182 SERMONS upon Serm. 21. SERMON XXI. JOHN XVII. 1 ;. .imnel now come I to Thee, and theft things I fpeak in the World, that they might have my Joy fulfilled in themfelves. Ü R Lord is í}il1 amplifying that Argument of his own Departure,and the O Difciples danger in the World,and fo juftifieth his earneftnefs in Prayer for them : I come to thee,and muft leave their Company,and therefore I have need to make force provifon for them. In the Argument of this Text, Chrift theweth, what was his fpecial Aim in the whole Prayer. He is fo earneft, not to blemish the Father, as if he were backward and wanted Mercy, but for their Comfort, that they might know what Prayers were laid up in {tore for them, and to give them a tafte of his own Care. He prayeth with them, that they might know how he prayed for them. Chrift would have fomething left upon Record, as a Pledg of his Affe &ions to the Church. Theft things I fpeak in the World, &c. In the words, not to fpeak of the Occafion, I come to thee; which fignifieth not his Addrefs in Prayer, but his Afcenfion to God, as was cleared before, Vert 11. In the reft of the words we have Chrill's Minn, and Chrift's Aim. The Comfort of the Dif- ciples, where we have the Author, My Joy ; the Manner how received for quantity, fished ; the. Quality, in tbemfelves. [./Ind theft things I fpeak in the World.] That is, make this Prayer in their hearing, Area, I fpeak, it fignifieth Prayer with an audible Voice ; elfewhere he ufeth the word ipu S and ,942W. And here a Record and Patern is left for the ufe of the Church in all Ages. [That they may have my Joy.] What is the meaning of that ? 1. Becaufe he rejoiceth in our Good. My Joy, and your Joy are distinguifhed : John 15. I a. The( things have I f oken to you, that my Joy fsould be fulfilled in you, and that your Joy might be full. There is nothing maketh the Heart of Christ fo glad, as to fee his Members thrive in Peace and Grace. So the Apoftle Paul, Phil. 2.2. Fulfil ye my Joy : Nothing could be more comfortable to 'Paul, than ro fee the Philippians thrive in Grace. Thus Come interpret it aaively, of the Joy which Christ hath in the good of hisMembers. But I fuppofe it is rather to be taken paffively, iv beams, in themfelves. 2. Others think, that by my Joy, is meant a Joy like mine ; when they feel the fame Delires kindled in their Hearts, they may be comforted with the workings of the fame Spirit -of Prayer in them, that is, feel fuch a Joy as I feel in uttering there Requefts. But this doth not run fo fmoothly. 3. My Joy, becaufe he is the Author of it. Go/editing ex me, Joy which I wdrk as Mediator and Redeemer. Of our felves we have nothing but Defpair and Trouble. Ifa. s7. 19. I create the Fruit of the Lips ; Peace, Peace to him that is afar of, and to him that is near, and I will heal him. We poffefs it, but it is Christ's Joy, he worketh it, and caufeth it by his Spirit ; elfewhere it is called, Joy in the Holy Ghotl, 1 Theff. 1.6. 4. My Joy, becaufe he is the Objea of it. Gaudiness de me, that that Joy which they have conceived frcm my Pretence with them, or care of them, may not be . leffèned,
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