that the H. Ghost at his Coming would Convince the World of his Righteousness or Innocency which was then Eclips'd as it were by the Calumnies and the Obloquies of Men but would be clearly manifested to all and would shine out again to a perfect day at the Coming of the H. Ghost But how should the H. Ghost Convince the World of our Saviour's Innocency Because says he I go to my Father and ye see me no more That is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. Crysost in loc by publishing at his Descent how that our Saviour was ascended unto his Father so as we see him now no more on Earth and urging This as the great Argument of his most Righteous and Holy Life And this the H. Ghost should do by the Ministry of the Apostles and the Mighty Power with which he should go along with them in the whole Course of it giving them full Evidence of the Truth of these Things and enabling them to convince others of them and the World should not be able to stand out against the Force of their Testimony How this was perform'd by the Apostles at the Descent of the H. Ghost we have an ample Account in Scripture This was so remarkably fulfill'd that on the very Day on which the Spirit of God descended upon these Holy Men viz. the Day of Pentecost the First Thing they did was to Vindicate our Saviour's Innocency against the Jews by these same Arguments of his Resurrection from the Dead and Exaltation at the Right Hand of God For when great Multitudes flock't to the place where they were assembled 't is said that Peter standing up with the Eleven spake in this manner (o) Acts ii 22. Ye Men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Foreknowledge of God ye have taken 23. and by wicked hands have Crucified and Slain 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of Death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all Witnesses And being by the Right Hand of God exalted 33. and having received of the Father the Promise of the H. Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ Now 36. what was the Effect of this Discourse Was any body convinc'd of our Saviour's Innocency by it Read what follows (p) Vers 37. When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do O the Mighty Power of the Spirit of God! which brought the very Murtherers of our Lord those who but few daies before had so bitterly revil'd him and persecuted him to the Death to acknowledge his Innocency and their Guilt and come trembling and crying at the feet of his Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do Here indeed it was that the Blessed Apostles Conquer'd and overcame the World Where-ever they went this was the thing they constantly Preach'd and enforc'd on the Belief of Mankind That it was no strange thing that a Good Man should Suffer That Jesus was a Righteous and an Innocent Person That the Ignominious Death he had been put to was no Argument at all of his Guilt but of the implacable Malice of his Enemies whose horrible Hypocrisy drew from him those sharp but just Reproofs that in Revenge made them seek his Destruction If any doubted it they bade him consider how God had glorified him after Death crown'd him with Honour in the Highest Heavens who had been so ill intreated and so shamefully reproached upon Earth Seated him on his own Throne far above all Angels and Principalities and Powers and Mights and Dominions and every Name (q) Eph. i. 21. who had been despised and rejected of Men (r) Isa liii 3. For it was most certain God had rais'd him from the Dead They saw him spake with him eat and drank with him after his Resurrection many days (ſ) Luk. xxiv 30.42 Joh. xxi 12 c. They touch'd him and handl'd him (t) Luke xxiv 29. Matt. xxviii 9. They thrust their hands into his Side and they put their fingers into his very Wounds (u) Joh. xx 25.27 So that they were sure it was a Real Body which they beheld and felt and not a Spirit or a Phantasm that deluded them and that it was the very self-same Body which had been dead and breathless before that was now quick and alive again for another Body could not have had the Prints and the Marks and the Scars upon it which they saw As for his Ascension into Heaven and his Session at the Right Hand of God it was as Certain and Undoubted as his Resurrection from the Dead For after he had remain'd on Earth forty daies (x) Acts i. 1 c. Luk. xxiv 50. both to assure them by many infallible Proofs that he was indeed risen and to instruct them in the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God he assembled them on the Mount of Olives where after he had blessed them whilest he was yet speaking unto them and they beheld him he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight They saw him visibly mount up and take his Flight towards the Mansions of Eternal and Immortal Bliss And tho' he was able in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye to have passed from the Earth to the Highest Heaven he set out at first and march'd up but slowly so that they stood gazing up a long while after him as he went up (y) Acts i. 10 11. that they might the better observe his Ascending And lest it should be thought that he had been only carried up in the Air †So some Ancient Hereticks thought and there left in some of those Wild and Unknown Regions two Angels came down in bright and shining Apparel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. who most expresly assur'd them that our Everlasting High-Priest was entred into the Holiest of all (z) Heb. ix 8 11 12 24. the Third and Inmost Heaven where is the Throne of God on which he was to sit and that they should see him one day come down from thence in like manner as they had now seen him taken up (a) Acts i. 11. namely when he should return to Judge the World Thus did these Holy Men by the mighty Power of the Spirit of God which strengthen'd them in an extraordinary manner upbraid the World with its Cruelty and Injustice to their Lord by shewing how God had Justified him thô Men had Condemn'd him He
against him and said they were done by the Power of Charms and Enchantments by a Pact and Collusion with the Devil He casts out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils (u) Matth. xii 24. Luke xi 15. Thus the World did not believe on him Though he had done so many Miracles before them says the Sacred Record (x) John xii 37 c. yet they believed not on him That the Saying of Esaias the Prophet ‖ liii 1. might be fulfilled which be spake Lord who hath believed our Report These things said Esaias when he saw his Glory and spake of him He therefore tells his Disciples in the Text that the H. Ghost at his Coming would convince the World of what it would not now believe would put the Truth of his Mission in such an open Day that the World should not any longer be able to deny him It may indeed seem a matter of just Wonder how the H. Ghost at his Coming should demonstrate the Truth of our Saviour's Mission with greater Force and Evidence than he had done himself But 't is most certain the H. Ghost the PARACLET did it and that especially Two waies First By doing more and Greater Miracles †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. D. Crysost Hom. lxxvii in Joan on Earth by the hands of the Apostles after his Descent upon them than our Lord himself had done before in the Days of his Flesh The wonderfull Gift of Tongues bestow'd on the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost being One of those Greater Miracles of the H. Ghost That a few poor Galileans who before spake only the rude Dialect of their Province and by their uncouth Speech bewray'd themselves (y) Mat. xxvi 73. where-ever they went as Peter did to the Damsel and others in the High Priest's House Thou art a Galilean thy Speech agreeth thereto (z) Mark xiv 70. That these Men I say should in an instant without Study meerly through a sudden Impulse or Inspiration of the H. Ghost be heard to speak accurately and elegantly all the Various and the most Learned Languages of the World and going to the utmost Bounds and Extremities of the Earth should declare to every Nation in its own proper Tongue the wonderfull Works of God (a) Acts ii 11. was certainly a New and Unheard-of Miracle such a Miracle as the World had not been acquainted with before Are not they which speak Galileans say the Multitudes How then hear we every Man in our own Tongue wherein we were born (b) ibid vers 7 8. Our Blessed Lord himself the Word and Wisdom of the Father never spake but one Language only during the whole Time that he liv'd among Men viz. the Vulgar Syro-Chaldean †Matt. xxvii 46. Mark vii 34. us'd throughout the Region which he honour'd with his Residence and Ministry The speaking of diverse kinds of Tongues by the Spirit (c) 1 Cor. xii 10. was a Miracle reserv'd to be the Crown and Perfection of all others wrought under former Dispensations and was particularly design'd to make good those so very remarkable Words of our Saviour to his Disciples (d) Joh. xiv 12. He that believeth on me the Works that I do shall he do also AND GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. Crysost de Sto. Paulo Apostolo Hom. xxxii in Ep. ad Rom. propè sinem because I go unto my Father Nor does this any ways lessen the Glory of our Saviour's Miracles because whatever the H. Ghost did by the Apostles the great End thereof was to corroborate our Saviour's Miracles and to bear Testimony to the Truth of every Thing he did or spake whilest he abode upon Earth When the PARACLET is come whom I will send from the Father he shall testifie of me (e) Joh. xv 26. And in the Words after the Text He shall glorifie me (f) xvi 14. It was indeed that admirable Knowledge of Tongues and Languages which the Apostles receiv'd from the H. Ghost that enabled them to propagate as they did the Gospel of Christ that taught every Mouth to Confess him that got him Proselytes from all Nations under the Sun and that in very little time made the Glory and Reputation of his Name fly over all parts of the Universe Secondly The Coming of the PARACLET made it impossible for the World any longer to deny our Saviour another way And that was by his very Coming down abstracting from the Miracles which he wrought afterwards Thus. Our Saviour pleaded that he was a true Prophet sent from God and he foretold many things that should come to pass whereof this was one That as soon as he was ascended unto his Father the H. Ghost should come down and the Effects of it should be seen visibly in the World He bad his Apostles not to depart from Jerusalem untill they were endued with Power from on High (g) Luk. xxiv 49. Acts i. 4. The H. Ghost therefore coming down as he had foretold descending on the Apostles and exerting his mighty Power in them immediately upon it what was this but a most Signal Testimony that our Saviour was a true Prophet and that consequently they were guilty of very great Sin that did not believe on him But now to discourse particularly of this Glorious Descent of the H. Ghost to relate the Manner of it the Circumstances that attended it is neither the Business of the Text nor of the Day 'T is a Subject proper for the Great Solemnity that is approaching upon which I shall not Anticipate But I must crave your Attention to the Matters now before us II. The Next Thing that our B. Saviour tells his Disciples the H. Ghost his PARACLET would reprove or convince the World of at his Coming is Righteousness that is His Righteousness our Saviour's Righteousness because saies he I go to my Father and ye see me no more The World not only rejected our Saviour as to his Office but likewise aspers'd his Innocency as to his Life and Conversation among Men. False Witnesses did rise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not says David (h) Ps xxxv 11. Matt. xxvi 59. speaking Prophetically of him He was the Lamb of God without blemish and without spot (i) 1 Pet. i. 19. Who did no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth (k) ii 22. Isa liii 9. And yet how barbarously was he us'd by the Tongues of Men His very best Actions were censur'd and cavil'd at He was reckon'd among the Transgressors (l) Luke xxii 37. Isa liii 12. He bare the Sins and Iniquities of us all (m) Ibid. vers 6. and 12. He had his Grave with the Wicked (n) Vers 9. and he was at last cut off from the Earth as tho' he had been guilty of Crimes which nothing but his Blood could expiate Our Lord then tells his Disciples in the Text
Prince of this World be cast out (t) Joh. xii 31. And again The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me (u) xiv 30. St. Paul calls him yet somewhat more even The GOD of this World (x) 2 Cor. iv 4. These were some of the Usual Names and Appellations by which the Devil was Known and Understood among the Jews †Vid. Doctiff Lightf Hor. Hebr. Thalmud in Joan. Cap. xii Vers 31. who thereby intended to express that Empire which he had at that time over the whole World that little corner of it where they dwelt Palestine only excepted There indeed the true God was Confess'd for in Juda God was known his Name was great in Israel (y) Ps lxxvi 1. But every where else a dark Night of Idolatry and Paganism cover'd the face of the Earth and Wretched Men forsaking the God that made them (z) Deut. xxxii 15 16 17. paid Religious Service to the Devil * Toto passim Terrarum Orbe rerum potiebatur Satanat colebaturque ab cmnibus propemodùm Gentibus Nationibus Ubiq extabant Delubra in illius Honorem crecta ubique Arae ubique Sacrisitia c. Author Comment in Luc. adscript Tito Bostrens Ep. in Auctuar Biblioth Patr. Tom. xi He had Sumptuous and Magnificent Temples erected to his Honour Glorious and Goodly Shrines which were every day throng'd with vast Multitudes of Worshippers of all Countries under Heaven He had all the Rites and Ceremonies of a Public and Solemn Ministration appointed him Flamins and Priests ordain'd to attend and to serve at his Altars which sent up a Cloud of Incense towards Heaven and reek'd with the Blood of the Victims that were offer'd him But that Murtherer (a) Joh. viii 44. chiefly delighted in Human Sacrifices †Euseb Praeparat Evang. lib. ix cap. 15. alibi passim Lactant. Divin Instit lib. i. cap. 21. Minuc Foelix in Octav. Porphyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. ii Sect. 53 54 c. Parents made him a Burnt Offering of their Children and drown'd the Cries of the Dying Innocents with the Noise of Drums and Cymbals He had Vestals and Holy Virgins consecrated to him He had Augurs and Sybils and Prophetesses that spake in his Name and deliver'd his Oracles to Men when they consuited him about Future Events Our Lord then tells his Disciples in the Text that the PARACLET at his Coming would overthrow this Empire which the Devil had set up in the World and this Prediction was most exactly accomplished at the Descent of the H. Ghost For that Blessed Spirit coming down on the Apostles arm'd them with such an irresistible Power that they soon led Captive the Prince of this World Wherever they went by the Doctrine which they preach'd and the mighty Works which they did for the Proof and Confirmation of it they destroy'd his Kingdom and set up the Kingdom of Christ They beat down his Idolatrous Temples and built Churches on their Ruines * Euseb Praepar Evang. lib. iv cap. 4. They overturn'd his Altars and erected the Triumphant Cross They struck dumb his Oracles †Id. ibid. lib. v. cap. 16 c. Id. Demonst Evang. lib. v. in Proem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and publish'd aloud in all places the glad Tidings of the Gospel and by that means convinc'd the Unbelieving World that That impure Spirit who had so long reign'd in the Earth whose Nostrils had been fed with the Steams and Fumes of so many Sacrifices was now Judg'd and Condemn'd and That Jesus who had been Crucified and who sate at the Right Hand of God was the only God and Lord. When the H. Ghost came down and assisted the Apostles in Preaching up Jesus and the Power of his Resurrection (b) Phil. iii. 10. then fell Satan as Lightning from Heaven (c) Luk. x. 18. who had said I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will be like the most High (d) Isa xiv 12 14. No sooner did the Light of the Gospel by the Ministry of these Holy Men display its Beams o'er the benighted World but the Powers of Darkness vanish'd and fled at its Glorious Appearance The Devil could not bear that Light which discover'd the Imposture he had kept the World under for so many Ages How Absolute was he in the World before when all the Mighty Kingdoms of the Earth paid him Homage and were daily prostrate at the foot of his Altars Well might he be call'd The Prince of this World who Reign'd on this side Heaven with so uncontroul'd an Empire and to whom were offer'd the Vows the Supplications and Prayers of the Idolatrous Nations Some worship'd him under one Name some under another but under those Various Names he had those Divine Honours paid him that were due to the only Supreme God For what were all those False Divinities of the Gentile World but Impure Daemons ‖ Ps xcvi 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag Omnes Dii Gentium Daemonia Vulgat who nestl'd in those Unhallowed Places where those Divinities were Worship'd * Isti impuri Spiritus sub Statuis Imaginibus consecratis delitescunt afflatu suo authoritatem quasi praesentis Numinis consequuntur dùm inspirantur Vatibus Fanis immorantur Oracula efficiunt Minuc Fael in Octav. In eadem ferè verba S. Cyprian lib. de Idolorum Vanit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Scriptor Respons ad Orthodox apud Just Martyr and under those Various Names †Iidem sunt Daemones quos vulgus Deos esse opinatur qui dejiciendi hominis causâ varios sibi cultus per diversa Regionum condiderunt mentitis tamen assumptisque Nominibus ut fallerent Lactant. Divin Instit lib. iv cap. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athenag legat pro Christianis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scriptor Respons ad Orthod utsupr drew unto themselves the Adorations of Mankind This is evident from Scripture where the Worship of Heathen Gods and Idols that is of those Spiritual Invisible Intelligences which the Idolatrous World thought to reside in the Visible Objects of its Worship in some Naturally as in the Heavenly and Elementary Bodies in others by the Virtue of Magical Consecrations and Telesms ‖ Rapere ad se Daemonia omnem Spiritum immundum per Consecrationis obligamentum Tertul. lib. de Idolol as in Images and the like Artificial Representations is expresly term'd a Worship of Devils (e) Revel ix 20. See also Lev. xvii 7. Deut. xxxii 17. ii Châ—on xi 15. c. Thus the Apostat Israelites who made their Children pass through the fire to Molech the Abomination of the Ammonites and the same with Saturn are said to have Sacrificed their Sons and Daughters unto Devils (f) Psal cvi 37. The Things which the Gentiles sacrifice says the Apostle plainly they sacrifice to Devils and not to God (g) 1. Cor. x. 20. And he calls the