And ye also shalt bear witness,— "In process of time men's eyes shall be opened, to discern the authority of your testimony. They shall give credit to your reports concerning me, because you have been my companions from the very first, consequently eye and ear-witnesses of all that I have done and said; so that after a while, you shall bear witness concerning me, and preach my divine religion far more successfully, than it would be in your power to do at present." See 1 John 1:1; 1 John 1:10.
Inferences.—From this discourse every sincere reader may learn to regard Christ at all times as the spiritual Head, from whom life and vigour are to be derived to all believers. By the exercise of an unfeigned faith it behoves all such to abide in him, as the true vine, always sensible that without him we can do nothing; that all things are possible to him who believeth; but that, if we are in him by an external profession only, we are not only in danger of being cut off and taken away, but shall, in the end, be cast into the fire.
May we rather be thoroughly purged and pruned, though it were with the most painful dispensations of providence, if by this means our fruitfulness may be promoted, to the glory of God, and the benefit of the world! May his word operate upon us, to cleanse us from our remaining pollutions!—And, if we thus desire to be clean, let us take heed to our way, according to the tenor of this parable.
We see our encouragement to pray; it is Christ who offers it; and, taking it at his hand, we need never be dismayed, nor yield to unbelieving suspicions. As the Father hath loved Christ, so doth he also love his faithful people. Be it our care then to preserve and cultivate this sacred affection; and, whatever it may cost us, to endeavour for a continuance in his love, and to avoid whatever would forfeit the invaluable blessing; making it, above all things, our care to keep his commandments.
Christ, always observing the will of his heavenly Father, cannot but always and invariably continue the object of his love and delight. May our conduct be the transcript of his glorious pattern; such as that he may see reason to rejoice in us, and then we also shall have the surest foundation for a sublime and solid joy!
The Son of God condescends to speak under the character of a friend! O with what humble gratitude should sinful man attend to his gracious words! Behold, he lays aside the majesty of a sovereign, to assume this more tender and endearing relation: surely then our overflowing hearts must inquire, "Blessed Jesus, what shall we do, to express the friendship incumbent on our side?"—Let us but observe what he has here declared, and trust his fidelity for its acceptance; Ye are my friends indeed, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Lord, we will gladly run the way of thy commandments, when, on this noblest principle, thou shalt have enlarged our hearts.
Jesus, the friend of sinners, hath loved us with an affection so unexampled, as hath approved itself stronger than death; and, in return, he requires us to love one another after the pattern of his blessed example. How gracious a command! how divine a stipulation! how merciful, not to our fellow-creatures only, but to ourselves also; who surely must feel the benefit of such a practice, in the delight inseparable both from the interchange of benevolent affections, and the circulation of kind and friendly offices.
Who would not imagine that the whole admiring world must feel and obey the charm, thus mercifully applied by the Son of God? Yet, instead of this, behold they even hate Christ, and persecute his servants for his sake, though without a cause, and against the strongest engagements to mutual charity and tenderness.—Miserable creatures! who, by a necessary consequence, whatever they may fondly imagine, hate, by so doing, the Father also, and stand continually exposed to all the terrors of an almighty Enemy!
Where is the wonder if the world hate us, or what believer need regard its harshest injuries? If we are of that blessed company who are not of the world, let us remember that neither is the servant greater than his Lord. But surely the opposition which the gospel brings with it is nothing, when compared with those blessings which it entails by an everlasting covenant upon all who faithfully and perseveringly embrace it. Were the sufferings and difficulties attending it, a thousand times greater than they are, we ought at any rate to esteem the pearl of great price as the most happy purchase of the soul; and daily to be returning our most thankful acknowledgments that Christ was pleased to send forth his apostles, qualified with such a knowledge of himself, assisted by such power from his Holy Spirit, and appointed to go, and to bring forth such fruit, as should remain to the remotest ages.
Through his guardian care it still remains, and we trust shall for ever remain abundantly in the world! Oh may it flourish more and more amongst us! may its efficacy in our hearts and lives be more universally apparent! and may divine grace convince those who now reject and oppose the kingdom of Christ within them, that amid such various evidences of his having come, and done, and spoken unto them, as none other man ever did,—they have no cloak for their sin: for alas! with whatever fond excuses such may venture to amuse themselves and others, it will but too quickly appear, as the prophet emphatically expresses it, that the bed is too short to stretch themselves upon, and the covering too narrow to wrap themselves in it. See John 15:22 and Isaiah 28:20.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, We have a continuation of Christ's farewell discourse to his disconsolate disciples.
1. He represents himself under the figure of a vine. I am the true vine; as a vine, mean and weak in his outward appearance, yet spreading on every side; sending his salvation to the ends of the earth, and bringing forth the most reviving fruits, pleasing to God, and cheering to man: the true vine, the life-giving source of spiritual influences, conveyed from him to all the branches of his body mystical: and my Father is the husbandman, who planted it in the earth, and with watchfulness and care every moment preserves and waters it; supporting Christ in the exercise of his divine offices, with complacence delighting in him, and guarding him and every faithful member of his church, who are grafted upon him, and persevere in their union to him, from every evil.
2. His people are the branches, on whom the great husbandman employs his care. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away. Some bear not the true fruits of grace and holiness; these the Lord taketh away. In time of persecution they fall off; or they turn aside into errors in principle, or immoralities in conduct; or, if they be spared to the last, by death they are cut off, and perish. And every branch in me that beareth fruit, bringing forth the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God; he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit: by his word, his Spirit, his afflictive providences, he purifies, sanctifies, and guards the soul, removing out of the heart all the obstructions which might prevent a constant intercourse and communion between the believer and himself; and bearing away or removing those external objects, which he foresees would alienate the soul from God: and he also encourages, cultivates, and increases the gracious dispositions which he hath implanted, that they may shoot forth more vigorously, and bring forth more abundantly in all good conversation and godliness.
3. As he had now purged out Judas from among them, he exhorts them to approve their fidelity. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you, your hearts being purified by faith, which is the way whereby the word becomes effectual to all Christ's faithful disciples in every age, purging out the dross of indwelling evil, and sanctifying the soul. Abide in me, as the root and stock whence all spiritual supplies of grace are drawn; placing all your dependance on my infinite merit and intercession, my Spirit and power; and I will then abide in you, as the living principle of all goodness. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself; except it abide in the vine, and maintain a constant communication with the root, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. The best of men must maintain habitual communion with Jesus, if they would continue to bring forth fruit unto God. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, in the constant exercise of faith, and I in him, by the powerful operations of my Spirit, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me, separate from me, and for a moment destitute of my quickening influence, ye can do nothing truly good and acceptable to God, but must wither, droop, and die, as a branch deprived of communication with the living root. Without Christ we can do nothing towards our justification, sanctification, or glorification; he must be to us all and in all.
4. He warns them of the fatal consequences of departure from him. If a man abide not in me; basely desert my cause, and make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience; he is cast forth as a branch; excommunicated from the company of the pious here below, if his iniquities are brought to light; or, at farthest, cut off at death from the society of the blessed, and is withered; his gifts wither; his zeal grows cold; his devotion dies; his reputation decays; his hopes perish; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned; and thus shall the angels of God at the last gather out of Christ's kingdom all that offend and do iniquity, when apostates will have their portion with the unbelievers and impenitent, and the whole be cast together into everlasting burnings. Let us read and tremble.
5. He assures them that the prayers of all his faithful people should be heard and answered. If ye abide in me, steadily cleaving to me under all discouragements; and my words abide in you, and habitually influence your conduct; ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you; whatever is for his glory and our good shall be granted. And herein is my Father glorified, by your abiding in me; and asking and receiving out of my fulness; that ye bear much fruit of grace, which will redound to his praise; so shall ye be my disciples, evidently prove to be such by your good conversation and approved fidelity; and shall be acknowledged by me in the day of my appearing and glory.
2nd, We have,
1. The love of Christ towards his faithful people. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; and this love of his appeared most eminent:
[1.] In his laying down his life for them. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends; but greater even than this has been the love of Jesus: when we were enemies, Christ died for us.
[2.] In his kindness towards them, admitting them into his favour and friendship. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, and herein shew yourselves faithful to me. Henceforth I call you not servants; though to be employed by such a Master, and that he condescends to accept our services, is abundant honour; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth, nor is admitted to any such intimacy and familiarity as you have been indulged with: but I have called you by the honourable name of friends, and have treated you with the most cordial affection and confidence; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you; all things that as Mediator he came to preach and teach, respecting the salvation of sinners, and the counsels of grace; he had kept back nothing from them, and his Spirit would shortly give them a clearer knowledge of what he had revealed to them.
[3.] In his ordaining them to the high dignity of apostleship. Ye have not chosen me, and by your choice laid any obligations on me to return the kindness: but I have chosen you first, from the rest of the Jews, to bear witness of me, John 15:27 and to be my apostles: and ordained you, that is to say, appointed you, to your apostleship, that ye should go abroad into the world, and bring forth much fruit, in the purity of your conversation, and the abundant success of your ministry; and that your fruit should remain in a succession of genuine Christians; so that the blessed effects of your labours, preaching, and writings, should continue to the later ages.
[4.] In his granting them all their petitions. That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you; and the assurance of being heard is the great inducement and encouragement to us to pray. How can we but be happy to draw near to God, when we are thus assured of receiving an answer of peace?
2. He exhorts them, from the consideration of his love to them, to make a due and grateful return to him, by loving and serving him and one another. Continue ye in my love; steadfastly and perseveringly cleave to me, and then, believe me, my regard to you will be invariable. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; if you approve your fidelity, you shall have increasing supplies of grace ministered to you, yet farther to establish, strengthen, and settle you: even as I have kept my Father's commandments, with unabating ardour and constancy; and abide in his love, am now, and shall for ever be, the object of his highest delight and complacence, as you in such case shall be of mine. And next to your love of me, this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you; and again, John 15:17 this being among the best proofs of real love to Jesus, and the great commandment which he especially enjoins, as the distinguishing badge of true discipleship. Note; (1.) The love of Christ known and believed, can alone engage our hearts to a return of love. (2.) The firm purpose of universal obedience to Christ's commands, is the sure evidence of love without dissimulation. (3.) No duty is more frequently and earnestly urged upon us, than Christian love; because in nothing do we more resemble him, whose nature and name is Love; and nothing is more ornamental to our profession.
3. They who will be faithful to the Saviour, must expect the enmity of a sinful world; where wicked men, many and mighty, will unite in hatred, opposition, and persecution against them.
[1.] The followers of Jesus may expect to be hated, persecuted, despised. Since the original enmity put between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, never was there, I believe, one truly godly man, but more or less experienced the like treatment.
[2.] So dealt they with our great Lord and Master, whose example should reconcile us to suffer with him. If the world hate you, wonder not; ye know that it hated me before it hated you: never was character so spotless as his, never one suffered so much from the enmity of the world.
[3.] The reason of the world's hatred of us is evident. If ye were of the world, conformed to it in your tempers, manners and practice, the world would love his own, would caress and esteem you; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you; because you are members of my mystical body, and my faithful ministers, and your heavenly minds and conversation cannot but witness against and reprove their vain and wicked ways, therefore their anger rises. Note; The men of the world have not only a hatred to Christians in general, but an especial enmity against gospel ministers, whose preaching and rebukes exasperate those who reject the counsel of God against their own souls.
4. He reminds them, that this was no more than he had all along taught them to expect. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord, nor may expect more respectful treatment. If they have persecuted me, with all manner of rancour, reviling, and injuries, they will also persecute you, my ambassadors, who hear the same message, and go forth into the same world that lieth in wickedness: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also: but in general they have not kept my word, and therefore the gospel that you preach will be despised and rejected, and your words be misrepresented, cavilled at, and ridiculed, as mine in general have been. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because you have an interest in my love, vindicate my honour, and preach my gospel, whatever other pretences they may feign as the ground of their opposition; because they know not him that sent me, their minds are blinded by pride and prejudice, ignorant of the true God and his Messiah. Note; (1.) The faithful ministers of the gospel must not be surprised, if their preaching is treated with contempt or ridicule; their Lord was so insulted. (2.) Persecutors often pretend other causes to cover their enmity against God's people; but whatever be their pretext, the true reason is his image in them which they cannot bear, and his gospel which they abhor.
5. Christ suggests the inexcusable guilt of those who reject him and his gospel. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, comparatively speaking; but now they have no cloak for their sin, their infidelity is most wilful, their impenitence obstinate. He that hateth me, hateth my Father also; the hatred shewn to his person, ministers, and gospel, ultimately centres in God himself. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, such stupendous miracles as incontestably proved my divine mission, they had not had sin; they might have had some cloak for their unbelief; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father; rejecting the testimony that he thus hath borne to me, and fixed in a rooted aversion to me and him. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, (Psalms 69:4.) They hated me without a cause. Note; (1.) They are left most inexcusable, and their guilt is most aggravated, who obstinately persist in unbelief, and go to hell with bibles in their hands. (2.) They who hate the gospel, and Christ, the author of it, whatever they may pretend, truly hate God. Enemies to the Christian religion, are enemies to all religion; and Deist is really but another name for Atheist. (3.) Enmity against Christ and his gospel is most absurd and unreasonable; it is quarrelling with our own mercies, and being, in fact the worst enemies to ourselves.
3rdly, Though the enemies of the true disciples of Jesus are many and mighty, he has provided such supports for his faithful people, as shall enable them to triumph over all opposition.
1. His Spirit shall be their comfort and strength. But when the Comforter is some, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. On the day of Pentecost, the most abundant influences of the Holy Ghost were to be poured forth upon them, he being the third Person in the sacred Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, whose peculiar office in the oeconomy of man's salvation is to testify of Christ, as the Spirit of truth speaking in the apostles, and bearing witness to the divine glory and grace of the Redeemer, and making the preaching of the gospel effectual to the consciences of men. He is the advocate, convincing men of sin, righteousness, and judgment; the Comforter, filling the souls of Christ's faithful people with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
2. They shall themselves hereby be enabled to bear a noble testimony for Christ. Ye shall bear witness, preaching my gospel in the face of all opposers, and confirming it by the miraculous powers with which you shall be invested: and your evidence cannot be justly excepted against, because ye have been with me from the beginning, and speak the things of which you yourselves have the most undoubted assurance. Note; Ministers can then powerfully preach Christ, when they have themselves experimentally known him, have been with him in faith and love, and for a season have walked in a state of communion with him.