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ture and Intention of it; and thereby moft fitly not only excite us to a grateful Remembrance of the divine Beneficence, but also teach us to form true Apprehenfions and a juft Veneration of fo great a Mystery. A Mystery which was promis'd by Chrift to his Apoftles as the greatest of all Benefits, which might alone fupply the otherwife irreparable Lofs of his Prefence, and intirely dif pel their Grief arifing from the melancholy Apprehenfion of his approaching Departure. A Mystery which was referved for the ultimate Confummation of the Chriftian Religion and divine Difpenfation of the Gospel, which being defigned by the Father, and founded by the Son, was at laft brought to Perfection by the Miffion and Defcent of the Holy Ghoft.

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No wonder therefore if the Promise of fo great a Benefit was fo mightily insisted on by Chrift, as a fufficient Remedy to his Difciples for all Afflictions, and the laft and greatest Legacy which he could bequeath unto them if the performance of it was fo earnestly expected by the Apoftles; and the remembrance of it with an uninterrupted Solemnity celebrated by the Church in all Ages, more especially by the Antient Church; in which all Chriftians used to ftand continually in time of Divine Service from Eafter to Whitfunday, thereby teftifying the impatient Expectation wherewith they attended the Deicent of the Holy Ghoft as upon this Day.

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The declaration of this Promise made in the Words of my Text, was occafioned by the great Anxiety which the Apostles expreffed at the news of our Saviour's departure; and their wonderful Ignorance of the true Nature and Design of the Christian Religion, after fo long and fo excellent Inftruction from their divine Master.

The former is related in the end of the preceding Chapter, which therefore Christ endeavours to remove by a vehement Exhortation to a steady Faith in the Beginning of this. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe alfo in me. Affuring them that his Departure was for no other End than to prepare a Place for their Reception into thofe Manfions, of which they had been by him fufficiently informed. At this, Thomas far from acknowledging any fuch Information, complains in the 5th verfe, that they were ignorant, both of the Place and the Way to it.

Our Saviour answers, that the Place was no other than the Society of his Father, whom they had fufficiently known by converfing with Him.

This far from removing the Mistakes of the Apostles, gave Occafion to the Discovery of a far greater Ignorance in them.

For in the 8th verfe, Philip defireth him to fhew the Father to them, thereby manifefting how widely he had hitherto mistaken the Doctrine of Chrift, and what grofs Notions of the Father he entertain'd.

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So ftrange an Ignorance drew a fharp Expoftulation from our Saviour. Have I been fo long time with you, and yet haft thou not known me Philip? ver. 9.

Thereupon declaring unto him what fufficient Means he had already given them of knowing the Father; and promifing to enable them yet further to a more perfect Knowledge. of him, by fending the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. He affureth them of a more clear and exprefs Revelation of this Matter at his Refurrection, by manifefting himself, and confequently the Father, to pioufly disposed Perfons, who loved him and kept his Commandments. Although he intended not to manifeft himself in the fame Degree and manner to the whole World.

At this Judas Lebbaus feems to be aftonifhed, and in a paffionate Exclamation, which includeth fomewhat of Defpair in it, faith unto him, verfe 22. Lord how is it that thou wilt manifeft thy felf unto us, and not unto the World! as imagining this illuftrious Manifeftation to be no other than taking Poffeffion, in a folemn and magnificent Manner, of that Glorious Worldly Kingdom, which himself with the other Apoftles in vain expected to be founded by their Mafter.

Such ftrange Miftakes, of which the meaneft Chriftians would be aflamed in the prefent Conftitution of the Church, might juftly be admired to have proceeded from thofe, who were the familiar Attendants of Chrift

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through a Triennial Preaching, acquainted with all his Difcourfes, and honoured with a familiar Converfation, if we enquir'd not more narrowly into the Caufes of Things and Reasons of the divine Difpenfation.

Our Saviour himself feems not in the leaft to be furprized at it. But only after a short Answer to Lebbaus his Question, hence taketh occafion to renew the Promise of that Remedy, which he had ever defign'd, and often before promis'd, I mean the Miffion of the Holy Ghoft, in thefe Words: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet prefent with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoft, whom the Father will fend in my Name, hefball teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatfoever I have faid unto you. As if he should say:

These Answers I have briefly given to your Doubts and Scruples, fuch as the thortness and neceffity of the time would permit, which ftill remains to me to be spent in your Company.

I had before fufficiently explained all thefe Myfteries to you, provided your Minds, by removal of all Prejudices,by ordinary endowments of right Apprehenfion, and ufing due diligence, had been rightly difpofed to receive them.

But fince you still continue ignorant of those great Truths, and infinitely mistake my Doctrine; and not only fo, but fuffer your felves to be poffefs'd with Terror and Amazement

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Amazement at the news of my departure, I will not forfake you, or leave you destitute of the Means, either of Confolation or better Inftruction; but abundantly provide for both, by fending to you after my Afcenfion another Comforter, even the Holy Ghoft; whom the Father at my Interceffion, and for my fake will fend unto you.

He shall erect your drooping Spirits, and remove your Grief by adminiftring Confolation to you: And difpel your Ignorance, by enlightning your Minds with clear Notions, and true Interpretations of whatsoever I have Taught unto you; and recalling into your Mind all thofe Doctrines and Leffons of mine, which you may have forgotten.

Thefe Words being thus explained reprefent to us,

I. The Promife of fending a Comforter. II. The Perfon to be fent, the Holy Ghost. III. The Office to be performed by the Holy Ghoft when fent. Which however various is perfectly included, either in the diverse Significations of the Word Пx

or Comforter, (which may be taken as an Advocate, a Monitor, or a Confolator.) Or in the annexed Action of Teaching them all Things, and bringing all things into their Remembrance, whatfoever Chrift had faid unto them.

At prefent I fhall confider no more than the latter Branch of the Third Point; that is, the Office or Teaching the Apostles, which was to be performed by the Holy Ghoft.

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