SERMON VIII. JOHN xiii. 19. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. T In HE prophecies of Jefus, which have been already confidered, were parallel to predictions of John, and bore a direct relation, and, by their accomplishment, gave evident teftimony, to the character of Jefus, as Son of God. order to fhew, that his prophecy of the establishment and prevalence of his kingdom in the world had the fame refpect, and by its completion gave the fame atteftation, to his character, as Son of God, I propofe to confider that prophecy, in the prefent difcourse. The He The Meffiah and his kingdom, are prophetically represented in the old-Teftament, as gradually advancing, from a small and obfcure rife, to full fize and brightness. The import of those predictions seems to be prophetically implied in the words of the Baptift, "he muft increase;" and in many paffages, parallel to this claufe of John, Jefus foretold his own increase and the establishment of his kingdom, with circumftances, expreffively denoting the unpromifing beginning and final fulness of it. compared it to a little leaven, by which the whole is leavened; and to the leaft of all feeds, which, when it is grown, is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree; and when he encouraged the Apostles, as the intended ftewards and rulers of his houfehold, "fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," he seems to have spoken partly with a prophetical view to their future ministry of his Gofpel. b * Pfalm cxviii. 22. Ifaiah xlix. 7. liii. 2, &c. Daniel ii, 34% Matth. xiii. 32, 33. < Luke xii. 32. compared with verse 41, 42. Indeed, Indeed, the prevalence of Christianity, confidered as the accomplishment of the prophecy of Jefus, affords ftrong evidence of his divine character; but it becomes ftronger, upon confidering that the prevalence of his Gospel must be afcribed immediately to himself. In the first of these two lights, it difplays the divine foreknowledge of its author, while he miniftered upon earth; and in the last, it ascertains his divine power, while he reigneth in heaven. I fhall therefore endeavour to fhew, that nothing but his own accomplishment of his promises adjusted the means of establishing his kingdom to the end propofed, and thereby ensured the completion of his prophecy. 1. With this view, it may be observed, that the Apostles of Jefus, at the time of his going away from them, understood not the spiritual character and univerfality of his kingdom; and were unprovided with many principal d • Compare Matth. xxviii. 20, " teaching them to obferve all things, whatsoever I have commanded you,”—with John xiv. 26,"he fhall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have faid unto you." If the Twelve were al ready requifites, for the fuccefsful discharge of their office. This was plainly confeffed by their Lord, before his death; "I have yet many things to fay unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.' These things would most probably, at that time, either have clashed with their ruling prejudices, or quite have overpowered their strength of mind. Jefus then indeed affigned a future remedy for thefe deficiencies; but thereby implied that they would still fubfift, until the remedy should be given; and accordingly they appear to have fubfifted, at the time of his afcenfion. - f Again, Although the miffion of the Twelve was of universal extent, yet, as being all Galilæans, they were obviously unable to propose the Gofpel, fuppofing that they had completely understood it, to any, but Jews, and not even to them, without very confiderable disadvantage. Unfkilled, as it seems, in the * original text, and even the Greek verfion, of ready able to teach whatsoever Chrift had commanded, the Spirit was not wanted, to remind them of whatsoever he had faid unto them. e John xvi. 12. See Whitby ad 1. f Acts i. 7. See Lightfoot, Vol. i. 285. Which the Greek of the New-Teftament much follows. Lightfoot, Mifcell. Vol. i. 1005. the the prophecies, they could not confirm the Christian faith, by appealing to the Jewish Scriptures. The first of these impediments rendered them utterly unable to " disciple all nations;" and the laft greatly difqualified them for preaching with fuccess, even to their own. k 2. It may be observed, that their Apoftolical warfare, indifpenfably required far greater fortitude of mind, than previous appearances indicate that they naturally poffeffed. After having heard the doctrines, and feen the miracles of Jefus, after having preached in the cities of Ifrael, they had all forfaken him, and Peter had thrice denied him. Befides; their natural fears would be extremely aggravated, by the express prophecy of Jesus; "behold I send you forth, as lambs among wolves;" << m ye shall be hated of all men for my name's fake;""" they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall i To Jews, the argument from the prophecy, would be particularly awakening. Hence, in their addreffes to their countrymen, the Apoftles commonly used it. k 1 Tim. i. 18. 1. Luke x. 3. m Mat. x. 22. Luke xxiv. 9. Mat. x. 17. |