Ver,6. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. SERMON VIII JOHN XVII. 6. I have manifefted thy Name unto the Men which thou gave ft me out of the World thine they were, and thou gavel them me, and they have kept thy Word. II. HE next Argument is, what the Father had done in and about Believers, he difpofed them into the Hands of Chrift ; Thin they were, and thou gaveft them me. Where is, Firft, His Intereft in Believers. Secondly, His Aec about Believers. Fill, His Intereft in Believers : Thine they were. Flow is this to be underflood ? Divers have framed divers Sences, thine by Creation, thine by Election, thine by San - sification. The Father being firft in Order of the Perlons, all Original Works are proper to him : So Creation is afcribed to him; fo the Lord faith, Ezek, 18.4. 1/1 Souls are mine, all created by him. But this fence is not fo proper to this place, becaufe thofe for whom Chrift prayed not, might plead this Intereft : fo Satan is God's, the Wicked and all Creatures are God's. By Election ; thine by free Election, mine by, fpecial Donation. r Pet. a. 9. Te are a chafer: Generation, a peculiar People : the firft and higheft A& of Grace is afcribed to him, they are his chofen and peculiar Ones: Thefe were eternally his, and by the continuation of the fame purpofe of Grace, they are always his. This is proper to this place; only Sanaification may be included, which is, as it were, an Asual Elation. As by Original Elation, the Heirs of Sal- vation are diftinguifbed from others in God's Purpofe and Counfel ; fo by Altual Ele- &ion, they are vifibly diflinguifhed and fet apart from others : So, thine they were, by an excitement of thy Spirit and Grace furred up to follow me, and chufe me in this fpecial way of Service. Sanaification is alfo afcribed to the Father. John 6.44. No Man can come unto me, except the Father that bath fine me, draw him : and, Jude e. To them that are fanllified by God the Father. The firft Effea of Saving -Grace is afcribed to him, as the firft rife of Grace is from his Love. I. prefer the middle Sence, and do only take ih the latter as the Effea. Thine they were 3 they were chofen by the Purpofes of thy Grace, and called, which is the Effect of that Grace paffing upon their Hearts. From hence, r. Obfetve, That Chrifi pleadeth Intereft as an Argument in Prayer. It is meet, wheti we come to pray to God, that we can fay, We are hie. This way would Chrift endear his own Difciples to the Father's Refpea and Grace; Pfal. 119. 44. I am thine, fans me. The great Work of Chriflians fhould be, to difeern their Intereft, that they may come to God with Come confidence. Though you cannot fay, 1 am thine, with refpe& to the purpofes of his Grace ; yet at leali you fhould fay, I am thine, in your own Dedication and Choice; Si noftra tueri non vultie, & lamen veflra defendetis. Ma- ny a trembling Chriflian dareth not fay, He is mine; but he is refolved to fay, I ani his ; that is the fitter Argument with God. With our own Souls, in our own Straits; plead, He is mint. Pfal. 42. I I. Why art thou caft down, 0 my Soul ? and why art thou difiuieted within me? hope thou in God, for I (hall yet praife him, who is the Health of my Countenance, and my God : but in Prayer plead, 1 am his ; though you cannot plead his Choice, plead your own Refignation. Confider, it is a forcible Argument : Every one will provide for his own, He is morfe the »án Infidel, who will not provide for his own, efpeciálly thole of his own Houfliold. It is a comfortable Argument ? When we cannot
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