154 SERMONS upon Serm. S. but when he had mentioned their keeping, he would adverfatively put the lofing of Judas. This Phrafe, or manner of Speech, is often ufed in Scripture. So, Rev. 21. 27. There fhall in no wife enter into it at, thing that defileth, neither whatfaever worketh a- bomination, or maketh a lie : but they that arewritten in the Lamb's Book of Life, c- dui : Where the Words are not exceptive, for then it would follow, that fome that work Abomination were in the Lamb's Book; but adverfative, They fhall not enter, but others (hall enter. So; .flat:12. 4. David entred into,the Houfe of Gad, and did eat the Shew- bread, which was not lawful for him to'eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the Priefes, d lst, it is not exceptive, as if they were of David's Company, but adverfative, It was not lawful for them to eat, but it was lamfal for the Priefts. 11. How are they faid to be given. to Chrift ? Perfons are given to Chrift two ways; by way of Reward, or by way Charge. 1.. By way of Reward, and fo more largely all Nations are given to him. Pfal. 2. 8. .Aik of me, and I will give thee the Fleathen for thy Inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the Earth for thy Pulligion. And yob: 17. a. As thou hall given him Power over all Flefh., This Donation taketh in Elect and Reprobate. Nations are his Heritage, as well as the Church : Only in this giving, by way of Reward, there is a difference ; force are given to Chrift at large, to be difpofed of accordingto his Pleafure ;' others are given to him for Come fpecial Miniftry and Service, as Hypocrites in the Church ; and thus Judas, amongft the reft, was given to Chrift, though a Son of Perdition. And again, others are given to him by way of fpecial and peculiar Intereft, to be Members of his Body, Subje &s of his Kingdom, Children of his Family. So only the Ele l are given to him. John 17. 6. Thine they were, and thou gavell them me, and they have kept thy Word. The great Bargain that Chrift made for his Father, was only an Intereft in Souls. , 2. By way of Charge. This again is only proper and peculiar to the Elelt ; they were given to Chrift by way of Charge, to be redeemed,jultified, fanâified, glorified; given,not by way of Alienation, but Oppignoration, laid at pledg in his Hands, fo that none of them can mifcarry. I fhall name force places to prove this way of giving : John 6.37, 38, 39 .4d that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me, &c. Where you fee,. they Chaff furely and infallibly be brought to Grace, and as infalliby be conduited to Glory ; and when they come, they cannot mifcarry : This is the Father's Will that bath feet me, that of all that he bath given me, I fhould loft nothing. 'Chrift hath re- ceived a Charge, he is to look to all God's Flock, not to lofe a Leg, or a piece of an Ear. So, John so. 28, 29. I give unto them Eternal Life, and they (hall never perifh, neither (ball any Man pluck them out of my Hands. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all ; and no Man (hall pluck them out of my Father's Hands. Where fee Chrifts Power and Faithfulnefs is engaged by the Father's Gift for the Prefervation of the Saints. So that we fee what it is to be given to Chrift, to become his Reward, his Charge. III. A third Queftion yet remaineth. Why is it mentioned here ? The Phrafe (as I faid) is often ufed in many Verfes'of this Chapter; but the Repetition is not needlefs: it is not an empty Tautology, but repeated for the more ample Confolation and Inftru- ¿lion of the Apoftles, that in the midft of their Troubles they might look upon them - felves, as given to Chr, and fo the more interefted in a fure Prefervation ; for God is bound to make good his Grant, and Chrift his Trutt. Chrift pleadeth his own Faith - fulnefs, Verf 12. While I was with them in the World, I kept them in thy Name : thole which thou gavefi me, I have kept. He made good his Trutt, and therefore now plead - eth with the Father, that he would make good his Grant I am no more in the World, do thou keep them ; and he ufeth the fame Argument, thole which thou haft given me : that fwayed with him to keep them ; and he knew the Father would take care of them for the fame Reafon. Well now, having laid this Foundation, let me Obferve ; That this is a Ground of feud Confolation and Eflablifhment to the Eletl, that they are by the Grant of God the Father, given and committed to God the Son, as his Pur- ch.,fe and Charge. The Point is genuine, for this giving is by way of Gift and Charge ; and this giving is proper to the Eleét, as we have proved; and it is here urged as a ground of Ettablifhment and Confolation, Chrift exprefïeth. the Ele& by fuch a Charatter;
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