210 SERMONS upon Serm.24. SERMON XXIV JOHN XVII.15. I pray not that thou fhouldefl take them out of the World, but that thou fhouldefi' keep them from the Evil. H KIST having enforced his Reque% explaineth it ; not to inform God, but to comfort the Difciples ; as Explications in Prayer are for our benefit. Our Heavenly Father can interpret our Sighs and Breathings; but formed and explicite words have a greater force and efficacy up- on our Hearts. This Explication is delivered, x«Tà äpory :ÿ xcs'rai I. Kecrà korv, not that thou fhouldefl take them oat of the World; that is, prefently glo- rify them, either by an ordinary Death, or by an extraordinary tranflation, . as Elijah and Enoch were tranflated. Chrill was not ignorant of their danger, yet he would have them ride out the Storm ; he would not carry his Difciples to Heaven with him, nor doth he pray his Father to do it, tho he loved their Company, and they his, that they could be content to die with him, as John 11. 16. Let us alfa go, that we may die with him ; yet, I pray not, that thou woulda1 take them out of the World. 2. Karr ,96es, but that thou fhouldefi keep them from the Evil; crc zit orovneis, it may be rendred from the Evil One, or from the Evil Thing, as referring to a Perlon, or Thing. To a Perlon ; the Evil One is often put for the Devil. Mat. 13.19. When any one heareth the VVord of the Kingdom, and underffandeth it not; then cometh the wicked One, ö arovngós, and taketh away that which he heard. a John 2. r3. I write unto you, young Men, becaufe ye have overcame, $- irovnpóv, the wicked One. 1 John 3.12. Not as Cain, who war csc zx 'rovngx, of that wicked One, and flew his-Brother. Or elfe to the evil Thing, Mat. 6. 13. e"vonr äµäs 01.7ró zÑ vrosspîs, deliver us from Evil. Mat. g. 37. Whatever is more than this, cometh of Evil, crt ziss novnpx. 1 John 5. 19. The whole World lieth, iv -rri. aovsgtti, inwickednef. Which !hall we prefer 2 1 Anfwer, Since the Words lie fo indifferently for either fence, we may interpret them of both, keep themfrom the Author of Evil, and from Evil it felt; from Sin, from the Power and Snares of the Devil, from Defiruáion, till their Mini(iry be accomplifhed. Satan he is the Author, the World is the Bait, Sin is the Hook : Keep them from the Devil, that they may not come under his Power ; from theWorld, that they may not be deceived by its Allurements. Briefly, this keeping may be referred to their Life, or to their Souls ; keep them alive, as long as they have work to do; keep their Souls, that they may neither, by the World or by the Devil, be drawn to do any thing unfeemly, and unbecoming their Profeffion. 2 Cor. 13.7. I pray God that ye do no Evil, but that ye füonld do that which is honefi. And, Rev. 3. To. I will keep them from the hour of Temp- tation, which !ball come upon all the Earth, to try them that dwell upon the Earth : It is meant of a Prefervation in the time of a bloody Perfecution under Trojan. Chrill prays for temporal and fpiritual Safety ; temporal Safety, fo far as is neceffary to carry on the Duty of their Calling. Points. a. Obf. That it jiandetb with the VVifdom and Goodnefi of God to continue us in the World, notwithflanding the Dangers of it.' Chrift loved his Difciples, and knew they' were expofed to the World's hatred ; yet, I pray not that thou fbbouldff take them out of the World. In Evil Times, fometimes God taketh his Children out of the World, and fometimes he continueth them in the World; both Difpenfations (land with his Wif- dom and Goodnefs. There are Reafons onboth fides. 1. For
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