' Which thou hast given me to do,' SeSw/ca? ; it is the same word
VeK. 4.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 173
with that, ver. 2, ' Thou hast given him power over all flesh ; ' and now, ' the work which thou hast given me to do/ God, that gave him his power, gave him his work.
Augustine interpreteth the word somewhat nicely, own ait, Jassisti, sed dedisti ; ibi commendatur evidens gratia; quid enim habuit quod non accepit, etiam in unigenitojiumana natura ? If you allow this inter- pretation, as certainly this rigour of the word will bear it, then we may —
1. Observe that the privileges of the human nature of Christ are by gift. Whatever the manhood of Christ was advanced to, by dwelling with God in a personal union, it was by the mere grace of God. The apostle referreth it to the Father's pleasure : Col. i. 19, ' It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.' God would make free grace appear in none so much as in our head, and set out Christ as the example of his gracious election. Whatsoever honour the human nature of Christ had, it had it by grace and gift, it was chosen to this honour. Certainly we should ascribe all to grace, if Christ himself did, if he accounted it a gift, that his human nature was taken into the honour of the mediatory office.
2. We may observe, that work itself is a gift. Christ speaketh thus of the work of the mediatory office, which was sad work, labouring in the fire, in the fire of the divine wrath and displeasure. Elsewhere it is said of our faith and suftering, Phil. i. 23, ' Unto you it is given, on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.' It is given of grace ; we should count duty an honour, and service a privilege : Hosea viii, 12, ' 1 have written to him the great things of my law ;' honorabilia legis mew.
But I rather interpret it of giving in charge : Thou hast put this office upon me of redeeming mankind, and this work I have done.
The note from hence is —
Observe that Christ had his work appointed him by God: Ps. xl. 7, 8, ' Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart.' It is a great condescension of Christ that he would come under a law, and as a servant take work upon his own shoulders. The apostle saitli he came ' in the form of a servant,' Phil. ii. 7. He was a prince by birth, yet he came as a servant of the divine decrees. He spake of command- ments that he received from the Father. He wholly devoted himself to his Father's will and man's benefit. Oh ! admire the proceedings between the Father and the Son, by way of command and promise. The transactions of heaven are put into a federal form, and as our surety he is to receive a law.
Secondly, Let us consider the words in the moral sense and accom- modation, and then in this plea which Christ maketh when he was about to die we may observe these circumstances : —
1. What he says, I have glorified thee.
2. Where, upon earth.
3. How, I have finished the luork thou hast given me to do.
Doct. They that would die comfortably sliould make this their great care, to glorify God upon the earth, and finish the work which he hath given them to do in their several stations and relations.
Here I shall show — (1.) What it is to glorii'y God upon the earth,
174 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. V.
&c. ; (2.) Why this should be our chief care ; (3.) That when we come to die, this will be our comfort.
First, What it is to glorify God upon earth, &c. Here —
1. Quid f What it is to glorify God.
2. Uhi? Upon the earth.
3. Quomodo ? By finishing the work which he hath given us to do. First, Quidf ' I have glorified thee.' God is glorified actively and
passively.
1. Passively, which noteth the event, which cometh to pass by the wisdom and overruling of God's providence ; and so all things shall at length glorify God in the event : Ps. Ixxvi. 10, ' Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee.' In the Septuagint it is iopTdaerat, shall keep holy day : the fierce endeavours of his enemies do but make his glory the more excellent. So our lie and unrighteousness may com- mend the truth and mercy of God, Kom. iii. 5, 7. Pharaoh was raised up for God's glory ; as the valour of a king is discovered by the rebellion of his subjects, the skill of the physician by the desperateness of the disease. But this is no thanks to them, but to God's wise and powerful government ; it will not lessen their fault and punishment. A wicked man may say in the end, I have been an occasion that God hath been glorified.
2. Actively we glorify God when we set ourselves to this work, and make this our end and scope, that we may be to the praise of his glo- rious grace. Some learn their school-fellows' lessons better than their own ; they would have God glorified, but look to others rather than to themselves. We would have God glorified, but do not glorify him, are more careful of events than duties. We are ready to ask, ' Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great name ? ' but do not consider our own engagement, ' How shall I glorify God ? '