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

¹First, This solemn and remarkable prayer, which our Saviour did make with so much fullness of heart, was for this end, to fill them with joy. Though Christ prayed for impetration of the benefits mentioned in this prayer, yet the end why he spake this prayer so solemnly in the ears of the world, was that it might be a perpetual standing stock of comfort to the godly. Therefore the Apostle John, because the other Evangelists pretermitted this prayer, and much of his farewell Sermons, is very large and exact in the description of it: so that the Spirit of God thought it not enough to have it vocally pronounced, but also to be committed to writing, that so all the generations to come might take comfort from this prayer: If therefore the godly man consider, what Christ here prayeth for, and who it is that doth pray; The dignity of his person, the certainty of being heard; if there were no other Scripture remaining but this, there would be ground enough of joy. For the things which usually sad the hearts of Gods children, are either from within or without; from without are all the oppositions and cruel usages they meet with in the world by wicked men. These are thorns and goads in their sides: These are wolves to the sheep, and where they cannot suck their blood, yet they are briars and thorns, to tear and rend their wool off. Now our Saviours prayer is sufficient to turn this water into wine, he makes us ⟨p. 401⟩to gather grapes even of these thorns. He showeth this is matter of joy, and not sorrow; for those fading thoughts which arise from within us, which indeed are the heaviest, as because of their corruptions which are strong in them, their proud, earthly and unbelieving hearts, as also their proneness and danger to apostatize one time or other, to suffer shipwreck; Our Saviour doth expressly provide cordials against these faintings; The petitions are so direct and complete against such decays, that thou mayest afore-hand with Paul triumph, and challenge any creature in the world, to hinder thee of the Crown of Glory: Oh then in the midst of all thy perplexed thoughts within, remember this prayer of Christ! Look not upon it as once spoken by Christ, and so passing away; but know it is as efficacious and powerful in operation as ever; length of time hath not diminished from the virtue of it;

¹First, This solemn and remarkable prayer, which our Saviour did make with so much fulness of heart, was for this end, to fill them with joy. Though Christ praid for impetration of the benefits mentioned in this prayer, yet the end why he spake this prayer so solemnly in the ears of the world, was that it might be a perpetual standing stock of comfort to the godly. Therefore the Apostle John, because the other Evangelists pretermitted this prayer, and much of his farewell Sermons, is very large and exact in the description of it: so that the Spirit of God thought it not enough to have it vocally pronounced, but also to be committed to writing, that so all the generations to come might take comfort from this prayer: If therefore the godly man consider, what Christ here prayeth for, and who it is that doth pray; The dignity of his person, the certainty of being heard; if there were no other Scripture remaining but this, there would be ground enough of joy. For the things which usually sad the hearts of Gods children, are either from within or without; from without are all the oppositions and cruel usages they meet with in the world by wicked men. These are thorns and goads in their sides: These are wolves to the sheep, and where they cannot suck their blood, yet they are briars and thorns, to tear and rend their wool off. Now our Saviours prayer is sufficient to turn this water into wine, he makes us