Sermons Volume 2, John 17 · Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
JOHN XVII.6.
I have manifested thy Name unto the Men which thou gavest me out of the World: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy Word.
II. THE next Argument is, what the Father had done in and about Believers, he disposed them into the Hands of Christ; Thine they were, and thou gavest them me. Where is,
First, His Interest in Believers.
Secondly, His Act about Believers.
First, His Interest in Believers: Thine they were. How is this to be understood? Divers have framed divers Sences, thine by Creation, thine by Election, thine by Sanctification. The Father being first in Order of the Persons, all Original Works are proper to him: So Creation is ascribed to him; so the Lord saith, Ezek. 18.4. All Souls are mine, all created by him. But this sence is not so proper to this place, because those for whom Christ prayed not, might plead this Interest: so Satan is God's, the Wicked and all Creatures are God's. By Election; thine by free Election, mine by special Donation. 1 Pet. 2.9. Ye are a chosen Generation, a peculiar People: the first and highest Act of Grace is ascribed to him, they are his chosen and peculiar Ones. These were eternally his, and by the continuation of the same purpose of Grace, they are always his. This is proper to this place; only Sanctification may be included, which is, as it were, an Actual Election. As by Original Election, the Heirs of Salvation are distinguished from others in God's Purpose and Counsel; so by Actual Election, they are visibly distinguished and set apart from others: So, thine they were, by an excitement of thy Spirit and Grace stirred up to follow me, and chuse me in this special way of Service. Sanctification is also ascribed to the Father. John 6.44. No Man can come unto me, except the Father that hath sent me, draw him: and, Jude 1. To them that are sanctified by God the Father. The first Effect of Saving-Grace is ascribed to him, as the first rise of Grace is from his Love. I prefer the middle Sence, and do only take in the latter as the Effect. Thine they were; they were chosen by the Purposes of thy Grace, and called, which is the Effect of that Grace passing upon their Hearts.
From hence,
1. Observe, That Christ pleadeth Interest as an Argument in Prayer. It is meet, when we come to pray to God, that we can say, We are his. This way would Christ endear his own Disciples to the Father's Respect and Grace; Psal. 119.44. I am thine, save me. The great Work of Christians should be, to discern their Interest, that they may come to God with some confidence. Though you cannot say, I am thine, with respect to the purposes of his Grace; yet at least you should say, I am thine, in your own Dedication and Choice; Si nostra tueri non vultis, & tamen vestra defendetis. Many a trembling Christian dareth not say, He is mine; but he is resolved to say, I am his; that is the fitter Argument with God. With our own Souls, in our own Straits, plead, He is mine. Psal. 42.11. Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the Health of my Countenance, and my God: but in Prayer plead, I am his; though you cannot plead his Choice, plead your own Resignation. Consider, it is a forcible Argument: Every one will provide for his own, He is worse then an Infidel, who will not provide for his own, especially those of his own Houshold. It is a comfortable Argument; When we cannot speak of our Works, we may speak of our Interest: Lord! I am a Sinner, but I am thine, I am a poor Wretch, but I am one, that would not be his own, unless I am thine. Oh, but says the poor Soul, If I could say, that I am thine, one that belongeth to the Purposes of thy Grace, there were some Comfort! Answ. It is sweet, when we can say mutually, I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine: But are you not willing to chuse him, though you cannot say he hath chosen you? The choice of our Portion discovereth our Interest. Canst thou in truth of Heart say, Lord! I have none in Heaven but thee, none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of thee? Psal. 73.25. If you can, in the sincerity of your Hearts, call God to witness this, it is sweet. Though thou canst not apply Christ, canst thou resign thy self? then we have the Fruit of Election, though we have not the Sense of it. God certainly hath chosen us, when by the Work of his Grace he maketh us chuse him. Fallen Man is not dainty in his choice, till a Work of Grace passeth upon him; he turneth from the Creator to the Creature; he saith to the World, Would to God thou wert mine! to Riches, Honours, Pomp, would thou wert mine! Happy is the People that are in such a Case! It is Grace turneth us from the Creature back again to God; God is our Portion, because we are his; God cannot refuse that Heart which he hath thus drawn to himself.
2. Observe again, That none are given to Christ, but those that were first the Father's. Thine they were; he had chosen them in the Purposes of his Grace, and disposed them into Christ's Hands. Thine by Election, mine by Special Donation. The Acts of the three Persons are commensurable, of the same Sphere and Latitude; those whom the Father chuseth, the Son redeemeth, and the Spirit sanctifieth. The Father loveth none, but those that are given to Christ; and Christ taketh charge of none, but those that are loved of the Father. Your Election will be known by your Interest in Christ, and your Interest in Christ, by the Sanctification of the Spirit. All God's Flock are put into Christ's Hands, and Christ leaveth them to the care of the Spirit, that they may be enlightned and sanctified. In looking after the Comfort of Election, you must first look inward to the Work of the Spirit on your Hearts, then outward to the Work of Christ on the Cross, then upward to the Heart of the Father in Heaven. 1 Pet. 1.2. Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto Obedience, and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. There is a Chain of Salvation, the Beginning is from the Father, the Dispensation through the Son, the Application by the Spirit; all cometh from God, and is conveyed to us through Christ by the Spirit.
Secondly, The Father's Act about Believers, Thou gavest me them.
How are they given to Christ? Things are given to Christ two ways; by way of Reward, or by way of Charge.
1. By way of Reward. So all Nations are given to him by way of Reward. Psal. 2.8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession. He is Lord of all, Acts 10.36. even of the Devils. All Flesh are thus given to him, to be ruled by him. This Donation is very large, and comprizeth Elect and Reprobates; all Nations are Christ's Heritage in this sence, as well as the Church: All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given to him, to dispose of Elect and Reprobates according to his own Pleasure. Only in this giving by way of Reward, there is a difference; some are given to Christ at large, to be disposed of according to his Pleasure; others are given to him for some special Ministry and Service; as Hypocrites in the Church: and so Judas was given to him, as Christ saith, Vers. 9. Of them which thou hast given me, I have lost none but the Son of Perdition. Again, others are given to him by way of special and peculiar Interest, to be Members of his Body, Subjects of his Kingdom, &c. So only the Elect are given to Christ; the great Bargain that Christ drove with his Father, was an Interest in Souls; therefore it is said, Isa. 53.10, 11. When thou shalt make his Soul an Offering for Sin, he shall see his Seed, he shall prolong his days, and the Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hand. He shall see of the travel of his Soul, and be satisfied. This was all the Gain that Christ reckoned of.
2. By way of Charge. This again is proper to the Elect, who are redeemed, justified, sanctified, glorified. The Elect are made over to Christ, not by way of Alienation, but Oppignoration; none of them who are given to Christ by way of Charge can miscarry. John 6.37. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. And, ver. 39. This is the Will of him that sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose none, but should raise it up again at the last day. And, John 10.28, 29. I give unto them eternal Life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all: and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand. There is Christ's Faithfulness, and the Father's Power engaged, therefore this must needs be proper to the Elect.
Now because both these ways are proper to the Elect; that that I observe is, That the Father's Elect are given and committed to the Son, as his Purchase, and Charge.
First, They are given to him by way of Reward. Christ by virtue of his Purchase hath many Relations to Believers; they are given to him as Subjects of his Kingdom, as Scholars of his School, as Children of his Family, as the Spouse of his Bosom, as the Members of his Body. All these Relations I shall insist upon; for this was the Honour that was granted to Christ upon his Obedience. It was much that Christ would be our King, more that he would be our Master, more that he would be our Father, more that he would be our Husband, and yet further, that he would be our Head: He counted it an Honour, and bought it at a dear rate.
1. We are given to him, to be Subjects of his Kingdom. Christ is Lord of all the World, but he prizeth to Title like that of King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. to rule as Lord in the Church. No Throne like the Conscience of an humbled Sinner. The Heart is Christ's best Presence-Chamber, he loveth to have his Chair of State set there. He had an eternal Right together with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, but he would come and suffer, and be crowned with a Crown of Thorns, that he might have a new Right as Mediator, and have the Crown of Glory put upon his Head in the Church. Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour. The Father promised it long before upon Bargain and Contract. There is never a Subject that Christ hath, but is bought, and with the dearest Price, his Soveraign's own Blood, Mat. 20.28. He gave himself, foreign, a ransome for many. Many Subjects die in other Kingdoms, that the Prince may be seated in the Throne; but here the Prince dieth for the Subjects, that he may govern his Spiritual Realm with more Peace and Quietness. As the Price was great, so the Father hath made him a large Grant.
1. Christ's Empire is Universal, and spread throughout the World. He properly is the Catholick King, there are no Bounds and Limits of his Empire. Isa. 53.12. Therefore will I divide him a Portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong. Some of all Nations are given to him. Isa. 49.12. Behold, these shall come from far: and lo, these from the North, and from the West, and these from the Land of Sinim. North, West, South, Jews and Gentiles. The Jews that are now his Enemies, shall appoint to themselves a Head; as the Tribes flocked to Hebron to crown David. Hos. 1.11. Then shall the Children of Judah, and the Children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one Head, and they shall come up out of the Land. There is no King like Christ for largeness of Command and Territory. All Monarchs have certain Bounds and Limits, by which their Empire is terminated; Christ's Empire runneth throughout the whole Circuit of Nature, he hath a Multitude of Subjects.
2. Christ's Empire is Eternal. Of the increase of his Government there shall be no end, Isa. 9.7. Kings must die, and then their Favourites may be counted Offenders: So Bathsheba said to David, (who yet was a Type of the Reign of Christ) 1 Kings 1.21. When my Lord the King shall sleep with his Fathers, I and my Son Solomon shall be counted Offenders. But Christ liveth and reigneth for evermore. But you will say, Christ doth not reign for ever, but till he hath put all Enemies under his Feet, when he shall resign up the Kingdom to the Father, 1 Cor. 15.24. I Answer, In Kingly Dignity there are two things Regia Cura, and Regius Honor; Kingly Care, and Kingly Honour. Kingly Care, by which he ordereth and defendeth his Subjects; and Kingly Honour, which he receiveth from his Subjects. Certainly, Christ shall be King for ever and ever, Luke 1.33. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end; because he shall always be honoured and adored as King and Mediator: He shall resign the Kingdom, that is, that way of Administration; for when the Elect are fully converted and sanctified, and their Enemies destroyed, there will be no need of this Care. Now thus we are given to Christ, that he might be a King Universally and Eternally: He ruleth us by a sweet Covenant, he might rule us by Power. Other Kings find Subjects, he maketh them: He might rule us, for he bought us, he hath an absolute right over us: As there was a Covenant between the Father and Christ, so between Christ and the Church. He propoundeth no less than a Kingdom, Isa. 10.8. Are not my Princes altogether Kings? Christ's Title is by Purchase, Conquest, and Consent. All Christ's Subjects were Vessels of Wrath, Vessels of Hell, in their natural Estate; he recovered us from the Devil by Power and Conquest, he bought us out of his Father's Hands by Merit and Price.
In short, concerning this Kingdom, which belongeth to the second Person; The Father appoints it, the Son merits it, the Holy Ghost as Christ's Vice-Roy governs it. The Father chuseth a certain number of Men, giveth them to Christ; the Son dieth for these Men, ransometh them from the Grave and Hell, and committeth them to be ruled and governed to the Spirit, as Christ's Vicar; the Spirit useth the Ministry of Men, we are the Holy-Ghost's Overseers, Acts 20.28. by which Grace is wrought, and so we are united to Christ. Our Work by the Power of the Spirit is to bring them to Christ, and Christ bringeth us to God the Father, by his Intercession, and by final Tradition, which is the last Act of Christ's Mediatory Kingdom. 1 Cor. 15.24. Then shall he deliver up the Kingdom to the Father. God giveth us to Christ, Christ to the Spirit, the Spirit uniteth us to Christ, and Christ bringeth us to God. So that if we would enter into this Kingdom, we must go to God the Father, confess thou art a Traitor and Rebel, desire him not to enter into Judgment with thee, but seek to be reconciled: If thou thus comest to the Father, he will send thee to the Son; as Job 42.8. God biddeth the Friends of Job to seek his Intercession; I will not be pleased with you but in Christ. If I did not regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, I would not look to thee, nor see thee. 2 King. 3.14. Go to the Son, reflect upon Christ's Merit and Intercession, say, Lord! appear for us before thy Father, were it not for thee he would not regard my Face. The Son will send you to the Spirit; I cannot bring you to God in your Impurity and Rebellion, go to the Spirit of my Father, that he may wash you, and purge you. Plead the promise of the Spirit, John 16.13, 14. Howbeit, when he that is the Spirit of Truth shall come, he will guide you into all Truth; for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you. When we come to the Spirit, he will send us to Moses and the Prophets, hear them. The Word is the Rod of his Strength: By the Word we are gained, by the Sacraments we take an Oath of Allegiance, in Prayer we perform our Homages, in Alms and Acts of Charity we pay him Tribute; Praise and Honour are the Revenues of this Crown.
Thus I have shewed the Title, the largeness of the Grant, and the manner of Administration.
2. We are given to Christ as Scholars in his School. He is the great Prophet, and Doctor of the Church. Certainly Christ loveth the honour of this Chair, he counteth it an honour to be our Prophet. It is his Title, Acts 3.22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from among your Brethren. Christ he came out of the Bosom of God, to shew his Mind and Heart; he is called the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession, Heb. 3.1. Christ taketh the Titles of his own Officers. Tho he be Lord of the Church, yet he is an Apostle. He counteth it an honour to be a Preacher of the Gospel, God's Legat a latere, the Son of God is first on the Roll of Gospel-Preachers. He laid the Foundation of the Gospel when on Earth, he teacheth now he is in Heaven; others teach for him; Christ counts it his Liberty to teach: He is to be a Light to the Gentiles: He doth not teach the Ear, but the Heart; he is still to nurture us, and bring us up. He is an excellent Teacher, he doth not only set us our Lesson, but giveth us an Heart to learn; the Scripture is our Book, but Christ is our Master, and we shall see wondrous Things, if he doth but open our Eyes.
3. We are to be Children of his Family. A Master is not so careful as a Parent. This was the thing propounded to allure Christ to the work of Redemption, Isa. 53.10. He shall see his Seed, he shall have a numberless Issue and Progeny. Tho all are Benonies, Sons of Sorrow, and Christ died in the Birth, yet this was his Privilege; He shall see his Seed. Jesus Christ hath a great Family, take it altogether. Rev. 7.9. A great Company which none could number, redeemed out of all Nations, and Kindreds, and People, and Tongues. Christ is wonderfully pleased with the fruitfulness of his Death. It is his great triumph at the last Day, Heb. 2.13. Behold, I, and the Children which God hath given me. It is a goodly sight, when Christ shall rejoice in the midst of them, and go with this glorious Train to the Throne of the Father. Jesus Christ is our Brother, and our Father: By Regeneration and the Merit of the Cross, our Father; but in the Possession of Heaven, our Brother: We are Co-Heirs with him.
4. We are given to him as the Wife of his Bosom: As a Father giveth the Daughter, whom he hath begot, to another for a Spouse and Wife; so doth God give his Elect to Christ. Indeed Christ hath bought her at his Father's Hands; other Wives bring a Dowry, but Christ was to buy his Spouse. As Saul gave his Daughter to David, but first he was to kill Goliah, and to bring the Fore-Skins of an hundred Philistines, 1 Sam. 17.25. and 18.25. So God gave Christ the Church for a Spouse, to be redeemed by his Blood; the Infernal Goliah was to be slain. Eve was taken from Adam when he lay asleep: so when Christ was a dying, the Church was as it were taken out of his Side. He was willing to die, that his Spouse might live. Christ left his Father at his Incarnation, his Mother at his Passion, to make the Church his Spouse: As a Man leaveth Father and Mother, and cleaveth to his Wife. This Honour Christ getteth by the Power of his Spirit; it costs him long wooing. David had bought Michal with the danger of his Life, yet he was fain to take her away from Phaltiel, 2 Sam. 3.13, &c. The Devil hath gotten Christ's Spouse into his Hands; Christ by his Spirit is to rescue her, and oblige her to Loyalty. Hereafter is the great Day of Espousals, the Bride's, and the Lamb's Hope. Christ's Honour, as well as our Comfort, is but incompleat now; Then he shall present the Church to himself, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy, and without blemish. Eph. 5.27. Christ is now decking her against that time: We are to accomplish the Months of our Purification, Odors and Garments are to be brought out of the King's Treasury, Esther 2.12.
5. We are to be Members of his Body. Next to that of the Son of God, there cannot be a greater Title than Head of the Church. Poor Creatures, that Christ will take us into his own mystical Body, to quicken us, enliven us, and guide us by his Grace! If he were a Head to all things, that had been somewhat, Col. 2.11. He is the Head of all Principality and Power. But he is their Head for the Church's sake; And gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.22. over them to us; He counteth himself not perfect without us, Which is his Body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all; that we should be called the fulness of Christ! He esteemeth himself as …aimed and imperfect without us. He treateth his Mystical Body with the same respect, as his Natural; that was raised, ascended, glorified, so shall we; for the present he is grieved in our Miseries, as well as we exalted in his Glory, and so he communicates to us, and with us.
1. Vse. Admire the Love of God in this Donation.
1. Of God the Father, that he should bestow us upon his own Son. As Christ pleadeth it to the Father, so should we plead it to our selves: we were God's, and he gave us to Christ. Electing Love is the sweetest; others were his as well as you, Psal. 36.7. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! That God should cast a Look on you!
2. Of God the Son, that he should take us as a Gift from the Father, and as a Reward of all his Services. Nothing could be more welcom than the tender of Souls. Consider, nothing could be added to the greatness of him, who was equal with the Father; the Privileges of the Incarnation were but as so many milder Humiliations; but his main Reason was to gain an interest in Souls: nothing else could bring Christ out of Heaven into the Manger, the Wilderness, the Cross, the Grave. What was his Reward for all his expence of Blood and Sweat? He came from Heaven, took our Nature, shed his Blood; Christ is very thirsty of an interest in Souls. Isa. 53.11. He shall see of the travel of his Soul, and shall be satisfied: This is enough, I do not begrudg my Pains, my Temptations, my Agonies. A Woman safely delivered after sore and sharp Labour, forgetteth all her past Sorrow for joy of the Birth. Christ longed till his Incarnation, feasted himself with the thoughts of his Free-Grace. Prov. 8.31. Rejoicing in the habitable parts of his Earth, and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Afterwards he longed for his Passion, Luke 12.50. I have a Baptism to be baptized with, and, foreign, how am I straitned till it be accomplished? His Delight was with the Sons of Men.
3. Bless the Spirit for his attesting, witnessing, working the Comfort of all this in all our Souls. We have the Father in Heaven, the Son on the Cross, the Spirit in our Hearts. We are given to Christ, but Christ is given to us by the Spirit; our Interest is wrought and applied by the Holy-Ghost. It is the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is his Executor; he is to see Christ's Will accomplished; he is Christ's Vicar in his Kingly and Prophetical Office.
2. Vse. Let us consecrate, and give up our selves to Christ. Walk as his. 1 Cor. 3.23. Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Look for all from him, by dependance on him; be whatever you are to him, to his Glory. You are given up to him, you are not at your own dispose; neither Tongue, nor Heart, nor Estate is thine; God gave it, and if thou are a Christian, thou hast given up thy self to him.