8. That this is the import of Christ's intercession for believers is evident by that preface which we have thereof, John xvii., being a manifest declaration on earth of that which Christ lives in heaven to do. This was the incense wherewith he entered into the holy place, which he now prepared, and which was afterward beaten small in his agony, that it might be ready to make a sweet perfume at his entrance into heaven, as he was sprinkled with his own blood. That Christ intercedeth, and for his elect, for whom he died, that they may believe, our adversaries deny; but that he intercedes for actual believers hath not hitherto been questioned. What it is which he requests on their behalf, the tenor of that prayer of his, John xvii., will manifest. Yerse 11, saith he, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are;" — " Keep them from sin and ruin, from every thing that will hinder them from union with me." What is it that our Saviour here prays for, and for whom is he so engaged? That it is for believers, as such, for whom he puts up these supplications, our adversaries in the cause in hand do contend. That these mav be
3CS DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
kept through the power of God unto unity among themselves, which they have by their union with him, is his dying request for them. He prays not for such oneness as is consistent with their separation from his and his Father's love. Where now shall we fix the sup- posed failure of those who efifectually and eventually are kept up to spiritual union, who cannot fall out of nor fall off from (totally nor finally) the love of God ? Either Christ is not heard in his request, or the Father cannot keep them by his power, if these thus interceded for are not preserved. Many temptations, many oppositions, great tribulations without, strong corruptions within, they must needs meet withal: these they have no power in themselves to overcome nor to resist. Should they be left to themselves, they would never be able to hold out to the end. Saith Christ, " I shall lose these poor sheep for whom I have ' laid down my life' to bring them unto thee. Holy Father, do thou therefore keep and preserve them from all these evils, that they may not prevail over them. And ' keep them through thy name,' thy power" (for we are '' kept through the power of God unto salvation ") ; " let thy power be exerted for their preserva- tion. And what is too strong for thy power? Who can take them out of thy hand? Lay that upon them for their defence, show it out in their behalf, that all their enemies may feel the weight and strength thereof. ' Keep them through thy name,' thy grace ; let that be sufficient for them. Let them have such supplies of gospel grace and pardoning mercy (concerning which I manifested thy name unto them, verse 6, and so revealed thee [as] a Father), that they may be encouraged to trust in that name of thine, and to stay themselves upon thee." Where the failure is, doubtless is not easy to manifest. In the verses following our Saviour adds many motives to make his intercession prevalent in their behalf : —
First, Verse 12, he saith that, according to that commission that he had received, he had faithfully preserved them whilst that he was in the world ; and now being ready to leave them, as to his bodily presence, he urges the special preservation of his Father as needful, that after all the care and cost which he had laid out about them, they might not utterly perish. And then, —
Secondly, Verse 18, he urges the necessity that they should have some assurance of it in the midst of all their troubles and trials, that they may have consolation upon their confidence in the words which Christ had spoken to them, that they should be preserved through all difficulties unto the end. And he farther urges, —
Thirdly, Verse 14, from the certain opposition that they should meet withal, " *Tiie world hateth them,' and will, without doubt, use all ways and means possible for their ruin and destruction;" giving also tlie reason why the world hateth them, and will oppose them, whicli is such an one as must needs engage the heart and good-will of
IX,] THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 3ft9
God for their preservation, to wit, because they received tlie word of his dear Son, and upon that account left the world, separated from it, and became its enemies. And shall they now be left to tlie rag-e and fury of the world in this condition? "That be far from thee; ' holy Father, keep them.'" Hereupon, —
Fourthly, Verse 15, he reneweth his prayer in their behalf, with a farther opening of his mind as to what he had last spoken of " The world," the world being vile, wretched, deceitful, and set upon oppo- sition against them, a man would have thought that the Lord Jesus should have desired that his saints might be taken out from the midst of this world, and set in a quiet place by themselves, where they might no more be troubled with the baits and oppositions of it. But this is not that which he requests. H.e hath another work for them to do in the world. They are to bear witness to him and his truth by their faith and obedience, to convince the wicked, unbelieving world; they are to glorify his name by doing and suffering for him : so that this is no part of his request. " I pray not," saith he, " that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that they may not be prevailed on nor conquered by the evil that is in the world ; that they may be kept and preserved from the power of evil, which would separate them from me and my love." This he presseth for, and this he is heard in; and that not only for his apostles and present fol- lowers, but as he tells you, verse 20, for all that should believe on him to the end of the world.