Ver.21. the 17th Chapter of St. JOHN, 313 A &ion was concerning RigiteouJneJi, to vindicate his Linocency, though he fùflered among them as a Malefa ∨ in that he was owned by God, and taken up into Hea- ven, as a clear Teftimonyofhis Innocency. The third A&ion was that of fudgmei:tt or punilhing injurious Perlons by way of Retaliation ; that thole which ftruck out an- other's Eye orTooth,were to lore their own,or he that had wronged another Man in his Subllance, (hould lofe as much of his own. This Action he had : gainft Satan, who wish his Inftruments had put Chrift to Death 4 now tfte Prince of this World Jh.ul be judged, Retaliation (hall be done upon him, his Kingdom de(troyed, his Idols and Oracles bat- tered down, and put to filence, and under Difgrace. And thus the Spirit ihould come to convince the World, that it was a Sin not to believe in Chrift, who was a righteous and innocent Perlon ; and the Devil, which did the wrong, ihould have Right done upon him, that he thould be de(hoyed, and his Kingdom demoli(hed. All thefe we have, Ad's g. 30, 31. The God of our Fathers raijèd up Jefus, whom ye flew, and hanged on aTree. Him bath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Nepentance to Ifrael, and Forgivenefs of Sins. The frft Queftion was concerning Sin, WhetherChrií died as a MalefaCtor ? or whether he was a true Prophet ? And whether it was not a Sin in the Jews, not to receive him ? that was the Point in Controverfy between the .Apo files in preaching the Gofpel, and the World that denied this. The next Qoeftion was concerning Righteoufnefs, Whether Chrift was a Righteous Perfon? Now Chrift being exalted at God's right Hand, was thereby owned to be a Righteous Perlon ; that though he was hanged on the Tree, yet he was jiaftified and exalted at the right Hand of God. The other Controverfie was concerning 7ndgment, Whether Chrift were a bale Perlon, or one exalted to be Prince and Saviour, exalted above Sa- tan, and all Things that are called God in the World ? Now the Spirit (ball convince the World, that the Prince of this World is condemned, and that Chrilt is the Prince and Saviour, and he muff be owned and exalted, and his Kingdom fee up every where. Thus when poor Men were to bait the Devil, and hunt him out of his Territories, and oppofe themfelvesagainft the Tradition of the Nation, there is a mighty Spirit let up, and he (hall convince the World ; thole that are not really and heartily gained, he (hall convince them of Sin, and of Righteoufief , and of Judgment. t. Of Sin; becaufe they believe not in me. The Spirit Ihall convince them, that Chrift is the Son of God, the great Prophet, and true Melliah ; and Íe) it is a Sin to reje& him, and his Do &rine: that Unbelief is a Sin, as well as the Breach of the Moral Law, and that the Lord jefas Chrift is to be owned as a Mediator, as well as God, as a Law - giver. All will grant, that a Breach of the Law of God is a Sin; but the Spirit Ihall convince, that a Tranfgreffion againft the Gofpel is a Sin, as well as againft the Law. 2. Of Righteo,efnefs ; becaufe I go to my Father, and ye Add fie me no more. That Chrift did not remain in the State of the Dead, but rofe again, and afcended, and li- veth with the Father in Glory and Majefly : and therefore that he was not a Seducer, but that Righteous One; and fo however he was reje &ed by Men, yet he was owned and accepted by God, and all his Pretenfrons juftified; and fo might fufficiently con- vince the World, that it isBlafphemy to oppofe him as a MalefAbr, and his Kingdom and Intereft in the World; there needeth no more to perfwade Men, that he was that Help-and Righteous one. 3. Of Judgment becaufe the Prince of this World is judged. The Devil is the Prince of this World ; Eph. 6. 12. The ruler of the Darknefi of this World ; and he was con- demned by virtue of Chrift's Death, and Judgment executed upon him by the Spirit ; John 12. 3 r. Now fball the Prince of this Worldhe cali out. He was foiled and vanquithed by Chrift, and by the Power of the Gofpel, was to be vanquilbed more and more, by filencing his Oracles, detlroying his Kingdom, recovering poor captive Souls, tran(la- ting them out of the Kingdom of Darknefs into a State of Holinefs, Liberty, Light and Life ; the ufurped Power he had over the blind and guilty World, is taken from him ; now his Judgment (hall be executed. 4. The Way and Means whereby this Ihould be brought about ; By the coming of the Spirit, or the fending the Comforter. When he came, the Difciples and Meffengers of Chrift had large Endowments, whereby they were enabled to fpeak powerfully and boldly to every People in their own Tongue, and to endure their Sufferings and ill ufage with great Courage and Fortitude, and to work Miracles, as to cure Difeafes, Rrrr cart
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