Matthew Poole and continuators on John 15:22

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin : but now they have no cloak for their sin u.

The[illegible: 1 letter] had not had this particular sin, of not knowing him that sent me: Or they had not had such degrees of sin, as they now have; or they had had more to say in excuse, or for a cover for their sin. Ignorance of the Will of God will not excuse sinners wholly, but it will excuse them in part; and this last seemeth to be the sense of the words by the latter part of the Verse, because it is opposed to an having no cloak nor excuse for their sin. If Christ had not come in his Incarnation, in his Preaching the Gospel, &c. they could not have been guilty of that hatred, and malice which they shewed against him, which was their greatest guilt; and the[illegible: 1 letter] would have had this to say, Lord! we know not what Christ was, as Matth. 25.44. but now saith our Saviour, they have no cloak, no colour, no pretence, I am come, I have revealed my Fathers mind and will to them, yet they will not receive me: no, tho I have done those works before them, which no man ever did, nor could do but by a Divine Power.

Marginal references: Chap. 9 41.; Rom. 1.20.; Or, Excuse.