Vol. XI. F
82 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XL.
was out, and he seemed to be delivered to the will of his enemies, all the creatui'es were in a rout, the sun was struck blind with astonish- ment, the earth staggered and reeled. So God will carry us through our work, and keep us blameless to his heavenly kingdom ; but if we are cut off by the violence of men, all the affairs of mankind are put in confusion, and carried headlong, besides the confederacies of nature disturbed, and divers judgments (as in Egypt, and the land of the Philistines) ensue ; odium in religionis prqfessores ; the world shall know how dear and precious they are to God.
4. Acceptance of what we do. God accepted all that Christ did ; it was very pleasing to God : Eph. v. 2, ' Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.' In every solemn sacrifice for the congregation, the blood of it was brought unto the mercy-seat with a perfume ; but Christ's sacrifice received value from his person, he being one so dear to God, so excellent in himself. This kind of love God showeth to us, the persons of the upright are God's delight; and then their prayers : Cant. v. 1, ' I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse ; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey.' Though our services are mingled with weaknesses and imperfection, they shall be accepted : ' But the sacri- fice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, much more when he bringeth it with an evil mind,' Prov. xv. 8.
5. Keward. Christ was gloriously exalted ; after his sufferings he entered into glory, and was conducted to heaven by angels, and welcomed by the Father, who, as it were, took him by the hand : Ps. ii. 7, 8, ' Thou art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.' So if we do what he did, we shall fare as he fared : John xii. 26, ' If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant be : if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.' When we die, we shall be conveyed to heaven by angels : Luke xvi. 22, ' The beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom ; ' our souls first, then our bodies : Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile bodies, that they may be like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.' And at last we shall have a solemn welcome into heaven: Mat. xxv. 21, 'Well done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' Christ is not only purchaser, but first possessor, and is gone into heaven to prepare a place for us, to which he will at last bring us : John xiv. 2, 3, * In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you : I go to prepare a place for you ; and if I go to prepare a place, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.'
Use 1. Information, to show what ground we have of patience, comfort, and confidence.
1. Of patience in affiictions from God. Would we be loved other- wise than Christ was loved ? We see in the person of Christ that love may stand with fatherly correction. Christ was beloved by God,
VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 83
yet under poverty, disgrace, persecution, hunger, thirst, &c. When Christ was hungry, the devil came unto him : Mat. iv. 3, ' If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' So he taketh advantage of our troubles and afflictions to make us question our adoption ; but we may retort the argument : Heb. xii. 7, 8, ' If ye endure chastisement, God dealeth with you as with sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.' Brambles are not pruned, but vines. God loved Christ in the lowest degree of his abasement, as much as at other times. Shall I desire to be otherwise beloved of God than Christ was ? Nay ; God's love may stand with sad suspensions of soul-comforts : Mat. xxvii. 46, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' The natural Son was in the love of God when at the worst ; God loved him still, though he appeared to him with another face ; as the sun is the same when it shineth through red glass, only it casts a more bloody reflection. God liad one Son without sin, but none without suffering.