There are two things suggested for their comfort,
1. Their security in this world — [The saints are frequently, especially in this intercessory prayer, spoken of as " given to Christ by the Father." And when were they given him, but from all eternity5? Nor was it merely in his personal, but also in his official character, as the head and representative of his elect, that " the Father loved Christ from before the foundation of the world h." Can we suppose then that they were given to Christ, and that it was left uncertain whether he should ever enjoy the gift? Has not our Lord himself repeatedly declared, that they should never perish, and that none should ever pluck them out of his hand'? Further, it was for them that Jesus prayed; and " we
b John xii. 26. c John xiv. 3.
d John i. 14. 2 Pet. i. 1G, 17. e Matt. xix. 28.
f To the same effect see Jer. xxix. 11, 12. and Ezek. xxxvi. 37.
s Eph. i. 4. h Isai. xlii. 1.
1 John x. 28, 29.
know that him the Father heareth always." For them too he is carrying on his intercession in heaven; and is not he an all-prevailing Advocate ? yea, is not his intercession for them a ground of assurance, that he both can, and will, save them to the uttermostk? " Fear not then, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom1." Rejoice in your security, and know that " having loved you, our Lord will love you to the endm;" having " bought you with a price," he will never suffer himself to be deprived of " his purchased possession."]
2. Their felicity in the world to come —
[It is the glory of Christ which irradiates heaven, and makes it what it is ; " the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Hence the Apostle speaks of " being with Christ," and " being present with the Lord," as terms equivalent with the glorification of his soul: yea, he mentions it as that which conveys the most consoling idea of heaven". Now if we only consider what unspeakable joy arises from a view of Christ, through the medium of the written word, we may well conceive that an immediate vision of his unveiled glory constitutes the felicity of heaven. And this, believer, is thy portion : it is reserved for thee, and thou for it. Thou shalt behold him face to face0. Though now thou canst not endure the splendour of the meridian sun, thou shalt soon have thine organs of vision strengthened to gaze on him, who is " the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person." What felicity must this be ! If the Queen of Sheba, enraptured with the glory of Solomon, exclaimed, " Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants who stand before thee, and that hear thy wisdom p," what must be the happiness of those who behold " the Lamb upon his throne," and enjoy that beatific vision without weariness or intermission ? O that we might all aspire after this honour, and that not one of us might ever come short of it !]
Application —
1. Let every one of us now inquire, Am I interested in this prayer ?
[This surely is an important inquiry : it is, in fact, to ask, Shall I behold my Saviour's face with joy, or shall I behold it only at an unapproachable distance, a wretched outcast from heaven, an hopeless monument of God's displeasure ? Let us enter into this inquiry with fear and trembling. But it may be asked, Is it not presumptuous to attempt an answer to such
k Heb. vii. 25. ' Luke xii. 32. m John xiii. 1.
11 1 Thess. iv. 18. ° 1 Cor. xiii. 12. P 1 Kinsjs x. 8.
1717.1 Christ's enemies smitten down. 147
an inquiry? for who can specify the persons that have been given to Christ? who hath looked into the book of God's decrees, that he shall undertake to answer such a question as this ? We answer, that the question may easily be resolved, without presuming to pry into the secrets of God. The point may be determined by asking, Have I given myself to Christ ? Have I as a guilty, helpless, and undone creature, given up myself to Christ, to be washed in his blood, and to be sanc- tified by his Spirit? Have I done this repeatedly, with deep humiliation, with fervent prayer, with faith unfeigned? If our consciences bear witness that we have indeed done this, then do we know that the Father gave us to him from all eternity; for " we love him because he first loved usq;" and we chose him only in consequence of our having before been chosen of himr. Hither then let our researches be directed ; nor let us ever conclude ourselves his, till we have shewn ourselves willing and desirous to be his.]