JESUS CHRIST.

SECT. 37.

Jefus, before he quitted the guest chamber, exhorted and comforted his Apoftles-reprefented himself as the true vine-enforced obedience and mutual love— and predicted perfecution.

THE folemn celebration of the last paffover could not but make a deep impreffion on the minds of the difciples; and the warnings, then addreffed to them, probably excited much perplexity. Their beloved. Mafter had declared, that he fhould very foon be feparated from them by the hand of violence, that his death would be accomplished through the treachery of one in their own company, and that they themselves would be expofed to a fevere affault both from men and Satan. The removal of their Lord, fo juftly dear to them, was in itself a diftreffing circumftance; and foreseeing further dangers and difficulties, when deprived of their Head, they felt increasing anguish, and were oppreffed with painful apprehenfions. Jefus was fenfibly affected for them, and, as it fhould feem, more folicitous on their account than his own. When, therefore, they had rifen from table, before they retired from the gueft-chamber, he renewed his exhortations, with a view to alleviate their forrows, and infpire them with hope, confidence, and joy *.

How tender and compaffionate does the Saviour appear, while inftructing and comforting his mourn

John xiv. 1, &c.

ing difciples," as a father does his children!" How exactly calculated to revive their fpirits, were the confiderations here fuggefted! The benefit of these his last folemn addreffes was defigned to reach likewife even unto us. How many things do we meet. with, which have a tendency to caufe grief, confufion, and terror! Obferving, in what a world of fin and disorder we are placed, what calamities frequently occur in human life, and how depraved and helpless we ourselves are, we fhall, probably, be difpofed to indulge a timorous and dejected frame of mind. What, then, is to be done? What can fupport and animate our fouls, when dangers and diftreffes threaten us on every fide? Let us hear the Saviour's words, and learn to apply them to our own cafe:

Thus he fpoke: "Endeavour to lay afide your anxieties and fears, and fhew the excellence of your religious principles by your compofure and courage.. You must, therefore, not only poffefs a due regard to God, as the maker, preferver, and governor of the world, but also fix your attention and reliance upon Me, as the Mediator, through whom alone you can entertain any folid hope of the divine favour, any juft expectation of being fafely conducted to the heavenly ftate. In that glorious abode where my Father difplays the luftre of his majefty, are fufficient accommodations for the whole Church, numerous as it is; and there you will not be disappointed. of finding a peaceable habitation.. If this had not been infallibly fecure,. I would not have encouraged: or permitted you to look for it.. I am going to that kingdom on your behalf, to prepare the way for your admiffion and, as I fhall enter upon the poffeffions in your name, I will not be unmindful. of you, but return for the exprefs purpose of receiving you to my own immediate prefence, that you may dwell for ever near me in that blissful inheritance, where:

D 6

even now I already am. After fuch clear declarations, you cannot mistake the place of which I fpeak, or the road which will lead you to it."

Thomas, probably understanding him as intending to erect a temporal dominion in fome particular fpot, defired further information. Jefus replied; " I myfelf have opened an access for finners unto God; in me the divine promises and engagements are fure and immutable; through me eternal life is fecured: nor can any one, whatever be his pleas or attainments, approach to the Father, but by means of my mediation. If, therefore, you had known my character and offices, you could not have been ignorant of Him: now I have revealed him to you, and in me you behold" the exprefs image of his perfon *

Philip expreffed an ardent defire, that they might be favoured with an outward manifeftation of the Father's glory. On this, our Lord reproved him for not having better understood the nature and dignity of the Mafter, with whom he had been fo long converfant, and then declared: " In seeing me, you have in effect feen the Father. Do you not credit my folemn affertions, that I am one with him? My words demand your regard, as proceeding from Him; but if these be rejected, the miraculous operations, which I perform by virtue of my union with Him, prove inconteftably the mysterious truth, which I affirm."

Let us weigh the important doctrines here advanc ed. The question, proposed to Philip, may furnish a reproof to each of us, "Haft thou not known me?" Confidering the information we have had, may we not justly be ashamed, that we have not yet learned the principles of our religion? Have we properly understood, who the Saviour is, and

*Heb. i. 3.

what

what the purposes, for which he came into the world? Have we beheld the glory of the Father fo difplayed in the person of he Son, as to be convinced that their nature and perfections are the fame? And is not this a firm foundation for our hopes, a fource of strong confolation? For do we not now perceive, that our concerns may be safely intrusted in the hands of Jefus ?

But have we indeed approached unto God, through the mediation of Chrift? Or fhall we prefume to draw near to him in any other way? Who fhall open the kingdom of heaven for us? Shall we plead our own obedience, as if this would procure us admiffion? The door would be barred againft us; nor can any entrance be obtained, but through the facrifice, and interceffion of Him, who has returned to those blissful manfions, from which he came down. He is gone to prepare a place, not for his Apoftles only, but for all who believe in his name. You, therefore, who have fixed your whole dependence upon him, are encouraged to rejoice in his exalted dignity, and the certainty of final falvation through him. It is your privilege, though you are now defpifed and afflicted, to look forward with exultation "to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven for you*.” For yet a little while, and He, in whom you trust, fhall appear in his glory, and take you up with great triumph to his beatific prefence, where you may admire, and love, and praise him for ever.

The Saviour proceeded to comfort his difciples: "Diftreffed as you may be at my departure, I folemnly affure you, that in confequence thereof you will obtain peculiar advantages. By virtue of my interceffion, while you exercife a firm dependence upon me, you shall be enabled to perform miracu

I Pet. i. 46

lous

lous operations, fuch as I myself have wrought, nay even more remarkable *. Nor is this too much for you to expect: only prefent your fupplications to God in faith, and, by the energy of my on power, I will beftow the bleings, which you ask, that the glory of the Father may be displayed in the mediation.

of the Son."

We, alfo, may rejoice, that Jefus, who is gone into heaven, continues mindful of his Church on earth, and is inceffantly pouring down his benefits upon it. We should be thankful for those extraordinary communications vouchfafed to the Apostles, whereby the Gospel was firft propagated, and confirmed with unquestionable evidence. Let us likewife be encouraged, by the prevalency of the interceffion of our exalted High Prieft, to offer up our requests with humble boldness. For the promise reaches even unto us, "If ye fhall afk any thing in my name, I will do it." Ah! why are we fo backward to pray, as if we had no Advocate with the Father, or as if this Advocate had no merit to plead, poffeffed no influence, and could exert no power on our behalf? Let us not fo difhonour him, but, crediting his own declarations, let us furround the throne of grace with our importunate. petitions, and spread our wants before him. He

*Not only did the Apostles expel demons, heal the fick, raise the dead, as Jefus had done, but they difpenfed fpiritual gifts to im❤ menfe numbers, they fpake various languages, which they had never learned, and preached the Gofpel with a fuccefs amazingly rapid and extenfive. These were, in fome fenfe, more illuftrious effects, than attended the ministry of our Lord: and yet this confideration does not weaken the argument for his Divinity, taken from his works, but rather strengthen it. For thefe very things were accomplished, as appears in the paffage before us, by the power of the Saviour: and accordingly, the Apoftles, in the miracles which they performed, confeffed their dependence upon him, and afcribed the whole glory to him. They could not fpeak, as he did, "I fay unto thee, Arife," but " In the name of Jefus Chrift of Nazareth, rife up and walk;" and again, "Jefus Chrift maketh thee whole." Luke vii.. 14. viii. 54. Acts iii. 6. ix. 34.