334 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XX.
tual fissistance, and praj-ers for the common good. When the finger is hurt, there is pain through the whole body. We should live as if we had but one essence and interest. It is almost in vain to hope for the public at present, but in your particular societies, faithfully yet regularly use your gifts for the common good, so as that you may neither dishonour the head nor dissolve the union between the mem- bers.
3. I observe that Christ seeketh it of God ; he beggeth perseverance, ' that they may be one.'
Doct. It is God that keepeth the saints together. Nature is prone to discord ; if God should leave us, we should soon discover what is in our hearts. God doth it sometimes by his providence, letting loose the common enemy, as a dog let loose makes the sheep run together ; or by inflicting great distress, as two ends of wax are joined together in the fire ; or he can take off contention, as a judge. Sometimes by his Spirit, and the constant influences of his grace, of light and love. God made Esau a friend to Jacob. Let spirits be never so rough, he can meeken them.
Use. Acknowledge God in this matter. He will be known as the Lord of hosts, and as the God of peace. Acknowledge him in this matter, in prayer and praise. In prayer, before division is broken out; if God did but leave men to their own sway, they would never be at peace. After divisions are broken out, prayer is the best means to settle the church. It is God's prerogative to speak peace ; when men have wearied themselves in the pursuit of it, it is God must give it. Acknowledge him in praise in days of peace and tranquillity ; when there is a happy union among the people of God, give thanks to liis name for it, for it is God alone, who is the ' God of the spirits of all flesh,' that unites the spirits of men to one another.
SERMON XX.
While I loas loitli them in the tuorld, I kept them in thy name : those that thou gavest me I have kept, a7id none of them is lost, hut the son of 2^Grdition ; that the scriptu7'e might he fulfilled. — John XVII. 12.
In this verse Christ declareth how he had performed his duty to the apostles when corporally present with them, which help was now to be removed. He had said before, ' I am no more in the world ; ' and he saith now, ' Whilst I was with them in the world, I kept them,' &c.
The argument is taken from the necessity of the request, and the equity of it.
1. The necessity. He could no longer keep them as ho had kept them, by his visible presence, outward ministry, and familiar conversa- tion ; therefore he beggeth the Father to keep them. Christ is careful to remedy every defect ; when the visible external custody was to have an end, then he beggeth the spiritual.
2. The equity. When thou commendedsi them to me, I kept them ;
VeR. 12.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 33.5
now I commend them to thee, do thou keep them. Which is not to be so understood as if Christ did totall}' resign his charge unto the Father, or as if the Father and Son kept us by turns. No ; as the Father is not hitherto exchided, so not the Son for the future. But he speaketh of his visible familiar presence and care, which was now to cease ; and in lieu of it he beggeth his Father's custody and tutelage ; and that upon this ground, because of his faithfulness during his corporal presence.
In the words, you may observe —
First, Christ's care.
Secondly, The fruit of it — (1.) As to the elect ; (2 ) As to the son of perdition. Which, that it might not be scandalous to his custody, or manner of keeping, is mollified by a prediction or prophecy of scripture.
' While I was with them in the world ; ' corporally, visibly present, familiarly conversant. He speaketh as if he were already gone, because the time of his dej)arture was at hand.
' I kept them in thy name.' — Christ kept them, as man, instru- mentally, by teaching, conversing, warning, by daily precepts and examples ; as God, as the principal agent, by inward influxes and operations of grace ; as it is presently added, ' in thy name,' by thy authority and power, for thy glory.
' Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them are lost.' —I shall only open the different manner of keeping and losing, spiri- tually and corporally ; none were lost by death or defection. Spiritually, Christ kept them against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Satan had a spite at them : Luke xxii. 31, ' Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.' Their own hearts are weak and apt to stagger : John vi. G6, ' Many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye go away also ? ' The world is a dangerous place. He had kept them corporally from death and danger ; they were neither killed, nor drowned, as they were in danger : Mat. viii. 25, ' Master, save us ; we perish.' That Christ kept both ways, is clear by this evangelist's own exposition, John xviii. 9, ' That that saying might be fulfilled, which he spake. Of those which thou gavest me, have I lost none.' Christ is there capitulating for his disciples ; that place showeth he had an exact care of their bodies as well as their souls.