1. ObserA-e, the elect are so given to Christ that they are still the Father's. Though they are mine by grant, yet thou hast lost no part of thy right and propriety in them. They are given to me by way of oppignoration, not by way of alienation ; as the father that giA^eth his daughter in marriage to another doth not lose his fatherly propriety ; she is her husband's, and she is her father's. God hath given CA^ery elect soul as a spouse to Christ, and yet they remain his ; yea, they Avere given to Christ that God's right might be preserved. All luvn,
VeR. 9.] SERMON'S UPON- JOHN XYII. 253
by right of creation, are his ; but they are especially his who are redeemed by Christ and sanctified by the Sj^irit, because the destina- tion and tendency of their lives is still to the Father's glory. Others are his in right, but in the use and course of their lives they are the devil's ; God hath lost them, as it were. But those tliat are given to Christ are not lost, but his still ; partly because of Christ's aim, who still worketh in them to preserve the Father's right: John xiv. 13, ' Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.' The persons glorify one another : John xvi. 14, ' He shall glorify me ; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.' They are Christ's members, that the Father may be glorified in the purposes of his grace. Partly in regard of the course and tendency of their conversations : John xv. 8, ' Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.' The Father is glorified by our fruitfulness.
Use 1. It is an engagement to believers to walk so that God may not be ashamed to own them for his, the Spirit not ashamed to dwell in them as temples ; that they be not as stables of filth, but as temples of the Holy Ghost ; nor Christ ashamed to own them as members; — he will not be the head of an ulcerous body ; — nor God the Father ashamed of his choice. If ye bring forth much fruit, he is glorified, he hath not made an unworthy choice. But otherwise, * you grieve the Spirit,' Eph. iv. 30 ; ' you crucify Christ,' Heb. vi. 6 ; you shame the Father. But if you are sanctified and holy, the Spirit will own you, and work ill you with joy : 1 Peter iv. 14, 'The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you : on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.' By the innocency and holiness of your lives you make it appear what manner of spirit is in you ; he can own you with glory. Then Christ will not be ashamed of you : Heb. ii. 11, ' He that sanc- tifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all one ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' Christ will count it no disgrace to himself to reckon you of his kindred and family ; he is not ashamed to say, ' They are mine;' my brethren, my kindred, my family, my spouse ; he is not ashamed of his purchase. And God the Father will not be ashamed of you : Heb. xi. 16, ' God is not ashamed to be called their God.' The Father will avow himself to be their portion, and they to be his, that for his sake do renounce the world. God will think it no dishonour to himself.
Use 2. To disprove their claim —
1. That only can make their claim by creation : 'The Lord knoweth who are his.' God's special interest is founded in grace. People say, He that made them, shall he not save them ? God will not own his creature that is disguised by sin : I know you not, you are none of mine : ' He that made them will show them no mercy, and he that formed them will show them no favour,' Isa. xxvii. 11. No ; you are none of mine ; all his are given to Christ ; the interest comes not by nature, but by grace.
2. Those that build their hopes on Christ, but do not walk as the Father's. Christ never chose a member that Avould not honour his Father: John xv. 16, ' Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that }-ou should go and bring forth fruit, and that
254 SEEMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeK. XII.
your fruit should remain ; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, ho may give it you.' Christ will not allow their claim who do not walk worthy of his Father's love, that they may have free and confident access to him in prayer.
Use 3. See the felicity and dignity of those that believe in Christ. Christ saith to the Father, ' They are thine,' his peculiar and special portion : Exod. xix. 5, ' Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.' The world is God's possession, but you are his treasure. A man mny have lands that he visiteth now and then, but he taketh a particular care of his treasure. God loveth them as much as a covet- ous man can love his treasure. We value men by their riches, but God valueth them by grace : 1 Peter ii. 9, * Ye are a chosen generation, a peculiar people,' \ao^ ek rrrepLTroirjaiv. God hath bought them at ii dear rate. We were his before we were our own ; God had a thought of us before we had any being, and in time he made this distinction : Titus ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people,' Xao^ irepi- ovaio<;, his people of treasure, his most precious substance, picked and chosen by election, beautified with the righteousness of Christ, distin- guished fi'om others by grace. God looketh on them as the objects of his own choice, the fruits of his Son's purchase, and the workmanship of his own Spirit, set apart from all others for his own glory.