what are our views of Chrift, and what affections we feel towards him: but the folemn admonition, here given, teaches us not to boast of the clearness of our knowledge or the warmth of our attachment. We may foon be brought into fuch trials, as may ftagger and confound us; and, for a feafon at least, we may be "moved away from the hope of the Gospel," as if we had found the whole fyftem to be a delufion. It will be our wisdom, as well as duty, under a diffidence of ourselves, to rely upon the grace of God, which alone can preferve us, and to pray," Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope*."

Yet we admire the forbearance and tenderness of Jefus, even in the view of their inconftancy. He did not frown upon them, but ftill encouraged them by an affurance of his earneft defire, that they might enjoy a folid peace through faith in his name. And, while he warned them to look for severe oppofition and sharp diftrefs from the world, he closed his address with exhorting them to maintain a holy cheerfulness and courage, in full dependence upon him their victorious Leader. It is the will of Jesus, then, that his fainting people fhould be comforted; and even that thofe, who have betrayed an unfteadiness in his service, fhould not defpond, but be induced to return, and truft in his love. O, how large are his compaffions!

We afk, What are your expectations of happiness? Are you feeking it in prefent things? Alas! you will be miferably difappointed: Jefus alone can beftow the precious treasure, nor will you ever obain it, till you be willing to receive it at his hands. You cannot enjoy his favour and that of the world together. If you follow him with fidelity and zeal, you must prepare to meet refiftance, and arm yourselves for a fevere conflict.

* Pfal. cxix. 116

He

He, however, whom you ferve, has already overcome your enemies; and you may rejoice in this confidence, that they fhall be fubdued under your feet, becaufe He has gained the conqueft. O defert not his standard, and you shall soon share in the honours of his triumph, and fit down with him in his kingdom!

Jefus had finifhed the folemn addrefs to the Apoftles; but, ftill actuated by a defire to promote their highest interest, he looked up to his heavenly Father, and poured out his foul in the most fervent intercef fions for them*. Having rifen from table, he seem-ed in the very pofture of one departing. He had taken his leave of his beloved attendants; but, that he might give them a further proof of his warm affection, he lifted up his eyes and fpake aloud, while he commended them and their concerns to God. It is probable, that the prayer was uttered in their hearing, John, who was then prefent, having recorded it at length; and it remains as a ftanding monument of his ftrong and invariable attachment to his Church. It was adapted to his own peculiar circumstances, when he had but a few hours more to live in the world; and his conduct on that occafion teaches us to wait for our great change in the exercise of ardent devotion. But it appears, more especially, to have been dictated by a tender regard to the fituation of his Apostles, who, perplexed and tempted as they were, ftood in need of all that protection, fupport, and comfort, which he folicited his Father to grant them. It is likewife to be confidered, as a pattern of that prevailing interceffion which he carries on in heaven, and will continue to the end of time, for the benefit of every member of his Church.

There are thofe, who reprefent it as inconfiftent

with the doctrine of his Godhead, that he should ever be a fupplicant. But they feem willing to forget that part of the Chriftian's creed, which maintains, that Jefus was very man as well as very God, that as man he was required" to fulfil all righteoufnefs," and therefore among other duties to perform that of prayer. Befides, in that state of humiliation, being a partaker of our weakneffes, he had occafion to implore affiftance from above, even as we ourfelves; and he received that affiftance in answer to his own petitions. Yet in his remarkable address to Heaven, which we now proceed to confider, he difcovers a fuperior dignity. The language is fuch, as a mere man cannot adopt; it will not fuit any other than Him, who is our IMMANUEL, poffefied of two natures, "God manifeft in the flefh."

He began with a requeft for himfelf. He could not be unmindful of his own fituation, with which fuch important events were connected. As he was about to close his work on earth, it was his earnest defire fo to be fupported, that the conclufion might be truly honourable. The grand, decifive hour was at hand, on which the whole of his mediatorial undertaking depended: anxious, therefore, for the glory of God and the falvation of his people, he prayed, that he might be fuftained in the conflict, and crowned with victory. This he folicited and obtained. A divine fplendour attended him in his deepeft humiliation: an Angel appeared to ftrengthen him in the garden; his enemies were ftruck to the ground; his very judge teftified his innocence; the converfion of a dying finner gave a luftre to his crofs; the heavens were darkened, the earth fhook, the veil of the temple was rent, and the graves opened, in answer to this request, that the dignity of the Saviour might be attefted. Doubtlefs, he had a view likewife to thofe fubfequent events, his refurrection

and afcenfion, the miraculous effufion of the Spirit, and the efficacious influence of the Gofpel: and thefe alfo have fignally difplayed his high character.

He confidered himself in poffeffion of univerfal dominion, to be exercifed with an efpecial regard to the falvation of his people, according to the divine Covenant. To this end, it was neceflary for them to be brought to the knowledge of the true God, and of the fcheme of Redemption through the Son. Having reprefented, therefore, that he had invariably purfued the great plan intrufted to him, and that he was about to perfect his engagements by the facrifice of himself, he petitioned that he might again be admitted to participate of all that fplendour of Deity, which he had enjoyed from everlafting in union with the Father, and of which he had divefted himself that he might take up his abode upon earth. He is now returned to that exalted ftate, from which he defcended: and furely, according to this defcription, it is meet that we adore him as our Lord and our God. A mere creature, or One raised to be God, as fome vainly talk, could not speak thus; fince whatever glory he now poffeffes in heaven, he did poffefs before there was any creation. The doctrine is myfterious, but we rejoice in it, as laying a firm foundation for our faith and hope.

In this addrefs of Jefus to his Father, he bore upon his heart the cafe of his dear followers, and especially of his chofen Apoftles. He appears, indeed, to have been more folicitous for them, than for himself; fo that, even in the mention of his own concerns, he had a view to their benefit. His difciples were his peculiar charge; they had been committed to him by exprefs Covenant; he had gradually trained them up for his fervice, and faithfully instructed them in the divine will. They, on their part, had believed his declarations, unerftood his character

E 5

character, and steadfastly attached themselves to his. cause. This he reprefented, while he interceded for them, exclufively of others who knew him not. He pleaded, that they were the objects of his Father's peculiar choice and love, as well as of his own. He argued, that in this respect there could be no difference between him and the Father, and that, as they poffeffed the fame perfections, their counfels muft accord, and the fame perfons be equally dear to them both. Anxious, therefore, for the welfare of his favoured attendants, from whom he was then about to depart, he folemnly commended them to the care of God, and prayed, that, for the honour of his name, they might be preferved from the fnares, to which they were expofed, and be knit together by an indiffoluble union of affection.

He had watched over them during his refidence amongst them, and had kept them in the faith; fo that Judas only had apoftatized, according to the predictions of the fcripture. And now, upon his returning to his Father, he offered up these petitions in their prefence, that their happinefs in him might be confirmed and completed. He obferved, that, as they had received his doctrine, and, like him, differed fo widely from the customs and spirit of the world, they were generally rejected with abhorrence, and no other treatment could be looked for. He was not folicitous, that they fhould be immediately. taken to heaven, merely to avoid the violence of perfecution: he knew, that it was expedient for them to remain longer upon earth; but he prayed moft fervently, that they might not be overcome by temptation, or betrayed into any difhonourable conduct. He requested, that, while they separated from finners, they might be continually advancing in real holiness, through the powerful influence of divine truth upon their minds. For this purpose he pleaded the importance of their office, as they were his ambassadors,