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ther, I will that they may be with me where I am. Again, when our Lord is dying on the cross, he prays, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And again, just at dying, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, Luke xxii. 34. and 46. All humble supplications; none of them so high and lofty (but yet it well became him) as this I will. I own, that Christ, in one instance on the cross, put forth his Divine power, and acted like a King and God, Luke xxiii. 42, 43. One of the malefactors that was crucified with him, (the happiest death ever man had, next to dying for Christ, was to die with the Saviour, and to die receiving Christ's grace, and Christ's pass to heaven), whatever Thomas meant in his words, John xi. 16. Let us go, that we may die with him; this happy malefactor had the best of it fulfilled on him: he died with Christ, and got eternal life on the same day. Surely that word was eminently fulfilled in this man, Eccl. vii. 1. Better is the day of death, than the day of one's birth. This man prays marvellously, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Our Lord answers more marvellously, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. As if Christ had said, "Can thy faith take me up as a King, and "the disposer of heaven, notwithstanding this thick and dark "vail that is now upon me? I will act as a God and Saviour "to thee" To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. These words have no small aspect on this text, I will that they be with me where I am. ›

Now let us see what may be in this singular word in Christ's prayer, I will. No saint ever prayed so; Christ himself in this prayer only here useth this word. There must be some singular things that made our Lord use this word in prayer, I will; and them I would look into.

1. We may lawfully conceive, that herein there is a breaking out of his divine glory as the Son of God equal with the Father, as in Phil. ii. 6,-10.; where the apostle marketh three things about Christ, none of which must be forgotten by Christians. (1.) The divine dignity of his person, ver. 6. (2.) The depth of his low and humbled state, ver. 7, 8. (3.) The height of his exalted state, ver. 9, 10, 11. So doth the apostle to the Hebrews, chap. i. 3. Now, though Christ's humb

led and exalted state had, and have their several and distinct appearances; yet as his divine dignity was still the same in both states, in his lowest and at his highest, so there were now and then some beamings of his glory, even in his lowest state, John ii. 11.; and in his triumphant entry to Jerusalem, even when he was going to be crucified. So we may think, that this singular word, I will, is used by Christ to display his divine glory; for it is a word that no mere man may use.

2. Our Lord had promised it to his disciples in John xiv. 2, 3.; and therefore prays thus for it. And we must think, that the doctrine delivered by Christ in his last sermon of consolation, and this last prayer of his, though in the first place designed for his apostles, yet are the common portion of all believers on Jesus Christ. Now Christ had promised, John xiv. 2, 3. that where he was, there his people should be also. If a poor believer have at any time a firm hold on a promise of God, how will he cleave, to it, plead upon it, and urge it? as 2 Sam. vii. 27, 28, 29. Bat who can conceive what conf dence of faith Jesus Christ the Son of God had, and did use, in pleading with his Father for the fulfilling of all his own promises to his people? Besides, all Christ's promises to his people were made by him in his Father's name. No wonder then that our Lord says, I quill.

3. Christ here gives us a copy and pattern of his intercession in heaven, that so much is spoke of. Christ here speaks as within the vail, ver. 4, 11, 12. as if he had done all his work, and were no more in the world. He had done so much, had but a little more to do, which also was speedily to be dispatched. Christ's intercession in heaven, is a kind and powerful remembrance of his people, and of all their concerns, managed with state and majesty; not as a supplicant at the footstool, but as a crowned prince on the throne, at the right hand of the Father. So is it expressed, Rom. viii. 34. Heb. i. 3. viii. 2. x. 12, 15 and xii. 2. This may be one reason of this great I will.

4. Here our Lord is making his will; and therefore I will is fitly put in. Christ is making his last will and testament, and praying it over to his Father, which is sealed next day with his blood; and here he tells what he wills to his people, even that they may be with him where he is. And nothing

greater or better can be willed for them. Blessed for evermore are they that have this willed and bequeathed to them. And you have a word like this in Luke xxii. 29. I appoint unto you a kingdom: "I bequeath, dispose it, make it over to "you;" as the word may be rendered.

5. Our Lord had the price of this glory in his hand, ready now to lay down; and therefore he demands the purchase : for Christ was taken this night, and died next day. The price of the redeemed and of their salvation, a price agreed upon in the everlasting covenant, a price of infinite value in itself, a price the Father's wisdom and justice demanded, a price the Son promised to lay down in the fulness of time, a price on the payment whereof so great things were promised to Christ and his seed; this price is now in Christ's hand ready, presently to be told down. No wonder then, if Christ demand the purchase in this high word, I will, Believers, it passeth all your thoughts, it passeth the highest flights of your faith, to conceive that high assurance and confidence that our Lord Jesus had of the acceptance and success of that sacrifice of himself that he was now upon offering to his Father. Hence cometh this great I will.

6. This I will is but an echo to the known will of his Father. It doth not become us to say in our prayers, I will, because we do not perfectly know God's will; and when our desires clash with his will, we do but dash against a rock. But Christ knew perfectly, that the thing he prays for, was the When a believer

will of his Father, John vi. 38, 39, 40.

hath a sure knowledge of God's will, his faith may plead boldly on it. We read of one bold word of blessed Luther. He hearing of the dangerous sickness of an eminent minister of the gospel, prayed for him, prevailed with the Lord for his life; and wrote to him, that he was assured, that the Lord would restore him, and preserve him to outlive Luther; which came to pass. In the close of this letter he writes, Fiat voluntas mea; mea, Domine, quia tua. "Let my will be "done; mine, Lord, because thine."

7. Lastly, This I will in Christ's prayer for his people, shews how much his heart was set upon the eternal happiness of his people. He prays for it with all his heart. On this sweet theme I would offer a few things.

1st, Let us consider how Christ's love and will was on the necessary price of their salvation. How dear soever it was to him, whatever it cost him, his love was on laying it down: Luke xii. 50. I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened (or pained) till it be accomplished? and it was a baptism in his own blood; and Luke xxii. 15. With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: and it was his last meal. Love to his Father, and love to his sheep, made our Lord long greatly to pay the price of redemption.

There are several thoughts in mens hearts about Christ's dying. 1. Some think of Christ's death as brought about by the wicked hands of sinners. This is a poor thought, if there be no more. This thought is natural to any that read the history of his death. Carnal men may hate Judas that betrayed him, Pilate that condemned him, the priests that cried Crucify him, and the people that did it. If this be all, I may say, the devils have a higher thought of Christ's death, and that which comes nearer to the truth, than this sorry one. 2. Some go further, and think of Christ's death as it was a fulfilling of the purpose and word of God concerning him. This Christ teacheth us in Luke xxiv. 26, 44, 46.; and the apostles frequently in their preaching of Christ. 3. There is a higher thought of Christ's death; and that is, That Christ died, by the stroke of God's law and justice, for his people. Justice roused itself against our Lord: Zech. xiii. 7. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd. This sword was drawn and furbished, and did enter into his soul: Isaiah liii. 5. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. Better were it that a man had never heard of Christ and of his death, than to hear, and not to know that his death was for his sins. This is Paul's first doctrine he taught; and he is an ignorant and proud preacher that follows not this pattern: 1 Cor. xv. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which also I received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. 4. The best thought of Christ's death is, That he died out of love to his people. Love made him come in the way of justice. Justice and the law saith, as it were, "Thou, or they must die. They have

"sinned, the law must be fulfilled, justice must be satisfied." Blessed Jesus answers, "I love them too well to let them "die; I will rather die for them, that they may live." Christ's death is still laid on his love, John x. Gal. ii. 20. Eph. v. 25, 26. He loved us, and washed us from our sins in his sand, Rev. i. 5.; that is, He loved us so that he shed his own blood for our sins; and then in the same love he washed us from our sins, in and by that blood which he shed in love. O such love! such blood! such washing! Here' is salvation, and here only. It is a damning dream to expect it any where else.

2, Consider, as Christ's love was much set on the paying the price of redemption, so was his love and will as much set on the persons of the redeemed. He laid down the price, in love to the purchase. How can it enter into a man's thoughts, that the Son of God should lay down so great d price, and not know what he was to take up for it? that he should die, and not know for whom, ner who should be the batter for it ? His dying was in love; and did he not know whom he loved! H's love is still spoke of as distinguishing and particular; for his šilj, his permit, his rep, whom he into, John Y.

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