A30241:2864
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SERMON CXIX. Showeth, What a special means Unity among Believers is, to enlarge the Kingdom of Christ; And yet notwithstanding that Unity without true Doctrine is no infallible Mark of the true Church: against the Papists.
SERMON CXIX. Sheweth, What a special means Ʋnity among Believers is, to enlarge the Kingdome of Christ; And yet notwithstanding that Ʋ nity without true Doctrine is no infallible Mark of the true Church: against the Papists.
JOHN 17.21. That the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
WE are now arrived at the last part of this Text, as it stands divided, which is the consequent and fruit of all Believers Unity. It will convert the world, and bring them to the true Faith, when they see such agreement. It's true, Austin makes not this a consequent, but a distinct prayer, and therefore repeateth the word [Greek or Hebrew], as if our Saviours sense was, I pray that the world may believe in me; And upon this foundation he makes this Question, How Christ that said before he prayed not for the world, doth here pray for the world? And answers, The world is here taken for the world not of reprobates, but predestinated ones, in which sense the world is taken (he saith) in these two places, I came not to judge, but to save the world, John 3.17. And God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, 2 Cor. 5.19. So that it's plain, Austin thought that the world might sometimes be taken for the elect only, howsoever some cannot endure that Exposition; but though there may be truth in this, yet I think the Context is to the contrary; for it's plain, that the particle [Greek or Hebrew] doth denote here some event or consequent from the believers unity.