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

MY Purpose is (God assisting) to go through this Chapter, being the Prayer of Christ immediately before his Passion: If the words of a dying man are much to be regarded, how much more of a dying Christ? And words put up in a Prayer way, which came from the most serious and heavenly affection within; Christs love was sincere and natural; Now as in natural motions the nearer the body comes to the centre, the swifter the motion is, Thus Christs Love though great always, yet the expressions of it were overflowing most at last; His best wine was at last: ⟨p. 2⟩And certainly if it be lawful to prefer Scripture before Scripture, we may say, Though all be gold, yet this is a Pearl in the gold; Though all be like the Heavens, yet this is like the Sun and Stars: Oh that both my heart and your hearts were purified with a coal of fire from the Altar for this Subject; Not only parts but great grace is required both to preach and hear this Subject: But let us enter into this Land of Canaan.

MY Purpose is (God assisting) to go through this Chapter, being the Praier of Christ immediately before his Passion: If the words of a dying man are much to be regarded, how much more of a dying Christ? And words put up in a Praier way, which came from the most serious and heavenly affection within; Christs love was sincere and naturall; Now as in naturall motions the nearer the body comes to the center, the swifter the motion is, Thus Christs Love though great alwaies, yet the expressions of it were overflowing most at last; His best wine was at last: ⟨p. 2⟩And certainly if it be lawfull to preferre Scripture before Scripture, we may say, Though all be gold, yet this is a Pearl in the gold; Though all be like the Heavens, yet this is like the Sun and Stars: Oh that both my heart and your hearts were purified with a coal of fire from the Altar for this Subject; Not onely parts but great grace is required both to preach and hear this Subject: But let us enter into this Land of Canaan.

The Apostle John of all the Evangelists is compared to an Eagle, because he treateth of the highest and most sublime matter; For as it is commonly received, He outliving all the other Apostles, there were damnable Heretics risen up that denied Christ to be God, at the Churches entreaty therefore he wrote this Book, mainly asserting Christs Godhead, and handling those things especially which the other Evangelists had left out, especially insisting upon those excellent discourses and dialogues Christ had with the Pharisees; As also those divine Instructions and consolations he gave his Disciples at his departure from them, of which the other Evangelists record nothing at all: Now when our Saviour had been large in instructing and confirming them, he bends himself to earnest prayer for them, that what he had said might take place in their hearts, so that in the Chapter you may take notice of, 1. The Introduction to the matter, and 2. The Matter it self.