Indeed, I did not tell you particularly of these things at the beginning, when you first followed me and became my disciples, because then I was to continue with you in person, and support you in all things by my immediate presence: but now, being about to leave you, I think it necessary to acquaint you what things are likely to come upon you after my departure, and also what comfort you may expect to support you under them, at the same time.

I must now mention the melancholy part, namely, that I am going from you, and that great temptations will befal you in my absence; this, indeed, ye readily apprehend, and suffer your hearts to be overwhelmed with grief at the thoughts of it: but the comfortable part of my discourse, namely, that my departure is only in order to return to him that sent me, and that I will soon after send you the Holy Spirit, and the other advantages that will thence result to you, are neither considered, nor are you solictious about them. Nevertheless, if ye will listen, I will plainly tell you the truth: ye are so far from having reason to be dejected at the thoughts of my departure, that on the contrary it is really profitable and expedient for you, that I should now depart; for such is the order and dispensation of Providence towards you, and the appointment of my Father's eternal and all-wise council, that before I go and take possession of my kingdom, the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, cannot be sent unto you; but when I am departed from you, and have all power in heaven and earth committed unto me, then I will send him unto you: and when he cometh he shall abundantly support and comfort you under all your troubles; shall powerfully plead your cause against your adversaries; and shall, with wonderful efficacy, cause the doctrine of the gospel to spread and prevail in the world against all opposition: he shall particularly, and in a most extraordinary and convincing manner, make the world sensible of the greatness and heinousness of a sin of which they

were not aware; of the righteousness and justice of a dispensation they did not understand, and of the execution of a most remarkable judgment they did not expect. First, by wonderfully attesting and confirming the truth of my doctrine, by the gift of tongues, and other wonderful signs, he shall convince the world of the greatness and heinousness of their sins, in disbelieving and rejecting me. Secondly, by demonstrating, that my departure out of the world, was not perishing and dying, but only a returning to my Father, in order to be invested with all power both in heaven and earth, he shall convince the world of the righteousness and justice of my cause, and of the excellency of that dispensation which I preached and declared to mankind. Lastly, he shall convince men of my power and authority to execute judgment upon mine enemies, for establishment of my kingdom upon earth, by mightily destroying the power of the Devil, and the dominion of sin, and propagating the doctrine of true religion in the world, with wonderful efficacy and success.

Many other things are yet hereafter to be done in relation to the settling and establishing of my church, which, if it were proper, I would now acquaint you with, but ye are not yet prepared to understand and receive them. Howbeit, when the Spirit of Truth, whom I promised you, is come, he shall enlarge your understandings, remove your prejudices, and instruct you in all necessary and divine truths, to enable you to go through that great work, which I have begun in person, and which I will carry on by your ministry; for the Spirit is not to begin any new work, or to found any new doctrine of himself: but as I have taught, and will teach you only in my Father's name, so the Spirit shall instruct you only in mine and my Father's will, and in things necessary to promote and carry on the same design. Every thing that he does shall be only in order to manifest my glory, and establish my religion in the world; even as every thing

that I have done, has been only to manifest my Father's glory, and reveal his will to mankind: for as all that I have taught is only what I received from my Father, so all that the Spirit shall teach you, is only what he receives from me. Whatsoever, I say, the Spirit shall teach you, is only what he receives from me; for receiving from my Father, I call receiving from me, and teaching his will, is teaching mine; seeing all things that the Father hath, are common to me, and all power and dominion is committed to me. by him.

Be careful now to remember what matter for comfort I have given you, and, support yourselves with it, under the approaching distress. It is now, indeed, but a very little while before I shall be taken away from you; nevertheless, let not this cause you to despair: for, after I am departed, it will be also but a little while before I appear to you again; inasmuch as my being taken away from you, is not perishing, but only returning to my Father. At these last words of JESUS, the disciples were greatly disturbed and troubled, not understanding his true meaning, that in a very short time he should be taken from them by death; and that, after having overcome death by a glorious resurrection, he would appear to them again before his ascension into heaven. Not understanding this, they inquired, one of another, what can he mean by telling us, that in a very little time he shall be taken out of our sight: and that in a very little time more, we shall see him again, and this because he goeth to the Father? The meaning of all this we cannot understand.

But JESUS observing their perplexity, and knowing that they were desirous of asking him, replied, Why are ye thus disturbed and perplexed about what I told you? Is it a thing so very hard to be understood, that I said, within a very little time I should be taken away from you, and that within a very little time more, I should

appear to you again? Verily, verily, I tell you, I must soon depart out of this world: and when the world, who are your enemies, will rejoice and triumph over you, as if they had destroyed me, and wholly suppressed you: ye for your parts will be overwhelmed with grief and sorrow; but, within a short time, I will return to you again, and then your sorrow shall be turned into exceeding great joy; even as a woman when she is in labour, hath great pain and sorrow for the present, but, as soon as she is delivered forgets all her sufferings, and rejoices greatly at the birth of her son; so ye, while ye are under the immediate apprehension of my departure from you, and during that time of distress and temptation which shall befal you in my absence, will be full of sorrow and anxiety of mind; but when I return to you again, then ye shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the cause of continuance of it, no power or malice of man shall ever be able to take from you any more.

However, though I shall return to you again, and your hearts will thereupon be filled with inexpressible joy, and which never shall be taken from you any more; yet there will be no necessity that I should then continue long with you in person, to instruct you upon every occasion, as I have now done with my own mouth: for besides that the Holy Spirit will be sent to instruct you in all things necessary, my Father himself also will hear your petitions and be ready to grant you whatsoever you shall desire of him in my name, as being my disciples. Hitherto ye have asked nothing of God in my name; but from henceforth put up your petitions in my name, and whatsoever ye shall so ask for the glory of God, and in order to enable you to go through the work of your ministry successfully, shall certainly be granted you; that your joy, which will begin at my appearing to you again after my death, may be completed by the wonderful success and efficacy of your own ministry. These things I have told you, at present, imperfect and ob

scurely, according as your capacities are able to bear them; but the time is coming, when your prejudices being removed, I will speak to you with more openness, freedom, and plainness the whole will of my Father, concerning the nature and establishment of my kingdom, and what things ye ought to pray unto him for, and in what manner.

Ye shall at that time, with firm assurance pray to my Father in my name, for what ye want: and I need not tell you, that I will intercede with the Father on your behalf: for besides the love he has for me, and the power and authority my prayers have with him, he has moreover, of himself, a great love for you, and a ready disposition to grant your prayers, because ye are become grateful and acceptable to him, by your love towards me, which ye have shewn, in embracing willingly that holy doctrine which I have revealed to you from him.

Now to conclude: the sum of what I have told you, is briefly and plainly this: I came down from heaven from God my Father, and have lived upon earth in the state of frail and mortal man, that I might reveal to mankind the will of my heavenly Father, and the way to attain eternal life and happiness: and now having finished this great work, I am about to leave this world, and return again to my Father from whence I at first came. These last words of JESUS, being somewhat more plain and express, than any he had before spoken, so that now the disciples clearly perceived that the departure he had so often mentioned, was no other than his actual going out of this world, they replied, Now, Lord thou speakest plainly, and without any figure; so that we apprehend fully what thou meanest; And now that our curiosity is satisfied, thou hast likewise greatly confirmed our faith; having given us a certain token, whereby we are assured that thou knowest all things, even the hearts and secret thoughts of men, since thou hast answered