[1.] Ae first, that it is the great dignity and happiness of the elect, that they are, from eternity, given to Christ in the covenant of redemp- tion, as the reward of his sufferings, to come to him in due time ; and that they are given to him in trust, and that he must be accountable for them, as being given by the Father to him, Ps. xxiv. 1. They were the Father's first, not only by the right of creation, but by parti- cular election also ; and being thus the Father's, they are given to Christ from eternity, to be redeemed by him, and as the reward of his sufferings. Again, such as are elected and given to Christ, will cer- tainly, in due time, come to him. Their being given from eternity, produceth their being given and coming in time ; for God is faithful, who will not frustrate Christ of what he hath purchased ; and the power that draweth them is invincible and irresistible ; therefore, saith he, ' All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me.' Again, Christ in entertaining them that come to him is not only led thereunto by his own mercy, and bounty, and love towards them as the reward of ^ John vi. 37-40. Here you have Christ's commission to save the elect, &c.
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his sufferings, but doth also stand obliged thereunto by virtue of a commission and trust laid upon him by the Father, and accepted and undertaken by him ; therefore doth he mention ' the will of him that sent me/ as a reason of his fidelity in this matter. Fm-ther, from ver. 39, we may observe that the gospel contains an extract of the deep counsels of God, and of the eternal transactions betwixt the Father and the Son concerning lost man, so far as is for our good ; for he brings out and reads in the gospel his very commission, and some articles of the covenant, passed betwixt the Father and him. Again, the first fountain and rise of the salvation of any of lost mankind, is in the absolute and sovereign will and pleasure of God; for here he mentions the will of him that sent him, as the first original of all ; from whence their giving to Christ, their coming and safety, do flow. Again, these, whose salvation the Father willeth, are given over to Christ in his eternal purpose, to be brought to him in due time ; for so it is here held out. Again, such as are given to Christ by the Father, and do in time come to him, are put in his keeping, and he hath a care of them, not to lose the least of them, ' For this is the will of him that sent me, that of all he hath given me, I should lose no- thing,' John X. 28, 29 ; wherein the Father doth so commit the trust to him, as that he still keeps them in his own hand also. Again, Christ's charge and care of these that are given to him, extends even to the very day of their resurrection, that there he may make a good account of them, when all perils and hazards are now over, and that he may not so much as lose their dust, but gather it together again, and raise it up in glory, to be a proof of his fidelity ; for, saith he, ' I should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day;' and so death and dissolution proves no loss.
[2.] Again, from ver. 40, we may observe, that such as are given to Christ, to be under his charge, and to participate of his henejits, are draivn to believe on him : and it is the Father's will, and a part of the transaction betioixt him and his Son, that faith be the way to partake of these benefits, and not the fulfilling of the impossible condition of the ivoi-ks of the law ; for they who are given to Christ, are expounded to be they who believe on him ; and it is the Father's will that such partake of these benefits here mentioned, as of the rest of his purchase. Albeit mortification, holiness, &c., do prepare for the possession of these benefits, and do evidence a right thereunto, and the begun pos- session thereof ; yet it is only faith in Christ that giveth the right and title, that so it may be of grace, Eph. ii. 6-8. Again, it is covenanted betwixt the Father and the Son, that believers shall be made partakers of everlasting life ; for it is explained, that not to lose them, ver. 39, is ' that they may have everlasting life.' For the further assurance of believers of their eternal happiness, it is also covenanted that they shall have this life in present possession, in the earnest, and firstfruits thereof ; for they have everlasting life even here, and before their raising up. They have everlasting life — (1.) In promisso ; (2.) In pretio ; (3.) In primitiis. He stands already on the battlements of heaven, he hath one foot in the porch of paradise. Again, Christ having given an earnest-penny of salvation, will not suffer it to be lost,
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by any difficulty or impediment in the way, but will carry believers through all difficulties, till he destroy death and the grave, and raise up their very dust, that in body and soul they may partake of that bliss ; and that he may make it manifest, that death and rotting in the grave doth not make void his interest, nor cause his affection to cease. Therefore it is added, 'And I will raise him up at the last day.' Thus you see that God the Father did lay his commands upon his Son, to engage in this great work of redeeming and saving poor sinners' souls, &c.