John 15:22

Because the former Arguments of consolation contain somewhat at which his weak followers might readily offend; As namely, That Christ should be unknown and hated in the world, yea, and so hated, as they his followers should be hated for his sake, Therefore Christ subjoynes other Arguments to encourage them, by obviating all scandal which might be taken at the cause of their suffering, and his being hated in the world. The first argument is taken from the miserable condition of persecutors, which their hating of him did evidence. This is prosecute in three particular aggravations of their sin who did so: In the first whereof (in this verse) is declared. That however their ignorance, v. 21. might seem to plead for them; yet his presence and doctrine did take away all excuses and pretexts; did prove them to hate him out of inexcusable malice; and, did so aggravate their guilt, that it had otherwise been nothing, in respect of what it is now. Whence learn, 1. The consideration of the great sin of persecutors may encourage the godly, and guard their heart under suffering; as being an evidence that God approveth of them and their quarrel, when he is so displeased with these who oppose them; and that they cannot take them to the other side, but they must make God their party; for, this is an Argument of consolation, taken from the aggravation of the sin of persecutors. 2. As the presence and doctrine of Christ in the world, is the greatest of mercies offered unto it; so it is a sad case, when that mercy is by men turned into a plague, and matter of dittay against themselves; as here, his coming, and speaking unto them, was an occasion to render them inexcusable, 3. Albeit all men, even these who live without the written Word, be guilty of sin, both original and actual; yet sins against the Gospel, and of these who hear it, are of so deep a dye, that the sins of the world besides are no sins, in comparison thereof. And that because these sins are against the greatest of mercies, yea, and the remedy of sin, and against great means; Therefore, saith he, If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin. 4. It is a great snare upon sinners, that when they do greatest wrongs, they may have many cloakes of hypocrisie, or pretexts of ignorance, necessity, infirmity, &c to hide from themselves and others the odiousnesse thereof; for, so is imported, that they had some cloke, or pretext of excuse for their sin. 5. Albeit the Lord will graciously consider and pity his own, who plead ignorance, infirmity, or tentation, in particular sailings, providing they be sincere, and flee to the blood of Christ, even for purging away of these failings; Yet the doctrine of the Gospel doth take away all pretence and excuse from wicked sinners, as holding out convincing light that they cannot pretend ignorance, and letting them see a remedy, if they will come to Christ: for, Now, they have no cloake for their sinne. 6. It doth highly agravate sin, when men persist in it after all pretexts are taken from them; for, this made other sins to be no sin in comparison of theirs, that now they have no cloake for their sin, and yet do sin on.