the most wonderful prayer that was ever prayed on earth, — the last Lord's prayer after the first Lord's Sup- per. They contain -three most important petitions which our Lord ofiered up in behalf of His disciples. On these three petitions let us fix our attention. Pass- ing by all other things in the passage, let us look steadi- ly at these three points.
We should mark, first, how Jesus prays that His peo- ple may he sanctified. "Sanctify them," He says, " through thy truth : Thy word is truth."
We need not doubt that, in this place at any rate, the word " sanctify " means '* make holy." It is a prayer that the Father would make His people more holy, more spiritual, more pure, more saintly in thought and word . and deed, in life and character. Grace had done some- thing for the disciples already, — called, converted, re- newed, and changed them. The great Head of the Church prays that the work of grace may be carried higher and further, and that His people may be more thoroughly sanctified and made holy in body, soul, and spirit, — in fact more like Himself.
Surely we need not say much to show the matchless wisdom of this prayer. More holiness is the very thing to be desired for all servants of Christ. Holy living is the great proof of the reality of Christianity. Men may refuse to see <-he truth of our arguments, but they cannot evade the evidence of a godly life. Such a life adorns religion and makes it beautiful, and sometimes wins those who are not " won by the Word." Holy living trains Christians for heaven. The nearer we live to God while we live, the more ready shall we be to dwell for ever in His presence when we die. Our entrance into heaven will be entirely by grace, and not of works ; but heaven itself would be no heaven to us if we entered it with an unsanctified character. Our hearts must be in