PRESERVATION FROM SIN MORE DESIRABLE THAN DELI- VERANCE FROM AFFLICTION.
John xvii. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
WE admire the solicitude which a dying parent expresses for the future and eternal welfare of his children ; nor can we easily shake off the concern which such a spectacle creates in our minds. Such a scene, but incomparably more affecting, is here presented to our view. The Saviour of the world was unmindful of his own impending sorrows, and was altogether occupied with the concerns of his Church and people. Having given his last instruc- tions to his Disciples, he poured out his soul in prayer for them. One of the principal subjects of his prayer is specified in the text.
We shall consider,
I. What our Lord prayed for on behalf of his Dis- ciples—
He prayed " not that they should be taken out of the world"—
[He had just declared that the world hated his Dis- ciples. Hence we might suppose that he should wish them to be taken out of the world ; and many reasons might have been urged by him to enforce such a request. God had often taken away his beloved people in a signal manner a : he speaks of a sudden removal in evil times as a favour to themb. He would hereby manifest his indignation against the world for crucifying his Son ; and our Lord might then have carried his Disciples with him as trophies. Nor can we doubt but that such a measure would have been extremely pleasing to his Disciples.
But on the whole such a petition would have been inexpe- dient ; first, on account of the world. The Disciples were to be the instructors of mankind0, and to be living examples of true piety d. They were also to intercede on behalf of their fellow- creatures; but, if they were taken away together with our Lord, their commission could not be executed, and the world
a Heb. xi. 5. 2 Kings ii. 11. b Isai. lvii. 1.
c Matt, xxviii. 19. d Matt. v. 14.