512 SERMONS upon Serrn.36. Prayer to his foregoing Sermon made tp his Apojfles. What did he promife to them ? yehn 16. 8, 9,1c, 11. If) depare, I *all the Comforter unto you ; and when he it come, he will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteoufnefr and of judgment. Of Sin, becaufe they believe not on me. Öf'Eighiteoufnefi, becaufe 1 go to my Father, and ye fee me no more. Of yudgment, becan/e the Prince of this World is judged. This is a difficult Place, the mea- ning is this. In the Context you will find the Apofiler were troubled about Chrifts De- parture, and their going out ihto the World to preach the Gofpel; for they apprehen- ded their Service difficult ; their Matter (for whom they hood) defpifed, and looked upon as a Seducer and Mock-King among the Jews ; their Mef age very unpleafant, as contrary to the carnal Interefts of Men. Now for a few weak Men to be left to the Ha- tred and Oppofition of a proud, malitious, ambitious World; they that were to preach a Do &nine contrary to the Lulls and Intereas of Men, and go forth in the Name of a Matter that was defpifed, and hanged on a Tree: what (hall they do ? Be not troubled, faith our Saviour. He lays in many Comforts, and among them, that the World /5511 be convinced : The Spirit /hall convince the World ofSin, &c. Obferve, 1. The A &, He (hall convince. 2. The Objea, the World. 3. The Particulars what he (hall convince them of, of Sm, of Righteonfnefr, and ofjudgment. 4- The Means, by the Spirit. 5. The Effe &s of this, and how this was accomplifhed, and what a mighty Confirmatiön this was of the Apoffle s Teftimony. r. Confider the A&, He Jhall reprove, or convince ; not convert, but convince : where- by is meant, not only his offering or affording fufficient Means, which might convince Men ; but his a&ual convincing them thereby ; even the reprobate World (hall be fo convinced, as they were put to filence, that they (hall not eaftly be able to gain -fay the Truth, nay, tome of them (hall obtain the Profeffion of it. And yet the Holy Ghoft góeth no further with them, than fully to convince them: the Work ftoppeth there, they are not effe&ually converted to God. As many carnal Men, that remain in an unregenerate Condition to the lait, may have many temporal Gifts bellowed on them, whereby they may be made ufeful to the real and true Believers, and have ftrange Chan- ges and Flafhes ofConfcience for a while, yet it went no further : therefore the Apoftle faith, Heb. 6. 4, 5. They were enlightned, and had taftedofthe Heavenly Gift, and were made Partal¿eri Of the Holy Ghoff; ./And have taffed thegood Word of God, and the Power: of the World to come. 2. The Obje& of this Work of the Spirit. Whom (hall he convince ? the World. It is notable, the Church is not fpoken of, but the World. Now the World is either the unregenerate and unconverted World; or elfe the reprobate and loft World, who finally perfitt in their Unbelief, or want of raving Faith ; this mad raging World (hall be convinced, and fo their oppofition taken off, or their Edg blunted, and they made more eafy and kind to his People, though they are but convinced, and continue (till in a (fate of Nature. Nay, Come of them (hall join with them, and be made greatly ufeful to them : therefore they need not fear, though all the Power and Learning in the World were againft them at that time. 3. The Particulars whereof they are convinced ; Of Sin,of Righteoufnefi and of judg- ment. Grotius and other interpreters obferve, there were three forts of Caufes of Ac- tions among the Jews, ae*..) &asv 7ías, concerning criminal Matters, or Sissmoo -Az, in defending the- Jut} and Upright, or z/,i s&meas, in urging the Law of Retaliation for Damage done. Sometimes there was a Suit commenced, to know, whether a Man were a criminal or no : at other times, if any Man had been wronged, there was a Suit commenced concerning Righteoufnefs and Innocency,, and the Man was acquitted in Court : Sometimes there was an A&ion concerningJudgment, and that was concerning Retaliation, giving Eye for Eye, Tooth- for Tooth, recompencing the Party wronged concerning Damage done. So here, the Holy Ghoft at his coming thould be the Ad- vocate of Chrifl againft the World, who had rejeaed and crucified him. One A &ion that he ( hould put in againft the World was concerning Sin, whether Chrift, or the Def- pifers of his Grace, were guilty of a Crime ? it would appear in the iffue; that not to be- lieve in him, was a Sin, as well as to tranfgrefs the moral or natural Law. The fecond A &ion
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=