CHRIST tells them, that in a little while they should not fee him. SECT. CLXXVIII. Our LORD concludes his Difcourfe, with assuring his Difciples, that his Separation from them would not be final, but that he would fill act in their Favour as their Guardian, and make them finally victorious. John XVI. 16, to the End. A JOHN XVI. 16. Little while and ye fhall not see me and again, a little while and ye fhall Father. JOHN XVI. 16. 477 UR Lord continued and concluded this Sect. 178. excellent Difcourfe to his Apostles, in 16. fee me, because I go to the Words to the following Purpose: It is yet but John XVI. a little while, and you shall not fee me any more converfing with you upon Earth, as I have hitherto done And yet again, for your Encouragement and Comfort I affure you, that it is but a little while longer, and you shall fee me again, on Terms of much greater Advantage, because I go to the Father; plainly intimating thereby, that he would be fo mindful of their Interest with the Father, as e'er long to bring them to an Eternal Abode with him (a). 17 Then faid fome of his Difciples among themselves, unto us, A little while and ye fhall not fee me: and again, a little while and ye fhall fee me and, Because I go to the Father? What is this that he faith 87 But their Thoughts were fo taken up about 18 They said therefore, Father (b) ? What this (a) Intimating, that he would bring them to an Eternal Abode, &c.] As this Senfe is evidently much more important, fo it appears to me more natural and eafy, than that of Monf. Le Clerc, who understands it, as if Chrift had faid, "Tho' I am quickly to disappear "from you, and be lodged in the Grave, Ifhall foon come again, and make you another "Vifit of fome length, before I return to Heaven by my Afcenfion." His going to the Father was no Proof of this, tho' it ftrongly proved his Ability to introduce them to the Heavenly World. I apprehend, that the whole Joy which Chrift's Refurrection and Afcenfion, as connected with each other, gave them, is referred to in the following Difcourfe, which therefore is fo paraphrafed, as to include all that is pertinent and material in the Explication above. (b) What is this that he fays, &c.] There are fo many Paffages in the preceding Parts of this Difcourfe, which relate to Chrift's going to his Father, (Chap. xiv. 2, 12, 28. xv. 26. xvi. 10.) that it is a ftrange Inftance of the Dulness of the Apostles, that they did not under 478 Sect. 178. this little while of which he speaks? We know not what he fays, and cannot apprehend what he means by it. He would fee them again, and their Hearts fhould rejoice. John XVI. 18. 19 20 Now Jefus knew that they were defirous to her What is this that he faith, tell what he faith. 19 Now Jefus knew that they were defirous to afk him, and faid unto them, Do you enquire among yourfelves of that I faid, A little while and ye shall not fee and ye fhall fee me? me: and again, a little while 20 Verily, verily I fay unand lament, but the World to you, that ye fhall weep fhall rejoice: and ye fhall be forrowful, but your Sorrow fhall be turned into Joy. 21 A Woman, when she is in Travail, hath Sorrow, but as foon as the is deliver because her Hour is come: ed of the Child, she remem breth no more the Anguish, underftand him here. Perhaps it is recorded on Purpofe, to fhew what an Alteration the Spirit afterwards made in them. It is indeed difficult to imagine what could perplex them, unless it were that they fufpected, the Words A little while and ye shall not fee me; and again, a little while and ye fhall fee me, &c. might intimate, that after he had gone to the Father, and made a fhort Stay there, he would come again, and fettle an Earthly Kingdom: and they might defire an Explication in this View. Accordingly, after having told them, that tho' they were forrowful, he would come and fee them again after his Refurrection, (ver. 20, 22.) and would introduce them to a State of comfortable Converse with GOD by Prayer, and a Joy of which none should deprive them; (ver. 23,-27.) he adds, (ver. 28.) that he was quickly leaving the World, to go and refide with the Father, from whom he came; thereby gently intimating, that no Temporal Reign was to be expected. And if we fuppofe him thus to have glanced obliquely at the moft fecret Sentiments of their Hearts, it will account for that Confeffion of his Omnifcience, which immediately follows this 28th Verfe; (ver. 29, 30.) the Reason of which would not appear merely from his Difcovery, that they doubted about fomething, which their Countenances and Whispers might fhew. (c) Ye shall weep and lament, &c.] Whatever immediate Reference this may have to the Sorrows of the Apostles, immediately on the Death of Chrift, before his Refurrection, I queftion not but it includes all their fubfequent Afflictions in the Days of Fafting, when the Bridegroom was taken away from them, as it is elfewhere expreffed in a parallel Phrafe; (Mat. ix. 15.) which must exprefs much more, than the Abftinence of the one Day he lay in the Grave, fuppofing (which is very poffible,) they had then but little Relish to their Food. See Vol. i. pag. 436. Whatever they asked in his Name, the Father would give it. John XVI. 22. 479 And in that Day, when I have fent the Comfor- 23. (d) No one shall deprive you of your Joy.] As this Promife will be for ever accomplished to all Chrift's faithful Servants, fo it is obfervable how the Apostle Paul in his more abundant Afflictions attefts his Experience of its Truth, when he fays, as forrowful, yet always rejoicing; (2 Cor. vi. 10.) and mentions his Share in the Joy of Chriftians, as a moft important and facred Oath. (1 Cor. xv. 31.) (e) You shall not enquire any Thing of me.] We render it afk; but I thought it proper to make fome Diftinction between epalaw, which properly fignifies to make an Enquiry, and alew, which is to prefent a Request. (See Dr. Calamy on the Trinity, pag. 154.) Yet I confefs the former is fometimes ufed almost in the fame Senfe with the latter; (fee Mat. xvi. 1.) and the Word feems to have the fame Ambiguity with Demand in English.The Argument fome have drawn from hence against praying to Chrift, on the preceding Criticifi has no Appearance of Weight; and did spela fignify to pray, would prove (if it proved any thing,) that Paul lived, and Stephen died, in a very unwarrantable, and perhaps an idolatrous Practice. 480 John XVI. 2.4. He came from the Father, and was returning to him. Sect. 178. a chearful Boldness to the Throne of Grace, and and ye fhall receive, that freely afk what fhall be neceffary for you; and your Joy way be full. depend upon it you shall receive fuch a liberal Supply, that, in the midst of all your temporal Difcouragements, your Joy in GoD may still be maintained in its full Height. 25 Thefe Things I have often spoken to you in the Obfcurity of Parables; but the Hour or Time is coming, when I will speak no more to you in Parables, but I will tell you what relates to the Father with all Opennefs and Plainnefs of Speech. 26 In that Day you shall afk in my Name, and fhall prefent your Supplications to the Father with an exprefs Acknowledgment of your Dependance upon me for the Success of your Petitions; and I do not merely fay to you, that I will ask the Father on your Account, and plead with him for the Acceptance of your Prayers, tho' you may affure yourselves that I fhall always be ready to 27 do it. But I reprefent it not in fuch a View, as if every Favour were obtained, and as it were extorted, merely by my Importunity, from one who has himself no Regard for your Happiness; for, on the contrary, I affure you, that the Father himself most tenderly loves you, and therefore will be ready to grant your Requefts, and to watch over you with Paternal Affection and Care; because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from GOD, as the Meffenger of his Grace to Men; and have accordingly relied upon me with fuch Stedfastnefs, that you have ventured your All upon that 28 Belief. And you have therein acted a very prudent and happy Part; for I indeed came out from the Father, and am come into the World to fcatter a Divine Light upon it, and to conduct Men into the Paths of Life and Peace: And now again, having difpatched my Errand, I am leaving the World, and am going back to the Father; where I fhall keep my stated Abode, and whither I will fhortly conduct you to a more glorious Kingdom, than you ever expected here. This is the Sum of what I have been telling you, and was particularly my Meaning in what I said be fore, 25 Thefe Things have I spoken unto you in Proverbs: the Time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in Proverbs, but I fhall fhew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that Day ye fhall afk in my Name: and I lay not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, becaufe ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from GOD. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the World, and go to the the World: again, I leave Father. His Difciples would leave him, but the Father was with him. 481 fore, (ver. 16.) Yet a little while, and you shall Sect. 178. fee me again, because I go to the Father. John XVI. And his Difciples, ftruck with the Corre- 29. 32 Jefus answered them, Do you now at length 31 Thefe Things have 1 spoken thus largely to 33 PPP of |