Sermon XCIV.
[CXLIV. Ben.]
On the same words of the Gospel, John xvi. 8, “He will convict the world in respect of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgement.”
1. When our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was speaking at length of the coming of the
Holy Ghost, He said among the rest, “He shall convince the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment.”4261 Nor when He had said this, did He pass on to another subject; but
vouchsafed to convey a somewhat more explicit notice of this same truth. “Of sin,” said He,
“because they believed not on Me. Of righteousness, because I go to the Father. Of judgment,
because the prince of this world hath been judged already.”4262 There arises therefore
within us a desire of understanding, why as if it were men’s only sin, not to believe on Christ,
He said it of this alone, that the Holy Ghost should convince the world; but if it is plain that
besides this unbelief there are manifold other sins of men, why of this alone should the Holy
Ghost convince the world? Is it because all sins are by unbelief retained, by faith remitted;
that therefore God imputeth this one above all the rest, by which it comes to pass that the
rest are not loosed, so long as proud man believes not in an Humbled God? For so it is
written; “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”4263 Now this grace
of God is a gift of God. But the greatest gift is the Holy Ghost Himself; and therefore is it
called grace. For forasmuch “as all had sinned, and needed the glory of God; because by one
man sin entered into the world, and death by his sin in whom all have sinned;”4264 therefore
is it grace because given gratuitously. And therefore is it given gratuitously, because it is not
rendered as a reward after a strict scrutiny of deserts, but given as a gift after the pardon of
sins.
2. Therefore of sin are unbelievers, that is, the lovers of the world, convinced; for they
are signified by the name of the world. For when it is said, “He will convince the world of
sin;” it is of none other sin than that they have not believed on Christ. For if this sin exist
not, no sins will remain, because when the just man lives by faith, all are loosed. Now the
difference is great as to whether one believe that Jesus is Christ, or whether he believe on
Christ. For that Jesus is Christ even the devils believed, and yet the devils believed not on
Christ. For he believeth on Christ, who both hopeth in Christ and loveth Christ. For if he
have faith without hope and love, he believeth that Christ is, but he doth not believe on
Christ. Whoso then believeth on Christ, by believing on Christ, Christ cometh unto him,
4261 John xvi. 8.
4262 John xvi. 9–11.
4263 Prov. iii. 34; Jas. iv. 6.
4264 Rom. iii. 23, v. 12.
On the same words of the Gospel, John xvi. 8, ‘He will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.’
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On the same words of the Gospel, John xvi. 8, ‘He will convict the world…