You may look upon the compellation as an expression of Christ's hearty good-will. When he sueth for our glorification, he improveth
VeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 91
all his interest in God, * Father, I will' When he pleadeth for him- self, lie useth the same compellation, ver. 1 , ' Father, glorify thy Son ;' ver. 5, ' And now, 0 Father, glorify thou me with thine own self/ Thus here Christ's heart is much set upon the happiness of his mem- bers ; if there be any more endearing title, the Spirit of God here will use it : Father, if I can do anything, or have any room in thy heart or affection ; ' Father, I will,' &c. When we would prevail, Christ biddeth us urge our interest : * When ye pray, say. Our Father,' Luke xi. 2 ; so doth he. When we mediate for others, we are wont to mention our relation, as a circumstance of endearment ; so doth Christ expressly mention his relation when his requests are of great concernment.
Secondly, The next circumstance is the manner of asking, 6^Xco, ' I will,' a word of authority, becoming him that was God and man in one person, who knew the Father's will, who had made a thorough purchase, and so might challenge it of right. So some observe he doth not say ipcorco, but diXco. But possibly it may bear a softer sense in this place ; and thus is deXay used elsewhere : Mark x. 35, dekofMsv, ' Master, we will that thou shouldest do to us whatever we desire thee ; ' if that look like an expostulation, or a capitulation rather than a request. See Mark vi. 26, diXto^ ' I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist;' Mark xii. 38, 'Master, deXofjiev, we would see a sign from thee.' Briefly, then, it doth not express his authority so much as the full bent of heart ; only because he useth the word loill, and because at least the manner of expression carrieth the force of a promise, which, if it be backed with his prayers, cannot fall to the ground ; we may thence —
Observe the certainty of our glorious hopes. If ' I will'be not a word of authority, it looketh like a testamentary disposition. Christ was about to die, and now he saith, ' I will.' When Christ made his will, heaven is one of the legacies which he bequeatheth to us. This was his last will and testament, ' Father, I will.' You have the very words and form of a testament : Luke xxii. 29, ' I appoint unto you a king- dom, as my Father hath appointed unto me ;' BcaTLdrjfjLc, the only word we have for a testament. Heaven is ours, a legacy left us by Christ.
But what power had Christ to dispose of it ? Let me clear that by the way, since he saith, Mat. xx. 23, ' To sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give ; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.' Christ's power of disposing is not denied, but he showeth only to whom it is given, not for by-respects, but according to God's eternal will and purpose. In the original the words run otherwise than they do in our translation, ovk eartv ifjbbv Bovvai, dXXa ol<i ijTOLfiaaTac inrb roii irarpo'i fiov. There is no elli2)sis which some have fancied ; and it should be rendered thus, ' It is not mine to give, save to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.' He doth not deny degrees of glory, he doth not deny his own power to distribute them, but only asserts that he must dispose according to his Father's will ; not for outward and temporal respects of kindred and acquaintance, but as God hath given to every man his measure. Certainly Christ's will standeth good to all intents and purposes; for
92 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XLI.
as God he hath an original authority, and as mediator he doth nothing contrary to his Father's will ; he is tender of that, as you see in the place alleged ; so that the objection confirmeth the point.
Use 1. It is comfort to us when we come to die ; thou hast Christ's will to show for heaven. When God's justice puts the bond in suit against us, then let faith put Christ's testament in suit. There is an old sentence against us, ' In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die,' Gen. ii. 17, confront it with Christ's prayer. In life we should provide for death, and a comfortable departure out of the world. Hear for the time to come ; it is good to have our comforts ready. Can a dying man have a sweeter meditation than Christ's words ? ' Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am.' We know not how soon we may go down to the chambers of death, and become a feast for the worms. When we come to make our own will, we should think of Christ's ' Father, I will,' &c.
Use 2. It is an engagement to holiness. That is a part of Christ's will : 1 Thes. iv. 3, ' For this is the will of God, even your sanctifica- tion.' How can I plead his will in one thing and not in another ? Hereditates habent sua onera. Legacies have their burdens annexed. Christ will have an action against us if we do not fulfil his whole will ; as a man that sueth for what is left him by will must take care that his claim be not invalidated. Did Christ ever say, I will that all that live as they list should at length come to heaven for all that ? No ; but, ' I will that all those whom thou hast given me,' &c. And therefore —