Ver. i i. the 17th Chapter-of St. JOHN. 133 the Fire, that they may not flick and burn to. As Efthet when the was chofen for Ahafäervrs's Bride, was to aécomplifh the Months of her'Ysrrificatian, before the was pre- fented to him, fifth. a. t a. So fome days are to be (pent in our purifying and -fancli- fying, before we are prefented to God. (a.) Partly to make us long for Glory.- Our worldly Eftate is cuütberfom : Here are Sins and Aftliliions, that we may long for a bettter Elate : Pfal. s ao. 5. Wo is nie that I fojorn in Mefech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar ! As the Ifreelites Task was doubled, that they might long for Canaan, and cry out for the Land of Refl. The Inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage make the everlafling Elate titore fweet ; Troubles without us, Difeafes upon us, and Sins within us, and all to make us long for home. Notwithflanÿin ;all thé hard Ufage and Entertainment in the World, how difficultly are we weaned 3d/y, Chriffs Apprehenfivenefs of this Danger. You Ihall fee it is s Cirtumftancé often' mentioned : A little before his Death, at his Death, now in Heaven. 1. A little before his Death. We have two Inflances : one when he was about to wadi his Difciples Feet, and infiitute the Supper: John t3. I. Jefas having loved his own that were in the World, be loved themunto the end : Chrift was then thinking that he thould thorfly depart ; his Thoughts were not on his own Glory, fo much as our banger. If Chrift would have thought of his own, he might have thought'of the Angels, and glorified Saints. Cyril and Chryfofiom oblerve, That he did not think of Angels and glorified Saints, but of his. own in the World, thole that were left to the Miferies and Temptations of an evil and unquiet World. No quefion, it was fweet to Chrift to think of the glorified Saints and. Angels, but they were fafe, and now was a time to (hew Pity, rather than Delight. The other Inflance we have kilns Prayers in this place, from the t ith to the 17th Verfe. I might mention- many Paffages in his Sermons ; Chrift, when he was about to leave us, he had the Affeílion of a Father to his Children, or of a dying Husband to his Wife, he was careful of our Eftate after his Departure. a. So at his Death. A great thing that was in the Eye of Chrift, was Victory over the World ; Gal. t. 4. He gave himfelf for us, to redeem us from the prefent evil World. Certainly Chrift is willing to help you, when he fuffered fo much that he might help you:. When you love the World, you croft the end of Chrift's Death : His whole Life was but a renouncing the World. The Poverty of Chrift upbraideth our afpi- ring Proje&s, and Purfuits of worldly Greatnefs : We leek to joyn Houfe to Houle, and Field to Field, and le had not a place whereon to lay his Head. But in his Death he Would . make all fare. One thing that he purchafed of the Father, is Grace to fubdue the World : When he was to die, he Paid, Lo I give my fell,, upon Condition thou wilt give them Grace, let them be freed from the Bondage of carnal Fears, and carnal Delires. There is not a thing more anfwerable to the Deign and Aim of his Death, than this is. 3. After his Death and Afcenfion into Heaven, he is tenderly affeáed toward Be- lievers in the World : He (ái11 retaineth his human Nature, and his human Affeftions; the fame Heart, and the fame Pity ; Heb.4.15. We have not an High- Priefi that cannot be touched with thefeeling of oar Infirmities. Chrifl, tho he be exalted, is tenderly affelted towards thole that, are left behind : he is tä11 tenderly affefled towards you in all your Straights, and Troubles, and Infirmities. Chrifl's Exaltation hath made no Change in his Bowels; he carried his Love with him, not only into the Grave, but into Heaven; he is our Lord, but Hill our Brother : as God, he knoweth our Infirmities; and as Man, he feeleth them ; his Love is moil, at work, when you are in Danger. O what a Comfort is this in all your Temptations! there is one in Heaven that feeth and feeleth all this; let us bear it the better, and ride out the Storm. If a Man were perfwaded, that his Friends on there knew what Tempefis he endured at Sea, and were praying for him, it would be a great Comfort to him in his Difirefs. Chrifi's Heart worketh towards thee ; he who is always heard, is now praying for thee in Heaven; he is touched with a feeling of thy Infirmities. How Ihould this comfort us ! They have many Snares, and many Enemies; Lord, help them. The Reafons of this Apprehenfivenefs, and tender feeling, are his Intereft, Love; were inethe Worldbe loved them to the end. John 13. I. Having loved his own, that Ì. His
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