without uniformity, as between godly Episcopalians and godly Presbyterians. Uniformity no doubt may be a great help to unity, but it is not unity itself.
The unity which our Lord prays about here is that true, sub- stantial, spiritual, internal, heart unity, which undoubtedly ex- ists among all members of Christ of every Church and denom- ination. It is the unity which results from one Holy Ghost having made the members of Christ what they are. It is unity which makes them feel more of one mind with one another than with mere professors of their own party. It is unity which is the truest freemasonry on earth. It is unity which shakes the world, and obliges it to confess the truth of Chris- tianity.— For the continued maintenance of this unity, and an increase of it, our Lord seems to me in this prayer specially to pray. And we need not wonder. The divisions of mere world- ly professors are of little moment. The divisions of real true believers are the greatest possible injury to the cause of the Gospel. If all believers at this moment were of one mind, and would work together, they might soon turn the world upside down. No wonder the Lord prayed for unity.
24. — [^Father, lwill...my glory. ..given Me] In this verse our Lord names the fourth and last thing which He desires for His dis- ciples in His prayer. After preservation, sanctification, and unity, comes participation of His glory. He asks that they may be " with Him " in the glory yet to be revealed, and " be- hold," share, and take part in it.
" I will " is a remarkable phrase, though it must not be pressed and strained too far. (See Mark vi. 25 ; x. 35.) The daughter of Herodias asking the head of John the Baptist, said, " I will that thou give me." It may be nothing more than the expression of a strong " wish." Yet it is the wish of Him who is one with the Father, and only wills what the Father wills. It is probably used to assure the mind of the disciples. " I will," and it will be done.
Hutcheson says, " ' I will ' doth not import any imperious commanding way, repugnant to His former way of humble supplication ; but it only imports that in this His supplication, He was making His last will and Testament, and leaving His legacies, which He was sure would be effectual, being pur- chased by His merits, and prosecuted by His affectionate and earnest requests and intercessions."
Traill remarks, " Christians, behold the amazing difference betwixt Christ's way of praying against His own hell (if I may so call it) and His praying for our heaven ! When praying for Himself, it is, ' Father, if it be Thy will, let this cup pas» from Me.' But when Christ is praying for His people's heav- en, it is, ' Father, I will that they may be with Me.' "