3b'4 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIL
' I have given them thy word.' — Partly hy external revelation in iiis ministry during life, partly by inward illumination he had given tliera the knowledge of it : John xvi. 27, ' Ye have loved me, and have believed that! came out from God ;' John xvii. 6, ' I have manifested thy name to the men which thou gavest me out of the Avorld.' Partly by tradition or commission ; he had left the word with them, not only that they might profess it, but preach it to others. There is an emphasis in 'thy word;' Christ grounded his plea with the Father upon it. Men are wont to respect those that suffer for their sake and cause.
' And the world hath hated them.' — By the ivorld is meant that party which is contrary to Christ's kingdom ; they are sometimes called ' the kingdom of darkness,' because the devil is their head and chief; sometinies 'the world,' because that is their aim; they are guided by the malicious spirit of Satan, and acted by their own ends and interests. Briefly, they are called ' the world,' either because the greatest, the most flourishing part of mankind are obstinate against the gos])el ; or because their whole bent, their way, their savour, is of the world, they relish nothing but the world, the wicked, unbelieving, obstinate part of the world. And it is said, ' hath hated them.' Hitherto in their profession they have had but sad experience of the world, and in the course of their future ministry they can expect no better.
' Because they are not of the world.' — ' Of the world;' that is, of that strain and sort of men ; as of the devil, is to be swayed by him : John viii. 44, ' Ye are of your father the devil ; and the lusts of your father ye will do.' They are different from the world in spirit, in v/or- ship, in convei'sation.
In spirit, or in the frame of their hearts : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is of God.' There is a particular genius tliat runneth out that way ; they have other manner of affections and dispositions.
In worship, they are to root out inveterate superstitions, both among Jews and Gentiles. Now men are tender of their old customs and traditions. Unconformity doth exasperate them, much more zealous opposition against traditions received from their fathers.
In conversation, they are come out from among them, they are heteroclites : 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them to all excess of riot, speaking evil of you.' Their course is a countermotion to the fashions of the world ; they have renounced worldly desires and practices.
' Even as I am not of the world,' most estranged from the customs and fashions of it : John viii. 23, ' Ye are from beneath, I am from above ; ye are of this world, I am not of this world.' He tasted of the world's hatred : John xv. 18, 19, ' If the world hateth you, you know it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have called you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' Tliis is added for the consolation of the disciples, that it may not be grievous to them to suffer what their master suffered befoie them. When the king is wounded in battle, should the soldier shrink ? They have my
Veil 14.j sermons upon john xvii. 3(J5
spirit, and are to inherit my office ; and they that have Christ's spirit must look for Christ's entertainment. Only when it is said, ' Even as I am not of this world,' it noteth not an exact equality, but some con- formity. Christ never was of the world : Heb. vii. 26. Hewas'lioly, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners ;' that is, he never was of their number. After the fall, all men are of the world ; but by regeneration they are so no more ; therefore it is said, John xv. 19, Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.' Ye are separated by God's fan, the wheat from the chaff, and cut off from your old root by the sword of the word.
1. Observe, that christians, especially ministers, to whom Christ liatli given his word, must expect the world's hatred. I apply it to both, because Christ hath given the word to both ; to ordinary chris- tians by regeneration, to ministers by special commission. Ordinary christians are cut off from the world by the sword of the word, and conformity is the ground of love, as diftormity and dissonancy of prac- tice is of hatred and aversation. And ministers have a special com- mission to preach it. And then both hold forth the word : ministers clearly, they manage the fan; and of private christians it is said, Phil, ii. 15, 16, ' That ye be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, with- out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.' They copy out the word in their lives ; they are a living sermon, a walking rule ; they preach by their lives : the truth is held forth in a minister's mouth, but in a believer's conversation.