Exposition of John, Chapter 17 · Verse 14
Verſe 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.
Followeth the fourth and laſt branch of this part of the chapter, containing Chriſts ſecond petition for his Apoſtles, which is propounded in this verſe, and preſſed by two Arguments, v. 18, 19. The petition is, that the Father would ſanctifie them, which albeit it ſometime ſignifie the conſecrating of a man and ſetting him apart to an office, as the Apoſtles alſo were, v. 18. yet here it imports ſomewhat beſide, and ſubſervient to that: namely, that the Lord would conferre upon them the grace of ſanctification, and ſo conſecrate them unto himſelf, as beleevers, and ſo alſo fit them for that employment to which he had devoted and conſecrated them. Unto this is ſubjoyned the inſtrumental cauſe of their ſanctification, through thy truth, whereby is not only ſignified, that he would have them ſanctified in truth, or, truly, of which we may hear, v. 19. but that the Word of truth is the mean and inſtrument of ſanctification: And to prevent all miſtakes, he declares that this truth is in the Word, againſt all them who ſeek truth beſide it. Whence learn, 1. Such as are Chriſts followers indeed, and may make comfortable application of other benefits of his interceſſion, muſt be men ſanctified, by habitual graces of holineſſe infuſed into them, which will not only break forth in ſome few acts of Religion and righteouſneſſe, but muſt ſo devote and conſecrate them to God, as they may not withdraw themſelves to another uſe: for, ſo much is imported in this that Chriſt prayes for, unto his Apoſtles, Sanctifie them, intimating, that where he intercedes for any, he alſo prayeth for, and, in due time, works this in them. 2, It is not enough that men have a begun work of ſanctification in them, unleſſe they grow up in it daily more and more: for, he prayeth for theſe who were already converted and ſanctified, as he maketh his account, v. 6, 7, 8. that the Father would ſanctifie them, and carry them on in ſanctification till it be perfected in glory. Such will be invited to grow, who entertain the ſenſe of what they have received, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. who are ſenſible of their ſhort-coming in what they have, Phil. 3.12, 13. and who fear back-ſliding, and conſider that not to grow, is the way to decay: and they will ſtudy to evidence this growth, by perſevering in their firſt principles, not loving age in what once through grace they loathed, nor building up what they once deſtroyed; and by growing in graces, eſpecially in ſenſe of their pollution, humility, love, painfulneſſe, &c. 3. Whatever principles or obligations men have to keep them from the evils of the world, and from Satan in it: yet all theſe will not avail, unleſſe they be not only truly ſanctified, but be growing therein: Therefore is this petition, ſanctifie them, ſubjoyned to the former, v. 15. of keeping them, as being the effectual mean of their preſervation. 4. As ſanctification is the duty of beleevers, laid upon them by God; ſo it is alſo his work in them, who principleth them for it, and works it in them, when they, in the ſenſe of their own inability, do put it upon him: for, Chriſt by prayer ſeeketh it of the Father, ſanctifie them. 5. As the truth of God is the rule of true ſanctification, nothing being holineſſe in Gods account, how ſpecious ſoever it be, unleſſe it be according to that truth; So the truth of God which is the inſtrument of regeneration, hath alſo a ſpecial influence in the matter of daily ſanctification, 1 Pet. 2.2. The word of command being made effectual to preſſe the duty, the word of promiſe to encourage it, 2 Cor. 7.1. 2 Pet. 1.4. and the Word and doctrine of the Croſſe of Chriſt holding out vertue enabling to duty, 1 Cor. 1.18. and exciting faith which purifieth the heart, Acts 15.9. In both theſe reſpects he prayeth, Sanctifie them through, or, in thy truth, both as the rule and touchſtone of ſanctification, and as a mean and inſtrument of it. 6. It is not ſafe for men to cry up their own or others ſanctification, to the countenancing of the errours which they maintain; but they muſt prove the truth of their holineſſe, by the truth which hath been inſtrumental in it, and muſt reckon that the holineſs they have, is either counterfeit, or elſe hath been wrought, not by their errours, but by the power of ſome real truthes which they have, or do ſtill hold, and that therefore by embracing errour they do exceedingly wrong their piety, by depriving themſelves of the mean which doth beget and cheriſh it; for theſe cauſes doth Chriſt ſo expreſly pray, not only, Sanctifie them, by what mean ſoever, but Sanctifie them through thy truth, as the only mean of true holineſſe. 7. Whatever efficacie truth hath in the matter of ſanctification: it doth all come from God, who muſt be employed by prayer to make the word ſucceſſeful for that end; for, ſo much doth Chriſt, example teach, who prayeth to the Father, Sanctifie them through thy truth. See 2 Theſſ. 3.1. 8. Whatever wayes men do dream of, for finding the truth of God, yet it is only to be found in the Word of God, and all other wayes beſide will but produce deluſion and lies; Therefore doth he ſubjoine, to prevent all miſtakes, Thy Word is truth. 9. Whatever may be the heſitations of men, concerning the Word of God, yet it is his infallible verity, and will not deceive them who betake themſelves to it for direction and encouragement; for, Thy Word is truth, See Pſal. 12.6. 2 Pet. 1.19.