Let us in like manner be resigned to the trials that are allotted us —
[When our hour shall come, let us look to him as our example. Let us consider Him, lest we be weary and faint in our minds. Let us welcome whatever comes to us by the Divine appointment. Let us desire that God may be glorified in us, whether by life or death. Thus shall we be honoured and comforted in the midst of our sufferings ; and after them be rewarded with a proportionable weight of glory.]
c As Elijah, at the hour of Evening Sacrifice, felt jealous for God's honour (1 Kings xviii. 36, 37), so did our Lord at this time. «* John xii. 27, 28.
Christ's power to give eternal life. John xvii. 2. Thou hast given him poiver over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
WE have in these words an unbounded prospect from eternity to eternity : they present to our view
vol. xiv. r
the commission first given by the Father to the Son ; they exhibit the Son in due season pleading that commission, and finally executing it when the world shall be no more : they lead us to contemplate,
I. The power given to Christ —
As God, he possessed all power equally with the Father; but, as Mediator, he received his power from the Father. This power was,
1. Universal in its extent —
[Not only was the material world, with all the brute creation, subject to his will, but man ; " power was given him over all flesh" His enemies are entirely under his controul : he restrains their violence3, defeats their plots b, and over- rules their efforts for the accomplishment of his own eternal counsels c His friends and people are his more espe- cial care: he watches over them for good continually d, suc- cours them when tempted6, strengthens them when weakf, and accomplishes in them all the good pleasure of his good- nessg ]
2. Infinite in its degree —
[There is nothing beyond the reach of his power. If he chose to annihilate the whole human race, he could effect it in a moment, by a simple act of volition. If, on the contrary, he would change them all into his own divine image, he could as easily create them all anew, as he at first produced them out of nothing. By making use of second causes indeed, he conceals his own agency : but there is nothing done in the whole creation, which does not originate in him, as the only source of wisdom and of strength.]
But we are yet more particularly interested in considering,
II. The end for which he was invested with it —
The Father gave to Christ an elect people —
[It is worthy of notice, that Christ, in this his intercessory prayer, speaks again and again of those who were "given him" by the Father. And, in truth, if the Father had not given to him a peculiar people, we have no reason to think that any would ever have given themselves to him, since there is not in fallen man either the inclination or the ability to do soh. They
a Ps. lxxvi. 10. b Job v. 12. c Ps. ii. 4.
i Ps. xxxiv. 15. e Heb. ii. 18. * 2 Cor. xii. 9.
g 2 Thess. i. 11. h Phil. ii. 13.
1708.] Christ's power to give eternal life. 115
who do yield themselves up to him are " made willing in the day of God's power1," and in consequence of their having been " predestinated unto the adoption of children from before the foundation of the world V]
To these " Christ gives eternal life " —
[The life of grace which is begun in their souls, is the gift of Christ1. The continuance of it is the effect of his continued communications111. Its consummation also is bestowed by him" without any merit in us, or any motive in himself, but a concern for his own, and his Father's glory0. Life, in every stage of it, both in this world and the next, is entirely his free gift. One is as much indebted to him for it as another : there will not be one in heaven that will not owe his salvation altogether to the merit of his blood, and to the efficacy of his grace.]