Application —
h 2 Cor. xiii. 5. ' John xvi. 8, 9.
k 1 John v. 4. Gal. v. 6. Acts xv. 9. ' 2 Thess. iii. 2.
•" Rom. iv. IS— 20. " 1 Thess. i. 3.
1 707.] OUR lord's prayer to be glorified on earth. Ill
[Trials must ere long come upon every soul amongst us : and then nothing but faith will support us0. And even now if our graces be examined, it will be found that our progress has been in exact proportion to our faith. Let us then pray with the Apostles, " Lord, increase our faith ; that through it we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."]
0 1 Pet. i. 5 — 7.
our lord's prayer to be glorified on earth.
John xvii. 1. These ivords spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come ; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.
THE work of intercession belongs to Christ, as the High-Priest of his Church. We know not the precise manner in which He carries it on within the vail, but we may form some idea of it from the speci- men recorded in this chapter. He had given all the instructions necessary for the support and comfort of his Disciples ; and now, in their hearing, concluded with this sublime and pathetic prayer ; but before he interceded for them, he offered one petition for him- self.
In explaining the words before us, we shall con- sider,
I. Our Lord's request —
His outward gesture corresponded with the feelings of his heart. Deeply affected with his own condition, he presented a request well suited to his circum- stances. It imported,
1. That his Father should bear testimony to him in his trouble —
[Jesus was now to endure all possible indignities, as an impostor. On this account he more than ever needed a testi- mony on his behalf; and God, in answer to this request, gave ample testimony to his Messiahshipa.]
a He caused both him that betrayed, and him that condemned, our Lord, to attest his innocence ; and made even the inanimate creation to bear witness to him.