A30241:542
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.
Sermon 22: Of Christs finishing the work he undertook, with the End and Properties of it, and the…
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.
First Austin answers it, by reading it in the future tense, I will finish thy work: 1but that cannot be. The best answer is, that Christ thus speaks, because all was now at hand to be finished, he was in a prepared and ready disposition to consummate all, as we read he said a little before his death, It's finished, consummatum est. Now the Scripture accounts that as done, which is immediately to be done, and the man is ready to do it: Thus Abraham, Heb. 11. is said to offer up his son Isaac, and to receive him from the dead, when yet actually he did not offer him, but he was immediately fitted for it.
First Austin answers it, by reading it in the future tense, I will finish thy work: 1but that cannot be. The best answer is, that Christ thus speaks, because all was now at hand to be finished, he was in a prepared and ready disposition to consummate all, as we reade he said a little before his death, It's finished, consummatum est. Now the Scripture accounts that as done, which is immediatly to be done, and the man is ready to do it: Thus Abraham, Heb. 11. is said to offer up his sonne Isaac, and to receive him from the dead, when yet actually he did not offer him, but he was immediatly fitted for it.
- 1Answ.
Obs. Christ did fully and perfectly finish that work the Father gave him to do. 1John 4.34. see what a notable expression our Saviour useth to this purpose, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me; My meat, i. e. my joy, my refreshing; never any hungry man was more refreshed by food, then I am in doing my Fathers will, and what was that will, to obtain pardon and salvation for a poor humbled sinner. Oh why should the godly soul be dejected with doubts, whether Christ will receive him or no, it's his meat to be communicating grace and mercy to thee; Thou canst not so much desire him as he doth thee: Again he adds, To do my Fathers will and to finish his work; for if Christ had begun it and not completed it, we had been still in our sins, and without all hope;