John xiv. 15-17.-"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And
I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He
may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him."
[1.] We need everywhere works and actions, not a mere show of words.
For to say and to promise is easy for any one, but to act is not equally
easy. Why have I made these remarks?Because there are many at this time
who say that they fear and love God, but in their works show the contrary;
but God requireth that love which is shown by works. Wherefore He said
to the disciples, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." For after He had
told them, "Whatsoever ye shall ask, I will do it," that they might not
deem the mere "asking" to be availing, He added, "If ye love Me," "then,"
He saith, "I will do it." And since it was likely that they would be troubled
when they heard that, "I go to the Father," He telleth them "to be troubled
now is not to love, to love is to obey My words. I have given you a commandment
that ye love one another, that ye do so to each other as I have done to
you; this is love, to obey these My words, and to yield to Him who is the
object of your love."
"And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter."
Again His speech is one of condescension. For since it was probable,
that they not yet knowing Him would eagerly seek His society, His discourse,
His presence in the flesh, and would admit of no consolation when He was
absent, what saith He? "I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter," that is, "Another like unto Me." Let those be ashamed who have
the disease of Sabellius, who hold not the fitting opinion concerning the
Spirit. For the marvel of this discourse is this, that it hath stricken
down contradictory heresies with the same blow. For by saying "another,"
He showeth the difference of Person, and by "Paraclete," the connection
of Substance. But why said He, "I will ask the Father"? Because had He
said, "I will send Him," they would not have so much believed and now the
object is that He should be believed. For afterwards He declares that He
Himself sendeth Him, saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (c. xx. 22); but
in this place He telleth them that He asketh the Father, so as to render
His discourse credible to them. Since John saith of Him, "Of His fullness
have all we received" (c. i. 16); but what He had, how receiveth He from
another? And again, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with
fire." (Luke iii. 16.) "But what had He more than the Apostles, if He was
about to ask It of His Father in order to give It to others, when they
often even without prayer appear to have done thus?" And how, if It is
sent according to request from the Father, doth It descend of Itself? And
how is that which is everywhere present sent by Another, that which "divideth
to every man severally as He will" (1 Cor. xii. 11), and which saith with
authority, "Separate Me Paul and Barnabas"? (Acts xiii. 2.) Those ministers
were ministering unto God, yet still It called them authoritatively to
Its own work; not that It called them to any different work, but in order
to show Its power. "What then," saith some one, "is, `I will ask the Fathers'?"
(He saith it) to show the time of Its coming. For when He had cleansed
them by the sacrifice, then the Holy Ghost lighted upon them. "And why,
while He was with them, came it not?" Because the sacrifice was not yet
offered. But when afterwards sin had been loosed, and they were being sent
forth to dangers, and were stripping themselves for the contest, then need
was that the Anointer should come. "But why did not the Spirit come immediately
after the Resurrection?" In order that being greatly desirous of It, they
might receive It with great joy. For as long as Christ was with them, they
were not in tribulation; but when He departed, being made defenseless and
thrown into much fear, they would receive It with much readiness.
"He remaineth with you." This showeth that even after death It departeth
not. But lest when they heard of the "Paraclete," they should imagine a
second Incarnation, and expect to see It with their eyes, He setteth them
right by saying, "Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not."
"He will not be with you as I have been, but will dwell in your very souls";
for this is the, "shall be in you." He calleth it the "Spirit of truth";
thus explaining the types in the Old Testament. "That He may be with you."
What is, "may be with you"? That which He saith Himself, that "I am with
you." (Matt. xxviii. 20.) Besides, He also implieth something else, that
"the case of the Spirit shall not be the same as Mine, He shall never leave
you." "Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not." "Why,
what is there belonging to the other Persons that is visible?" Nothing;
but He speaketh here of knowledge; at least He addeth, "neither knoweth
Him." For He is wont, in the case of exact knowledge, to call it "sight";
because sight is clearer than the other senses, by this He always representeth
exact knowledge. By "world," He here speaketh of "the wicked," thus too
comforting the disciples by giving to them a special gift. See in how many
particulars He raised His discourse concerning It. He said, "He is Another
like unto Me"; He said, "He will not leave you"; He said, "Unto you alone
He cometh, as also did I"; He said, that "He remaineth in you"; but not
even so did He drive out their despondency. For they still sought Him and
His society. To cure then this feeling, He saith,
Ver. 18. "I will not leave you orphans, I will come unto you."
[2.] "Fear not," He saith, "I said not that I would send you another
Comforter, as though were Myself withdrawing from you for ever; I said not
that He remaineth with you, as though I should see you no more. For I also
Myself will come to you, I will not leave you orphans." Because when commencing
He said, "Little children," therefore He saith also here, "I will not leave
you orphans." At first then He told them, "Ye shall come whither I go";
and, "In My Father's house there are many mansions"; but here, since that
time was long, He giveth them the Spirit; and when, not knowing what it
could be of which He spoke, they were not sufficiently comforted, "I will
not leave you orphans," He saith; for this they chiefly required. since
the, "I will come to you," was the saying of one declaring a "presence,"
observe how in order that they might not again seek for the same kind of
presence as before, He did not clearly tell them this thing, but hinted
at it; for having said,
Ver. 19. "Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me not"; He added,
"but ye see Me."
As though He had said, "I come indeed to you, but not in the same way
as before, ever being with you day by day." And lest they should say, "How
then saidst Thou to the Jews, Henceforth ye shall not see Me?" He solveth
the contradiction by saying, "to you alone"; for such also is the nature
of the Spirit.
"Because I live, ye shall live also."
For the Cross doth not finally separate us, but only hideth for a little
moment; and by "life" He seemeth to me to mean not the present only, but
the future also.
Ver. 20. "At that day ye shall know that am in the Father, and you
in Me, and I in you."
With regard to the Father, these words refer to Essence; with regard
to the disciples, to agreement of mind and help from God. "And how, tell
me, is this reasonable?" saith some one. And how, pray, is the contrary
reasonable? For great and altogether boundless is the interval between
Christ and the disciples. And if the same words are employed, marvel not;
for the Scripture is often wont to use in different senses the same words,
when applied to God and to men. Thus we are called "gods," and "sons of
God," yet the word hath not the same force when applied to us and to God.
And the Son is called "Image," and "Glory"; so are we, but great is the
interval between us. Again, "Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Cor.
iii. 23), but not in like manner as Christ is God's are we Christ's. But
what is it that He saith? "When I am arisen," He saith, "ye shall know
that I am not separated from the Father, but have the same power with Him,
and that I am with you continually, when facts proclaim the aid which cometh
to you from Me, when your enemies are kept down, and you speak boldly,
when dangers are removed from your path, when the preaching of the Gospel
flourisheth day by day, when all yield and give ground to the word of true
religion. "As the Father hath sent Me, so send I you." (c. xx. 21.) Seest
thou that here also the word hath not the same force? for if we take it
as though it had, the Apostles will differ in nothing from Christ. But
why saith He, "Then ye shall know"? Because then they saw Him risen and
conversing with them, then they learnt the exact faith; for great was the
power of the Spirit, which taught them all things.
[3.] Ver. 21. "He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he
it is that loveth Me."
It is not enough merely to have them, we need also an exact keeping
of them. But why doth He frequently say the same thing to them? as, "If
ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments" (ver. 15); and, "He that hath
My commandments and keepeth them"; and, "If any one heareth My word and
keepeth it, he it is that loveth Me-he that heareth not My words, loveth
Me not." (Ver. 24.) I think that He alluded to their despondency; for since
He had uttered many wise sayings to them concerning death, saying, "He
that hateth his life in this world shall save it unto life eternal" (c.
xii. 25); and,"Unless a man take his cross and follow Me, he is not worthy
of Me" (Matt. x. 38); and is about to say other things besides, rebuking
them, He saith, "Think ye that ye suffer sorrow from love? The not sorrowing
would be a sign of love." And because He wished all along to establish
this, as He went on He summed up His discourse in this same point; "If
ye loved Me," He saith, "ye would have rejoiced, because-I go to My Father"
(ver. 28), but now ye are in this state through cowardice. To be thus disposed
towards death is not for those who remember My commandments; for you ought
to be crucified, if you truly loved Me, for My word exhorteth you not to
be afraid of those that kill the body. Those that are such both the Father
loveth and I. "And I will manifest Myself unto him. Then saith Judas,
Ver. 22. "How is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us?"
Seest thou that their soul was close pressed with fear? For he was confounded
and troubled, and thought that as we see dead men in a dream, so He also
would be seen. In order therefore that they might not imagine this, hear
what He saith.
Ver. 23. "I and the Father will come unto him, and make Our abode
with him."
All but saying, "As the Father revealeth Himself, so also do I." And
not in this way only He removed the suspicion, but also by saying, "We
will make Our abode with him," a thing which doth not belong to dreams.
But observe, I pray you, the disciple confounded, and not daring to say
plainly what he desired to say. For he said not, "Woe to us, that Thou diest, and
will come to us as the dead come"; he spake not thus; but, "How is it that
Thou wilt show Thyself to us, and not unto the world?" Jesus then saith,
that "I accept you, because ye keep My commandments." In order that they
might not, when they should see Him afterwards, deem Him to be an apparition,
therefore He saith these things beforehand. And that they might not deem
that He would appear to them so as I have said, He telleth them also the
reason, "Because ye keep My commandments"; He saith that the Spirit also
will appear in like manner. Now if after having companied with Him so long
time, they cannot yet endure that Essence, or rather cannot even imagine
It, what would have been their case had He appeared thus to them at the
first? on this account also He ate with them, that the action might not
seem to be an illusion. For if they thought this when they saw Him walking
on the waters, although His wonted form was seen by them, and He was not
far distant, what would they have imagined had they suddenly seen Him arisen
whom they had seen taken and swathed? Wherefore He continually telleth
them that He will appear, and why He will appear, and how, that they may
not suppose Him to be an apparition.
Ver. 24. "He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings; and the word
which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me."
"So that he that heareth not these sayings not only doth not love Me,
but neither doth he love the Father." For if this is the sure proof of
love, the hearing the commandments, and these are of the Father, he that
heareth them loveth not the Son only, but the Father also. "And how is
the word `thine' and `not thine'?" This means, "I speak not without the
Father, nor say anything of Myself contrary to what seemeth good to Him."
Ver. 25. "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present
with you."
Since these sayings were not clear, and since some they did not understand,
and doubted about the greater number, in order that they might not be again
confused, and say, "What commands?" He released them from all their perplexity,
saying,
Ver. 26. "The Comforter, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He
shall teach you."
"Perhaps these things are not clear to you now, but `He' is a clear
teacher of them." And the, "remaineth with you" (ver. 17), is the expression
of One implying that Himself will depart. Then that they may not be grieved,
He saith, that as long as He should remain with them and the Spirit should
not come, they would be unable to comprehend anything great or sublime.
And this He said to prepare them to bear nobly His departure, as that which
was to be the cause of great blessings to them. He continually calleth
Him "Comforter," because of the afflictions which then possessed them.
And since even after hearing these things they were troubled, when they
thought of the sorrows, the wars, His departure, see how He calmeth them
again by saying,
Ver. 27. "Peace I leave to you."
All but saying, "What are ye harmed by the trouble of the world, provided
ye be at peace with Me? For this peace is not of the same kind as that.
The one is external, is often mischievous and unprofitable, and is no advantage
to those who possess it; but I give you peace of such a kind that ye be
at peace with one another, which thing rendereth you stronger." And because
He said again, "I leave," which was the expression of One departing, and
enough to confound them, therefore He again saith,
"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Seest thou that they were affected partly by loving affection, partly
by fear?
Ver. 28. "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come
again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto
the Father; for My Father is greater than I."
[4.] And what joy would this bring to them? What consolation? What then
mean the words? They did not yet know concerning the Resurrection, nor
had they right opinion concerning Him; (for how could they, who did not
even know that He would rise again?) but they thought that the Father was
mighty. He saith then, that "If ye are fearful for Me, as not able to defend
Myself, and if ye are not confident that I shall see you again after the
Crucifixion, yet when ye heard that I go to the Father, ye ought then to
have rejoiced because I go away to One that is greater, and able to undo
all dangers." "Ye have heard how I said unto you." Why hath He put this?
Because, He saith, "I am so firmly confident about the things which come
to pass, that I even foretell them, so far am I from fearing." This also
is the meaning of what follows.
Ver. 29. "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when
it is come to pass, ye might believe that I Am." As though He had said,
"Ye would not have known, had I not told you. And I should not have told
you, had I not been confident." Seest thou that the speech is one of condescension?
for when He saith, "Think ye that I cannot pray to the Father, and He shall
presently give Me more than twelve legions of Angels" (Matt. xxvi. 53),
He speaketh to the secret thoughts of the hearers; since no one, even in
the height of madness, would say that He was not able to help Himself,
but needed Angels; but because they thought of Him as a man, therefore
He spoke of "twelve legions of Angels." Yet in truth He did but ask those
who came to take Him a question, and cast them backwards. (c. xviii. 6.)
(If any one say that the Father is greater, inasmuch as He is the cause
of the Son, we will not contradict this. But this doth not by any means
make the Son to be of a different Essence.) But what He saith, is of this
kind: "As long as I am here, it is natural that you should deem that I
am in danger; but when I am gone `there,' be confident that I am in safety;
for Him none will be able to overcome." All these words were addressed
to the weakness of the disciples, for, "I Myself am confident, and care
not for death." On this account, He said, "I have told you these things
before they come to pass"; "but since," He saith, "ye are not yet able
to receive the saying concerning them, I bring you comfort even from the
Father, whom ye entitle great." Having thus consoled them, He again telleth
them sorrowful things,
Ver. 30. "Hereafter I will not talk with you." Wherefore? "For the
ruler of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me."
By "ruler of this world," He meaneth the devil, calling wicked men also
by the same name. For he ruleth not heaven and earth, since he would have
been subverted, and cast down all things, but he ruleth over those who
give themselves up to him. Wherefore He calleth him, "the ruler of the
darkness of this world," in this place again calling evil deeds, "darkness."
"What then, doth the devil slay Thee?" By no means; "he hath nothing in
Me." "How then do they kill Thee?" Because I will it, and,
Ver. 31. "`That the world may know that I love the Father.'"
"For being not subject," He saith, "to death, nor a debtor to it, I
endure it through My love to the Father." This He saith, that He may again
rouse their souls, and that they may learn that not unwillingly but willingly
He goeth to this thing, and that He doth it despising the devil. It was
not enough for Him to have said, "Yet a little while I am with you" (c.
vii. 33), but He continually handleth this painful subject, (with good
reason,) until He should make it acceptable to them, by weaving along with
it pleasant things. Wherefore at one time He saith, "I go, and I come again";
and, "That where I there ye may be also"; and, "Ye cannot follow Me now,
but afterwards ye shall follow Me"; and, "I go to the Father"; and, "The
Father is greater than I"; and, "Before it come to pass, I have told you";
and, "I do not suffer these things from constraint, but from love for the
Father." So that they might consider, that the action could not be destructive
nor hurtful, if at least He who greatly loved Him, and was greatly loved
by Him, so willed. On this account, while intermingling these pleasant
words, He continually uttered the painful ones also, practicing their minds.
For both the, "remaineth with you" (c. xvi. 7), and, "My departure is expedient
for you," were expressions of One giving comfort. For this reason He spake
by anticipation ten thousand sayings concerning the Spirit, the, "Is in
you," and, "The world cannot receive," and, "He shall bring all things
to your remembrance," and, "Spirit of truth," and, "Holy Spirit," and,
"Comforter," and that "It is expedient for you," in order that they might
not despond, as though there would be none to stand before and help them.
"It is expedient," He saith, showing that It would make them spiritual.
[5.] This at least, we see, was what took place. For they who now trembled
and feared, after they had received the Spirit sprang into the midst of
dangers, and stripped themselves for the contest against steel, and fire,
and wild beasts, and seas, and every kind of punishment; and they, the
unlettered and ignorant, discoursed so boldly as to astonish their hearers.
For the Spirit made them men of iron instead of men of clay, gave them
wings, and allowed them to be cast down by nothing human. For such is that
grace; if it find despondency, it disperses it; if evil desires, it consumes
them; if cowardice, it casts it out, and doth not allow one who has partaken
of it to be afterwards mere man, but as it were removing him to heaven
itself, causes him to image to himself all that is there. (Acts iv. 32,
and ii. 46.) On this account no one said that any of the things that he
possessed was his own, but they continued in prayer, in praise, and in
singleness of heart. For this the Holy Spirit most requireth, for "the
fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace-faith, meekness." (Gal. v. 22, 23.) "And
yet spiritual persons often grieve," saith some one. But that sorrow is
sweeter than joy. Cain was sorrowful, but with the sorrow of the world;
Paul was sorrowful, but with godly sorrow. Everything that is spiritual
brings the greatest gain, just as everything that is worldly the utmost
loss. Let us then draw to us the invincible aid of the Spirit, by keeping
the commandments, and then we shall be nothing inferior to the Angels.
For neither are they therefore of this character, because they are incorporeal,
for were this the case, no incorporeal being would have become wicked,
but the will is in every case the cause of all. Wherefore among incorporeal
beings some have been found worse than men or things irrational, and among
those having bodies some better than the incorporeal. All just men, for
instance, whatever were their righteous deeds, did them while dwelling
on earth, and having bodies. For they dwelt on earth as those who were
pilgrims and strangers; but in heaven, as citizens. Then say not thou either,
"I am clothed with flesh, I cannot get the mastery, nor undertake the toils
which are for the sake of virtue." Do not accuse the Creator. For if the
wearing the flesh make virtue impossible, then the fault is not ours. But
that it does not make it impossible, the band of saints has shown. A nature
of flesh did not prevent Paul from becoming what he was, nor Peter from
receiving the keys of heaven; and Enoch also, having worn flesh, was translated,
and not found So also Elias was caught up with the flesh. Abraham also
with Isaac and his grandson shone brightly, having the flesh; and Joseph
in the flesh struggled against that abandoned woman. But why speak I of
the flesh? For though thou place a chain upon the flesh, no harm is done.
"Though I am bound," saith Paul, yet "the word of God is not bound." (2
Tim. ii. 9.) And why speak I of bonds and chains? Add to these the prison,
and bars, yet neither are these any hindrance to virtue; at least so Paul
hath instructed us. For the bond of the soul is not iron but cowardice,
and the desire of wealth, and the ten thousand passions. These bind us,
though our body be free. "But," saith some one, "these have their origin
from the body." An excuse this, and a false pretense. For had they been
produced from the body, all would have undergone them. For as we cannot
escape weariness, and sleep, and hunger, and thirst, since they belong
to our nature; so too these, if they were of the same kind, would not allow
any one to be exempt from their tyranny; but since many escape them, it
is clear that such things are the faults of a careless soul. Let us then
put a stop to this, and not accuse the body, but subdue it to the soul,
that having it under command, we may enjoy the everlasting good things,
through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
