Sunday after Ascension Day. every man hath received the ' The Collect.

gift (f), even so minister the same O God, the King of Glory, who

one to another, as good steward: hast exalted thine only Son Jesus

of the manifold (8) grace of God Christ with great triumph unto

If any man speak, let him speak thy kingdom in heaven; We be

as the (b) oracles of God; if any seech thee, leave us not comfort

man minister, let him do it as o less ; but send to us thine Holy

the ability which God giveth, Ghost to comfort us, and exalt

that God in all things may b us unto the same place whither

glorified through Jesus Christ; ti our Saviour Christ is gone before;

whom be praise and dominion for who liveth and reigneth with thee

ever and ever. Amen.
and the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end. Amen. The Gospel. John xv. 26. and part o

Chap. xvi. (i)
The Epistle. 1 Peter iv. 7.

WHEN the (k) Comforter i
The (c) end of all things is at come, whom I will send unto

hand: be ye therefore sober, and you from the Father, even the 8. watch unto prayer. And above " Spirit of truth, which proceed

all things have fervent (d) cha " eth from the Father, he shall rity among yourselves : for cha “ testify of me: and ye also shall

rity shall (e) cover the multitude « bear witness, because ye have 9. of sins. Use hospitality one to || « been with (1) me from the be1o. another, without grudging. As “ ginning. These things have I

0.7. - () “ The end,” i, e. probably the

time so often spoken of as “ the day of
“ the Lord,” the coming of the Lord,”
the great period of the destruction of the
Jews. See ante 29. note on Lu. xxi. 25.
It is called “ the end," several times in
our Saviour's noted prediction of the
destruction of the Jews, Matt. xxiv. 6.13.
14.-Lu, xxi. 9. and it did put an end
to the temple, the sacrifices, the cere.
monies, and the nation. Has the sceptre
at any time since been in Judah, or a law.
giver between his feet? See Gen, xlix.

10, ante 62, note on Mal. iii. I.
p 8. (d) “ Fervent charity," i. e, warm,

active benevolence. So our Saviour says, John xiii. 35. “ by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” See ante 24. note on Rom. xiii. 8. Christianity in. culcates not only benevolence “ among

ourselves,” to relations, neighbours, &c. but general good-will to all man. kind."

(c) “ Cover," i. e. obtain remission for- for “the multitude," r, “ a multi“ tude." So Luke yii. 47. when the wo.

man anointed our Saviour's feet with the alabaster box of ointment, &c. he said, “ her sins, which are many, are forgiven, “ for she loved much."

(f) “ The gift," i. e. any gift, 47 riches, &c.

(8) “ Manifold grace," i. e. whatever God has given.

(b) “ As the oracles, &c. Perhaps in speaking, ministering, &c. ascribe to God your power of so speaking, ministering, &c.; and so according to verse 10. you will be good stewards, &c. and the consequence desired, verse 11. will follow, “God will in all things be gloria “ fied,” &c.

(i) This is part of our Lord's discourse at the last supper, on the evening he was betrayed. St. John sat next him...'

(k) “ The Comforter, ”i. e. the Holy Ghost. Ante 147. note on John xvi. 7

(1) “With me," &c. and have there, fore seen the innocence of my life, and the mighty works which I have wrought, and have heard the warnings and predic. tions I have delivered, and my constant disclaimer of all worldly adyantages:

“ spoken unto you, that ye should || teach the hearts of thy faithful 1. " not be (m) offended. They people, by the sending to them

5 shall put (n) you out of the the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant ** synagogues : yea, the time us by the same Spirit to have a * cometh, that whosoever killeth right judgement in all things, and * you will think that he doeth evermore to rejoice in his holy " God service. And these things comfort, through the merits of

will they do unto you, because Christ Jesus our Saviour, who " they have not (6) known the liveth and reigneth with thee, in * Father nor me. But these the unity of the same Spirit, one * things have I told you, that, God, world without end. Amen. * when the time shall come, ye * may (P) remember that I told For the Epistle. Acts ii. 1. you of them.”

When the day of (9) Pentecost

was fully come, they were all WHIT-SUNDAY.

with one accord in one place. The Collect.

And suddenly there came a sound 2. God, who aś at this time didst from heaven as of a rushing

(m) “ Offended," i. e. drawn off from your faith, deterred from acting as my soldiers.

(1) “ Put you out,” &c. Our Saviour bad repeatedly apprized them that they would meet with the strongest opposition, would have to undergo the bitterest persecutions, and must give up all worldly prospects and attachments. When our Saviour sent out the twelve apostles two years before his death, he told them, “I "send you forth as sheep in the midst * of wolves. Beware of men, (i. e. the "Jews), for they will deliver you up to " the councils, and they will scourge "you in their synagogues; and ye shall " be brought before governors and kings * for my sake. And the brother shall " deliver up the brother to death, and " the father the child ; and the children "shall rise up against their parents, and " shall cause them to be put to death ; " and ye shall be hated of all men for “ my name's sake.” Matt x. 16. 17. 18. 21. 22. Again, in his famous prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, he says, “ then shall they deliver you up " to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and " ye shall be hated of all men for my " name's sake.” Matt. xxiv. 9. So in Luke xiv. 26. he says, “ If any come to * me, and hate not (i. e. when his reli“ gion requires) his father and mother, " and wife and children, and brethren, " and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he

“ cannot be my disciple. And whoso-
“ ever doth not bear his cross and come
“ after me, cannot be my disciple ;" and
verse 33.“ whosoever he be of you that
" forsaketh not all that he hath, he can-
6 not be my disciple.” See also Luke xii.
II. xxi. 12. 16. 17. and Matt. xvi. 24.
Are these the prospects and language of
an impostor? and what with these pro,
spects could attach the apostles and disa
ciples to Christ and his religion, but the
full conviction that he was the Messiah,
and that God was with him. That con-
viction was founded in his life time
chiefly on the miracles they saw him do,
and after his death on their own know-
ledge that he had risen again, and on the
powers conferred on them by the Holy
Ghost : the innocence of his life, and
the purity of his precepts might also
strengthen their conviction.

(0)“ Known," i.e. followed the com- v.3.
mandments of-esteemed. See 1 John iv.
7,8. “ Every one that loveth, is born
or of God, and knoweth God: he that
" loveth not, knoweth not God.”

() “ Remember,” and therefore not 0.4. be shaken in your faith. It was perhaps because they did not expe&t that our Saviour would be seized, crucified, &c. that they forgot for the time the mighty works they had seen him do, and forsook him and fled.

(9) “ Pentecost," i.e. the feast'of weeks. v.1. | This was the second of the three great

mighty wind, and it filled all the || nation under heaven. Now when 6.

house where they were sitting. this was noised abroad, the multi3. And there appeared unto them tude came together, and were

cloven tongues like as (r) of fire, confounded(u), because that every

and it sat upon each of them: man heard them speak in his own 4. and they were all filled with the language. And they were all 7.

Holy Ghost, and began to speak amazed, and marvelled, saying with other (s) tongues, as the one to another, “ Behold, are Spirit gave them utterance. And « not all these which speak Galithere were (t) dwelling at Jerusa

- leans? And how hear we 8. lem Jews, devout men,out of every l“ every man in our own tongue,

5.

0.3.4.

solemnities in which, according to Deut. effect of delusion or deceit. They must xvi. 16. all the males were enjoined to ap. have known with positive certainty whether pear before the Lord in the place which they had this gift or not, and their conhe should choose; which place was after viction that they had it accounts for their wards fixed to be Jerusalem. It was the subsequent exertions and constancy in fiftieth day after the feast of the passover. preaching the gospel, and defying all All the Jews therefore who had been at danger and opposition. This miracle Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion, too was calculated to have a powerful would be there again at the time of this effect on the persons who witnessed its great miracle, would have the opportu effects; and we are told accordingly, nity of personally witnessing its effects, that on the same day there were added would naturally carry an account of it to to the faith three thousand souls. Aas their own homes, and so would be them ii. 41. It was not however merely for selves in some degree prepared to receive these effects upon those who received it, the truths of the gospel when it should and upon those who witnessed its opera. be preached amongst them, and would tion, that this miracle was performed ; also prepare the minds of others for its the gift of tongues was essential to enable reception. This is therefore an instance the apostles to preach the gospel, as our of God's wisdom in selecting the most Saviour had commanded them, to all naappropriate times for accomplishing his tions. According to Matt. xxviii. 19. purposes.

he told them to “ go, and teach all nao (c) “ As of fire," " with the Holy “ tions." According to Mark xvi. 15: « Ghost." The Baptist had declared, to “ go into all the world, and preach according to Matt. iii. 11. Luke iii. 16. “ the gospel to every creature ;" and sce that our Saviour should " baptize with Luke xxiv. 49. According to Aasi. 8. " the Holy Ghost and with fire.” This he told them they should be « witnesses therefore was a fulfilment of that predic " unto him, both in Jerusalem, and in tion, and a proof that God was with the “all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto Baptist, to whom this power of prophecy " the uttermost part of the earth." They was given, as well as with our Saviour. could not therefore have fulfilled these Our Saviour also assured the apostles in directions, unless they had been able to his conversation at the last supper, and speak the languages of the persons to after his resurrection, that he would whom they preached. It may be re" send the Comforter unto them, even marked, that as the confusion of tongues “ the spirit of truth," that he would was commanded, in order to stop the send “the promise of his father unto progress of sin, the knowledge of all lan“ them," that “they should be endued guages was given to advance the progress “ with power from on high," John xiv. of righteousness, 16. 26.-xv. 26.-xvi. 7.-Luke xxiv. (O) “ Dwelling," rather « sojourn. Ajo 49.

“ing," abiding during the feast. (s)“ Other tongues." This wonder

(u) “Confounded." What would be v.O. ful gift would naturally rivet the faith of our feelings and convictions were we those on whom it was conferred, because witness such a miracle? Could we hesie nothing but a preternatural power could | tate for a moment in acknowledging it to have bestowed it, and it could not be the || be the work of God?

- -

" wherein we were born? Par. || “ If ye love me, keep (y) my “ thians, and Medes, and Elam « commandments. And I will 16. “ ites, and the dwellers in Meso 66 pray the Father, and he shall “ potamia, and in Judea, and “ give you another Comforter, “ Cappadocia, in Pontus, and " that he may abide with you # " Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, “ for ever ; even the (z) Spirit 17. “ in Egypt, and in the parts o of truth ; whom the (a) world “ of Libya about Cyrene, and “ cannot receive, because it seeth “ strangers of Rome, Jews and « him (6) not, neither knoweth ," proselytes, Cretes and Ara “ him : but ye know him ; (c) for “ bians, we do hear them speak “ he dwelleth (d) with you, and “ in our tongues the wonderful « shall be in you. I will not 18. “ works of God.”

" leave you comfortless : I will 19.

" come to you. Yet a little The Gospel. John xiv. 15. (x) “ while, and the (e) world seeth Jesus said unto his disciples, « me no more; but ye see me:

(x) This is part of our Saviour's discourse at the last supper the night he was betrayed. St.John was present, and sat next him.

() “ Keep,” &c. Obedience is the - test God requires. So Samuel told Saul,

i Sam. xv. 22: “ To obey is better than " sacrifice," &c. And Ps. xcvii. 10. "Ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate " the thing that is evil.” And St. John in his epistles (perhaps from a recollection of this discourse) repeatedly presses obedience to God's commandments as the only true criterion of love to God. Thus, i John ii. 5. “ Whoso keepeth his fue. God's) “ word, in him verily is the " love of God perfected." So i John 1.3." This is the love of God, that we

keep bis commandments.” And 2 John 16* This is love, that we walk after " but commandments." Again, 1 John iii. 17. "Whoso hath this world's good, " and seeth his brother have need, and "shutteth up his bowels of compassion " from him, how dwelleth the love of "God in him? The similarity of sentiment, &c. in St. John's gospel and epis. des affords an argument that they are nightly ascribed to the same person. ..(z) “ The spirit of truth," i.e. the Holy Ghost, or Spirit.

(a) “ The world,” i.e. “the worldly "minded," such as are wholly taken up with worldly pursuits, setting their whole affections upon things below. So i John 11.15. “ If any man love the world, the " love of the Father is not in him." And agreeably to this is what our Savi

our says in his sermon on the mount,
“ Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Matt. vi. 24.

(6) “ Seeth him not,” &c. i.e. has
not a disposition to see or know him.

(c) Instead of " for " the reading V. 17. should be “ therefore” his dwelling in them is the consequence of their knowing . him, not the cause.

(d) “ Dwelleth with you.” The spi- . rit of holiness may be considered as dwelling within us, when all our thoughts and on? actions are such as he would di&tate, and when our desire is to make our thoughts and actions conformable to God's will. In every thought and action it would be well for us to put to ourselves this question, Is this the thought or action of one in whom Christ or the spirit of truth is dwelling? Can Christ or the spirit of truth be considered as animating us, or dwelling in us, whilst we so act or think? St. Paul calls our bodies “the temple of “ God,” i Cor. iii. 16, 17.-vi. 19. and 2 Cor. vi. 16. to press upon their minds that God was to be considered as an inmate in their breasts, that their bodies were dedicated to his service, and to restrain them therefore from acts which he could not approve, or which they could not dare to do if his presence were visible.

(e) “ The world.” The meaning per. haps is, I shall no longer be visible to the human eye. I shall only be visible in my

V.19. effe&ts. My influence shall be perceivable

by my followers, though they no longer | see my person.

........

156 John xiv.
Monday in Whitsun-Week.

John xiv. 66 because I live, ye () shall live || « unto you: not as the world 20. “ also. At that day ye shall giveth, give I unto you. Let

“ know that I am (8) in my Fa 6 not your heart be troubled,
" ther, and you in me, and I in 6 neither let it be afraid. Ye 28.
“ you. He that hath my com “ have heard how I said unto
6 mandments, and keepeth them, you, I go away, and come
“ he it is that loveth me: and he « again unto you. If ye loved
66 that loveth me shall be loved 56 me, ye would rejoice, because
" of my Father; and I will love " I said, I go unto the Father:

“ him, and will (5) manifest ny “ for my Father is greater than I. 22. " self to him.” Júdas saith unto “ And now I have told you be 29.

him (not Iscariot), “Lord, how “ fore it come to pass ; that 6 is it that thou wilt manifest “ when it is come to pass, ye

“ thyself unto us, and not unto “ might (1) believe. Hereafter I 30. 23. “ the world ?” Jesus answered

“ will (m) not talk much with
and said unto him, “ If a man you: for the Prince of this
“ love me, he will keep my “ world cometh, and hath no-
66 words: and my Father will “ thing in me. But that the 31.
" love him, and we will (i) come world may know that I love
« unto him, and make our abode “ the Father; and as the Father
“ with him. He that loveth me “ gave me commandment, even
“ not, keepeth not my sayings : « so I do.”
" and the word which ye hear,
" is not mine, but the Father's
« which sent me. These things

Monday in Whitsun Week.
“ have I spoken unto you, being
yet present with you. But

For the Epistle. A&s x. 34. (n) the Comforter, which is the Then Peter opened his mouth, “ Holy Ghost, whom the Father and said, “ Of a truth I perceive “ will send in my name, he " that God is no respecter of

shall teach you all things, and 6 persons : but in every nation 35 “ bring (k) all things to your re " he that feareth him, and work.

membrance, whatsoever I have " eth righteousness, is accepted 27. “ said unto you. Peace I leave 66 with him. The word which zou

" with you, my peace I give Il “ God sent unto the children

v. 19. “ Ye shall live," &c. i. e. ye

shall partake of the life, spirit, &c. I

possess.
0. 20. (3) “ I am in my Father,” &c. i.e.

that I really came from God, that I am
animated by his spirit, and that you are

animated by mine.
0.21. (b) “ Manifest," i. e. not to the eye,

but to the mind, by my influence, &c.
0.23. O “Come," &c. i. e. be as it were

inmates in his breast. If he makes his
mind pure, without any wrong thoughts,
passions, &c. fit for God's temple, God
will treat it accordingly.

(b) “Bring," &c. There were many ”. things which our Saviour said unto them before his crucifixion, which they did not understand at the time, the force of which they might afterwards see. See ante 133• note on Luke xxiv. 45. and 147. note o John xvi. 6.

(!) “ Might believe." See ante 153. $.99 note on John xvi. 4.

(m) For “will” the reading should e.jo. perhaps be « shall."

(n) See Easter Monday, where in portion of scripture also occurs, and commented upon.