John 16:11

The last thing whereof the Spirit convinceth the world, is, judgement, in the understanding whereof, we will be much helped by what is said on Chap. 12. 31. For judgement in Scripture, in relation to the object, on things about which it is employed, doth oft-times signifie, the exercise of power and authority to dispose of them, and put and keep them in order. And in relation to the subject, and person in whom it is, it signifieth, the having of authority. So to order these things, Here the interpretation may be fetched from Acts 2.36. that Jesus in his exaltation is made both Lord and Christ, and here the Spirit convinceth the world that he is both; That he is Christ, by convincing them of his righteousnesse, v. 10. and, That he is Lord, by convincing them of judgement, and that all power and judgement is committed to him; which is evidenced and proven by his judging Satan the prince of the world, over whom he triumphed in the Crosse, Col. 2.15. and made his purchase and conquest evident by his casting out of Satan, from these possessed by him, his silencing Satans Oracles in the world, and casting him out of these who receive the Gospel, and are converted, destroying the Kingdome of wickednesse and darkness, and translating them into his own Kingdome, and into a state of holinesse and light. This the general scope of this purpose, that the world shall be convinced of Christs dominion, by his seen power over Satan, under which (among many other things) is to be comprehended, a judgement of condemnation of all the wicked in Satan their Prince and head; and a judgement of absolution, and vindication into liberty and freedome from Satans slavery, in favours of these who flee to him, and in whom the work and Kingdome of Satan is destroyed. Doct. 1. Satan is a Prince, who, by his tyrannical usurpation, and by a voluntary consent of deluded souls, doth get and exercise a tyrannical government over the children of men, so long as they are without Christ; for, he is the Prince of this world 2. Christ by his death did condemne and overcome Satan, and hath made his conquest evident to the conviction of men, by the effects and operations of his Spirit, in doctrine condemning Satan and his work in men, casting him out miraculously, and destroying his work in beleevers; for, he supposeth it as a clear and undeniably truth, that the Prince of this world is judged. 3. By this judging of Satan, the Spirit hath made it undeniably evident, that Christ hath all authority and power to preserve his Church, triumph over his enemies, and order all the confusions that Satan and sin have occasioned in the world; for, whatever were their thoughts of Christ, yet when it shall be evident that Christ took Satan, the great disturber, to task, and foiled him, it cannot in reason be denied, but he is Soveraigne Judge and Lord, having all power in his hand, and all his adversaries under his feet: He shall convince the world of judgement, because the Prince of this world is judged. 4. By the power of Christ, evidenced in condemning and triumphing over Satan, it is made apparent to all the wicked, that their condemnation is already passed, in the judgement and condemnation of Satan their head and Prince, and to all the godly who flee to Christ, that they are absolved and freed from the tyranny and Kingdome of Satan, in Christ the conquerour; for, thus this judgement may be branched out on both hands, as proving the condemnation of the wicked, and absolution of the beleever, because the Prince of this world is judged. 5 Such as are savingly convinced of Christs righteousnesse, ought also to be convinced of their absolution and deliverance from Satan thereby, and to feele the effects of Christs dominion, in his daily subduing of Satan within them, and it will be their comfort to finde this. For, so much is imported in reference to the Elect, as this is subjoyned to the former particulars. That not only, having fled to Christ for righteousnesse, who hath given visible evidences of his dominion over Satan; they may be comforted in their deliverance from such a Tyrant. But that, having found righteousnesse in Christ to cover their guilt, v. 10. the next work of the Spirit will be, to convince them of Christs authority to rule and that not so much by any outward, or common effects without them, as by his destroying of Satan and his Kingdome within them. For upon the justification of beleevers, the Spirit evidenceth Christs getting a throne in their heart, to vindicate them from the slavery of corruption, by casting down Satan from his dominion and power over them, and convinceth them of judgement, and freedome from slavery thereby, because the Prince of this world is judged. And where conviction in this particular is not, it brings conviction of righteousnesse in question.