There for sinners thou art pleading; There thou dost our place prepare; Ever for us interceding, Till in glory we appear. Worship, honour, power, and blessing, Help to chaunt Immanuel's praise. § CCLXX. CHAP. XVII. 20-26. Christ prayeth to his Father to glorify his Apostles, and all other believers, with him in heaven. 20 Neither pray I for these 24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: " for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26" And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. I ver. 11, 22, 23. ch. x. 16. Rom. xii. 5. Gal. iii. 28. m ch. x. 38; & xiv. 11.-n ch. xiv. 20. 1 John i. 3; & iii. 24.- Col. iii. 14.-p ch. xii. 26; & xiv. 3. 1 Thes. alone, but for them also which iv. 17. ver. 5. ch. xv. 21 ; & xvi. 3. ch. vii. 29 & viii. 55; & x. 15.-t ver. 8. ch. xvi. 27.-u ver, 6. ch. xv. 15.- ch. xv. 9. READER. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.-In all the main principles of religion, there is an universal and unanimous consent of all Christians, and these are they that constitute a Church. Those that agree in these, Christ is pleased to admit, for matter of doctrine, as members of that body, whereof he is the head: and if they admit not of each other as such, the fault is in the uncharita bleness of the refusers, no less than in the error of the refused. And if any vain and loose stragglers will needs sever themselves, and wilfully choose to go ways of their own, let them know, that the union of Christ's Church shall consist entire without them; this great ocean will be one collection of waters, when these drops are lost in the dust. In the mean time, it highly concerns all that wish well to the sacred name of Christ, to labour" to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. iv. 3.—HALL. In case there happen to be differences of opinion, concerning points not essential, not necessary to salvation; this diversity may not breed an alienation of affection. That charity, which can cover a multitude of sins, may much more cover many small dissensions of judgment. We cannot hope to be all, and at all times, equally enlightened. At how many and great weaknesses of judgment did it please our merciful Saviour to connive in his domestic disciples! they, that had so long sat at the sacred feet of him that spake as never man spake, were yet to seek of those Scriptures, which had so clearly foretold his resurrection, John xx. 9; and, after that, were at a fault for the manner of his kingdom, Acts i. 6; yet he that breaks not the bruised reed, nor quenches the smoking flax, falls not harshly upon them for so foul an error and ignorance, but entertains them with all loving respect, not as followers only, but as friends, John xv. 15. And his great Apostle, after he had spent himself in his unwearied endeavours upon God's Church, and had sown the seeds of wholesome and saving doctrine everywhere, what rank noisome weeds of erroneous opinions rose up under his hand in the churches of Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosse, Philippi, and Thessalonica! these he labours to root out with much zeal, with no bitterness, so opposing the errors, as not alienating his affection from the churches. These, these must be our precedents; pursuing that charge of the prime Apostle; "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." 1 Pet. iii. 8.—HALL. This resemblance is often used in Scripture, and holds excellently well, but is little learned. Our temper and carriage correspond not to it. Who is there almost that finds it, the Spirit of Christ in them, knitting them to him as the common head, and one to another, as one in him, each busy to advance him, and to seek his glory, and to promote the good of one another? but alas! rather each for self, accursed self, as of an independent divided substance; yea, worse, hating and tearing one another; a monstrous sight, as if one limb of the same body should be pulling another to pieces. It signifies little to tell men what mutual tenderness is in nature; for a thorn in the foot the back bows, the head stoops, the eyes look, the hands feel, and seek it and pull it out. Christians are still so rigid, so unchristian to each other, they drive one another with the thorn sticking in, forcing their brethren to ways against the persuasions of their consciences.-LEIGHTON. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them.-How little do those men know, who are ambitious of glory, what it really is, and how to be attained? Nay, they eagerly catch at the empty shadow of it, while they avoid and turn their backs upon that glory which is real, substantial, and everlasting. The happiness of good men, in the life to come, is not only infinitely above all our expressions, but even beyond our most enlarged thoughts. By comparing, however, great things with small, we attain some faint notion of these exalted and invisible blessings, from the earthly and visible enjoyments of this world. In this respect, even the Holy Scriptures descend to the weakness of our capacities, and, as the Hebrews express it, "the law of God speaks the language of the children of men." They speak of this celestial life, under the representation of an heritage, of riches, of a kingdom, and a crown, but with uncommon epithets, and such as are by no means applicable to any earthly glory, or opulence, however great. It is an inheritance, but one that is uncorrupted, undefiled, and that fadeth not away: a kingdom, but one that can never be shaken, much less ruined. -LEIGHTON. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.-The four steps of the union which subsists between believers and Christ are all distinctly expressed in this prayer of our Lord. Here we have, (1.) God's purpose that the Son should give "eternal life to those whom he hath given him," v. 2. (2.) The Son's undertaking and accomplishing their redemption, in v. 4, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me, to do." (3.) The application of this union, and its performance in them by their "faith," their "believing," and "keeping his word," v. 6, 8, and in several of the subsequent verses. And then, lastly, (4.) the consummation of this union, "I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am." There meet the first donation and the last.-LEIGHTON. The soul that is in Christ, when other things are pulled away, he feels little or nothing, he cleaves to Christ, and these separations pain him not. Yea, when that great separatist, Death, comes, that breaks all other unions, even that of the soul and body, yet so far is it from separating the believer's soul from its beloved Lord Jesus, that, on the contrary, it carries it into the nearest union with him, and fullest enjoyment of him for ever.-LEIGHTON. Doubt not then, O my soul, but thou shalt once see, besides the face of thy God, whose glory fills heaven and earth, the blessed spirits of the ancient Patriarch and prophets; the Holy Apostles and Evangelists; the glorious Martyrs and Confessors; those eminent saints, whose holiness thou wert wont to magnify; and, amongst them, those in whom nature and grace have especially interested thee: thou shalt see them, and enjoy their joy, and they thine. How often have I measured a long and foul journey to see some good friend; and digested the tediousness of the way, with the expectation of a kind entertainment, and the thought of that complacency which I should take in Judas betrayeth Jesus. The officers fall to the ground. Peter smiteth off Malchus' ear. WHEN Jesus had spoken these a words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. с trayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 "Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: e 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The ser 2 And Judas also, which be- vant's name was Malchus. Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? a Mat. xxvi. 36. Mark xiv. 32. Luke xxii. 39.-2 Sam. xv. 23.-c Luke xxi. 37; & xxii. 39.-d Mat. xxvi. that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, 47. Mark xiv. 43. Luke xxii. 47. Acts i. 16.-e ch. xvii. Art not thou also one of this 12.- Mat. xxvi. 51. Mark xiv. 47. Luke xxii. 49, 50. g Mat. xx. 22; & xxvi. 39, 42. See Matthew XXVI. 47-56. § CCLXXII. CHAP. XVIII. 12-27. Jesus is taken, and led unto Annas and Caiaphas. Peter's denial. Jesus examined before Caiaphas. 12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to 'Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year." 14 Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16" But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out man's disciples? He saith, I am not. 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me ? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. |