These things "have I spoken unto you, that "ye should not be (p) offended. "2. They shall put (q) you out " of the synagogues: yea, the "time cometh, that whosoever "killeth you will think that he "doeth God service. 3. And these "things will they do unto you, " because they have not (r) known "the Father nor me. 4. But these "things have I told you, that, "when the time shall come, ye

However in another part of his discourse, (John xiv. 16.) he says, "I will pray the "Father, and he shall give you another "Comforter;" and John xiv. 26. he speaks of "the Comforter whom the Father will "send in my name."

(0) 0. 27. "With me, &c." and have therefore seen the innocence of my life, and the mighty works I have wrought; have heard the warnings and predictions I have delivered, and my constant disclaimer of all worldly advantages.

(p) v. 1. "Offended," i. e. "drawn off "from your faith, deterred from acting as my soldiers."

(q) v. 2. "Put you out, &c." Our Saviour had repeatedly apprized them that they would meet with the strongest opposition, would have to undergo the bitterest persecutions, and must give up all worldly prospects and attachments. When he sent out the twelve apostles two years before his death, he told them, (Matt. x. 16, 17, 18, 21, 22.) " I send you forth as sheep " in the midst of wolves. Beware of men, "for they will deliver you up to the coun"cils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought "before governors and kings for my sake. "And the brother shall deliver up the "brother to death, and the father the "child; and the children shall rise up "against their parents, and shall cause "them to be put to death; - and ye shall "be hated of all men for my name's sake."

" may (s) remember that I told " you of them.”

WHIT-SUNDAY.

The Collect.

God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Again, in his prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, (Matt. xxiv. 9.) he says, "then shall they deliver you up to be "afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall "be hated of all men for my name's sake." So in Luke xiv. 26. "If any come to me, " and hate not" (i. e. when his religion requires) "his father and mother, and "wife and children, and brethren, and "sisters, yea, and his own life also, he "cannot be my disciple. And whosoever "doth not bear his cross and come after " me, cannot be my disciple;" and, v. 33. "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh "not all that he hath, he cannot be my "disciple." (See also Luke xii. 11.xxi. 12. 16. 17. and Matt. xvi. 24.) Are these the prospects and language of an impostor; and what with these prospects could attach the apostles and disciples to Christ and his religion, but the full conviction that he was the Messiah, and that God was with him?

(r) v. 3. "Known," i. e. "followed the "commandments of esteemed." See 1 John iv. 7, 8. "Every one that loveth, is " born of God, and knoweth God: he that "loveth not, knoweth not God."

(s) v. 4. "Remember," and therefore be confirmed in your faith. He here calls to their observation, that he is exercising what God describes (Is. xliv. 7.) as one of his own peculiar characteristics, fore knowledge.

For the Epistle. Acts ii. 1. WHEN the day of (t) Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven (u) tongues like as (r) of fire, and it sat upon each of them: 4. and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other (z) tongues,

(t) v. 1. "Pentecost," i. e. "the feast " of weeks," our Whit-sunday: the second of the three great solemnities in which (according to Deut. xvi. 16.) all the males were enjoined to appear before the Lord in the place which he should choose; which place was afterwards fixed to be Jerusalem. It was the fiftieth day after the feast of the passover. All the Jews therefore who had been at Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion, would be there again at the time of this great miracle, would have the opportunity of personally witnessing its effects, would naturally carry an account of it to their own homes, and so would be themselves prepared, and would prepare others, to receive the truths of the gospel when it should be preached amongst them. An instance of God's wisdom in selecting appropriate times for accomplishing his purposes!

(u) v. 3. "Cloven tongues, &c." something visible: perhaps to intimate that the Holy Ghost was not merely an impulse from God, but a separate existence. When it descended upon our Saviour, it came down visibly; perhaps for the same reason. The Heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him. Luke iii. 22. and see Matt. iii. 16. Mark i. 10.

(x) v. 3, 4. "As of fire," " with the Holy "Ghost." The Baptist had declared, (Matt. iii. 11. Luke iii. 16.) that our Saviour should "baptize with the Holy Ghost " and with fire." This therefore was a fulfilment of that prediction, and a proof that God was with the Baptist, to whom this power of prophecy was given, as well as with our Saviour. Our Saviour also assured the apostles in his conversation at

as the (a) Spirit gave them utterance. 5. And there were (b) dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded (c), because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, "Behold, are not all these which " speak Galileans? 8. And how "hear we every man in our own

the last supper, and after his resurrection, that he would "send the Comforter unto "them, even the Spirit of truth;" that he would send "the promise of his Father " unto them;" that "they should be en" dued with power from on high;" (John xiv. 16. 26.-xv. 26. xvi. 7.- Luke xxiv. 49.) and this was a completion of these

assurances.

(z) "Other tongues." This wonderful gift would naturally rivet the faith of those on whom it was conferred, and increase the number of believers, because it could not have been the effect of delusion or deceit : nothing but a preternatural power could have bestowed it. We are told, accordingly, (Acts ii. 41.) that on the same day there were added to the faith three thousand souls. It was not however merely to convince the disciples and those who witnessed its operation, that this miracle was performed; it was essential to enable the apostles to preach the gospel, as our Saviour had commanded them, to all nations. (See ante, 163. note on Acts i. 8.) According to Matt. xxviii. 19. he told them to "go, and teach all nations;" according to Mark xvi. 15. to "go into all the world, " and preach the gospel to every creature;" (and see Luke xxiv. 49.) and according to Acts i. 8. that they should be "witnesses " unto him, both in Jerusalem, and in all "Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the " uttermost part of the earth."

(a) "The Spirit," i. e. "the Holy Ghost." (6) v. 5. "Dwelling," rather "sojourning," abiding during the feast, καλοικῶνίες. (c) v. 6. "Confounded." What would be our feelings and convictions were we to witness such a miracle?

(d) Part of our Saviour's discourse at the last supper the night he was betrayed. St. John sat next him.

(e) v. 15. “Keep, &c." Obedience is the test God requires. Samuel told Saul, (1 Sam. xv. 22.) "To obey is better than sacrifice;" and St. John in his epistles (perhaps from a recollection of this discourse) repeatedly presses obedience to God's commandments as the only true criterion of love to God. Thus, (1 John ii. 5.) "Whoso keepeth his" (i. e. God's) "word, in him verily is the love of "God perfected." So, (1 John v. 3.) "This is the love of God, that we keep his "commandments." And, (2 John i. 6.) "This is love, that we walk after his com"mandments." The similarity of sentiment in St John's gospel and epistles affords an argument that they are rightly ascribed to the same person.

(g) v. 16. "Another," for Christ himself had been one.

"

(h) "Comforter," or advocate, exhorter, or guide. Hamm. παράκλητον."

(i) "For ever," not to depart, as I have done.

(k) v. 17. "The Spirit of truth," i. e. "the Holy Ghost."

(1) "Whom," or "which," "him," (thrice) and "her," or "it." They are all neuters, not masculine, in the original: ἄλλον παράκλητον δώσει ὑμῖν, Τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁ ὁ κόσμος ἐ δύναζαι λαβεῖν, ὅτι ὁ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ, ἐδὲ γινώσκει αὐλο ̓ ὑμεῖς δὲ γινώσκετε αὐτὸ, &c.

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John xiv. 167

pray the Father, and he shall give you another (g) Comforter (h), "that he may abide with you " for (i) ever; 17. even the (k) "Spirit of truth; whom (1) the (m) "world cannot receive, because " it seeth (1) him (n) not, neither " knoweth him (1): but ye know "him (1); for he (1) dwelleth (0) "with you, and shall be in you. " 18. I will not leave you comfort"less: I will come to you. 19. Yet "a little while, and the world " seeth me no more; but ye see "me: because I live, ye (p) shall " live also. 20. At that day ye " shall know that I am (q) in my "Father, and you in me, and I

(m) "The world," i. e. "the worldly " minded," such as are wholly taken up with worldly pursuits, setting their whole affections upon things below. So 1 John ii. 15. " If any man love the world, the love ably to this is what our Saviour says in his " of the Father is not in him." And agreesermon on the mount, "Ye cannot serve "God and mammon. Matt. vi. 24."

(n) "Seeth him not, &c." i. e. "has " not a disposition to see or know him."

The spirit of holiness may be considered (o) "Dwelleth," or "shall dwell," μένει. and actions are such as he would dictate, as dwelling within us, when our thoughts

and when we endeavour to make our thoughts and actions conformable to God's will. St. Paul calls their bodies "the "temple of God," (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.vi. 19. and 2 Cor vi. 16.) to press upon their minds that God was to be considered as an inmate in their breasts, that their bodies were dedicated to his service, and to restrain them therefore from acts which he could not approve, or which, if his presence were visible, they could not dare to do.

(p) v. 19. " Ye shall live, &c." i. e. "ye " shall partake of the life and spirit I " possess."

(9) υ. 20. "That I am in my Father, " &c." i. e. "that I really came from God, " that I am animated by his spirit, and " that you are animated by mine."

"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 (r) manifest " myself to him." 22. Judas saith unto him (not (s) Iscariot), "Lord, "how is it that thou wilt manifest "thyself unto us, and not unto "the world?" 23. 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 (t) come unto him, "and make our abode with him. "24. He that loveth me not, "keepeth not my sayings: and "the word which ye hear, is not "mine, but the Father's which " sent me. 25. These things have " I spoken unto you, being yet

(r) v. 21. "Manifest," i. e. "not to the eye, but to the mind; will shew him "that I still continue with him, that I "have not forsaken him."

(s) v. 22. "Not Iscariot," but St. Jude, the author of one of the epistles.

(t) v. 23. "Come, &c." i. e. "be as it "were inmates in his breast." If he makes his mind pure, without any wrong thoughts or passions, fit for God's temple, God will treat it accordingly. So, 1 John iii. 24. "he that keepeth his commandments, "dwelleth in him, and he in him,"

(u) v. 26. “Whom," or "which," Gr.8. (x) "Bring, &c." There were many things which our Saviour said unto them before his crucifixion, which they did not understand at the time, the force of which they might afterwards see. See ante, 143. note on Luke xxiv. 45. and 158, note on John xvi. 6.

(y) v. 28. "Greater." St. Paul and St. Peter both call him "the God," as well as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus "Christ knoweth that I lie not;" and "Blessed be the God and Father of our "Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. xi. 31. and 1 Pet. i. 3.) and see post, - note on Eph. iii. 14. In John v. 19. our Saviour says, "The Son can do nothing of himself,

" present with you. 26. But the "Comforter, which is the Holy "Ghost, whom (u) the Father " will send in my name, he shall " teach you all things, and bring(x) "all things to your remembrance, "whatsoever I have said unto

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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. 28. Ye have heard how " I said unto you, I go away, and "come again unto you. If ye " loved me, ye would rejoice, be"cause I said, I go unto the "Father: for my Father is (y) " greater than I. 29. And now I "have told you before it come "to pass; that when it is come "to pass, ye might (z) believe.

" but what he seeth the Father do;" and v. 26, 27. "The Father hath given to the "Son to have life in himself, and hath "given him authority to execute judg"ment also;" and v. 36. "The works the "Father hath given me to finish, bear wit"ness of me, that the Father hath sent me." In John xii. 49. our Saviour says, "I have " not spoken of myself, but the Father " which sent me, he gave me a command"ment, what I should say, and what I " should speak;" and again, John xiv. 10. "The words that I speak unto you, I speak " not of myself, but the Father that dwell"eth in me, he doeth the works." In John xvii. 22. 24. he speaks of "the glory which "God the Father hath given him." Superiority in the Father, is not (as far as we can judge) inconsistent with divinity in the Son. The Son may be God, though as between himself and the Father, the Father is superior, as an earthly father is above his son.

(z) v. 29. "Might believe." See ante, 165. note on John xvi. 4. Foreknowledge being peculiar to God, the fulfilment of the prediction would prove he had God's countenance when he made it, and would therefore be a sufficient ground for their belief,

"30. Hereafter I will (a) 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 (b) as the Fa"ther gave me commandment, "even so I do."

Monday in Whitsun-Week.

For the Epistle. Acts x. 34. (c) THEN Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive "that God is no respecter of per"sons: 35. but in every nation " he that feareth him, and worketh "righteousness, is accepted with "him. 36. The word which God "sent unto the children of " Israel, preaching peace by Jesus "Christ; (he is Lord (d) of all :) "37. that word, I say, ye know, "which was published through" out all Judea, and began from "Galilee, after the baptism which "John (e) preached: 38. how "God (g) anointed Jesus of Na

(c) See Easter Monday, where this portion of scripture also occurs, and is commented upon.

(d) v. 36. "He is Lord of all." A plain and unequivocal assertion of Christ's superiority and divinity. This verse is not cited by Cyril, Tertullian or Jerome.

(e) v. 37. "John," i. e. "the Baptist." (g) v. 38. "God anointed." So that our Saviour's powers are here described as conferred by God. So v. 40.

(h) v. 42. "Unto the people." τῷ λαῷ: to all.

(1) v. 43. "Remission, &c." The true Christian doctrine is this: that the sins of

"zareth with the Holy Ghost "and with power: who went "about doing good, and healing "all that were oppressed of the "devil: for God was with him. "39. And we are witnesses of all "things which he did, both in "the land of the Jews and in "Jerusalem; whom they slew " and hanged on a tree. 40. Him "God raised up the third day, " and shewed him openly; 41. not "to all the people, but unto wit"nesses chosen before of God, "even to us, who did eat and "drink with him after he rose " from the dead. 42. And he com"manded us to preach unto the "(h) people, and to testify that it " is he which was ordained of "God to be the Judge of quick "and dead. 43. To him give "all the prophets witness, that "through his name whosoever "believeth in him shall receive " remission (i) of sins." 44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy (k) Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45. And

those who are conscious of their own unworthiness, who acknowledge that they have no colour to claim any recompence from God as matter of right, who are sensible that they have sinned, and who humbly look up for pardon through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, will be forgiven; that their sins will not be imputed to (or brought into account against) them. Rom. iv. 8. (See ante, 77. note on Matt. xx. 2. According to Rom. iii. 23. "All "have sinned, and come short of the "glory of God;" and 1 John i. 8. "If we "say that we have no sin, we deceive our"selves." It is in the humble, who feels the necessity of an Intercessor, that the true spirit of Christianity is to be found; not in the self-sufficient, who thinks he can stand upon his own merits. See post, Luke xviii. 9 to 14.

(k) v. 44. "Ghost," i. e. " Spirit."