gion is, and what it produceth, which SERM. filleth the mind with peace and joy in be- III. lieving. That we may therefore be firm believers, and hold fast our confidence, let us endeavour to be fincere and eminent in the Chriftian practice. SERM. IV. SERMON IV. Obfervations upon our Saviour's laft discourses with his disciples. JOHN xiv. 1. Let not your heart be troubled; you --believe in God, believe alfo in me.. N OTHING can be more engaging to the attentive reader, than the light, in which our bleffed Saviour appeareth in these his last discourses to his disciples, and in his prayer to the Father for them. Our Lord knowing, that the time of his paffion drew near, and that he muft quickly leave his disciples, fetteth himfelf in the most friendly manner, to comfort them under their apprehenfions of the lofs, which they should sustain by his absence, and to fortify their minds against the difficulties ficulties, which they were like to meet with, SERM. in acting the part, to which he had called IV. them; and accordingly in perusing these discourses, we shall fee a greatness of mind, which did indeed become the Son of God, in conjunction with the utmost tenderness of affection; the fureft and nobleft foundation. laid for the comfort of his difciples; and addreffed to them in the moft engaging After I have reprefented these things particularly, I fhall make some reflections upon them; chiefly with a view of fhewing, that thefe difcourfes of our Lord, and his prayer at the conclufion of them, bear the plain marks of being genuine; and that therefore they furnish a ftrong prefumptive argument for the truth of our holy religion. manner. Our bleffed Lord doth not at all attempt to leffen the apprehenfions of his difciples, concerning the fufferings, which they were to meet with, when he should be removed from them. He tells them plainly, that the world would hate them. * If the world hate you, ye know it hated me before it bated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are * SERM. not of the world, but I have chofen you out IV. of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Again, Thefe things have I spoken to you, that ye fhould not be offended. They shall put you out of the fynagogue; yea the time cometh, that he, that killeth you, shall think, that he doth God good fervice; as he had told them upon another occafion, that they should † be betrayed, both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends, and fome of you shall they caufe to be put to death; and ye shall be bated of all men for my name's fake. And, before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and perfecute you, delivering you up to Synagogues and to prifons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's fake. A profpect, it must be owned, frightful enough; and to which the event was agreeable. But I fay, he doth not attempt to leffen their apprehenfions of these fufferings; nay, with the greatest candour, lays open the future fcene. Thus they had á fair opportunity of counting the cost, as he adviseth all his difciples to do; that so, if they were not fatisfied to continue in his service at fuch expence of fuffering, they might in time lay afide the character of his * John xvi. 1. Luke xxi. 16. Ib. xxi. 12. disciples, difciples, and take care of thofe interefts, SERM. which they should think fit to prefer to his IV. cause and friendship. Yet whatever difficulties and fufferings their conftancy in his fervice might lay them under, he propofeth to them fuch confiderations, as were fufficient to make their minds quite eafy, and even joyful in the profpect. He giveth them affurance, that, in an honeft discharge of their duty to him, they should be beloved of his Heavenly Father, who would ever countenance and affift them. * 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. At that day ye shall afk in my name, and I fay unto you, that I will pray the Father for you, becaufe ye have loved me, and believed, that I came out from God. The love of the father must ever give the strongest confolation. When men have just conceptions of the Supreme Being, of his infinite power, and wisdom, and goodness, and know, that they are the objects of his favour, this muft beget a magnanimity and gladness of heart, which will make a per * John xiv. 23. + Ib. xvi. 26. fon |
