[1.] For taking them away in evil times. It standeth with his good- ness, that they may not feel the smart of them : Isa. Ivii. 1, ' The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, yea, the merciful man is taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.' AVhen corn is gathered in, then the beasts are tm-ned into the field. God valueth his saints so that he doth not
VeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 391
count the world worthy of them : Heb. xi. 38, ' Of whom the world was not worthy.' He showeth his jewels, and then shutteth them up into the casket. And with his wisdom, that they may not be cor- rupted. The wisdom of providence concurreth to our preservation, as well as the power of grace. Enoch was translated and taken out of the world in a wicked age : 1 Cor. xi. 32, ' But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we might not be condemned with the world.' What judging and chastening was it ? Not only by sickness, but by death : ' Many are sick, and many weak, and many fallen asleep.'
[2.] Christ continueth them in the world, as the disciples here ; partly because he hath need of them, as the disciples were to preach the gos- pel ; partly that tliey might have more experience, and a more grown faith : they might try God, and God might try them ; they might have experience of his faithfulness, and he of their loyalty. The world must have a time of trial, and so must we. Nay, he dealeth thus with believers ; they are continued in evil times, either because God hath more work for them to do, or that they may carry more experience with them to heaven.
Use. To refer it to the wisdom and goodness of God, either to go or tarry. Christ knew there was service for them to do, therefore he was express, ' I pray not that they may be taken out of the world.' We that know not the counsels of God must refer ourselves to his pleasure. 2. Observe, that as long as we have a ministry and service to ac- complish, we should be willing to continue in the world. Paul was at a strait : Phil. i. 21-23, the cause was service ; ' For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. For if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour,' viz., bringing honour to Christ ; ' yet what I shall choose, I wot not : for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.' He is ravished T^'ith the thoughts of it ; but then he considereth the profit of the church : ver. 24, ' Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you ; ' and service casts the scale. Paul's case is the case many times of mortified christians ; after long experience of God, and weanedness from the world, they are in such a strait. Natural motion is swifter in the end ; the nearer they draw to the end the more vehe- mently do they long for Christ's company. Some make it a question which is hardest, to bear affliction or to wait for glory, the work of patience or the delay of hope ? Desire is a more restless affection than sorrow, yet I should think the depth of sorrow is more burden- some than the strength of desire. Many of God's children are tempted to make away themselves ; but I never heard of any that were tempted to make away themselves in the height of assurance, or out of the vehemency of spiritual desire, though the present life be accompanied with many vexations and afflictions. Despair maketh men to lay violent hands on themselves, but not assurance ; as Saul fell upon his sword, and Achitophel went home and hanged himself, and Judas was his own executioner. But assurance, though it desireth God's pre- sence, yet it tarrieth God's leisure. Waiting is a fruit of faith, as well as confidence. Spiritual desires are always conceived with sub- mission and obedience ; if God hath more work, they can brook the
392 SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIV.
deLay of the reward, and tarry for their wages. I remember a passage of a heathen, of Tally, in his Somnium ^Sci2non^s, when Scipio had said, ' If true life be only in heaven, why stay I then upon earth ? why haste I not to come to you ? ' ' No,' saith his father ; ' unless God free thee from the fetters of thy body, thou canst not come hither. Men are born and bred upon this condition, that they should promote the good of the world. You must not fly from the duty assigned by God ; the soul is to be kept in the custody of the body till it be commanded thence by God that gave it at first.' This was his saying ; and indeed it is wonderful. Christians, learn to wait God's leisure ; it is bettter to be with Christ, but you must not look for your wages till you have done your work. When a sentinel is set upon the watch, he must not come off without the commander's leave, and till he is discharged by authority. God hath set us in a watch, and we must not leave our ground till we have done all that is enjoined us, till we receive a fair discharge.