Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/337

 of particular believers at all. It manifestly refers to the Jewish nation; and perhaps, to that only. But if it be applicable to particular persons, the plain meaning of it is this, I will draw him by love: I will next convince him of sin, and then comfort him by my pardoning mercy.

10. A third scripture from whence the same inference has been drawn, is that above recited, ''Ye now have sorrow: but I will see you again; and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you''. This has been supposed to imply, That God would, after a time withdraw himself from all believers: and that they could not, till after they had thus sorrowed, have the joy which no man could take from them. But the whole context shews, that our Lord is here speaking personally to the apostles, and no others; and that he is speaking concerning those particular events, his own death and resurrection. ''A little while, says he, and ye shall not see me'', namely, whilst I am in the grave: ''And again, a little while, and ye shall see me'', when I am risen from the dead. ''Ye will weep and lament, and the world will rejoice: but your sorrow shall be turned into joy—Ye now have sorrow'', because I am about to be taken from your head. ''But I will see you again, after my resurrection, and your heart shall rejoice''. And your joy which I will then give you, no man taketh from you. All this we know was literally fulfilled, in the