2. Observe how loyal, faithful, and tender Christ is over his charge. He is loyal to God : ' I have kept them in thy name ; ' faithful to his flock, he omitted no point of the duty of a good shepherd ; he was tender of them : * Whilst I was with them in the world, I kept them ; ' and now he surrendereth his charge into God's hands. Judas was lost, not out of any impotency and carelessness in Christ, he was not in his commission ; but through his own malignity. Christ is faithful, for he givetli an account to God ; none of them is lost; just as he will at the last day ; it is but a type of what he will do then. He will present all the faithful to God : Heb. ii. 13, ' Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.' And he will disclaim hypocrites, as he doth Judas.
Use 1. Let us learn how safe it is to be in Christ's hands and keep- ing. Christ was a faithful shepherd when he was upon the earth ; and though his corporal presence be removed, yet it is supplied by the Spirit ; he hath still a care of his flock ; the lambs, those that are most tender, he carrieth them in his bosom ; he hath a particular care of every single believer, though there be so many thousands in the world : John x. 3, ' I know my sheep by name.' John, Anna, Thomas, however called and distinguished in the world. He is care- ful to provide good large pasture, to supply your defects. His conduct is gentle and tender, as the little ones are able to bear, and to guide you with dispensations suitable to your work, and temptations are proportioned to your growth and experience. Paul was not buffeted till his rapture : ' After ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions,' Heb. x. 32. The castle is victualled before it is besieged. He is constantly watchful over you, taketh notice of decays of grace and spiritual languishments, to reclaim and reduce his people when
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338 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XX.
gone astray : Isa. xxx. 21, ' Thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.' You may he confident of his keeping, if you will but choose him for a shepherd, and put your souls as a pledge in his hands : Ps. xxiii. 1, ' The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' Walk on in a course of obedience, referring yourselves to Christ's care.
Use 2. We should learn of Christ to be faithful to our charge. We that are ministers should keep those that are committed to us in God's name, that when we die, or by providence are called away from our people, we may plead our faithfulness : ' Father, I have kept them in thy name.' If we give not warning to the sinner, ' his blood will God require at our hands,' Ezek. iii. 20. As under the law, if an ox or sheep were laid to pledge, and it did miscarry, the party was to make it good ; so Heb. xiii. 17, ' They watch for your souls as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief.' It is a heavy charge and a great trust ; the account of lost souls will be craved at your hands. So also you that are called to a family, you have a charge ; you are not only to provide for them corporally, but spiritually, that when you die, you may commend them to God upon these terms : ' Whilst 1 was with them, I kept them in thy name.'
3. Observe, God hath many ways of keeping, mediate and imme- diate. Immediate, by his own Sj^irit, this Christ beggeth for them ; mediate, by Christ's corporal presence: ' I have kept them ;' by the guides of the church ; by angels, they are a part of our guard : Heb. i. 14, ' Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them that are heirs of salvation ? ' They have a great deal of employ- ment about God's children: Ps. xci. 11, 'He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.' Against bodily dangers the angels watch over us, God against spiritual dangers. So by grace in the heart: Prov. iv. 5, 'Get wisdom, and she shall keep thee.' These are the inward means of preservation.
Use 1. Admu'e the providence of God about such a creature as man is. It is counted a matter of great state to have at our heels a long train of followers ; these mighty peers of heaven are our attendants. How many guards hath he set upon us ! His Spirit, his angels, glorious angels, they behold God's face, and watch over our feet ; his ministers, the outward supplies of providence, and grace in the heart. If our protection were visible, all the princes in the world would come short of it ; a guard full of state and strength. Even little ones have their angels stand by their cradles.