A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.

CHAP. XIV.

1. LET not your heart be troubled:* 1.1 ye believe in God, believe also in me.]

[Paraphrase] 1. As your believing in God my father will afford you many privileges, and antidotes against worldly trouble, so will also your believing in me.

2. In my fathers house are many mansions;† 1.2 If it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you.

3. And if I go* 1.3 and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto my self, that where I am, there ye may be also]

[Paraphrase] 2, 3. In heaven there is room for you abundantly as well as for me, and so there is no need that I should tell you this truth (which otherwise I would have told you, and which would give you cause to rejoyce, and not be sad at my departure) that my going is but as your harbinger to prepare for you, and when I have done that, then, as an harbinger, I will come back again, and meet you, and so in∣troduce you thither, Act. 1. 11.

4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.]

[Paraphrase] 4. I suppose you know the place to which I go, and the way which will bring you thither also.

5. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6. Jesus saith unto him, [I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.]

[Paraphrase] 6. I am the true and living way, sent by my Father to di∣rect all men to that way, wherein he expects and requires to be served, and there is no other way to come to the knowledge of his will, or the enjoyment of life with him, but by me, and the same way that I go before you.

7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from hence∣forth ye know him, and have seen him.]

[Paraphrase] 7. If you had thoroughly known me, who come onely in my Fathers name, and to reveal his will to you, ye had also known my Father, who being invisible is no otherwayes to be known, but as he is revealed in me, and now (see Mat. 23. note m.) although ye never saw my Father, yet having seen and known me, who am his image, ye have both seen and known him.

8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.]

[Paraphrase] 8. Philip not considering the sense of that last speech, saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, And that one thing, the shewing us the Father, will sure convince all without any other argument.

9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, [Philip? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father, and how say∣est thou then, Shew us the Father?]

[Paraphrase] 9. I tell thee again, Philip, I am the image of my Father, and so he that hath seen me, and heard my doctrine, hath seen my Father, and knows his will also. And after this, this of thine is an impertinent unnecessary demand.

10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of my self: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works.]

[Paraphrase] 10. Let me ask you, do you not believe confidently, that whatsoever I do or teach I do by the Fathers, appointment, and that it is the power of him that acts in me? whatsoever I say or do, doctrine, or miracles, is of him; see note c.

11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me;† 1.4 or else believe me for the very works sake.]

[Paraphrase] 11. Take my word for it, but if you will not do so, let my miracles demonstrate it to you.

12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, [He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works then these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.]

[Paraphrase] 12. Those that have now been my disciples shall be able to do the same miracles that I do, Mar. 16. 17. nay greater, upon my sending down the holy Ghost upon you, shall speak with tongues, &c.

13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that, will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.]

[Paraphrase] 13. And whatever miracle you shall in my name pray for power to do, that I will enable you to do, and so by the shewing forth my power in you after my departure, glorifie him who hath sent me.

14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.]

[Paraphrase] 14. And of this be confi∣dent, whatsoever miracle you pray for power to do, and pray for it in my name, grounding your requests on this promise of mine unto you, and doing it in order to my service for the propagating of the Gospel, it shall be granted you.

15. If ye [note a] love me, keep my commandements.]

[Paraphrase] 15. Doe but ye expresse the sincerity of your love to me by obedience to my precepts.

16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another [note b] * 1.5 Comforter, that he may abide with you forever,]

[Paraphrase] 16. And I will ask my Fa∣ther, and when I am gone he shall send you the holy Ghost, who for the several parts of his office 1. to intercede as an advocate, 2. to exhort, 3. to com∣fort, is best exprest by the word [Paraclete,] which in Greek signifies all these three, and he, when he cometh, shall abide with you forever, not departing, as I now doe, but continuing with you as long as you adhere and continue obedient to my precepts, v. 15.

17. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him,† 1.6 for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.]

[Paraphrase] 17. This Paraclete is the Spirit of my Father, that shall lead you into all truth, Him carnall and worldly men (that value nothing but the visible pomps and powers of the world, they that have looked for a temporall glorious Messias,) shall make nothing of, because he is farre from any part of that, he is not so much as visible to outward eyes, but only by inward effects, and so neither known nor valued by them. But by you, I suppose, and all true disciples of mine he is highly valued, therefore (see note on Lu. 7. d.) he shall abide with (not only come to) you, he shall forever continue among you, v. 16.

18. I will not leave you* 1.7 comfortlesse, I will come to you.]

[Paraphrase] 18. Ye are my little chil∣dren ch. 13. 33. and therefore when I leave you, I will have more care of you, then to leave you destitute, I will hasten to come unto you, as to so many young children deprived of their parent, though I am slain, and so depart from you, yet I will rise again, and give you the comfort of seing me after my resurrection, see v. 18.

19. Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:† 1.8 be∣cause I live, ye shall live also.]

[Paraphrase] 19. After a little space I shall be taken from this earth, where now I move, and so taken, that the impenitent unbelieving Jewes shall never see more of my miracles, which have hitherto been so uneffectuall among them, never see me again, (so as to take comfort or reap benefit by seeing me) but it is not my death it self that shall separate me from you, I shall rise from death, and appeare to you after my resurrection, and from thence ascend to heaven there to live eternally; and as that shall be matter of great rejoycing to you (see note on 1 Thess. 3. 6.) like the joy of one that hath a friend returned to life again, or like the womans joy after child-birth ch. 16. 21, 22. a wonderfull reviving after your sorrow for my departure, so shall it be attended with all vitall advantages to you, justification Rom. 5. 10. and eternall life hereafter.

20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, [note c] and I in you.]

[Paraphrase] 20. And when I shall after my death thus appear unto you, and make good what I now promise, then shall ye be convinced (more perfectly then yet ye have been) 1. that I have taught nothing but what is the will of my Father, 2. that by your keeping close to that faith which I have taught you, my power and commission, which I have received from my Father, shall be communicated to you, Lu. 22. 28.

21. He that hath my commandements, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest my self to him.]

[Paraphrase] 21. And this I say to all obedient servants of mine, whosoever they are, not only to you Apostles; Every faithfull lover of me v. 15. shall be loved of my Father, and from me receive that evidence of my love, I will effectually make my self known to him after my resurrection, either by appearing to him my self, or by the testi∣mony of those, to whom I will appear.

22. Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot,) Lord,* 1.9 how is it, that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us, and not unto the world?]

[Paraphrase] 22. Upon this Judas, one of his disciples, still looking after a present shewing himself as a temporall Messias, asked him (see c. 7. 4.) what was the reason that he would not manifest himself to the world, as well as to them?

23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If any man love me, he will* 1.10 keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.]

[Paraphrase] 23. Jesus answered, The reason is, because the world doth not practise my precepts, which they that doe, by that expresse their love to me, and have this reward from my Father, that he loves them again; and he and I reveale our selves to such, and delight to dwell with such.

24. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings, and the word which you hear, is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me.]

[Paraphrase] 24. But this is not com∣petible to the world, who nei∣ther love nor obey me, nor consequently my Father, whose word it is, and not mine own, which I preach unto you.

25. These things have I spoken unto you,* 1.11 being yet present with you.

26. But the* 1.12 Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, which my Father will send in my name, he shall [teach you all things, and bring all things to your remem∣brance, whatsoever I have said unto you.]

[Paraphrase] 26. expound to you all the obscurities of my speeches, as farre as is usefull to your of∣fice, see 1 Cor. 13. note i. and put you in mind of all which I have now said to you, how they are fulfilled, and what they meant; see Act. 11. 16.

27. Peace I leave* 1.13 with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world † 1.14 giveth, give I unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be a∣fraid.]

[Paraphrase] 27. I take my leave of you, and doe it again heartily and affectionately; and that in a speciall peculiar way from that by which the world uses to doe it, They in civility, when they salute you, or take their leave of you, use the like formes, Peace be to you &c. but either doe it formally and hearlesly, or else are not able to doe any more then wish it; but I who cordially love, and am able to expresse my love, will effectually give it to you. Be not either troubled with grief (see c. 11. a.) that I must be taken from you, nor feare what shall befall your selves.

28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I goe away, and come again unto you: If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater then I.]

[Paraphrase] 28. I told you v. 19. that I am to go away, and after a few dayes return to you again (see note on Act. 15. c.) and then return to my Father from whom I came. If ye were kind to me, ye would have looked upon it with joy, as on a means of dignifying me, for he that sent is, as such, greater then I who am sent by him, And so my returning to my Father must needs be the advancing me to an higher condition, then that which now I am in.

29. And now I have told you, before it comes to passe, that when it is come to passe, you might believe.]

[Paraphrase] 29. I have not told you all this to afflict you, but to arm you for the expectation of it, by foretelling it, and withall that your seeing my prediction fulfilled, may convince you, that all which I have said to you is true, and so make you believe on me.

30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of* 1.15 this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

31. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment even so I doe. Arise, let us goe hence.]

[Paraphrase] 30, 31. I shall not now stay long or say much to you, for the Imperiall power (of the Romans, whole Procura∣tor Pilate was) and Satan himself shall joyne together with the Jewes to destroy me, and when they doe so, shall find nothing to lay to my charge, nor indeed have they power to doe me any hurt, Satan, whose office it is to be Gods executioner on sinners, finds no sinne in me, so to punish, and so could not put me to death, but that in obedience to my Fathers will, I mean voluntarily to lay down my life. Arise from table, let us be gone, meet whatever comes, and, to shew you how willing I am to lay down my life, let us goe to the place where Judas waits to betray me, ch. 18. 3.

Annotations on Chap. XIV.

[ a] * 1.16 V. 15. Love] The notion of loving God in Scripture, but especially in the New Testament, seems most fitly to be taken from one most eminent act, and expression of love amongst all men, viz. that of doing those things which are esteemed most gratefull and acceptable to the beloved, either as tending most to his good, or any other way most desirable to him. For this indeed is the one expression of loving one another, all other being effects of love to our selves. But because God wants no contributions of ours to the advancing of his good or (indeed) of his glory, and our onely way of doing gratefull things to him is our performing what he commands, therefore it is consequent, that our obedience to the will, or commands of God in the highest and most perfect manner, is styled the loving of him, being indeed the prime, if not only way of de∣monstrating our love to him. So here, If ye love me, keep my commandements, if ye are so affected to me, as to desire to gratefy me, obedience to all my pre∣cepts is the way of doing it. So v. 21. He that hath my commandements and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me &c. and I will love him, and (as the most gratefull thing to him, that can be done from one lo∣ver to another) I will shew my self to him. So v. 23. If any man love me, he will keep my word, & my fa∣ther shall love him, and we will (as the most gratefull obliging thing again) come to him, and make our abode with him, and so v. 24. & 1 Joh. 2. 5. He that keeps my word, in him is the love of God made perfect, and ch. 5. 3. this is the love of God, that we keep his com∣mandements. And so saith Christ, ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you. From whence it is, that, as in some places compared together, love is equivalent, or parallel, to keeping the commandements of God, as Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 5. 9. & Gal. 5. 6. compa∣red with 1 Cor. 7. 19. (and disobedience to enmity Rom. 8. 7. Jam. 4. 4.) so the whole condition available to our acceptation with God, and salvation, is oft ex∣press'd by this style of Love. And because those duties that are to be perform'd to God immediately, are most acceptable, and gratefull to him, but especially that of confessing him, and, in despight of dangers, and death it self, keeping close to him, therefore that is many times express'd by loving of Christ, 1 Cor. 8. 3. & 16. 22. Ephes. 6. 24. Ja. 1. 12. Revel. 2. 4. Another no∣tion there is of the love of God, a desire of union, and neer conjunction with him, but this but seldome look'd on in the Scriptures.

[ b] * 1.17 V. 16. Comforter] The word Paraclete in the Greek comes from a word of a large, and so ambiguous signi∣fication; and consequently may be rendred advocate, exhorter, or comforter, and every one of these doe fitly accord to the offices of the Holy Ghost among the A∣postles (on whom he was to descend) and ever since in the Church, and therefore ought not to be so rendred∣by any one of these, as to exclude the others, but to be left in the latitude of the signification, which belongs to the Greek word: Yet the truth is, one notion there is of the word, which seems to be especially referr'd to, both here, when he is called Paraclete, and c. 16. 8. as shall there appear, and that is the first notion, that of an advocate or interlocutor, an advocate of the Chri∣stian's cause with God, Rom. 8. 26. and so also with men, teaching the Apostles what they shall say, when they are brought before Kings, &c. Mat. 10. 20. and an advocate, or actor of Christs cause against the world of unbelievers, and crucifiers, Joh. 15. 26. and effica∣ciously convincing the adversaries, Joh. 16. 8. and this is the notion of the word retained among the Talmu∣dists, who continue the Greek word without the ter∣mination, and set it in opposition to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an accuser. And proportionably to what is here said of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.18 must, I suppose, be resolved of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Act. 9. 31. not that it be restrained to note comfort particularly, but be taken in the lati∣tude, for the whole work of the ministery, to which the Apostles were set apart, and consecrated, and ena∣bled by the Holy Ghosts coming down upon them, and so indeed the word is generally used in the Acts, to de∣note the preaching of the word, speaking to the peo∣ple, as the Apostles did in the synagogues, or else∣where, to tell them their duty of all kinds. So Act. 11. 23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.19 the summe of his speech or ser∣mon to them all was, that they should cleave unto the Lord. So Act. 14. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, preaching to, or interceding with, them to abide in the faith, and 15. 32. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 c. 22. with much speech they exhorted, or taught, or preach'd to the brethren. So ch. 16. 40. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they preach'd to,* 1.20 or exhorted them. So 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Act. 13. 15. a word of exhortation, accor∣ding to their custome of saying something seasonably to the people at their publick assemblies, after their read∣ing of the Law, &c. So Act. 15. 31. the whole message of the Synod at Jerusalem, and their decision of the controversie, is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 exhortation.

[ c] * 1.21 V. 20. And I in you] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in this wri∣ter especially, hath oft a peculiar elegancy in it, and is not fully understood, but by adding the word So in the rendring of it, so also I, and then it hath an influence on the former part of the period, and makes that the first part of a similitude or comparison, as it is it self the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or second. Thus it is oft in other places, see c.* 1.22 6. 56. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as he remaineth in me, so also I in him. So 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 1 Jo. 4. 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as God abides in him, so he also in God, and again v. 16. and here in this verse, where two parts (not three) of conviction seem to be set down, as the effects of Christs resurrection, &c. 1. They shall know that Christ is in his Father, that is, that he came truly with Comm••ssion from him, and hath kept close to the discharge of it, varied not from it in the least, That that is the meaning of being in his Father may appear by the use of it again c. 17. 21. that they all may be one as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that is that they may agree in the same doctrine, as my Father and I agree perfectly in the same, I teaching what is his will should be taught, and nothing else. But more evident∣ly here v. 10. Dost thou not believe that I am in the Fa∣ther, and the Father in me? i. e. whatsoever I doe or teach is the power of God, and the doctrine of God in me, as it follows, the words which I speak are not from my self, but the Father that abideth in me, he doth the works, v. 10. & v. 11. to the same purpose, that the miracles, which he doth, he doth from God, and that is a proof that his doctrine is the doctrine of God. This the Fathers raising him from the dead, and taking him up to heaven will convince them of, see c. 16. 10. where his going to the Father is mentioned as a means to con∣vince them of righteousnesse, i. e. both that he was a righteous person, and that he taught them the true way of righteousnesse, 2^ly, They shall know that Christ

continues in them, communicates and derives his power to them, that he hath not forsaken them, v. 18. as by his death they were apt to suspect he did, but are con∣vinced of the contrary by his resurrection, 1. by his appearing to them, 2^ly, by his going to heaven, only (as he saith) to prepare a place for them, and then to come meet and conduct them thither v. 3. and 3^ly, by his sending his Spirit to them to fit them to be his suc∣cessors on earth, which is the principall thing in this chapter. Now their obedience, and the sincerity there∣of to him, is not any third principal thing, that they were thus to be convinced of by this miracle of Christs resurrection, being a thing which if it were in them, they might possibly know without Gods working mi∣racles to testifie it, and again their knowing of this would be an effect, or consequent of those former con∣victions, & not a principal branch antecedent (as in the order of the words it lies) to the latter of them. That therefore which the mention of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ye in me seems to point at in this place,* 1.23 is only this, that where∣as the world should never see Christ again, so they that remained in him, his faithfull and obedient disciples, (upon which the whole promise of the Paraclete is built in this chapter v. 15.) should partake of the blessing and fruits of his appearance,* 1.24 and of the Paraclete, and that as they had continued faithful to him, he in like man∣ner would be sure to perform his promise to them, make them his successors in his power in the Church, and preachers of the same doctrine which he had taught from his Father. And so that is the plain meaning of these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as you are in me, so I in you, which was the only second thing they needed to be convinced of. Though by the way, I say, as this was the rewarding of their obedience and fide∣lity to him, so also would it be a testimony from God of the sincerity of it, which he was pleased thus to ac∣cept and reward. That this is the right interpretation of this verse appears by the next verse 21. where he that loves Christ and keeps his commandments, that is, that is in Christ here, is the subject, to whom the promise is made of Christs manifesting himself unto him, which hath appeared to be the importance of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and I in him. By which it appears that the fidelity to Christ is the qualification or condition required in the subject, to make a man capable of the manifestation of Christ to him, which would not be afforded to any o∣thers. And the same is the importance of v. 23.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Believe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, and believe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.2

  If not, I had told you that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kings 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the ••••tient Gr. Lat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  Or, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pare, For the Gr. Lac. MS. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 divers o∣thers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.4

  but if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the works themselves believe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  Paraclete
• † 1.6

  therefore he abideth with you, and shall be among you, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  orphans, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.8

  for I live, and ye shall live, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  what is the matter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  observe my word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.11

  while I a∣••ide with ••ou, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.12

  Paraclete, ••he Holy 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉:
• * 1.13

  unto you, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.14

  giveth it, ••ve I it to ••ou, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King's 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and an∣•••••• Greek 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Latine, and most others leave out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,) cometh, and can find nothing in me, for the antient Greek and Latine MS. reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.17

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.18

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.19

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.21

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.22

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.23

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.24

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉