The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

And whereas it is said, in that 17. of John, That Christ prays that we may be one with him, as he is with the Father: That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one. I answer: This is an As of Similitude, and not of Equality: Christ prays unto the Father, that Believers may be one with him; not by way of Equality; that a Believer should be Equally one with Christ, as Christ is with the Father: for then Christ should pray, that a Believer might be worshipped too, which he never did: and if that Christ here should pray, that a Believer might be one with Christ, as Christ with the Father, in regard of Equality; then Christ should pray, that a Believer should be one with him from Eternity: for says he unto his Father in the beginning of the chapter, Glorify me with thy self, with the same glory which I had with thee before the world was. Christ was one with the Father before the world was. Therefore, if he should pray, that a Believer might be one with him, in regard of Equality, he should pray that a Believer might be one with him, in that respect: which were impossible. But he does not pray, that a Believer might be one with him, by way of Equality, as he is one with the Father by way of Equality, but Similitude. And yet divers Learned and Reverend men, think the meaning of that place rather to be this, That they may ⟨p. 83⟩be one among themselves: Christ prays, that they may be all one; that is, Lord, I pray, that they may love, and agree together; he prays for Union among themselves But suppose it be taken the other way, That the Lord Jesus Christ here does pray, that Believers may be one with him, as he is with the Father: That is, not in regard of Equality, but in regard of Similitude; that as Christ is one with the Father in a way suitable to him, so Believers may be one with Christ in a way suitable unto them.

And whereas it is said, in that 17. of John, That Christ praies that we may be one with him, as he is with the Father: That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one. I answer: This is an As of Similitude, and not of Equallity: Christ praies unto the Father, that Beleevers may be one with him; not by way of Equallitie; that a Beleever should be Equallie one with Christ, as Christ is with the Father: for then Christ should pray, that a Beleever might be worshipped too, which he never did: and if that Christ here should pray, that a Beleever might be one with Christ, as Christ with the Father, in regard of Equallitie; then Christ should pray, that a Beleever should be one with him from Eternity: for saies he unto his Father in the beginning of the chapter, Glorify me with thy self, with the same glory which I had with thee before the world was. Christ was one with the Father before the world was. Therefore, if he should pray, that a Beleever might be one with him, in regard of Equallity, he should pray that a Beleever might be one with him, in that respect: which were impossible. But he does not pray, that a Beleever might be one with him, by way of Equallitie, as he is one with the Father by way of Equallitie, but Similitude. And yet divers Learned and Reverend men, think the meaning of that place rather to be this, That they may