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

First, The Excellency and Necessity of it appeareth in the vehement and affectionate prayer for it, made by our Saviour. ¹When he puts the whole company of believers together, he pitcheth upon this as the most eminent, That they may be one. And although our Saviour had not the Spirit in measure, and so could not vainly repeat the same thing often, yet within a little space, he doth four times mention this, vers. 21, 22, 23. Now certainly, that thing which our Saviour in whom the treasures of all wisdom are, did much press and urge, must needs be of very great moment, here is not pardon of their sins, Justification, Adoption, Glorification mentioned, but Unity, as if the whole kingdom of grace and glory did consist in this, obtain this, and you have all; and our Saviour as he prayed then, so he preached Love and Unity; so that, whereas in matter of Justification he commended Faith above all, in matter of Sanctification he comprehends all in love, John 13.34. A new Commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: A new Commandment, not but that the duty was old, only envy and malice had so prevailed amongst the Jews, that to love was a new thing, as if it had not been a duty required before. In John's Epistles it's called both new and old, 1 John 2.8. And then again new, because there are new motives, and a new pattern, Love one another, as I have loved you; There was never such a Pattern and President before; so that it's not every kind of love and unity which will give content, but that which is in the highest degree of unity, it's added vers. 35. By this shall all men know ye 'are my Disciples, if ye love one another; not if ye work miracles, if ye cast out devils, but if you cast out discord and variance; and therefore there is not a greater scandal to Religion and holiness, then when those that do believe, are as the Levites Concubine, that was cut into many pieces. Again, Ch. 15.12. This is my Commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you; This is Christs Commandment, as if there were nothing else he required but this; and as if this were not enough, at verse 17. These things I command you, that ye love one another; as if he should have said, If bare information will not do it; if instruction will not do it, I lay my command and charge upon you.

First, The Excellency and Necessity of it appeareth in the vehement and affectionate prayer for it, made by our Saviour.