2. Observe; to show the truth of whatever is foretold in scripture, scriptures must be fulfilled, whatever inconveniences fall out. See how tender God is of his word.
[1.] He valueth it above all his works : John x. 35, ' The scriptures cannot be broken ; ' Luke xxi. 33, ' Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.' God is not so tender of his works as of his word. It is more firm and stable than the frame of heaven and earth ; that shall be dissolved, but not the least point of truth shall fail. Heaven and earth do only continue till all that is prophesied of in the word be fulfilled : ' His word endureth for ever.' We shall have the comfort of it in heaven, when all these things are melted.
[2.] Nay, which is more, the treason plotted against Christ taketh place that the word may be fulfilled ; and one main reason why Christ came into the world was to accomplish the word ; though it cost him his life, yet, saith he, Heb. x. 7, ' Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do thy will, 0 God.' Promises shall be fulfilled, though most difficult for God to grant or us to believe. Eather than God baulk from his word, God would send his Son to die for a sinful world.
Use 1. Wait for the accomplishment of prophecies ; fear the truth of threatenings : Hosea vii. 12, ' I will chastise them, as their congre- gation hath heard;' Isa. xxxiv. 16, 'Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read : no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate. For my mouth, it hath commanded ; and his Spirit, it hath gathered them.' Look into the book of the law, where these curses are recorded. When the day of execution cometh, take this prophecy into your hands ; see if any of these be found wanting, not one thing shall fail. This is the unhappiness of ministers ; all other professions are believed when they discover danger, but ' who hatli believed our report ? ' It is our duty to observe all occurrences, and compare the rule and event together, and observe what truth God makes good by what is fallen out and come to pass, and so wait for the accomplishment of promises ; whatever inconveniences fall out, they shall be fulfilled. When a promise is thrown into the fire, it shall come out again, and be fulfilled in its due time.
Use 2. Here is comfort to the godly against the wrath of their enemies. God hath a hand not only in sickness and famine, but the treasons of men against Christ. If the rod smites, it is in the Father's hand. Let men live how they will, yet God will have his will, if not his will of command, his will of decree. His glory shall prevail at last. You camiot hurt God; whether you will or no, he will be glorified.
352 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXI.
SERMON XXI.
And now I come to tlice ; and ihcse things I speah in the v.wid, that they might have mij joy fnJ filled in themselves. — John XVII. 13.
Our Lord is still amplifying that argument of his own departure, and the disciples' danger in the world, and so justifieth his earnestness in prayer for them. I come to thee, and must leave their company, and therefore I have need to make some provision for them. In the argu- ment of this text, Christ showeth what was his special aim in the whole prajTr. He is so earnest, not to blemish the Fatlier, as if he were backward and wanted mercy, but for their comfort, that they might know what .prayers were laid up in store for them, and to give them a taste of his own care. He prayeth with them, that they might know how he prayed for them. Christ would have something left upon record, as a pledge of his affections to the church : ' These things I speak in the world/ &c.
In the words, not to speak of the occasion, I come to thee ; which signifietli not his address in prayer, but his ascension to God, as was cleared before, ver. 11. In the rest of the words we have Christ's action, and Christ's aim, the comfort of the disciples ; where we have the author, my joy ; the manner how received for quantity, fidfilled ; the quality, in themselves.
* And these things I speak in the world ; ' that is, make this prayer in their hearing ; \a\w, ' I speak,' it signifieth prayer with an audible voice ; elsewhere he iisetli the word ipcoTco and dyXco. And here a record and pattern is left for the use of the church in all ages.
' That they may have my joy.' — What is the meaning of that ?
1. Because he rejoiceth in our good. My joy, and your joy are dis- tinguished : John XV. 11, 'These things have I spoken to you, that my joy should be fulfilled in you, and that your joy might be full.' There is nothing maketh the heart of Christ so glad as to see his members thi-ive in peace and grace. So the apostle Paul : Phil. ii. 2, ' Fulfil ye my joy,' Nothing could be more comfortable to Paul than to see the Philippians thrive in grace. Thus some interpret it actively of the joy which Christ hath in the good of his members. But I sup- pose it is rather to be taken passively, iv €avTol<;, ' in themselves.'