it was answered him, Flesh and blood hath not revealed this thing unto thee, but my heavenly father. Too be short, we know well that there is nothing but evil in us, and that the good which God giveth us, is by his holy spirit, and that all things are committed too our Lord Jesus Christ, and that it belongeth too him too deal forth his doctrine unto us, according as it is told us, that it is his office, and that the father hath given him special commission too deal his gifts unto us. And in deed it is a cause also why the Prophet Isaiah saith, that Gods spirit rested upon him, namely too show that if we be separated from him, we must needs perish as it were through drought and emptiness. But howsoever the case stand, we must always come back too his point, that the holy Ghost was then poured out upon all the faithful, when our Lord Jesus Christ was exalted, as it is said in the other text. So then let us mark, that when our Lord Jesus Christ left the world, and was received up into his heavenly glory: it was too the end that we should thenceforth enjoy his goods so much the better. And that is also the cause why he said too his disciples,1 it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I tarried still with you, the holy Ghost should not come. It is true that our Lord Jesus Christ could well ⟨image 186⟩have given them his spirit while he was conversant with them after a visible fashion, as well as he did when he was gone out of the world. But we must not dispute of this matter after our own fancy:2 we must understand that our Lord Jesus was humbled for a time, yea and utterly emptied, as we shall see more at length again hereafter: but yet was he received into his heavenly glory, too the intent he should have sovereign dominion, and be so exalted, as all creatures might stoop too him. Thus ye see how our Lord Jesus Christs will was to absent himself from us in his body, too the intent we might the better feel his presence through his dwelling in us by his holy spirit. And that is the thing which S. Paul treateth of as now, when he sayeth, that for the same cause, it is said, that he went up, and gave his gifts too men, after he had led away his enemies prisoners.
it was answered him, Flesh and blud hath not reueled this thing vntoo thee, but my heauenly father. Too bee short, wee knowe well that there is nothing but euill in vs, and that the good which God giueth vs, is by his holie spirit, and that all things are committed too our Lord Iesus Christ, and that it belongeth too him too deale foorth his doctrine vnto vs, according as it is told vs, that it is his office, and that the father hath giuen him speciall commission too deale his gifts vntoo vs. And in deede it is a cause also why the Prophet Esay sayth, that Gods spirit rested vppon him, namely too shewe that if wee bee separated from him, wee must needs perish as it were through drought and emptinesse. But howsoeuer the cace stand, wee must alwayes come backe too his poynt, that the holie Ghost was then powred out vppon all the faythfull, when our Lord Iesus Christ was exalted, as it is sayd in the other text. So then let vs mark, that when our Lord Iesus Christ left the world, and was receyued vp intoo his heauenly glorie: it was too the end that wee should thenfforth inioy his goods so much the better. And that is also the cause why he sayd too his disciples,1 it is erpedient for you that I go away, for if I taried still with you, the holie Ghost should not come. It is trew that our Lord Iesus Christ could well ⟨image 186⟩haue giuen them his spirit whyle he was conuersant with them after a visible fashyon, as well as he did when he was gone out of the world. But we must not dispute of this matter after our own fancie:2 we must vnderstand that our Lord Iesus was humbled for a time, yea and vtterly emptyed, as wee shall see more at length agein hereafter: but yit was he receyued intoo his heauenly glory, too the intent he should haue souerein dominion, and bee so exalted, as all creatures myght stoope too him. Thus yee see how our Lord Iesus Christes will was to absent himselfe from vs in his body, too the intent wee myght the better feele his presence through his dwelling in vs by his holy spirit. And that is the thing which S. Paule treateth of as now, when he sayeth, that for the same cause, it is sayd, that he vvent vp, and gaue his gifts too men, after he had led away his enemies prisoners.
- 1John. 16. a. 7.Iohn. 16. a. 7.
- 2Phil. 2. a. •.
