The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 356

nnd !ho pnrposee or tho F11thor. When the Lord Jesus hB<l communicated to hie di,i- ciplee the fact thn.t God is a. Spirit, and the fact that he is the Father in heaven, he hnd in great measure made known the Divine Name; but it was a further and richer rovcl11tion that he made when he told of the Father's purposes of compassion and mercy towards hie children-when he, in the Name of the Almighty and All-merci(ul, assured hie fa.ithful people of spiritual snlvation and of eternal life. 3. But the glory of this nssertion is not yet exhausted. Christ saye that he will yet make known the Name of God. Tho reference may be to the approaching manifestation of the Divine heart in the sacrifice 11.nd the subsequent exaltation and victory of the Son. But it may, and probably does, include the whole future revelation of God through the Holy Spirit, and throughout the spiritual economy. There are those who consider revelation to have been continuous and progressive throughout this dispensation ; there are others who consider that the objective revelation is complete in itself, but that the quickening influences of the Holy Spirit enable successive generations to discern ever new beauty, power, and .preciousness in him who is "the Light of the world," and "the Life of men.u IV. DIVINE LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP ABE THE GREAT END OF THE DIVINE REVELATION AND OF HU.MAN KNOWLEDGE, Our acquaintance with Goel is a mysterious and glorious privilege, yet we may with reverence hold that it is the means to an end. We love only those whom in some measure we know; yet by loving we may learn to know them more. As Christ is formed in bis people, and as his character and life are revealed by them, the Father cherishes and displays towards them the very affection with which he regards his well-beloved Son. It is thus that the incarnation and sacrifice of the Redeemer produce their precious and immortal results. Ignorance, sin, estrangement, and hatred are, by this Divine provision, expelled; and in their place the new humanity, the spiritual kingdom, the Church of the living God, is penetrated by the Spirit of Christ, filled with the light of holy knowledge, and blessed with the enjoyment of imperishable lovo.-T. Ver. 15.-Fighting, notfalling. Notice- I. THE NEGATIVE PART OF THIS PRAYER. "I pray not," etc. 1. lt was not his wish that they should be taken out of the material world. Although he was about to leave it, by an ignominious death, yet his death did not make theirs necessary. Their death would n~ither decrease nor increase his agonies. Some think that because they die that all should follow. But Christ was so far from being selfish, that he was willing to die that his disciples might live and remain. (1) Christianity does not in itse{f shorten life, but rather lengthens it. It has been the occasion of death, bnt never its direct cause. It has a direct tendency to increase life in length, and invariably in breadth and depth ; sometimes in sum, al ways in value; sometimes in days and years, as in the case of Hezekiah; always in usefulness and influence, as in the case of Jesus. Heaven is not jealous of her children's physical and material enjoyment on earth. The tenant shall remain as long as the house stands, and when it crumbles, Heaven will receive him into her mansions. (2) Christianity does not incapacitate man to e:nfoy the material world. On the contrary, it tunes tho harp of physical life, sweetens the music of nature, paints its landscape in diviner hues, beautifies its sceneries and renders them all sublime and enchanting. The material world to man is what his inward and spiritual nature makes it. Christianity fills the world with joy; embroiders its clouds with love, tinges even its winters with goodness; makes the thunder rattle kindness as well as power, and the storm to speak of mercy as well as majesty. It fills the world with sunshine, and makes it, not a dreadful prison, haunts of demons, but the thorough- fare of angels, the nursery of happiness, the temple of God and the gate of heaven. 2. It was not his wish that they should be taken out of the social, world, but that they should remain in it. Sociality was one of his own characteristics. Christianity opeus and not shuts the door of society, and brings man into closer union with his fellow. Bigotry, priestcro.ft, and religions prejudice have bauished many from society, and imprisoned many a Bunyan; but puM Christianity, never. Its direct tendency is to sanctify and bless all the relationships of life, and refine and inspire our social interests. Christ said, " Let your light shine," not on the mountain-to~, in the lonely wilderness, ;iot in the secluded cloister or nunnery, but "before men '-in the fair and in the  868 'l'HE G-OSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ou. xvu. 1-28.