tune for heaven if we are to enjoy it. There must be a moral " meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light," as well as a title. Christ's blood alone can give us a title to enter the inheritance. Sanctification must give us a capacity to enjoy it.
Who, in the face of such facts as these, need wonder that increased sanctification should be the first thing that Jesus asks for His people? Who that is really taught of God can fail to know that holiness is happi- ness, and that those who walk with God most closely, are always those who walk with Him most comfortably ? Let no man deceive us with vain words in this matter. He who despises holiness and neglects good works, un- der the vain pretence of giving honor to justification by faith, shows plainly that he has not the mind of Christ.
We should mark, secondly, in these verses, how Jesus prays for the uiiity and oneness of His people, "That they all may be one, — that they may be one in Us, — that they may be one even as We are one," — and " that so the world may believe and know that Thou hast sent Me," — this is a leading petition in our Lord's prayer to His Father.
We can ask no stronger proof of the value of unity among Christians, and the sinfulness of division, than the great prominence which our Master assigns to the subject in this passage. How painfully true it is that in every age divisions have been the scandal of religion, and the weakness of the Church of Christ ! How often Christians have wasted their strength in contending against their brethren, instead of contending against sin and the devil ! How repeatedly they have given occa- sion to the world to say, " When you have settled your own internal differences we will believe ! " All this, we need not doubt, the Lord Jesus foresaw with prophetic
JOHN, CHAP. xvn. 297
eye. It was the forebight of it which made Him pray so earnestly that believers might be " one."
Let the recollection of this part of Christ's prayer abide in our minds, and exercise a constant influence on our behavior as Christians. Let no man think lightly, as some men seem to do, of schism, or count it a small thing to multiply sects, parties, and denominations. These very things, we may depend, only help the devil and damage the cause of Christ. "If it be possible, as much as lieth in us, let us live peaceably with all men." (Rom. xii. 18.) Let us bear much, concede much, and put up with much, before we plunge into secessions and separations. They are movements in which there is often much false fire. Let rabid zealots who delight in sect-making and party-forming, rail at us and denounce us if they please. We need not mind them. So long as we have Christ and a good conscience, let us patient- ly hold on our way, follow the things that make for peace, and strive to promote unity. It was not for nothing that our Lord prayed so fervently that Ilis peo- ple might be " one."
We should mark, finally, in these verses, how Jesus prays that Ills people may at last he with Ilirn and he- hold His glory. " I will," He says, " that those whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am : that they may behold my glory."
This is a singularly beautiful and touching conclu- sion to our Lord's remarkable prayer. We may well believe that it was meant to cheer and comfort those who heard it, and to strengthen them for the parting scene which was fast drawing near. But for all who read it even now, this part of his prayer is full of sweet and unspeakable comfort.
We do not see Christ now. We read of Him, hear of Him, believe in Him, and rest our souls in His finish-