[2.] So at his death. A great thing that was in the eye of Christ was victory over the world : Gal. i. 4, ' He gave himself for us, to redeem us from the present evil world.' Certainly Christ is willing to help you, when he suffered so much that he might help you. When you love the world, you cross the end of Christ's death ; his whole life was but a renouncing the world. The poverty of Christ upbraideth our aspiring projects and pursuits of worldly greatness. We seek to join house to house and field to field, and ' he had not a place whereon to lay his head.' But in his death he would make all sure. One thing that he purchased of the Father is grace to subdue the world. When he was to die, he said, Lo I give myself, upon condition thou wilt give them grace ; let them be freed from the bondage of carnal fears and carnal desires. There is not a thing more answerable to the design and aim of his death than this is.
[3.] After his death and ascension into heaven, he is tenderly affected toward believers in the world ; he still retaineth his human nature and his human affections, the same heart and the same pity : Heb. iv. 15, ' We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' Christ, though he be exalted, is tenderly affected towards those that are left behind ; he is still tenderly affected towards you in all your straits and troubles and infirmities. Christ's exaltation hath made no change in his bowels ; he carried his love with him, not only into the grave, but into heaven ; he is our Lord, but still our brother : as God, he knoweth our infirmities ; and as man, he feeleth them ; his love is most at work when you are in danger. Oh 1 what a comfort is this in all your temptations ! There is one in heaven that seeth and feeleth all this ; let us bear it the better, and ride out the storm. If a man were persuaded that his friends on shore knew what tempests he endured at sea, and were praying for him, it would be a great comfort to him in his distress. Christ's heart worketh towards thee ; he who is always heard is now praying for thee in heaven ; he
288 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII, [SeR. XV.
is touched with a fechng of thy infirniities. How shoukl this comfort us ! They have many snares and many enemies ; Lord, help tliem !
The reasons of this apprehensiveness and tender feeling are his interest, love, charge, and experience : they are his own : John xiii. 1, ' Having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them to the end.'
(1.) His interest. Christ hath a share going in every believer. As when there are ships at sea in which you have a share, you pray for their safe return, and are tenderly affected when you hear they are in danger. Christ is loath to lose his share ; he had but now pleaded his interest with the Father: ver. 10, 'All thine are mine, and mine are thine.' We are a part of his goods ; the world would weaken the estate of Christ. Believers are his treasure, and they are in danger of rochs and pirates ; and therefore he prayeth to the Father. Now Christ hath an interest in them, not only by the Father's grant, but their own dedication ; they are his, and all that they suffer is for his sake : ver. 14, ' I have given them thy word, and therefore the world hateth them.' Let a man go on in a wicked, carnal, ungodly way, and the world will not vex him. Let a man once be zealous for Christ, and then he must expect trouble enough. They endure all this for me, and shall I not be sensible ? If a child should inadvertently break his leg or arm, you would pity him ; but if he should break his leg or arm in your service or defence, to rescue his father, you would pity him more.
(2.) His love : John xiii. 1, ' Jesus having loved his own which were in the w^orld, he loved them to the end.' Those whom we love, we are troubled about their welfare. A careless father may die, and never be troubled what shall become of his children ; but love is very solici- tous. Alas ! poor orphans, they are \vitliout a guide and guardian, left to snares and temptations, and shall it not pity them ? Hugo crieth out, 0 charitas, quam magnum est vinculum tuum ! Deum in terram traxisti, cruci affixisti, sepulchro clausisti ! &c. — 0 love, how great is thy power ! it was love that brought Christ from heaven, that nailed him to the cross, that laid him in the grave, that carried him again to do our business with God. Had it not been for love he had never come from heaven, and left the bosom of the Father for the lap of the virgin, the form of God for the veil of flesh, the glory of heaven for the darkness of the grave. Had it not been for love, he had never died to deliver us from this present evil world, he had never been sensible of our state and condition. Love is jealous and sensible of all the dangers of the party beloved ; the same love of Christ that exposeth us to troubles and hazards for Christ's sake, the same love maketh Christ compassionate of our miseries and sorrows. We are jealous of his honour, and he is jealous of our safety.