The Fountain of Life Opened

To prepare this point for use, I will here open. First, The mercies which Christ requested of the Father for them. Secondly, The Arguments used by him to obtain these mercies. Thirdly, Why he thus pleaded for them when he was to die. Fourthly, and Lastly, How all this gives full evidence of Christs tender care and love to his people.

First, We will enquire what those mercies and special favours §1were, which Christ begged for his people, when he was to die? And we find among others, these five special mercies desired for them in this context.

First, We will enquire what those mercies and special favours §1were, which Christ beg'd for his people, when he was to die? And we find among others, these five special mercies desired for them in this context.

First, The mercy of preservation both from sin and danger: so in the text; Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me: which is explained, vers. 15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. We in ours, and the Saints that are gone, in their respective generations have reaped the fruit of this prayer. How else comes it to pass, that our souls are persecuted amidst such a world of Temptations; and these assisted and advantaged by our own corruptions? How is it else, that our persons are not ruined, and destroyed amidst such multitudes of potent, and malicious enemies that are set on fire of Hell? Surely the preservation of the burning bush, of the three children amidst the flames, of Daniel in the den of Lyons, are not greater wonders, than these our eyes do daily behold. As the fire would have certainly consumed, and the Lyons without doubt have rended and devoured, had not God by the interposition of his own hand stopped and hindered the effect; so would the sin that is in us, and the malice that is in others, quickly