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John

And that they might be sanctified through the truth.

themselves.

14 I have given them

world bath hated them,

SECT. able pleasure; and these [words] of this prayer world, that they might elxxx. I speak thus openly in the hearing of my dis- have my joy fulfilled in ciples, while I as yet am with them in the world, XVII.з that they who now hear me, and those too for whose benefit it may be afterwards recorded, may have my joy, even that holy consolation of which I am the author and support, abundantly 14 fulfilled in them. And it indeed becomes me to be thus solicitous for their comfort and hap- thy word; and the piness; for I have given them thy word, which because they are not of they have faithfully received: and in conse- the word, even as 1 quence of this, though they are indeed the am not of the world. greatest friends and benefactors of mankind, yet the world has ungratefully hated them, and will be sure to persecute them with the utmost violence, because they are not of the same spirit with the world, even as I myself, in whose cause they are engaged, am not of the world, so as to con15 form to it in my temper and conduct. Since therefore for my sake they stand thus exposed to hatred, injury, and oppression, I most affec- but that thou shouldest tionately bear them on my heart before thee, O keep them from the my heavenly Father! yet I do not pray that thou evil. shouldest take them immediately out of the world, bad as it is; since I know the purposes of thy glory, and their own improvement and usefulness, will require their longer continuance in it; but I pray that thou wouldst preserve them from being either corrupted or overwhelmed by the evil which perpetually surrounds them, and that the subtilty and malice of the evil one may never 16 overpower them. For I well know that they will meet with many trials which will bear hard the world, even as I upon them; because (as I have said) they are not of a temper suited to the common sentiments and practice of the world, even as I, their Lord and Master, am not of the world.

17

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,

16 They are not of

am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy

To arm them therefore against so formidable
an attack, and to maintain and cultivate this holy word is truth.
temper in them, I would entreat thee to com-
plete the work that is so happily begun, and to
sanctify them more and more through thy truth":
and as thy word and gospel which they are to

preach

a Sanctify them through thy truth.] I see formed and purified by it.-To sanctify signo reason to conclude, with Mr. Mede, that nifies in general to set apart to any approaan must be put for us Taλn-priate use; and is used with peculiar proQuay, that is, for the service of the gospel. That was indeed the remote end which our Lord had in view; but the more immediate was that their own souls might be trans

priety with reference to a sacrifice: which seems to be the sense in which our Lord applies it to himself in ver. 19. Compare Exod. xiii. 2. xxix. 1, and Lev. xxii. 2.

b That

He prays that all believers might be one in them.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world,even

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preach is the great system of sanctifying truth, SECT. whereby real holiness is to be for ever promoted, clxxx. may these thy servants feel more and more of its John vital energy on their own souls, to qualify them XVII.17 for the office of dispensing it to others. For 18 as thou hast sent me into the world to be the Messenger of this grace, I also have sent them into them into the world. the world on the same errand, to publish and 19 And for their proclaim what they have learnt of me. And 19 sakes I sanctify my it is in some measure for their sakes, as well as might be sanctified for the salvation of all my people, that I now through the truth,

so have I also sent

self, that they also

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but

for them also which

21 That they all may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee that they that the world may be lieve that thou hast

also may be one in us:

sanctify myself, or set myself apart as an offering
holy to thee; that they also, taught by my exam-
ple, and animated by my dying love, may be
truly sanctified through the truth, and completely
fitted for their important office.

And in presenting these petitions for them, 20 I am not chiefly influenced by the personal atshall believe on me tachment of private friendship, but I consider through their word; them under their public character; nor do I pray for these my apostles alone, or offer myself merely for them; but for them also who shall hereafter believe on me through their word, whether it be preached or written; even for those who are yet unborn, and on whom the ends of the world shall come: That, being animated by 21 the same Spirit, and inspired with the same love, they all may be truly and intimately one, as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee; that they also may in friendship and happiness be one in us, united to us and to each other, and deriving from us the richest supplies of Divine consolation; that so the world, seeing their benevolence, and charity, and holy joy, may believe that thou hast sent me, and that a religion productive of such amiable fruits is indeed of Divine original. And the glory which, by 22 the coven nt of redemption, thou gavest unto me, I have, as authorized by thee, given unto them, by my faithful and invariable promise, as the great encouragement of their faith and hope ; that they may all be one, even as we are

sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me, that they may be one,

I have given them:

even as we are one:

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And that they might bewith him to behold his glory.

23 I in them, and

hast loved them,

as

SECT. one, and, in consequence of such a blessed clxxx. union, may dwell together with us, and with John each other, in eternal felicity: Thus therefore XVII.23 may it ever be, I dwelling in them, and thou thou in me, that they may be made perfect in me; that they who now enjoy the first be- in one, and that the ginnings of this happy state, may at length be world may know that made completely perfect in one, and be united thou hast sent me, and in the most cordial love, without any jarring thou hast loved me. affection, or the least mixture of sorrow and complaint; that so the clearest demonstration may be given of the efficacy of thy grace, and that the world by this means may know that thou hast sent me, while they perceive them under my forming care to become visibly and justly the favourites of heaven; and it may thus be manifest to all that thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me, and hast extended this mercy to them for my sake.

24

25

24 Father, I will

am; that they may

me before the founda tion of the world.

But no improvements, either in holiness or that they also whom comfort, in this world, can completely answer thou hast given me, the purposes of my love, and the promises of my be with me where I grace to them; and therefore, O my Father, am my glory permit me to say, that I will, that is, I importu- which thou hast given nately ask it, and, in consequence of the mutual me: for thou lovedst transactions between us, I am bold to claim it as matter of right, that they also whom thou hast graciously given me, even all thy chosen and sanctified people, may at length be with me where I am, in that heavenly world to which I am now removing; that they may there behold and contemplate, with everlasting delightful admiration, my glory which thou hast by thy sure appointment given me, and art just ready to bestow; for thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world, and didst then decree for me that mediatorial kingdom with which thou art now about to invest me.

25 O righteous Fa

And herein thou wilt not only be merciful, ther, the world hath but faithful and just too, as it is congruous to not known thee; but those essential perfections of thy nature, O most I have known thee, righteous Father, thus to distinguish me and my followers with a peculiar glory; for though the that thou hast sent me world has not known or acknowledged thee, yet

given them, &c.] As it was plainly in his
Father's name, and by the authority of his
commission, that Christ had given them
this promise, which with a lively faith they
had affectionately embraced so this was
one of the strongest arguments that could
be urged for the complete accomplishment
of it.

I have

and these bave known

d My glory which thou hast given me.] This may express the lustre and beauty of Christ's personal appearance, the adoration paid him by the inhabitants of the upper world, and the administration of the affairs of that providential kingdom, which it is his high office to preside over.

Though the world has not known thee.]
Thus

Reflections on Christ's prayer for his people.

26 And I have declared unto them thy clare it that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

name, and will de

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John

I have known thee, and have accordingly direct- SECT.
ed the whole of my ministrations to thy glory;
and these my servants to have known that thou
hast sent me, and will courageously assert it, XVII.25
even at the expence of their very lives. And I 26
have declared thy name to them, and will, as I
have opportunity, farther go on to declare [it],
both by my word, and by my spirit; that their
graces and services may be more eminent; that
even the love with which thou hast loved me may be
dwelling in them; and that I also may take up
my constant residence in them by my spiritual
presence, when my bodily presence is removed,
as it will quickly be.

IMPROVEMENT.

'We have indeed perpetual reason of thankfulness that our gra- Ver 13 cious Redeemer spake these words in the world, and recalled them thus exactly to the memory of his beloved disciple so many years after, that we in the most distant ages of his church might, by reviewing them, have his joy fulfilled in us. Let us with pleasure recollect that those petitions which Christ offered for his apostles were expressly declared not to be intended for them alone; but so far as circumstances should agree, for all that should believe on 20 29 him through their word, and therefore for us, if we are real, and not merely nominal believers. For us doth he still pray, not that God would immediately take us out of the world, though for his 15 sake we may be continually hated and injured in it; but that he would keep us from the evil to which we are here exposed. For our sakes did he also sanctify himself as a propitiation for our sins, that we also might be sanctified through the truth; for he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. (Tit. ii. 14.)

14

May these wise and gracious purposes of his love be fulfilled in us! May we be one with each other, and with him! May that 21 piety and charity appear in the whole series of our temper and behaviour, which may evidently shew the force of our religion, and reflect a conspicuous honour upon the great Founder of it! And may all concur to train us up for that complete felicity above, in which all the purposes of his love centre! It is the declared will of Christ, and let us never forget it, that his people should be with

That xa here signifies Though, the connection plainly demonstrates; and Elsner produces many instances of it: (Observ. Vol. 1. 334.) To which the following in

U

stances from the sacred writers may be
added, among many others, Luke xviii.
7. John xiv. 30. Acts vii. 5. and Heb.
iii. 9.
· A

u 2

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As Christ is going with his disciples to the garden,

SECT. with him where he is, that they may behold his glory which the Faclxxx. ther has given him. And there is apparent congruity, as well as Ver2 mercy in the appointment: that where he is, there also should his servants and members be. The blessed angels do undoubtedly behold the glory of Christ with perpetual congratulation and delight; but how much more reason shall we have to rejoice and triumph in it when we consider it as the glory of one in our own nature, the glory of our Redeemer and our Friend, and the pledge and security of our own everlasting happiness! Let us often be lifting up the eyes of our faith towards it, and let us breathe after heaven in this view; in the mean time, with all due zeal, and love, and duty, acknowledging the Father and the Son, that the 25 joys of heaven may be anticipated in our souls, while the love of God is shed abroad there by his Spirit, which is given unto us, even something of that love wherewith he has loved Jesus our incarnate Head.

26

clxxxi.

John

SECT. CLXXXI.

Jesus retires from the guest-chamber to the garden of Gethsemane,
and in his way thither renews the caution which he had given to
Peter and the rest of the apostles. Mat. XXVI. 31-35. Mark
XIV. 27.-31.
Luke XXII. 39. John XVIII. 1.

JOHN XVIII. 1.

JOHN XVIII. 1.

had spoken these

into the which he en

SECT AND when Jesus had spoken these words that [AND] when Jesus are mentioned above, and had concluded words, he [came out, his discourse with this excellent prayer to his and [went torth [as XVIII. heavenly Father, he came out from the guest his disciples, over the he was wont,] with chamber, where he had celebrated the passover, brook Cedron, [to the and, according to his usual custom every night, mount of Olives,] went forth with his disciples out of the city; and where was a garden, crossing over the brook Kedron which lay on the tered, and his disciples east side of Jerusalem, he came to the foot of the [also followed him.] mount of Olives, where there was a garden be- [LUKE XXII. 39.] longingto one of his friends, into which he had often been used to retire; and though he knew his enemies would come this very night to seize him there, yet he entered into it, and his disciples also followed him.

a A garden, into which he entered.] Christ probably retired into such a private place, not only for the advantage of secret devotion, which perhaps he might not so well have enjoyed in the city at so public a time, but also that the people might not be alarmed at his being apprehended, nor,

Then,

in the first sallies of their zeal and rage, attempt to rescue him in a tumultuous manner.-Kedron was, as its name significs, a dark shady vale between Jerusalem and the mount of Olives, through which a little brook ran which took its name from the place. (Compare 2 Sam. xv. 23.)

He

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