We have hitherto seen Christ's prayers for the happiness of his church in the present world ; now he prayeth for their happiness in the world to come. His love looketh beyond the grave, and outlasteth the life that now is ; he cannot be contented with anything on this side a blessed eternity. Glory as well as grace is the fruit of his purchase, and therefore it is the matter of his prayers. Every verse is sweet, but this should not be read without some ravishment and leaping of heart. One saith he would not for all the world that this scripture should have been left out of the Bible. Certainly we should have wanted a great evidence and demonstration of Christ's affection. Every word is emphatical. Let us view it a little.
Here is a compellation, a rec^uest, and the reason of that request. The compellation, ' Father.' In the request there is the manner, how it is made, ' I will.' The persons for whom it is made, ' That they whom thou ha.st given me.' The matter of the request, in presence and vision, ' Be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.' Or the matter is everlasting happiness, which is described by the place of enjoyment, and our work when we come thither. Now the reason of all is, the Father's eternal love to Christ, and in Christ to us, ' For thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world.'
First, The compellation, ' Father.' The titles of God are usually suited to the matter in hand. Christ is now suing for a child's portion for all his members, and therefore he saith, ' Father.' God is Christ's father by eternal generation, and ours by gracious adoption, whence our title to heaven ariseth. And therefore it is called an inheritance :
90 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVH. [SSR. XLI.
Col. iii. 24, ' Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance.' It is not simply wages, such as a servant receiveth from his master ; but an inheritance, or a child's portion, such as chil- dren receive from parents. And it is very notable the apostle there speaketh of servants, who are saved, as God's sons. So our waiting for glory is expressed by ' waiting for the adoption,' Kom. viii. 23, because then we have the fruit of it. We hold heaven not by merit, nor by our purchase, nor by privilege of birth, but by adoption. The ground of expectation is put for the matter of expectation, ' waiting for the adoption.' And now we wait, because now we have Jus hcere- ditatis ; then we have possession.
Use 1. This notion represents the freeness of grace in giving us glory ; we do not receive it as a debt, but as a gift. Nothing is more free than an inheritance. It was purchased by Christ, but it was given to us ; we receive it by virtue of his testament, and the Father's pro- mise. It is called an ' inheritance,' Eph. i. 18, ' What is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ;' an inheritance cometh freely, and without burden and incumbrance. Thus we hold heaven by all kind of titles ; we have it by purchase, and we have it freely. Christ maketh the purchase, and we possess the gift. It is a greater security to our hopes when we can look for heaven from a merciful Father and a righteous judge ; it is just, Christ having paid the price. Therefore it is called, ' The gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord,' Kom. vi. 20. It is the Father's gift, but for the greater honour to God, and security to us, it is Christ's purchase.
Use 2. It showeth the neceessity of becoming sons to God if we expect heaven. Children can only look for a child's portion. The world is a common inn for sons and bastards ; but heaven is called ' our Father's house ;' none but children are admitted there : John iii. 3, ' Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God/ Seeing is often put for enjoying ; yet the word is emphatical ; they shall not have so much as a glimpse of heaven, but are cast into ever- lasting darkness. A man should never be quiet till he be one of the family, and can evidence his new birth. As they were put from the priesthood as polluted that could not find their genealogy, Ezra ii. 62, so, if you cannot prove your descent from God, you are disclaimed, and reckoned not to God's, but to Satan's family.
Use 3. It teacheth God's children with patience and comfort to wait for this happy estate : Kom. viii. 23, ' And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies.' You do not yet know what adoption meaneth ; the day of the manifestation of the sons of God is to come : 1 John iii. 3, ' Behold, now are we the sons of God ; but it doth not appear what we shall be.' ' It doth not appear,' therefore wait. There is the spirit of an heir and the spirit of a servant, as we read of the ' Spirit of adoption.' A servant must have something in hand, pay from quarter to quarter ; they do not use to expect their master's possession ; but an heir waiteth till it fall.