Ven 8. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H 11 9, Many Actions, as loon as they are performed. A continual Experience we have of this difpofition of Chrift ,in the fpeedy anfwer of Prayers. Ifa. 64. 24. And ii f1á11 come to pair, that before they call, 1 will anfwer ; and while they are ;yet f eaking, I *ill hear. He is more ready to anfwer, than we to crave. So it is laid to Daniel, Dan. ro. 12. From the fìr, fl Day that thou didfi fet thine Heart to nnderfland, and to chaflen thy felf before thy God; thy Word, were heard. See God's readinefs to accept the Servi- ces of bis People, in the firft day of the three Weeks he had let apart, lferf a. Danìel thought it would be long Work, and God heard him the firft day. Certainly God de- lighteth in the Graces of his Children, when he doth fo readily take notice of the firft /lift and Exercife of them. 2. I Obferve, by comparing that place with this, That the Apofiles Faith was weak trot only imper fell, but unconflant, and fubjelt to wavering, and yet Chrifi commendeth it to his Father. John id. 3o, 31, 32. We are fire thou knowefl all things, and needefi not that any Man fhould tell thee: by this we believe that thou cameo forth foist God. jefus an- fwered them, Do ye now believe ? Behold, the .flour cometh, and now is, that ye '(hall be flattered, every Man to his own, and 'hall leave me alone. Yea, and indeed, if we look into the Hiflory of the Gofpel, we thall find their Faith was very weak. It is trtie; they did receive him for the Mejah, and did acknowledg that he was the Son of God, his natural and only Son, which they knew by his Baptilm, by his Transfiguration, by his Miracles:. They believed that he was the Lamb,taking away the Sins of the World 5 that he was the livingManna that came down from Heaven : but all this while their Faith was weak, they had but a confufed fight of his Godhead, of his eternal Gene- ration by the Father ; they knew little of his Death, were leavened with the thoughts of a terrene Kingdom, and pompous alefab 5 underftood not his Predi &ions of his Death and Paffion. Peter gave him advice to the contrary, and at his Death denied him. So that though they knew him to be the Redeemer and Saviour of the World, yet the manner of his Death and Paffion they knew not. We milted that it had been he that fboild have redeemed Ifrael, Luke 24. 2 t. Obferve how Chrift commendeth weak Faith. Certainly he lovetb to encourage poor Sinners, when he praifeth their mean and weak beginnings. Mat. 12.20..4 bruited Reed jball he not break, and fmoak- ing Flax fbballhe not quench, until he fend forth Judgment unto Tiïlory. Chrift will not defpife weak Beginnings, though there be more Smoak than Flame, but little Strength. Certainly we fhould not defpife the Day of fmali Things, nor difcourage Learners, and blaft the early Bloffoms with Reproach and Cenfure. Cant. 2. 13. The Pig -Tree putteth forth her green Figs; and the Fines with the tender Grape, give a good finell, Chrift taketh notice in his Garden of the Green Figs; the green Knots, or Buds, are acceptable to him, rho they want Ripenefs and Stfeetnefs, as well as the fofter Clutters, the imperfect Offers of the Spring. We fhould learn hence to do our heft in belie4ing; Chrift will help you againft Weaknefs, and pardon Imperfection. 3. Obferve again 5 From Chrifl's mentioning their Obedience, their Knowledg; their Faith. The Father knew for whomChrift prayed; neither was there need sir) let forth their Faith and Obedience in fo many words, but that in the hearing of the Apofiles, he would draw forth the Grounds of their Thankfulnefs, and the Eviden- ces of their Intereft. Well then, this is the ufe we fhould snake of out Graces and Duties, to praife the Lord, and to look upon them as fo many Arguments and Evi- dences of his Love : Partly to thew them, what kind of Perlons God will hear, fuch as know, and believe, and obey, though in a weak meafure. Thirdly, The next thing in the Text is, the chief Objefl of jufiifying Faith, and that is the Authority of Chrift's Mediation. Obferve; The fins of Chriflian Datttine, is to (lieu', that ehrifi was feat by dad tó fave Sinners. This is the ground of all Hope, and firm Confidence ; he came out from the Father to purchafe Grace, and went back again that we might receive it. tut let us Confider the Parts. 1. [ They have litre!" known that I came out fromthee.] t4 n rt R'hi
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