The Fourth Sunday after Easter. ST. JOHN, xvi. 5. "Jesus said unto His disciples, Now I go my way to Him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither goest Thou? But, because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." Teacher. The gospels for the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays after Easter, are all taken from the 16th chapter of St. John, who was better qualified than any of the other Evangelists to relate the particulars of our Saviour's discourses with His disciples.The part of the discourse you have now been repeating, is particularly valuable to all of you, as well as to myself. Questions. From what chapter of St. John are the gospels for these three Sundays taken? From the 16th chapter. What Sundays are the three? The third, fourth, and fifth Sundays after Easter. Who knew more of the private opinions and discourses of our Saviour than any other of the K disciples? St. John. What is particularly valuable to all of you, as well as to myself, being a subject which concerns us as much as it did the disciples who were then present with our Lord? The part of the discourse we have been repeating. Teacher. It is plain that the disciples had not properly understood what our Saviour had before told them, namely, that though His enemies should have power to kill Him; yet that they could not prevent His rising again from the dead. They were therefore in so much despair at the thought of His being taken from them, that they had not courage to ask him, Whither goest Thou? Questions. What is plain that the disciples had not properly understood? They had not understood what our Saviour had told them before. What had He told them before? That though His enemies the Jews would have power to kill Him, yet they could not prevent His rising from the dead. Their grief and despair being so great at the thought of His being taken from them; what had they not courage to ask? Whither goest Thou. Teacher. Nevertheless, says our Saviour, it is for your advantage that I go away-I shall return to hea ven from whence I came down, thereby to give you a chance of going thither also ;—and that you may be strengthened in every good word and work, and I will send down the Holy Ghost into your hearts. Questions. Was it for the advantage or not of the disciples that our Saviour went away? For their advantage. Where did He say He was returning to? To heaven. Why did He come down from heaven? To give us a chance of going there also. And who or what did He say He would send into their hearts, to strengthen them in every good word and work? The Holy Ghost. Teacher. The same assistance is given to you at this very day, if you will only ask for it with humility and faith. There is so much pride and self-sufficiency in the hearts of human beings, that many will not ask for (because they do not think they want) any assistance from God. This is one of the snares of the Devil. Pride drove him from heaven, and by Pride millions and millions of souls will be shut out from its happiness. Without God gives the blessing of His Holy Spirit, you can do nothing towards your eternal Salvation; but you have only to ask, and you will receive it—not at any particular time, or in any way that you can immediately perceive; but by little and little it will lead you to what is good, and teach you to hate every thing that is evil. The Fifth Sunday after Easter, or Kogation ST. JOHN xvi. 23. “Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken to you in proverbs: the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. Teacher. The promises which our Saviour made to His apostles, of granting all the requests they should make in His Name, were now to be accomplished, and they were filled with joy at seeing the wonderful success of their preaching. Questions. What promises had our Saviour made to His disciples? That He would grant all the requests made in His name. And were they now on the point of being accomplished? Yes. Upon what account or why were they filled with joy? To see the wonderful success of their preaching Teacher. The day on which we keep in mind our Lord's ascension is now drawing near, and in two Sundays afterwards, the day of Pentecost or Whitsunday, (as it is usually called) will be celebrated. After that time His promise was strictly fulfilled. -The minds of His disciples were opened to a knowledge of the Scriptures, and the proverbs, or dark sayings therein contained, were clearly understood by them. Questions. What day is now drawing near? The day of Ascension. When will it be? Next Thursday. And what will be celebrated, or kept two Sundays afterwards? The day of Pentecost or Whitsunday. What were the minds of His disciples then opened to? A knowledge of the Scriptures. Teacher. From this you ought to learn, that God's assistance is necessary for a right understanding of the Scriptures, which I suppose you know mean the Bible. The collect for the second Sunday in Advent contains a beautiful prayer for that blessing: -as it is placed at the beginning of the Bibles |
