120 S E R M ON S upon Sem i+ SERMON XIV JOHN XVII. ii. And now, I am no more in the World, but theft are in the World, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own Name thofe whom thou haft` given me, that they may be one; as we are. I 1ITHE R. T O Chrift had argued with the Father, and fhewed many Reafons why he would pray for the Difciples. Now he cometh from Arguments to Requetts ; Here the Prayer it felt beginneth. His fitti Requeft is, that God would have a care of them, when he was gone from them ; as a Father, when he is about to die, com- mendeth his Children to the care and tutelage of a near Friend ; fo doth Chrift commend his Difciples to God. And now law no more in the World, &c. The Circumttances notable in the Verfe, are thefe ; Firft, The Occafion of the Prayer, wherein there is a new Caufe and Reafon why he commendeth them to the Father, And now I am no more in the Werld,bvt thefe are in the World, and I come to thee. Secondly, The Compellation of the Party, to whom the Prayer is made, Holy Fa- ther ! Titles are futed to Requefts. Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of Hope fill You with all joy and peace in believing. Thirdly, The Matter of the Prayer, for perfeverance in Grace. Keep through thine own (..ante, Fourthly, The Parties prayed for, theft' which thou haft given me. An Argument often urged before. Fifthly, The End of the Prayer, or of the Bleffing asked in Prayer, that they may be one, which is amplified by the exemplary Pattern, se we are one. Or rather the whole is a new Requeft; two Matters are prayed for, Confervation from Evil, and Perfe&ion in Good. Chrift prayed for, Confervationem à Malo, 6. Perfeclionem in Bono. In this Verfe there is a large Field of Matter. Let me explain the Words, and then raife fome praaical Obfervations. Firfi, I begin with the Occafion. [I am no more in the World.] That is, by and by I fhall be no more. Chrift was yet in the World ; for he faith, Veerf. 13. Thefe thing: I fßeak in the World, frill fubje& to the Miferies of it ; his Paffion was not over, his foreft Combat was at lati, and that was nigh at hand ; but Chrift went to it with fuck a refolved mind, that he teem- ed already to be exempted from a Worldly Condition. But how no more in the World, fine he faith, /am with you to the End of the World ? He is Spiritually frill with us, but he was about to withdraw his Corporal Prefence. [But thefe are in the World. ] I am almoft on Shore, but there are frill to remain at Sea, floating upon the Waves ; out of the Duty of their Calling,they are to fray behind, and mull expect Tempefts, Labours, Dangers, and Perfecutions; Infirmities within, and Temptationswithout. The World is a Step-Mother to the Saints; Chrift pitieth their
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