Ver.6. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. 65 Firfi,, The Perlons, for whom he prayeth, The Men which thou haftgiven me out nfthi World. Who are thefe ? I anfwer, the Difciples, or Believers of that Age; not only the eleven Apoples are intended, tho chiefly : But it is not to be reftrained to the .4pá - files only. z. Becaufe the Defcription is common to other Believers;, others were given him be- tides the eleven Apoples. It is the ufual Defcription of the Eleét in this Chapter, ver.2. That he f ould give eternal Life to as many as thou half given him. So, ver. 9. I pray for them whom thou hap given me, for they are thine. And, ver. 24. Father, Ira that they alfo whom thou hap given me, be with me where I am : And in other. Chapters of this Gofpel. 2. Becaufe Chrift had made known the Name of God to more than the Apofiles: Many of the yews and Samaritans had received the Faith; As t. 15. there a hundred and twenty met together in a Church- Atfembly prelently after Chritft's Death. 3. Otherwife they had been forgotten in Chrift's Prayer ; for afterwards he prayeth only for future Believers, ver. 20. Neither pray.I for thew only , but for thefe that fball be- lieve on me through their Word. Mark, That fhall believe. But tho the Apofes are not only intended, yet they are chiefly intended, as appeareth by that Expreffion, Through their Word. We have Peen who are the Perlons. Now they are defcribed to be the Men which the Father hatbgiven me out ofthe World. [Men.] To note the greatnefs of the Eleffrng, tho they were frail, miferableMen, corrupt by Nature, as others are; yet by tingularMercy they are made familiar Friends of Chrift, and Come of them Donors of the World. [Which thou hap given me] by way offpecial Charge. There is a double giving to Chrift, by way of Reward, by way of Charge Thefe were given to him as a peculiar Charge. [Oat of the World.] That is, out of the whole Maß of Mankind When others were left and paflèd by, God tingled them out, and gave them to Chrift. I {hall open the Phrafe snore fully in the next Claufe. The Points of Donrine are thefe. 1. Obferv. In the bupnefs of Salvation Cbrq would dealwith us, not by Angels, but by Men given him out of the World, that is the Defcription of the Apofiles and Donors of the Church. In the Text; To us he path committed the word of Reconciliation. God could teach us without Paftors, and manifeft himfelfunto us by inward and fecret illapfes into the Heart; but he ufeth the Minillry of Men; and that not out of Indigenee,but Indul- gence; not for any Efficacy in the Preacher, but for Congruence to the Hearer ; as a Means molt agreeable to our frail State. There is Mercy in this Appointment. 1. It is molt for the Glory of God. God's Honour cometh freely from us, when the Inftruments are vile and defpicable. We are apt to facrifice to the next Hand. Aa.r 14. They broughtOxea and Garlands to facrifice to Paul and Barnabas. 2 Cor. 4.7. We have this Treafure in earthen Pips, that the excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us. Thefe are molt apt to rival God, as Children thank the Taylor. 2. It trieth our Obedience. We look -for extraordinary Miracles, and ways of Re- velation ; God would fee.if we can love Truth for Truth's fake, rather than for the Teacher's fake , and take it from the meaneft Hand. It is not [Who] ; but [What] is delivered. Foolifh Man would give Laws to God. Chrift imperfonateth our Thoughts, Luke 16. 3o. If one went to them from the dead, they will believe. Had Chrift come in Perlon, fpake to us in an audible Voice, or lent an Angel, they would believe ; foolish Thoughts ! God trieth you by Motes and the Prophets. It is a deceit, to think if we had more glorious Means, it would be.otherwife with us ! Chrift came in Difguife : John I. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. And the Word is brought tg us h earthen Veffels. It is merited by God -Man, it is difpenfed by the Power of God by Man. 3. It is the molt rational way. He doth not rule us with a Rod of Iron, by meet Power and Majefty ; but draweth us by the Cords of a Man, by Coltnfels and Exhor- tations í He dealeth with us by thofe with whom we have ordinary Converfe, as a Mari with his Friend, Exod. 33. 11. What fhould Sinners do, if God fhould come and thun- der to them in Majefty andGlory ! Exod. 20. 19. Let not the Lord fpeak to us. He vai- leth it under the Cloud of Human Weaknefs. There is no converfìng with the terrible- nefs of Majefty, but by intermediate Perfons. Men fpeak to us, that have a feeling of our Infirmities; Prophets are 4491oams.Sbs, Men of kg !Vans with our [eelves, Jam.5.17. Iii If
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