John 16:2

In the second place, he more particularly expresseth what sufferings they were to meet with, not naming every particular kinde of suffering, but instancing in two of the saddest kindes thereof, which may comprehend all the rest, as inferiour thereunto. One, of spiritual censures of the Church, of which excommunication is the saddest: The other, of bodily sufferings, whereof a violent death is the sharpest. Both these he warnes them of, foretelling that they may look for excommunication from the Jewes as a Church (of which see Chap. 9.34. and 12.42.) and for violent deaths from them or others, in a tumultuous way, or from civil authority abusing their powers. Yea, and that they may look, in their saddest sufferings, to be laden with reproach, their persecutors, through blind zeal thinking it acceptable service, and a sweet smelling sacrifice to God, to put them to death. In speaking of excommunication and death, he subjoynes death to the former, as sadder then it; Not because it is simply sadder to dye, then to be cut off from the society and priviledges of Gods people (if their excommunication had been such) But because in this case their excommunication was unjust, and therefore the lesse to be regarded. And albeit they did suffer death also unjustly; Yet it was more sharp, in respect that death is naturally bitter to men, and because that by death, they were cut off from doing service to their Master, whereas they might go on in their work, notwithstanding the sentence of excommunication. For it is further to be considered, That (beside that this sentence was eminently unjust, in regard of the cause, being for preaching in the name of Christ) the Jewes after their rejecting of the offer of Christ, that was first to be made unto them, Acts 13.46. did become no Church, and so had no power of Church-censures, and consequently, any they inflicted were nul in themselves. And however they had continued a Church, yet the Apostles being general officers, they were above the reach of any particular Church power. And consequently, however such a sentence might now affright them to think of it when they were rude and ignorant, and afterward it might be some tryal, in so far as it did render them odious and suspected to them who could not discern aright, and so put some stop to the successe of their Ministry: Yet the sentence being null, they might warrantably go on; Yet not at all leading a preparative to any particular Ministers, to contemne the sentences of a true Church; upon their own alleagance of the corruption thereof, and of the injustice of the cause of the sentence, as may be cleared from what is said. Doct. 1. As persecution and the crosse do usually accompany Christ and his followers; So general resolutions for afflictions are not of any worth, unlesse men also lay their accompt, and resolve on what in particular they may meet with; Therefore doth he warne them particularly what they may expect, that they may accordingly be resolved. 2. Such followers of Christ as would be armed indeed, ought to resolve that they will meet with, not one, but many trials, of all sorts; and that they may be essayed with the utmost violence, that mens malice can invent, or their power in Church or State can reach, either in an orderly, or tumultuous way; Therefore doth forewarne them of variety of particular trials, and that in the greatest extremity. 3. A fixed resolution, through the power of Christs grace, may carry a Saint through the greatest difficulties he can meet with; for, all these are propounded as things they may get digested in their resolutions. See Act. 20.23, 24. 4. Followers of Christ may lay their account, not only to be persecuted by Pagans, or openly prophane men; but even by Church-members, yea, and Church-guides or they who pretend to be so; for, whereas he had foretold them of the worlds hatred, Chap. 15.18. Now he explains it, that even they who have power to put out of Synagogues, would be against them. 5. Albeit a Church censure, unjustly inflicted, and by them who are no Church, or have no such power, be of no weight before God, yet it is an afliction, requiring much resolution in the sufferers, that persecutors account themselves not only a Church, but the only true Church; yea, and are very eminent in power in it; and do account Christs suffering followers, not worthy to have roome in it, but that they ought to be excommunicate, for in this respect he propounds it as a tryal to be digested by them, They shall put you out of the Synagogues. 6. When followers of Christ have tasted of lesser sufferings, they are not to sit down there, but to lay their account that they may meet yet with sadder, and by bearing lesser troubles, they are to prepare themselves for greater; Therefore doth he subjoyne a violent death, as a trial to be expected after they are excommunicate. 7. The consideration of sadder sufferings which Saints have endured, and our selves may meet with, ought to sweeten lesser trials, and make us digest them with the greater moderation, and will do so, if we be preparing as we ought, for these sad things; Therefore doth he teach them to swallow up the thoughts of excommunication, with apprehending what sadder things they should make ready for. They shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea (or, but) the time cometh that they shall kill you. 8. As no extremity of torment can justifie men in denying Christ and his truth, nor will prevail with them who love and cleave to him, to do so; So followers of Christ ought to prescribe no measure of sufferings for themselves to endure, lesse then a violent death it selfe, for Christs cause: Therefore doth he require that they have a resolution even to be killed in this quarrel, whosoever killeth you. 9. Death it selfe were easie to be digested by Saints if so be the quarrel and their integrity were clearly owned; But they must resolve to have shame and ignominy accompanying their crosse, to be buried under ignominy and calumnies, as if they were malefactours, and their cause to be traduced, as unjust, odious, seditious, &c. for, this is the bitter sting of their suffering, that persecutors pretend they are for God, even in persecuting them, whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service. See Heb. 12.2. 10. Corrupt and erroneous men may have much blinde zeal in their false way, which is very furious and violent, and the cause of much cruelty and blood-shed against true professours; for, from this zeal doth their cruelty flow, whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service. 11. It will never justifie mens actions, that they have good intentions in them, or do follow their blinded conscience and zeal; But they may grossely erre under these pretexts, unlesse what they do be warranted by the Word; for, they had all these pretences who killed the Apostles, who so ever killeth you, will think that he doth God service.