John 16:4

The next lenitive and encouragement (in the beginning of this verse) is, that this prediction should be useful and comfortable to remember it, when it came to be accomplished. Whence learn, 1. As, much is heard by Gods people, whereof they reap little profit, till affliction bring them to remember it; so, in particular, afflictions will bring the doctrine of the crosse to remembrance; for, when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you. 2. It is most necessary, that Gods people be forewarned, in peaceable times, of approaching trouble; if not for any present use they get of it, yet because of what it may produce afterward; for, These things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember. 3. However predictions of trouble by Christ may be ready to sadden the hearts of Saints: yet the prediction being compared with the event, and the remembrance thereof when it comes to passe, is very comfortable: The prediction thereof before hand, serving to acquaint us therewith before it come, that we may be disposed for it, by a voluntary resolution, and patience: serving also to prove him to be the Omniscient God, and that he hath a providence in our troubles, and is not an idle spectatour thereof; And the certainty of his predictions, being verified in the matter of trials, may assure us of the certainty of what he foretels concerning our deliverance, Zech. 8.14, 15. Therefore is this given them as an encouragement; But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

In the fourth and last place (in the end of the verse) Christ having told the usefulnesse of foretelling this now, doth obviate an objection, and give a reason why he gave warning no sooner. Namely, because he was with them, and so, as they were tender and weak, needing his bodily presence; so, he was the great Butt of mens malice in that time, and they lurked safely under his shadow. Albeit Christ had formerly inculcate, that disciples behoved to take up their crosse, & had told them much of their hard lots, when he gave them their first Commission, Matth. 10. yet he saith, These things I said not to you at the beginning. Not only because they were a while with him, even before he had said so much to them, and before they were called to the Apostleship; nor yet only because he gave them now, v. 2. a more distinct and particular intimation of the kinde and degrees of their suffering, then at any time formerly. But, chiefly, what he formerly foretold at a distance, he now foretels as things they were shortly after his removal to be essayed with. Doct. 1. Christ is a prudent and tender guider of his followers, and knoweth the fit seasons of tender usage, of general intimations of troubles at distance, of putting them in minde to make for approaching trouble, and of laying the crosse actually on; for, so much is imported, in his not telling his disciples at the first, what he now tell them; and they afterward met with. 2. His not telling his disciples these things at the beginning, because he was with them, may serve to teach us, in all ages. 1. Christ is so tender of his followers weaknesse, that he will not put them to hard essayes till they be confirmed, and trained, and fitted for them; Therefore did he at first stay with them as a Tutour and Safeguard, and trained them up with seeing sufferings endured in his person, till they themselves were confirmed; See Matth. 9.16, 17. so that when Christ puts Saints to trials, they may reckon they are fitted for them, unlesse they have neglected the opportunity, or do for present cast away their confidence. 2. Christs presence is the only sweet shelter and safeguard against troubles and stormes; for, as he gave them an easie life while he was with them, Mat. 9.15. so, in all cases, his spiritual presence will arme sufficiently against trouble, if not to prevent it, yet to take the sting out of it. 3. It may encourage Saints in their sufferings, that Christ is the great object of the persecutors malice, and they for his sake. So that if they could reach him, they would not care for them; for, so much appeareth, in that while he was with them, they had no present use for the doctrine of sufferings, as any way like to fall on them. Doct. 3. When Christ hath trained his people, till their strength grow up, they may expect that after his sweet presence and sensible consolations, they will meet with a storme; for, now he tells them of that as near approaching, which he said not at the beginning. 4. Saints, after long sparing, may expect their trials will come thick and threefold upon them, and that their being under one trial will not be a shelter to hide them from another; for, now he is not to be with them, which was a trial sad enough, and they are to make for other sad sufferings, at the same time. 5. The Lord may so order, as to send afflictions on his people, when they seem to be worse provided for them, and yet they shall be better borne through, then if it had been otherwise; for, it might seem very unseasonable to them, to tryst their trials with the time when they should want his bodily presence, and yet he made them in a better condition, when deprived of his bodily presence, and having trials, then when enjoying it and wanting trials; as the event did prove.