MEDITATIONS AND DISCOURSES ON TI[S GLORY OF CHRIST, 4-c. JOHN xvtr. 22. Father, Iwill that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glotp which thou hast givenme. THE High Priest under the law, when hewas to en- ter into the holy place on the solemn day of atonement, was to take both his hands full of sweet incense from the golden table ofincense, to carry along with him in his entrance, He had also a censer filled with fire that was taken from the altar ofburnt- offerings, where atonement was made forsin with blood. Upon his actual entrance through the vail, he put the incense on thefire in a cen- ser, until the cloud ofits smoke covered the ark, and the mercy seat. See Lev. xvi. 12, 13. And the end here- of was to present unto God, in the behalf of the people, a sweet smelling savour from the sacrifice of propitiation. See the declaration of these things in our exposition of Hob. ix. In answer unto this mystical type, the High Priest of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ, being to enter into the holy place not madewithh hands, did by the glo- rious prayer recorded in this chapter, influenced from the blood ofhis sacrifice, fill the heavens above, the glo- rious place of God's residence, with a cloud ofincense, of the sweet perfume of his blessed intercession, typified by the incense offered by the High Priest of old. By the same eternal fire, wherewith he offered himself a bloody sacrifice to make atonement for sin, he kindled in his most holy soul those desires for theapplication of all its benefits unto his church, which are here expressed, and wherein his intercession Both consist. It is only one passage in the verse above named, that at present I design an inquiry into. And this is the subject matter of what the Lord Christ here desires in the behalf of those given' him by the Father; namely, THAT THEY IIAY BEHOLD: HIS GLORY. It is evident, that in thisprayer the Lord Christ bath respectunto his own glory, and the manifestation of it, which he had in the entrance asked of the Father, ver. A 4, 5. But in this place he bath not so much respec unto it as his own, as unto theadvantage, benefit, sa. tisfaction, and blessednessof his disciples, in the behold- ing of it. For these things were the end ofall that me diatory glory which was given unto him. So Joseph' charged his brethren, when he had revealed himself un- to them, that they should tell his Father ofall his gloki' in Egypt, Gen. xlv_ 13. This he did, not for an os- tentation of his own glory, but for the satisfaction which he knew his father would take in the knowledge of it. And such a manifestation ofhis glory unto his disciples' doth the Lord Christ here desire, as might fill them with blessed satisfaction for evermore. This alone, which is here prayed for, will give them- such satisfaction, and nothing else. The hearts of be- lievers are like the needle touched by the loadstone,: which cannot rest until it comes to the point whereun- to, by the secret virtue of it, it is directed. For being once touched by the love of Christ, receiving thereinan impression of secret ineffable virtue, they will ever be in motion and restless, until they come unto him, and beholdhis glory. That soul which canbe satisfied with- out it, that cannot be eternally satisfied with it, is not, partaker of the efficacy of his intercession. I shall lay the foundation of the ensuing meditations in this one assertion, namely, that one of the greatest privileges and advancements of believers, both in this world and unto eternity, consists in their BEHOLD. ING THE GLORY OF CHRIST. This therefore he desires for them in this solemn intercession, as the complement of all his other requests in their behalf, that theymay behold myglory; that they may see, view; behold or contemplate on my glory. The reasons why I assign not this glorious privilege only unto the hea- venly state, which is principally respected in this place, but apply it unto the state of believers in this world al- , 9
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