might bo kopt in the Name of the FatheT, and that all might be sanctified by the t~uth, But the expressod request here presented on their behalf should receive atten- tion, It wns for their unity. Not for their uniformity, in outward or"nnization in rite nnd ceremony, in uttered creed and liturgy; but for their spiritual ;nity as i; appa- reh~ fr~m the petition that it might resemble that of the Father and the S~n. A unity of life 1s here intended, like that of the branches in a vine rather than that of a bundle o~ staves, The Master desired for his disciples that they might have the same faith in lumeelf, the same brotherly love one towards another, the same benevolent disposition tow:arde the world. The value which Christ thus set upon true unity is a standard to which we are called to conform. That which Jesus made the object of his desiro l\~d prayer must be beautiful in God's view, and is worthy of our appreciation, our best endeavours for its promotion. III. THE llLOBI0UB AND ULTIMATE AIM OF CHRIST'S INTERCEBBI0N. How ma'Zllificent the en_d which our Lord sought, not only by his prayer, but also by his toils, his sacri- fice, his death I Nothing short of the world's belief in his mission, and adhesion to himself! We cannot understand by our Lord's words merely that he looked forward to the world's Bssent to a great fact, or to the world's forced acknowledgment upon the judgment-day. He desired that the world should come to believe both in the sending and in the sent One. However appearances may be against such :m expectation being realized, faith apprehends the prevalence of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world. The influeuce and ministry of the Church, under the guidance of the Divine Spirit, is intended to promote the world's salvation. When it appears to us difficult to cherish hopes such as those which are justified by the declarations of Scripture, it will be well for us to check our despondency by remembering the prayer of the High Priest. That for which the beloved Son of God has pleaded, and ever pleads, will surely come to pass. And thus faith shall be rewarded, and Divine love shall have full and etunai gratification.-T.
Ver. 24:.-Blessed with <Jhrist. The future has 'for man a mysterious interest, and it exercises over him a mysterious power. Religion appeals to this, ae to all natural tendencies and susceptibilities of man's being. The revelations and the promises of Christianity have regard to the vast hereafter. When our Lord prayed for his disciples, it could not be that he should omit from his prayer their future-their condition and associations in the immortal state. Without such reference the high-priestly prayer would have been incomplete; for it was the prayer of him who brought life and immor- tality to light. L THE HOME OF THE BLESSED. Little as we know of that eternal home, that which we do know is of intense interest. What the Lord Jesus here tells us of heaven is welcome and precious rovelation. His desire and purpose concerning his people is that they may be : 1. With him. He could no longer be with them on earth ; but, as a com- pensation, they were to look forward to being with him in heaven. These cherished friends had been with him long enough to know and to prize such association. To them it was sufficient to know that they should be reunited to their Friend .md Master. 2. Where h6 is. The locality of heaven is unknown, and all speculation upon such a matter is idle. How all Christ's innumerable friends and followers can all be where· he is, we cannot understand. But it rejoices the heart of the disciple to know that he shall be where his Lord is. A bold mariner does not care to what sea his ilhip is bound, if he is only serving under the captain or admiral whom he trusts, and who has before shown him the way to discovery or to victory. II. THE VISION OF THE BLESSED. 'l'he people of Christ shall, in accordance with bis prayer, behold the glory of the Redeemer. 'l'he promise sank into the heart of John who recorded it; for he indulged the anticipation, "We shall be like hiw, for we shall see him as he is." Sight is here, as elsewhere, put for knowledge. The disciples had seen the humiliation of their Lord; they were to see his glory. In what this consists it is for us only to conjecture, with such help as Christ's words afford. There is the closest connection between the glory of Christ and the Father's eternal love. Our Lord himself has so taught us that we cannot place glory chiefly in what is visible au.d material. We think chiefly of that moral glory which is connected with Divine favour and with spiritual empire- 366 THE GOEPEL AOOORl)ING '1'0 ST, JOHN, [cH, xm.1-26,
"Glory shines about hie bend, And a bright crown without a thorn." Ruch a vision as that which our Lord here implores for his own must eulRrge the per• ceptions which the blmsed in heaven form of their great Recleemer, must excite their ,von<ler and aitoratiotl., and m11st even fan the flame of their holy and grateful love, It should be observed that, alLbough the aspect of the heavenly life here presented is corn• t«>mplative, this is by no means to the exclusion of quite another R.Spect, Tho servants, who shall see the face of their Lord, shall serve him day and night. Whnt they behold shall be the inspiration of their immortal songs of praise, and of their ccneelees acts of ooodience and devotion.-T.