is able, and he is equally willing, to supply all our neceffities.

It is probable, that the Apoftles expreffed a peculiar warmth of affection for their dear Lord, who was about to be taken from them, and that with a reference to their profeffions of regard he thus continued his difcourfe: "Let your love appear in your uniform obedience to my injunctions; and, though I fhall withdraw from you, I will entreat the Father, that you may enjoy the confolations of his Spirit, and that for a perpetuity. The men of the world, with fuch carnal fentiments and difpofitions, as predominate in their minds, cannot admit this divine Vifitant; but you are already acquainted with his influences, and shall receive more abundant communications from him. I will not, therefore, totally and finally defert you, but will return to you in the power of the Holy Ghoft. My bodily prefence will be foon removed from the earth, but, through faith, you will still behold me ever near you; and as I am poffeffed of endless life, fo, by virtue of your union with me, you fhall maintain a ftate of fpiritual vigour, and be conducted to the everlafting felicities of heaven. That promifed effufion of the Spirit will convince you more fully, that I am joined not only to my Father, but to yourfelves alfo, by an indiffoluble bond. You must be reminded, however, that he only, who fhews a conftant defire and endeavour to perform whatever I have commanded, is allowed to give a decifive proof of his regard. He is the perfon, who fhall obtain unequivocal marks of my Father's favour, as well as of my warmeft attachment, and who, likewife, fhall receive from me a clear discovery of my glorious character."

Judas, one of the twelve, but not the traitor, expreffed his aftonishment, that fuch a difcovery fhould be defigned for them, and not extended to the world at large, and cried out, "Lord, how is it?" Jefus inmediately

8

immediately resumed his affectionate addrefs: "The man, who is influenced by a fincere love to me, will neceffarily yield an unfeigned fubmiffion to my authority: and as he will be the object of my Father's complacency and delight, we will together vifit him, and take up our refidence within him. But an enmity of heart will lead to an entire rejection of my words; and as I declare the will of Jehovah, the God of Hofts, every contemptuous unbeliever will be left without excufe. Such are the inftructions, which I have delivered, during my perfonal ministry among you. And now, though I am departing, the Holy Ghoft fhall be fent to fupply my place: He fhall give you a clear conception of divine truth, and revive in your memories every doctrine, which you have heard from me."

"Here, then, I take my leave, with a declaration of my best wishes for you. Peace, the most valuable bleffing, I bequeath to you: peace, which I have procured by my blood, and which can be communicated only by my grace, I bestow upon you. This is what the world cannot impart: their profeffions of good will, in general, are empty compliments; they confer no real fatisfaction; and are extremely changeable. Far different is my folemn benediction, which I pronounce in the fincerity of my heart, which carries an efficacy with it to promote your happiness, and which I will never revoke. On these grounds, your fears may be difperfed, and your minds compofed, and comforted."

"You will, therefore, receive the most ample benefits from my departure; and on my account, as well as your own, you may be glad at my removal, fince I am quitting my prefent ftate of humiliation and diftrefs, and returning to my Father, who is exalted in blifs and glory, far beyond what I am now capable of poffeffing. I have warned you of the

events,

events, which are about to take place, that you may not be staggered by them, but rather confirmed in the faith. I fhall not have time to add much more: for I am juft entering upon a painful conflict with Satan, who has ufurped the dominion of the world. But I dread not his malice, as there is nothing in my nature, which can favour his affaults, or give him any advantage over me. I fubmit to this oppofition, that I may publicly teftify my regard to the Father, and my readiness to fulfil all my engagements with him: and now I haften to do my last work upon earth.”

And what do we learn from this affecting difcourfe? Does it not excite in us the moft fervent love to the Saviour? Let us not forget, that he requires obedience, as the teft of our love. Do we not perceive the excellence and happiness of his fervice? Do we not long for the manifeftation of the divine favour, which he promises to his faithful people? Surely, it ought to afford us the ftrongeft confolation, that Jefus, who was dead, is alive again, and that he is gone into heaven, to carry on his defigns of mercy for us. Nay, he is ftill ever prefent with his Church, and pledges himself for the fecurity of every true believer. The light, and ftrength, and joy of his Spirit, are vouchfafed to all his fincere difciples, even to the end of time: the Comforter will "abide with us for ever." Let us plead with him these gracious declarations: let us implore that peace, which is his own most valuable legacy, and requeft, that, fince he hath overcome Satan, he would enable us to fuftain the conflict, and bring us off" more than conquerors," to the praise of his great name.

After the folemn addrefs, which we have confidered, our Lord propofed to retire; but, probably making a paufe before he quitted the room, he renewed his exhortations to the Apoftles. To fhew them the neceffity of continual dependence on him, he represented himself and his Church under the

fimilitude

fimilitude of a vine, planted and cultivated by an intelligent and careful husbandman*. He is the root and ftock of the tree, and his profeffing people may be fitly compared to its branches, which are of different forts. Some, which are beautifully adorned with leaves, produce no fruit. Thefe must be cut off, and configned to the flames, as fit only to be used for fuel. Such is the ftate and character of merely nominal Chriftians, and fuch will be their final deftruction. They are members of the visible Church; their appearances may be fair and promifing, but their barrennefs witneffes against them; and therefore they are "nigh unto curfing, whofe end is to be burned t."

There are branches of another fort, truly excellent and valuable, which, in confequence of nourishment derived from the root, bear a large increase. Such, our Lord teftified, were all the Apostles, after Judas had withdrawn from the company. Such likewise are all true believers: for by faith they are joined to the Saviour, and from that union they receive an influence, which renders them, though in different degrees, "fruitful in every good work." To Him, therefore, all their attainments and usefulness must be afcribed for, left to themselves, or feparated from him, they would no more be productive of good, than the branches of the vine, when cut off from the ftock. But, whilft they maintain a conftant regard to Jefus, they preferve their fpiritual life, and make advancement in holiness.

Yet even thefe valuable branches ftand in need of being pruned; for, unless the luxuriant parts be taken off, the fruit will degenerate. For this very purpose, therefore, the care of the husbandman is exercifed. O what sharp operations does it require, to lop off those excrefcences, which fhoot forth even from eminent

* John. xv. I. &c, † Heb. vi. 8.

believers!

believers! The Lord, who loves them, will not spare them, but appoint the heaviest afflictions, with no other defign than to render them more pure, and, of confequence, more honourable and ufeful members of his Church.

Do we perceive our own character exhibited in this parable? Have we any thing more than an external profeffion of Chriftianity? Are we "filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs, which are by Jefus Chrift unto the glory and praife of God?" Or how do we expect to do good? Is there any other way, than through a vital union with the Saviour? No: he himself declared our utter inability, when he said, "Without me ye can do nothing.' Let us confefs our weaknefs, and implore his help. May he attach our hearts to himself, and communicate fuch fupplies of grace, as may enable us to adorn our holy calling! Be it our concern, to maintain our faith, and cultivate an intercourse with him day by day. Yet, even then, fevere trials may be neceflary for us. Let us not fhrink from them, but pray only, that they may accomplish in us the defired effects. How bleffed will be the confequences of fuch an adherence to Chrift! We shall be imboldened to approach him with confidence; for he has engaged to answer our petitions. By our confiftent and honourable deportment, the God, whom we ferve, will be glorified, fince it will appear from us, not only that he is "rich in mercy," but that he "loveth righteoufnefs." This alfo will contribute effentially to our own comfort, as affording the strongest evidence, that we are the difciples of Jefus.

Our Lord, therefore, earnestly preffed upon his Apoftles fuch a practical regard to duty: "As I am the object of my Father's complacency and delight, fo do I feel the most affectionate attachment to you.

* Phil. i. II.

It