The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 349

fellowe." (2) To Nl00mpen11e them for the sorrows of life. (3) To give them strength for duly and eull'ering. "The Joy of the Lord sho.11 be your strength." Yel'l!. 14-HI.-The world's hatred and Ohris(; prayer for the disciplea' safe keeping agaimt it. I. IT WAS CimtST1B ,voRD IN TIIE l>lllOil'LEB TIIAT EXOITED THE WOBLD'B HATRED. "I have given them thy Word." They who receive the Word cross the world's path (1) in their true jadgment of things, (2) in their God-like wills, (8) in t.heir holy lives. II. 'l'HE OPERATION OF Tll'E WORLD'S BATBED. "The world bath hated them, because they a.re not of the world, even as I am not of the world." 1. It is the honour of lleliet-ers that they are linked with OhrW, as the objects of the world's hatt-ed. 2. This hatred ~ seen ,n (1) persecution, (2) in calumny, (3) in the misconstruction of things doubtful, (4) in the blasphemy of God and religion. 3. The haired of the u,orld is no J.indran~ to the believer', blessedness. III. OHRIST'8 PBAYER 18 NOT FOR THE TRANSLATION OF BELIEVERS TO HEAVEN, BUT FOB THEIR PRESERVATION ON EARTH. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, bnt that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." 1. The desire of tkath ia un7awful in the saints, (1) because Christ has his work to do by us in the world ; (2) because the victory is to be gained through conflict; (3) because God co.n be more honoured by our steadfast endurance than by our escape from duty. 2. There is proviswn 77llLde for the prestlf"f1ation of the saints from evil. (1) It is better for us to be kept from sin in our afflictions than from the afflictions themselves. (2) Divine aid is needed for our safe keeping. (3) Such as devote themselves to Christ's service e.re ~ure, not only of his prayers, but of his Divine support. (4) The evil that surrounds the believer in the world will (a) awaken him to a true sense of his da.nger, (b) humble him, (c) and lead him to a nearer dependence upon the Lord. IV. Tim TRUE METHOD OF PRESERVATION. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth." 1. There must be a complete consecration to the task the disciples ltave to fulfil, in the world. (1) This consecration implies a prior consecration of heart and life to God, ill the wa.ye of practical holiness. (2) 'l'his consecration wa.s neces:!llty to the faithful discharge of the apostleship, 2. TM Word of God is the great instroment in God's hand for hi.8 people', sanctification. (1) It is here implied that the Word of God is the truth of God-truth at once (a) infallible, (b) eternal, (c) and holy. (2) It is to be read with diligence, preparation, and prayer. (3) It is tc be maintained (a) by our arguments, (b) by our obedience, (c) by our sufferings. 3. Jesu.s pn!!lllm,tB two motives in support qf thi.8 petition. (1) One was ta.ken from the mission he had entrusted to his disciples. "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." (a) The apostles went not nil.sent upon their mission. (b) They looked to Christ, not only for authority, but for equipment. (c) They carried his message. (d) They kept in view his end in preaching the gospel. (2) 'l'he other motive was taken from the work which he had effected in himself. "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." (a) Christ consecrated himself wholly to his work. "His human life received in a.u ever-increasing degree the seal of consecration till the entire and final sacrifice of death." (1,) The end of his coilf!eeration was the consecration of his members. The union of Christ and believers is the abiding source of this continuous consecration. Vers. 20, 2L-Ohrist', prayer for all bdiever,. Our Lord, having prayed for himself and for his apostles, now prays for the wbole body of believers. J. HE PRAYB FOR THE BELIEVEBB OF ALL GENERATIONS TILL THE END OF TIME, "Neither pray I for these a.lone, I.Jut for them also who shall believe on me through their word." 1. All bdiever, lwve, therefore, an interest in <Jhrist'tJ prayer. 2. The word of the ap<mles-that is, not merely their narrative of gospel facts, •but their revelation ef goe~l principles-ii the instrumental means of faith. (Rom. x. 17.) A capital place is thus assigned to the Word in the conversion of ~he world. (1) ~nsid_er the sad coudition of those who have not the Word. (2) The sm of those who reJect 1t, (3) 'l'he clli;honour done to the Lord by those who deceitfully handle it. II. 'l'BE &BEAT END OF THIS PREAOHING OF THE W OBD. " 'l'hat they all may be one; that as thou, Fatber, a.rt in rne, and I in thee, they also may be one in l'.8 : that the cm. xvu. 1-20.) THE GOSPEJ, ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.