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

3. Further, Another main spiritual mercy prayed for, is preservation from sin, v. 15. I pray not thou shouldest take them out of the world, ¹but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil; Oh admirable and necessary prayer; we are in the world as in an infected Hospital, as in a fiery furnace: Now to be here and not diseased, not to be burned therein, is the wonderful expression of Gods power and goodness, for this River to run into the Sea, and not to partake of the salt taste thereof is beyond expression, Christ hath not prayed that we should have no afflictions or troubles in the world, but that we should be kept from the evil of them; He did not pray for Peter that he should not have woeful and sad temptations, but that his faith might not fail in the midst of them; O what a comfortable cordial may it be in times of great commotions and violent temptations! how do the godly fear lest their strength should fail them, lest one time or other they should yield to sin, and be overwhelmed? Now in the midst of all these fears Christ hath prayed for thee as well as for Peter, that thy faith may not fail: Insomuch that we may say, Christs prayer for believers is all their hope and foundation; In some sad exigences how careful are we to have the prayers of all Gods people, to be remembered in such and such a Congregation, but if all the Churches in the world should pray for a man, it would not amount to so much as Christs prayer; therefore let the godly comfort one another with these things.

3. Further, Another main spirituall mercy praied for, is preservation from sin, v. 15. I pray not thou shouldest take them out of the world, ¹but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil; Oh admirable and necessary praier; we are in the world as in an infected Hospitall, as in a fiery furnace: Now to be here and not diseased, not to be burned therein, is the wonderfull expression of Gods power and goodnesse, for this River to run into the Sea, and not to partake of the salt taste thereof is beyond expression, Christ hath not praied that we should have no afflictions or troubles in the world, but that we should be kept from the evil of them; He did not pray for Peter that he should not have wofull and sad temptations, but that his faith might not fail in the midst of them; O what a comfortable cordiall may it be in times of great commotions and violent temptations! how do the godly fear lest their strength should fail them, lest one time or other they should yeeld to sinne, and be overwhelmed? Now in the midst of all these fears Christ hath praied for thee as well as for Peter, that thy faith may not fail: Insomuch that we may say, Christs praier for beleevers is all their hope and foundation; In some sad exigences how carefull are we to have the praiers of all Gods people, to be remembred in such and such a Congregation, but if all the Churches in the world should pray for a man, it would not amount to so much as Christs praier; therefore let the godly comfort one another with these things.