VeR. 8.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XYH. 239
by liis transfiguration, by liis miracles ; they believed that he was the Lamb taking away the sins of the world, that he was the living manna that came down from heaven ; but all this while their faith was weak ; they had but a confused sight of his godhead, of his eternal generation by the Father ; they knew little of his death, were leavened with the thoughts of a terrene kingdom and pompous Messiah ; understood not his predictions of his death and passion. Peter gave him advice to the contrary, and at his death denied him. So that though they knew him to be the Eedeemer and Saviour of the world, yet the manner of his death and passion they knew not : ' We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel,' Luke xxiv. 21. Observe how Christ commendeth weak faith. Certainly he loveth to encourage poor sin- ners when he praisetli their mean and weak beginnings : Mat. xii. 20, 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he send forth judgment unto victory.' Christ will not despise weak beginnings, though there be more smoke than flame, but little strength. Certainly we should not despise the day of small things, nor discourage learners, and blast the early blossoms with re- proach and censure : Cant. ii. 13, ' The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.' Christ taketh notice in his garden of the green figs ; the green knots or buds are acceptable to him, though they want ripeness and sweetness, as well as the softer clusters, the imperfect offers of the spring. We should learn hence to do our best in believing ; Christ will help you against weakness, and pardon imperfection.
3. Observe again, from Christ's mentioning their obedience, their knowledge, their faith. The Father knew for whom Christ prayed ; neither was there need to set forth their faith and obedience in so many words, but that in the hearing of the apostles he would draw forth the grounds of their thankfulness, and the evidences of their interest. Well, then, this is the use Ave should make of our graces and duties, to praise the Lord, and to look upon them as so many arguments and evidences of his love ; partly to show them what kind of persons God will hear, such as know, and believe, and obey, though in a weak measure.
Thirdly, The next thing in the text is the chief object of justifying faith, and that is the authority of Christ's mediation.
Observe, the sum of christian doctrine is to show that Christ was sent by God to save sinners. This is the ground of all hope and firm confidence ; he came out from the Father to purchase grace, and went back again that we might receive it. But let us consider the parts.
] . ' They have surely known that I came out from thee.' — This may be expounded two ways : — (1.) From thy essence, by eternal genera- tion ; (2.) By thy command, as mediator. If you take the former sense, it showeth that the authority of Christ and of his Father were equal ; he came out from him. If you take the latter, it denotes their equal charity and love ; the Father sent him ; and out of the same love, the Son came out from the Father ; he assumed flesh, emptied himself, and performed the office of a mediator, committed to him by the Father.
240 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XL
Which is to bo preferred ? Some say the first, irapa aov e^rj\.9ov, it as a word proper to the natural generation of the Son : Micah v. 2, ' Whose goings forth have been of old, from everUisting.' The Spirit's procession is expressed by eKTropeveTai, as tlie generation of Son by e^ep')(eTai. It is said of none of the saints that they come out from God. Bat though this eternal generation must not be excluded, yet that which is chiefly intended here is that he came out by the command of God as mediator, as is clear by that place, John xvi. 28, ' I came forth from my Father, and am come into the world ; again I leave the world, and go unto the Father.' It is applied to his appearing as mediator before God.
Observe the great love of Christ, in that he came out from God for our sakes.
[1.] Consider from whom he came, from the Father, from his bosom, from the full fruition of the godhead, from the centre of rest, the seat of blessedness. AVe shall know what place the bosom of the Father is, when we shall come to heaven, and shall be glorified with Christ.
[2.] How he came ; not in pomp, or the equipage of a prince, but in the form of a servant. He was lord of all things, but he came now as the servant of God's decrees : John vi. 38, ' I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.' He was God's servant, not upon terms of grace ; his covenant was a covenant of works : Isa. liii. 11, ' He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied ; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.' He was subject to worldly powers, ' a servant of rulers,' Isa. xlix. 7. He voluntarily submitted himself to worldly powers. Nay, he came to be our servant : Mat. xx, 28, ' Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.' He came to serve in the ministry of the gospel, to lay aside all the interests of his human nature : Kom. xv. 3, ' Even as Christ pleased not himself.'