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

That Christ was sent of the Father, and did not of himself undertake that Office, ¹he was employed in, while on earth. Christ himself would not be the Prophet, Priest or King of his Church without a Call, or Commission from the Father thereunto. Hence in John's Gospel, he doth so exceeding often mention this, That his Father sent him, still resolving his Doctrine, his Authority, his Will and Works into him that sent him. Therefore not only the twelve Apostles are called so, but Christ himself is called an Apostle, Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. An Apostle is as much as one that is sent; and thus Christ is there called an Apostle; and therefore some make a mystery in that John 9.7. when Christ cured the blind man, he bids him, Go and wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpretation sent, saith the Evangelist, as if hereby our Saviour would teach, that he was the Messiah, that was to be sent into the world. That our Saviour did expect a sending, or a Call, appeareth notably Heb. 5 4. No man taketh this honour upon himself, but he that is called, speaking of the Priesthood;² and so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest.

That Christ was sent of the Father, and did not of himself undertake that Office, ¹he was imployed in, while on earth. Christ himself would not be the Prophet, Priest or King of his Church without a Call, or Commission from the Father thereunto. Hence in John's Gospel, he doth so exceeding often mention this, That his Father sent him, still resolving his Doctrine, his Authority, his Will and Works into him that sent him. Therefore not only the twelve Apostles are called so, but Christ himself is called an Apostle, Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. An Apostle is as much as one that is sent; and thus Christ is there called an Apostle; and therefore some make a mystery in that