Thirdly, The next circumstance is the parties for whom he prayeth. It is as necessary to know for whom Christ prayed as for what ; it is not enough to hear of a privilege, but we must consider which way our claim and interest doth arise. For ' those which thou hast given me ;' that is, for all the elect, who are intended in this expression.
Observe, that there is a certain number given to Christ which cannot finally miscarry, but shall come to glory. But of that in former verses.
1. Who are given hath been already discussed. The elect are given, those that come to him from the Father : John vi. 37, ' All that the Father givetli me shall come to me.' They are given before all time, and therefore in time they come, and actually accept of grace. And as they come to him, so they keep there, for of those he can lose nothing: ver. 39, ' And this is the Father's will that hath' sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing.'
2. But how are they given ? By way of reward, and by way of charge ; the one as his work, the other as his wages.
[1.] By way of reward : John xvii. 6, ' Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.' They were given to be members of his body, subjects of his kingdom, children of his family ; Christ hath a special and peculiar interest in them. This was the bargain which he made with God, that he should be head of the renewed state. This was all the honour and benefit accruing to Christ by the covenant of redemption : Isa. liii. 10, 11, ' He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands ; he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.' Christ was pleased with the bargain. Nothing could be added to the greatness of his person, who was the eternal Son of God, equal with the Father in glory and honour ;
VeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 93
yet he was pleased to account it a good purchase to have a special title and interest in us, and rested satisfied, having gained sufficient by all his expense of blood and merit. We are all Benonis, sons of sorrow to him.
[2.] Byway of charge : John vi. 37-39, ' All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out ; for I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me ; and this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.' God calleth Christ to account for the elect, and his number and tale must be full. The elect are given to Christ, not by way of alienation, but oppignoration, that he may guide them safe to glory ; as the shepherd must give an account of the sheep to the owner that sets him awork. And so doth Christ at the last day : Heb. ii. 13, * Behold I and the children which God hath given me.' God looketh narrowly what is become of the elect ; not one of the tale is wanting.
Use. Are you of this number ? If you be given by God, you give up yourselves to him. Our faith is nothing else but our consent to God's eternal decrees. All the Father's acts are ratified in time by the creatures' consent. God giveth by way of reward and charge ; so there is a committing and a consecrating both together.
1. Committing yourselves to Christ: 2 Tim. i. 12, 'I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day ; ' r-qv TrapaKaTaOrjKTjv fxov, by an advised act of trust. Can you put your souls into his hands ? The Father is wiser than we ; he laiew well enough what he did when he left us in charge with Christ. It argueth a sense of danger, a solicitous care about the soul ; and then an advised trust, grounded on the belief of Christ's sufficiency. Many think their souls were never in danger, therefore they are not careful about putting them into safe hands. Canst thou venture upon eternity on such assurances ? Well, I have trusted Christ with my soul. Oh ! it is the hardest matter in the world to trust Christ with our souls advisedly and knowingly. Pre- sumption is an inconsiderate act, a fruit of incogitancy, and therefore very easy.
2. Consecrating: Rom. xii. 1, *I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service ;' yield up your- selves to Christ. So David : Ps. cxix. 94, ' I am thine, save me/ Personal dedication showeth God's act is not fruitless. In a serious self-surrender, we must give up ourselves to God ; not with any reserva- tion, to use ourselves as our own, but absolutely to be at God's dispose, to live and act for him. 0 christians ! if you would clear up your interest, this is your duty, for this is but making good his grant to Christ. It goeth under the name of our deed, but it is God's work in us. The altar, the sacrifice, the fire is sent down from heaven. It is God's giving, still the receiving is on our part ; for by renouncing self, we enjoy self most. Do we out of a sense of duty thus give up our- selves ? Do we make good our vows ? God lendeth us to ourselves, to be employed to his honour.