[2.] To note the order and economy of salvation, in wliich the Father is represented as supreme, in whom the sovereign majesty of the deity resideth, and the Son sustaineth the office of mediator and servant : John xiv. 28, 'My Father is greater than I ; ' not in respect of nature or essential glory, for therein they are both equal : Phil. ii. 6, ' Who, being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God ; ' but in the order of redemption, in whicli the Father is the principal party representiug the whole deity, because he is the
142' SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SkR. III.
original and fountain of it. So 1 Cor. viii. 6, ' But to us there is but one God, tlic Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.' God the Father is to be conceived as the supreme person, or ultimate ob- ject of worship, and the Son as lord and mediator.
' And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent ; ' that is, Jesus Christ, not as the second person in the Trinity, but as mediator.
Sent, implieth —
1. Christ's divine original : he came forth from God ; he is legalus a latere : John xvi. 30, ' By this we know that thou camest forth from God.' He was a person truly existing before he was sent into the world, and a distinct person from tiie Father ; for he that sendeth and he that is sent are distinguished.
2. His incarnation : Gal. iv. 4, ' When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman.'
3. It implieth his Avhole office of mediator and redeemer ; wherefore he is called ' the apostle and high priest of our profession,' Heb. iii. 1. Apostle implieth one that was sent. Christ was the chief apostle and messenger of heaven ; ' the high priest and apostle.' The high priest- hood was the highest calling in the Jewish church, and the apostleship tlie highest calling in the christian church ; to note that the whole office of saving all the church, the elect of all ages, is originally in Christ. He is the great ambassador to treat with us from God, and the high priest to treat with God and appease his wrath for us.
The names of Christ are also of some use. Such scriptures are like gold, that may be beaten into thin leaves. In summaries and breviats every mark and letter is of use.
Jesus signifieth a saviour, as it is explained Mat. i. 21, ' Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.' This is a part of our belief, to acknowledge Christ a saviour. Then Christ signifieth anointed.
We shall draw out the sum of all in a few points.
First, Observe, the beginning, increase, and perfection of eternal life lieth in knowledge.
[1.] The beginning of it is in knowledge. Knowledge is the first step to eternal life. In paradise Adam's two symbols were the tree of knowledge and the tree of life. As light was the first creature that God made, so it is in the new creation : Col. iii. 10, ' Put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.' By the enlightening of the Holy Ghost, the work of grace is begun, and the seed of glory is laid in the heart. The Holy Ghost representeth the pattern, and then conformeth us to it. Eegenera- tion is nothing but a transforming light, or such an illumination as changes the heart : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God ; ' Eph. iv. 23, ' Be renewed in the spirit of your minds.' It maketli our notions of God and Christ to be active and effectual. The force of the new na- ture is first upon the mind ; it taketh sin out of the throne. God, in the order of grace, followeth the order which he hath established in nature. Reason and judgment is to go before the will.
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2. The increase of it is by knowledge : 2 Peter iii. 18, ' But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' The more thou growest in knowledge, the more thou growest in life. All the gradual progress and increase of the spiritual life is by the in- crease of light : 2 Peter i. 2, ' Grace be multiplied unto you by the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord.' Heat doth increase by light, as a room is warmer at high noon than in a chill morning. I confess through corruption and literary airy knowledge, men grow more carnal and careless, as new light quencheth old heat ; but by the light of the Spirit the heart is more quickened and enlivened ; and as the judgment is made solid, so the heart is more gracious.
3. The perfection of it is by knowledge : Ps. xvii. 15, ' When I awake, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness/ The heaven of heavens is to satisfy the understanding with the knowledge of God. One great end of our going to heaven is to better our notions and appre- hensions. While the soul is prisoner in the body, we have but low and dark thoughts ; but there we are illuminated on a sudden. One glimpse of God in glory will inform us more than the study of a thousand years.