Exposition of John, Chapter 17 · Verse 18
Verſe 22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one:
In this verſe, Chriſt (to preſſe this ſuit before the Father, and convince his Apoſtles and all beleevers of the neceſſity of this union) holds forth what excellent priviledges he had conferred and allowed upon them to advance their union; even a communication of that glory given to him by the Father. Which is not to be underſtood as if the eſſential glory and attributes of Chriſt as God, or the glory of the perſonal union of the manhood of Chriſt to his Godhead, or of the office of Mediatour, were communicable to any other, or that any glory given to him, is communicate to any in the ſame meaſure with him: nor yet only of the glory of the Apoſtleſhip or Miniſtry committed to him. For that was given only to the Apoſtles and their ſucceſſours, this to all beleevers; But the meaning is, That as his incommunicable glory is made forth-coming for them; ſo the glory of Sonſhip, of his ſanctification without meaſure, of being on Gods ſecrets and dwelling in his boſome, and of his union with the Father, is communicate to them in its own kinde and meaſure, and they are made Sons, ſanctified in part, admitted to the knowledge of the Fathers ſecrets, and to be one with the Father in him, and all this in order to their union, which alſo is a reſemblance of that glory of his unity with the Father communicate unto them. Whence learn, 1. Chriſt is truly glorious, having not only eſſential glory, the ſame and equal with the Fathers glory, and which was declared to be in him, by his exaltation, but our nature being exalted in him to the glory of the perſonal union, and of the offices and dignities following thereupon; for, there is the glory which thou gaveſt me. 2. Chriſt is communicative of his fulneſſe to his people; all his excellencies being either communicate to them to partake of, or daily forth-coming for them; for, the glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them. 3. All that is in Chriſt for beleevers, or communicate to them from him, cometh by free gift, without any deſerving on their part, and ſhould be eſteemed of as an excellent gift; for, I have given them the glory. 4. What beleevers have in and from Chriſt, doth advance them to a glorious eſtate, and is their begun glory and ſalvation; ſo that none but they have any true glory, nor is any thing enjoyed by men truly glorious, but the grace and other priviledges they enjoy in and from him; for, it is the glory which I have given them. 5. It is not enough we know what we have in Chriſt and from him, unleſſe we alſo take up the end for which it is allowed, and emprove it accordingly; Therefore doth he ſubjoyne, I have given them that glory, that they may be one. 6. All Chriſts communication of himſelf to beleevers, doth tend to advance their union; Their union among themſelves in ſome ſort of reſemblance with that union betwixt the Father and him, and their union with God through him for that end, is in it ſelf a part of that glory which he giveth them; And all their participation of the fruits of that incommunicable glory which is in Chriſt, and all that is communicate by Chriſt to them, ſhould ſit them the more for union, and make them grow in humility and mutual condeſcendence for that effect, and not puffe them up; for, the glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. 7. Chriſt would have the excellency of union ſtudied, in the gloriouſneſſe thereof, in his large communications for the advancement thereof, and in the reſemblance it hath with the union betwixt the Father and him; Therefore doth he ſo point it out here, to the conviction of all, I have given them the glory, even to be one, and that they may be one even as we are one. 8. Such as would promove the welfare of Gods people, ought not only to wiſh or pray for it; but muſt alſo be active in their ſtation for promoving thereof; for, ſo much doth Chriſts practice teach, who, as he prayed for this union, ſo he gave them the glory, that they may be one. 9. It may, upon the one hand, ſhame beleevers from diviſion and diſſention, that hereby they do what they can to deprive themſelves of that glory gifted by Chriſt, to be one as the Father and he are, and to make void the fruit of all his glorious communications; And, on the other hand, it may aſſure them who long for union, that Chriſt whoſe deſire and allowance it is, and who hath laid out ſo much for it, and is daily interceding with the Father for that effect, will, in due time bring it about among his people; Therefore, both to ſhame his people from their contentions and neglect of union, and to preſſe his ſuit before the Father, how averſe ſoever they be, he uſeth this Argument, The glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them, that they may be one, &c.