CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

I have handled this Point formerly, but then I did it under an absolute notion, showing you how many ways the people of God were his People, but I shall now treat on it relatively, as it's an Argument used by our Saviour why he should be heard in his prayer for his Disciples; And certainly here is much of strength in it, They are thine, I pray not for thy Enemies nor for strangers, but such as are near thee, that are of thy own household, such upon whom already thou hast placed thy love and delight,¹ so that our Saviour makes the propriety God hath in his Disciples, and so in all believers, to be the ground of his prayer for them; And indeed this must needs be very effectual, for the Apostle argueth, If any man provide not for his own, 1 Tim. 1.0. he is worse then an Infidel; If then God doth so greatly abhor him who takes not care for his own, Shall not the Lord himself provide for his? Thus Ephes. 1.29. the Apostle urging the duty of Husbands to Wives argueth from propriety, Their own Wives; and no man ever hated his own flesh; Now then God takes this relation of an Husband to his people, and because they are his therefore he will hear their prayer, and vouchsafe all good to them; Propriety is so great a matter that Aristotle makes it the cause of all the labour and trading that is in the world, insomuch that he saith, If all things were common the world would be filled with idle persons, but because it's their own ground, their own wealth, their own riches, therefore they are so diligent to increase in these things: None regard the air, the light of the Sun because it's common to all, Whereas if they could be appropriated, if no man had the light of the Sun but one or few men, Oh what a price would be put upon it; It's then propriety both with God and man that is the Fountain of all good, of all care,² and brings about all the blessedness that Gods Children have.

I have handled this Point formerly, but then I did it under an absolute notion, shewing you how many waies the people of God were his People, but I shall now treat on it relatively, as it's an Argument used by our Saviour why he should be heard in his praier for his Disciples; And certainly here is much of strength in it, They are thine, I pray not for thy Enemies nor for strangers, but such as are near thee, that are of thy own houshold, such upon whom already thou hast placed thy love and delight,