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

5. The Son and the Father have the same will and the same purposes;¹ This all the Socinians would have, But the sameness of will and mind floweth from the Identity of the nature; Indeed when he prayeth for his Disciples in this Chapter, that they may be one as thou and I are one; It's not a sicut of equality but similitude, not as if they were to be one essentially, as the Father and the Son is, but that intimate Union of the Father and Son, is made the Rule, as when it's said, Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, Mat. 5. ult. that cannot be understood of an equality; The Rule hath always more perfection in it then the thing regulated by it: Hence it is that Christ is called the express character of the Father, Heb. 1. What Christ wills, what he purposeth we may conclude the Father doth so also, so that this consideration may abundantly take away that doubt which may arise, That although Christ be thus ready to work out our redemption, yet will the Father accept of it, he is not obliged to take a Surety in our room, he will see the Law satisfied in our own persons, but Christ removeth this when he saith, Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life for my Sheep, Joh. 10. The Father then and the Son have the same gracious will, have the same purposes of mercy, and whom Christ doth invite the Father inviteth, whom Christ calls the Father calls: So that in and by Christ we may see the gracious and glorious thoughts of mercy God the Father had from all Eternity to his people; Indeed as he was man though his humane will was not contrary, yet we see he speaks conditionally, If it be possible let this Cup pass away, yet not my will but thy will be done, Matth. 26 39. Therefore his humane will if absolutely considered, did desire freedom from death, but if particularly considered in these circumstances, then he emptied that particular stream of his humane nature in the Ocean of the divine.

5. The Son and the Father have the same will and the same purposes;¹