was indeed for a while of no reputation says St. Paul (b) Phil. ii 7. and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men And being found in fashion as a Man 8. he humbled himself and became Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross 9. Wherefore God also hath highly Exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name That at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth 10. and things under the Earth And that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord 11. to the Glory of God the Father III. The Third and Last Thing that our B. Saviour tells his Disciples the H. Ghost his PARACLET would reprove or convince the World of at his Coming is Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged Nothing had expos'd the Son of God more to the Scorn and Derision of the World than that Unexampled Patience and Meekness with which he suffer'd all the Indignities that were cast upon him never making any other Returns than Kindness to his greatest Enemies and Prayers unto God for them When he was reviled he reviled not again When he suffered he threatned not (c) 1 Pet. ii 23. He was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his Mouth He was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his Mouth (d) Isa liii 7. Acts viii 32. He did not strive nor cry neither did any man hear his voice in the Streets (e) Mat. xii 19. Isa xlii 2. This the base and degenerous World imputed to his Impotence and made it an Argument of his Guilt which was rather an Instance of his Love and Goodness and Compassion to Men. Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three daies save thy self If thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross (f) Matt. xxvii 40. were the insulting words of the Jews mocking him whilst he lay labouring under the Throws and the Agonies of Death The Time of his Abode upon Earth was indeed a Time of Sufferings 'T was the Hour of his Enemies and the Power of Darkness (g) Luk. xxii 53. But when once God had exalted him and taken him up unto himself it was then fit he should assert his Power and Godhead by his Judgments on the World and that being sate down at the Right Hand of God his Enemies should be now made his Footstool (h) Psal cx 2 Matt. xxii 44. But the Heavens being to contain him until the Times of the Restitution of all things (i) Acts iii. 21. he could not come down presently again on the Earth to execute Judgment in Person upon the World that had rejected him Therefore he sends the H. Ghost who as his PARACLET his Great Representative on Earth †PARACLETUS Vicarius Christi Tertul. advers Valent. Cap. xvi avenges him on the Authors and Instruments of his Sufferings Not one of them escap'd the Vengeance they deserv'd Judas who betray'd him had some time before with unconceivable Horrour and Anguish of Mind ended his wretched days (k) Mat. xxvii 3. Acts i. 18. Herod lost his Tetrarchy and with his Incestuous Herodias died in Banishment ‖ Joseph Antiq Jud. lib. xviii cap. 9. Pilate was put out of his Government grew weary of his Life and became his own Murderer * Euseb Hist Eccl. lib. ii cap. 7. Nicâ—ph Callist Eccl. Hist lib ii cap. 10. Vid quae â—bidem resert de Annâ Calphâ aliisque qui ipsi ut loquitur dignas variasque dederunt paenas ejus quam Christo intulerunt iniquae injustae Necis But not to insist on Judgments upon Particular Persons to whom God's afflicting Providences are so variously and so unaccountably administred in this World what became rather of the Jews and Romans those two great Nations that had combin'd to put him to Death They were destroyed by the Sword of his Mouth (l) Rev. xix 15. and by the mighty Power of his Spirit (m) 2 Thes ii 8. The Jews were his most deadly Enemies but they soon felt the terrible Effects of that direfull Imprecation which they made upon themselves and their Posterity when they cried out at his Crucifixion His Blood be on us and on our Children (n) Mat. xxvii 25. No sooner was the Lord ascended unto his Glory and the PARACLET came down but the Christian Church prevail'd o'er the Jewish Synagogue Their Pompous Temple was destroy'd the daily Oblation ceas'd (o) Dan. ix 27. The Abomination of Desolation stood in their Holy Place (p) Matt. xxiv 15. and the Divine Justice left not pursuing them till they were no longer a Nation As for the Romans never was the Hand of God more remarkably seen in any thing than in the Overthrow of their Empire †Vid. D. August de Civit. Dei Osor adv Paganos qui Argumentum hoc fuse operatò prosequuntur which at the Birth of our Saviour was at the Height and Top of all its Glory All the Mighty Nations of the Earth were Tributary to it and there was an Universal Peace in all its Provinces But after his Ascension and the Descent of the PARACLET it began visibly to decline The Rhine the Danub and the Euphrates which were before the Bounds of its Greatness and over which it was certain Death for any Barbarous Nation to pass saw their Banks cover'd with Swarms of a Savage and Unknown People that spred over it like Locusts Rome it self which was call'd the Eternal City ‖ Romulus Aeternae nondum fundaverat Urbis Marnia Tib. lib. ii Eleg. 5. Inter haec Orphitus praefecti potestate regebat Urbem Aeternam Amm. Marcellin lib. xiv that Name of Blasphemy * Roma Aeterna cum dicitur quae Temporalis est nomen est Blasphemiae Prosper mention'd by St. John in his Revelation (q) xiii 1. which said I sit a Queen I shall see no sorrow I shall never be moved (r) xviii 7. That proud City the Mother of Spiritual Whoredoms the Seat of all the Idolatries and Abominations of the Earth Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus (Å¿) xvii 5 6. was sack't by the Goths and Vandals But I hasten to that Judgment which our Lord tells his Disciples the H. Ghost his PARACLET would more particularly execute on the Devil the Chief Author of his Death and of his Sufferings For it was he that had most bitterly Persecuted him in the whole Course of his Life tempting Judas to betray him animating Herod and Pilate the Jews and Romans to his Destruction Our Lord calls him here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Prince of this World So he had call'd him twice before Now is the Judgment of this World Now shall the
Table where they feasted after those Sacrifices in honour of their Gods the Table of Devils (h) Ibid. Vers 21. But what is now become of all those False Divinities which swarm'd in the World when Our Saviour came in it They are gone They are perish'd from the Earth The Coming of the H. Ghost and the Preaching of the Gospel has convinc'd the World that they were indeed but Devils and the Nations who once worship'd them We among the rest worship now the Great God the Creator of Heaven and Earth and bow the Knees before the Lord Jesus the Saviour and the Redeemer of the World * Mr. Mede Disc on Jerem. x. 11. pag. 193. How successfully did the Holy Apostles †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. D. Crysost de Sto. Paulo Apostolo Hom. xxxii in Epist ad Rom. and the First Preachers of Christianity assisted by the Spirit of God go up and down the World erecting Churches on the Ruins of Idolatry How did they every-where by the Mighty Power that went along with them shake the Foundations of the Devil's Kingdom How did they expose to view the Impious Cheats the Obscene Mysteries the Ridiculous Pomps and Pageantries of his Religion How did they confound the Wisdom of the Philosophers and triumph'd over all the Ministers of Paganism In less than Forty Years time there was no Part of the then known and Habitable Earth where the Gospel was not Preach'd and in few Years more the whole World in a manner became Christian Where-ever Christianity appear'd the Devil was forc'd to quit his Idolatrous Temples He was aw'd by the Presence of the meanest Christian coming into them ‖ Cùm Diis suis immolant si assistat aliquis Signatamfrontem gerens sacra nullo modo litant Cùm enim quidam nostrorum sacrificantibus Dominis assisterent imposito frontibus Signo Deos eorum fugaverunt Lactant Divin Instit lib. iv cap. 27. His Service and Sacrifices grew into Contempt His Priests withdrew into Corners and Villages * Inde Religio Pagana Vid. Cl. Sarravij Epist Posthum pag. 90. Superstitio ultima resedit in Pagis ubi tenaciâ—re cultu Rustici sua Numina adorabant Certè Religio Pagana indè appellata quod in Pagis adhuc perseveraret cùm ab Urbibuâ— jam esset exterminata His forsaken Oratories were raz'd or fell of themselves to the Ground and if some for the Beauty or Conveniency of their Structure were thought worthy to be preserv'd they became the Mansions of the H. Ghost and the Name of Jesus was Invocated in them When a Strong Man armed keepeth his Palace his Goods are in Peace says our B. Saviour foretelling this Destruction of the Devils Temples But when a Stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils (i) Luk. xi 21 22. The Ceasing of Oracles which at the time of our Saviour's appearance began to be very rare but were not perfectly Silenc'd till the Descent of the PARACLET and in proportion to the Progress which Christianity made in the World is a Famous Instance of what the H. Ghost did then in it Viz. scatter'd those Evil Spirits that abus'd the Credulity and Simplicity of Mankind chac'd away the Father of Lies (k) Joh. viii 44. that he should deceive the Nations no more (l) Rev. xx 3. This I observe again because it was then much taken notice of not only by Christians †Vid. suprà but by the very Heathens themselves ‖ Cicer. de Divinat Lib. ii Porphyr apud Euseb Praep. Ev. Lib. V. passim who were amaz'd at that unusual Silence and wonder'd the Gods did not answer their Worshippers as formerly Plutarch we know wrote a Book about it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inter Opusc Moral Now how the World has been convinc'd by this remarkable Judgment which our Lord after his Ascension executed on the Devil the Prince of this World by sending the PARACLET I think I need not lose time to shew you It being That which has most evidently demonstrated that That Jesus must needs be a Great and a Mighty God who has thus overcome the Devil by the Force of his Spirit and has wrested the Worldly Power and Empire out of his hands 'T is that which has opened the Eyes of Men that were before blinded with Ignorance and Prejudice and turned them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God (m) Acts xxvi 18. 'T is That which has set up Christ's Throne in the World and made those that were before the Devil 's most Zealous Votaries become Converts renounce him as we do still at the Sacred Fonts and Profess themselves the faithfull Soldiers and Servants of our Lord †The Ancient Form of Baptism Whereby you see how exactly our Saviour's Promise to his Disciples has been fulfilled Nevertheless I tell you the Truth It is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away the PARACLET will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and yet see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged The Consideration of these Things I fear has carried me too far For who can sufficiently repeat the Mighty Changes which the H. Ghost wrought in the World at his Coming the Glorious Triumphs of our Lord over all his Enemies on Earth after his Exaltation at the Right Hand of his Father But I must forbear Therefore to Conclude You have heard that the End of the Coming of the PARACLET was to do these Three Things I. To Vindicate the Truth of our Saviour's Mission as to his Office and to shew that he was the very Christ sent from God and therefore that 't is a very great Sin not to believe on him II. To Vindicate his Righteousness or Innocency as to his Life and Conversation among Men from the unjust Calumnies and Reproaches of the World and That by shewing how God had raised him from the Dead taken him up from the Earth and seated him next to his Divine Majesty in Heavenly Places which 't is not conceivable God would have done had he deserv'd the ill Usage he receiv'd among Men. III. To avenge him on all his Enemies bring them like so many condemn'd Captives at the Foot of his Throne and slay them before his face who would not have this Great King to Reign over them (n) Luk. xix 27 especially to avenge him on the Devil The Prince of this World by overthrowing his Kingdom casting him out of his Idolatrous Temples and causing the Name of Jesus to be Magnified in the World You have heard how eminently All these Things have
come to pass We have heard with our ears O God! Our Fathers have told us what Work thou didst in their days in the Time of old (o) Ps xliv 1. Now the best Use that we can make of this Discourse is to be confirm'd by it in the Belief of Christianity that Blessed Religion by which alone we can hope to be Eternally Saved That is to say in the Belief of Jesus his Life his Death his Doctrine his Miracles his Resurrection his Ascension into Heaven the Power he has now over the Quick and the Dead and the Final Judgment he will accordingly pass and execute on All at the Last Day when he shall come to reward every Man according to his Works (p) Matt. xvi 27. For these are the Things that I call Christianity all others being but Superstructures on this Great Foundation The World can have now no Plea for its Infidelity if it does not believe in this Jesus and in this Religion after the Truth of it has been attested by so many Instances of a Divine Power going along with it and setting it up against all Oppositions of Devils and of Men. And this I mention because I know how many there are who do really question the Truth of our most Holy Faith in this Sceptical and Degenerate Age. We abound with certain Vain and Frothy Men who are not afraid to Scoff openly at Christianity and These would pass in the World for the Great Masters of Reason Men of true Latitude of Thought who will not be enslav'd by Opinions grounded only on the Report of Priests that tell them I know not what Stories of one Jesus and the Mighty Works done by him because 't is their Trade to Preach up these Things and their Interest to have them Believ'd 'T is strange indeed that this Spirit of Infidelity should still possess the World after all that God hath done to Convince it and to ascertain the Truth of Our Holy Religion God no sooner made Man but he Reveal'd himself to him He appear'd frequently to the Patriarchs in the First Ages of the World Under the Law he gave a very clear Knowledge of himself to Mankind inspiring Prophets and sending them in his Name But in these last Days he has spoken unto us by his own Son who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person (q) Heb. i. 2 3. came down on the Earth and made himself like unto one of us that he might more familiarly converse among Men. He fulfill'd all the Prophecies that had been given many Ages before as Marks to know him by when he came He spake so as no Man ever spake (r) Joh. vii 46. And he seal'd the Truth of his Doctrine by such Miracles as none could do but He that had all the Powers of Nature subject to his Command And when he had finish'd what he came to do on the Earth when by a Free and Voluntary Oblation of himself upon the Cross he had made Atonement for the Sins of the whole World he rose gloriously from the Dead and in the Sight of many Withnesses was taken up into Heaven Presently after his Ascension he sent the PARACLET to confirm all that he had said or done before That Blessed Spirit came down and wrought New Signs and Wonders by the hands of his Apostles They spake with Tongues and in the Name of Jesus they cast out Devils They were endued with such Wisdom and Vertue from above that they drew after them the Admiration of the World the Heathens crying out That the Gods were come down on the Earth in the likeness of Men (Å¿) Acts xiv 11. The Effects of this Miraculous Power of the H. Ghost accompanying them were in very little time seen throughout all the World The Devil's Kingdom was overthrown his Oracles were silenc'd the Temples of the Idols were demolished Paganism was beat down and Christianity prevail'd wherever it appear'd These are plain Matters of Fact delivered down to us by Credible History and by the Constant and Universal Tradition of all Ages Now if Men will not be Convinc'd by these Things what can God do more to Convince them They that can doubt after this neither would they be perswaded I do not say though one rose from the Dead (t) Luk. xvi 31. for That our Lord hath done and a great deal more for their Conviction but thô a Voice should speak unto them from Heaven And here I cannot conceal my Thoughts that Infidelity or a Denial of the Truths of Christianity now that is since the Descent of the H. Ghost I very much suspect to be that tremendous Sin and Blasphemy against the H. Ghost which our Lord pronounces to be Unpardonable in this World and in that which is to come I am confident that if That Sin can be committed now it must be This or I know not what it is I say unto you all manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto Men says our B. Saviour But the Blasphemy against the H. Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the H. Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this World neither in the World to come (u) Mat. xii 31 32. Our Lord here states a Difference betwixt Sinning against the Son of Man that is against himself and Sinning against the H. Ghost They that were Guilty of Sin against the Son of Man were the Jews who liv'd in our Saviour's time saw his Miracles and yet did not believe on him And thô this no doubt was a very great Sin nevertheless upon Supposition of the 〈…〉 and Acknowledgment of him which 〈…〉 sonably be expected from those furâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 that God was yet to make use of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—iction had still room left for Pardon For when the Lord said this he was not yet Risen he was not yet Ascended into his Glory and the PARACLET was not yet come down All these Great Evidences of Christianity were still wanting to leave them without excuse And doubtless many were Convinc'd by them that did not at first believe But They are Guilty of Sin and Blasphemy against the H. Ghost who have liv'd since the Manifestation of that Blessed Spirit and have heard of all the Mighty Things he has wrought in the World to attest the Truths of Christianity and yet continue in their Unbelief This our Lord declares to be Unpardonable because Pardon presupposeth Repentance and Faith in our Saviour but Faith must proceed from a Conviction of the Mind and They whom these Things will not Convince can never be Convinc'd Because since the Descent of the H. Ghost no New Revelation is to be look'd for all Extraordinary Dispensations are ceas'd The Sending of the H. Ghost was the Last that God had resolv'd to use for the Conviction of Men and we must expect no other * Cameron Myrothec Evang in Loc. supr Alloquitur Dominus Pharisaeos qui Patris Oeconomiam quae antè Christi Adventum vigebat insuper habuerant suamitem Blasphemantes spreverant Ait ergò licet Oeconomias illas quamdiù duravere contempserint esse tamen spem veniae sub Tertiâ quae Spiritui Sancto tribuitur Sancti verò Spiritûs Oeconomiam si prosequantur odio sublatam esse omnem veniaespem quia Quarta Oeconomia minimè expectari debet Therefore They that doubt still after this must doubt on for ever Their Case is desperate and they must be abandon'd to their own perverse and Reprobate Sense GOD in his Infinit Mercy preserve us all from Hardness of Heart and from doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace (x) Heb. x. 29. AMEN THE END
most Difficult Texts of Scripture It has puzzl'd the Learned'st Men to find out the true Sense and Meaning of this place See their Annotations on the Place The Incomparable Grotius and the Excellent Dr. Hammond have in my Judgment given the best Light to it as they have done to many other Obscure Passages of the Sacred Oracles The Difficulty that is in these Words lies not in the Promise which our B. Saviour makes to his Disciples of sending them the Comforter after his Departure for that 's plain enough and it was exactly accomplished some time after viz. on the Day of Pentecost but in the Effects he tells them that Blessed Spirit would produce in the World at his Coming And when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin and of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged These are the Words which I design more particularly to treat of at this time I shall first briefly explain them and then enlarge further upon them You must note then that our B. Saviour makes allusion here to the Jewish way of pleading Causes and managing Actions and Suits at Law after the mode of the Courts and the method of the Public Judicatories among that People in those Daies All the Words and the Terms here us'd are properly Words and Terms of Law which seems not to have been Understood by common Expositors There were Three sorts of Actions usual among the Jews in our Saviour's time all which are alluded to by him in this place The First were those that consisted in Condemning and Punishing Sinners and Offenders against God as Blasphemers of his most Holy Name False Prophets that feduc'd the People pretending they came from God when he had not sent them and the like These they call'd Actions concerning Sin †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Sin by way of Eminency Sin that struck directly and immediately at the Honour Veracity or any other of the Attributes of God The Next were those that consisted in protecting and defending Innocent Persons from the Oppressions and Vexations of other Men which therefore they call'd Actions concerning Righteousness ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Last were when they demanded Vengeance and urg'd the benefit of that great Law of Retaliation express'd in Leviticus (f) xxiv 20. and mention'd elsewhere (g) Exod. xxi 23. Deut. xix 21. Matt. v. 38. against those that had injur'd them by which Law it was ordained that whoever wrong'd another it should be repaid back to him in the same kind These they call'd Actions concerning Judgment * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To me it is very evident that our B. Saviour in the Text alludes to these Three sorts of Actions as he doth frequently in the Gospel to many other Civil and Religious Customs that were in use among the Jews in his time and applies them to the manner of the H. Ghost's vindicating him and pleading his Cause against the World at his Descent The word PARACLET in the Original is another Key to unlock this difficult Text. If I go not away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΤΟΣ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the PARACLET will not come unto you For tho' the Word be commonly render'd The Comforter it signifies also an Advocate one that acts sollicits and pleads for another and the Jews I mean the Jews Hellenists for the Word in its primitive Derivation is a Greek Word †ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΤΟΣ Vox Graeca frequens apud Judaeos in Versione Chaldaeâ apud Thalmudicos non pro Consolatore sed pro eo qui causam agit alterius Grot. in Joan. xiv 16. PARACLETUS Judaeorum PARACLETUS Samaritanorum Juchasin 138.2 ubi non Consolatorem significat sed Advocatum aut Patronum Drus Praeter Lib. IV. ad Joan. xiv us'd it generally in this Sense 'T is according to this known Acceptation of the word in his time that St. John for instance calls our B. Saviour himself Our PARACLET (h) 1 Ep. ii 1. If any man sin says he ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΤΟΠ〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have a PARACLET with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous that is as our own Translation renders it We have an Advocate with the Father one that will plead and defend our Cause at the Bar of Heaven even the Lord Jesus who for this end is gone up on High and sits at the Right Hand of God And as the Jews call'd him that pleaded for another ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΤΟΣ †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so him that pleaded against him and was his adverse Party they call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Accuser which is the very Name given to the Devil in the Revelation (i) xii 10. He is there call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Accuser of the Brethren These Two do very appositely explain and illustrate each other As 't is the Part of the Infernal Spirit to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Accuser of Good Men so 't is the Office of the H. Ghost to be their ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΤΟΣ that is their Advocate and their Defender The Jews have a Saying That he that does one Precept of the Law gets him PARACLIT EHAD †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Advocate that will intercede to God for him But he that transgresses one Precept of the Law gets him Katigor-Ehad ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Accuser that will charge and impeach him before God * Pirke Avoth ceu Lib. Apophthegm Hebraeor Cap. IV. Vid. Joh. Buxtorf Florileg Hebraic ad vocem Praeceptum p. 277. Our B. Saviour liv'd among the Jews and express'd himself as they did therefore I doubt not but this is the Notion he had of the Word PARACLET in the Text which accordingly Beza in his Latin Version renders Advocatus Nisi abiero Advocatus ille non veniet ad vos Grotius says the old Latin Interpreters render'd it constantly thus †Annot. ad Joan. xiv 16. The word frequently occurrs in the ancient Greek Classical Writers in the Sense wherein we now take it of an Advocate or Intercessor Vid. Budaei Comment Ling. Graec. Edit Paris An. MDXLVIII pag. 802 803. Ubi multa annotantur ex Aeschin Demosth Isocr c. Tertull. Lib. de Monogamiâ Cap. III. In hoc quoque PARACLETUM agnoscere debes Advocaium quod à totâ Continentiâ infirmitatem tuam excusat Further that which our B. Saviour says the H. Ghost would do at his Coming proves that he intended to speak of him in this Sense and in this Notion of an Advocate And when he is come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will reprove the World The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of the nature of the former and properly belongs to an Advocate * Verbum hoc responde Hebraeo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
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