244 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED. LORD work of their falvation by my preaching and revealing to them thy will, while I have been prefent with them here upon earth ; fo alfo that thouwouldeft preferve themwhen I am departed from this world, and complete the work of their falvation by my refurreEtion and afcenfion into hea- ven after my death. I donot pray for the unbelieving impenitent world, but for thole who have embraced that moft holy doc- trine, which thou haft taught them through me by my preaching ; for thofe who have glorified and will glorify my name by their miniftry, and who confequently are to be efteemed as thine own, in common with me. I am now about to leave the world in order to return to thee, but there my difciples, who continue after me, I recom- mend to thy divine protection, when I am gone ; endue themwith powers to perfe- vere in preaching and pra tifing the truth, and to deliver the fame holy doEtrines which I have given to them, that fo they may remain infeparably united to me, as I am to thee : fo long as I have been with them in the world, I have watched over them, and kept them from falling away, both by example, preaching, and continual admonition, according to the power and authority which thou didft commit to me ; nor has one of my apoftles mifcarried un- der my care, except that perfidious traitor, who, as the Scripture foretold, has un- gratefully confpired with my enemies to deftroy me, and will perifh according to his deferts. While I have continued with my difciples, I have watched over them and preferved them under mine own eye ; but now, as I am going to leave the world, I.befeech thee to keep and affifI them by thy good Spirit ; and let the'expefation of their continuing under thy fpecial care and protefion, be their comfort and fup- port in my abfence. The world, indeed, will perfecute and hate them on this ac- count, as my doctrine is repugnant to the lufts and affeEtions, the pallions, deigns, and inclinations of worldly men; it muff neceffarily be, that the vicious and incor- 3 rigible world will oppofe and perfecute them, as it has before perfecuted me: I befeech thee, therefore, to take them under thy particular care, to fupportthem againi the violence and oppreífion of an evil world : I do not delire that thou fhouldeft take them out of the world, but preferve them in it to be inftruments of thy word, thy glory, and to be teachers 6f thy truth ; nor fuffer them to be either deftroyed by the malice and violence of a perverfe and wicked generation, or corruptedby the evil cuftoms and opinions of it. Accotding to the example of purity which I have fet before them, they are of a temper and fpirit very diffèrent from the current affections and common difpofi- tions of the world. Do thou preferve and increafe in them that moderation and can- dour of mind, caufe them to be thoroughly affeffed and impreffed with that true doc- trine fo frequently recommended to them from my mouth, fo as to exprefs it vifibly in their lives and practice, and to promote it zealoufly in their preaching, that they may become worthy and fuccefsful mini- fters of my gofpel, both by word and good example. As thou haft fent me into the world to reveal thy will to mankind, fo fend I thefe my apoltles to continue preaching thefame doEtrine begun by me : and the principal deign ofmy exemplary life, confiant teach- ing, and now voluntarily offering myfelf to death for it, is to fanfify and enable them to preach with fuccefs and efficacy for the falvation of men. Neither pray I for there my apoftles only, but for all others, who {hall, by their preaching and praffice, pro- mote thy true religion ; and being con- verted from the world, may, by their fin- cere endeavours, go on to reform others, convincing the world of the excellency of their religion, and confequently enforcing men to acknowledge the truth and divine authority thereof: for promoting which great end, I have communicated to my apoftles the fame power and authority of doing mighty works for the confirmation of
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