ha TR of this Verſe there is nothing difficult, but . in the w vid it there is much inttructive : We learn from hence, That will ors may as to ſome points be ignorant as to the mind and be wil yet they will be defirous of further inſtruction in it. To wing , y and contentedly ignorant, is not conſiſtent with a root of hx 4 4s 2. Chriſt knows the deſires of our hearts,. before they follow © a to him by the words of our lips 3 bur yet it will not out mates may ſarisfte our ſelves with inward ſecret deſires,with
our lp = 42 «nown by our lips, for God requireth the Calves of bans _ ell asthe deſires and groans of our inward man. 3-b Chriſt Gerefore *, (0 Teach thoſe whoſe hearts he ſeeth deficous to learn ;
S. JOHN
and lament, but the world ſhall rejoice ! : be ſorrowful, but your ſorrow ſhall beturned into joy »2.
20 Verily, verily I ſay nnto you, that ye ſhall weep and ye {hl
/ Our Saviour'sreply is no literal anſwer to the queſtion, or ex-
poſition of the term which appeared fo difficult to chem to und: - ſtand ; bur yer it is a ſubſtantial anſwer, by which he let them know. that he ſhould be abſent from them for ſome time, which rim* would be tothem a time of mourning, 2nd ſadneſs, as he had before told them; that when the Bridegroom ſhonld be raken from then. then they ſhould mourn; that time would be to the wicked part of the World, a time of mirth and jollity : » But their ſorrow ſhould be turned into joy when they ſhall ſee him again, both upon his Re- ſurre&ion, and in the general Reſurre&ion. The time of this 1ie is the worldlings hour, and for the molt part the power of darkneſ;, to ſuch as love andfear God ; bur as the worldlings joy ſhail ar laſt be turned into ſorrow ; ( they compals themtelves abour wich ſparks, bur they ſhall at laſt lie down in forrow) forthe godly man's ſorrow ſhall be rurned into joy ; Chriſt will ſay to che good ſervant, Er:er t hou into thy Maſters joy, Marth. 25.23 '
21 * A woman, when ſhe 1s 10 travail, hath ſorrow, *Ifz.26 17. becanſe the hour is come : but as ſoon as ſhe is delivered of the chlld, ſhe remembreth no more the anguiſh, for
joy 3hat a man is born into the world 7.
2 Our Lord compateth the ſtate of the Church in this life, and
more eſpecially in thoſe ficſt and moſt furious times, to the ſtate of a woman that is big with child, and in her travail ; when he faith, ſhe hath ſorrow, thar is, great pain, becauſe God when he curſed the woman for her tranſgreſſion, made this her portion, Gen. 3. 16. 7 will greatly multiply thy ſorrow, and thy conception ; in ſorrow thou jbalt bring forth children ; and when her weeks are fulfilled, her hour is come to feel the effeR of this curſe, the fruic of the firſt womans rranſpreſſion ; but no ſooner is ſhe delivered of a child, bur ſhe for- getteth all her throws and pains, for joy of a child born into the World. Such (faith our Saviour to his Diſciples) is your eftate ; you are aSa woman intravail, fo will allthoſe that believe in me, be, to
the end of the World.
22 And ye now therefore have ſorrow : but I will ſee
you again o*, and your heart ſhall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from youp.
o (The whole Church, Rev. 12. I, 2. 15 compared to a Woman
with child, crying, travailing in birch, and pained to be delivered; ) during this time of your :rava;!, you muſt have ſorrow. AY thoſe that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution, 1t is ap- pointed for all men once to die. It is appointed for God's people, (eſpe- cially under ſome periods of time) to be dying daily, killed all the day. long, as the Apoſtle expreſſeth the ſtate of Chriſtians in his time, Row. 8. 36. quoting Pſal. 44. 22. (which ſheweth the ſtate of the Church in the Qld Teſtament to have been the ſame. Burt (faith our Saviour) it is but as the hour of the womans travail; it will be ſharp, very ſharp, but it ſhall be ſhort : p For I wil ſee you 2gain, and then your heart ſhall rejoice ; which cannot be underſtood of Chriſt's ſeeing them again afrer his Reſurre#on ; for before that time, we read of few or no ſufferingsof the Apoſtles or other Diſciples. Ic muſt there- fore be underſtood, either of the Yi/iration of 155 Spirit filling their hearts with joy and peace, or the vi/tation of his Providence ; or ra- ther of Chriſt's coming to the Jaſt Judgment, when all that have be- lieved in Chriſt, ſhall ſee him with joy unſpeakable ; and then a4 tears ſhall ba wiped away from their eyes, and they ſhall enter into the joy of their Lord, and figh and ſorrow no more, nor ſhall it be in the power of all their enemies, to deprive them of their joy.
23 And in that day ye ſhall ask me nothing 9. Verily,
verily I ſay unto you, Whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Fa- ther in my Name, he will give :t you r.
9 That the day here ſpoken of, is that before mentioned, wer. 22.