Page 36
Vse 7.
* 1.1Lastly, How greatly are we all concerned to make it sure, to our selves, that we are of this number; which the Father and the Son agreed for, before the world was, that we were comprehended in Christs bargain, and compact with the Father.
* 1.2Yea but you will say, who can know that? there were no wit∣nesses to that bargain.
* 1.3Yes, We may know without ascending into Heaven; or pry∣ing into unrevealed Secrets: that our names were in that Cove∣nant, if (1.) You are believers indeed; for all such the Fa∣ther then gave to Christ, John 17.8. the men that thou gavest me, (for of them he spake immediately before) they have be∣lieved that thou didst send me. (2.) If you savingly know God in Jesus Christ, such were given him by the Father, Joh. 17.6. I have manifested thy name, unto the men thou gavest me: by this they are discriminated from the rest, vers. 25. the world hath not known thee, but th••se have known, &c. (3.) If you are men and women of another world, Joh. 17.16. they are not of the world, as I am not of the world: may it be said of you, as of dying men; that you are not men and women for this world, that you are Crucified and dead to it; Gal. 6.14. that you are strangers in it, Heb. 11.13, 14. (4.) If you keep Christs word; Joh. 17.6. thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word; by keeping his word understand the receiv∣ing of the word in its sanctifying effects and influences into your hearts, and your perseverance in the profession and practice of it, to the end; Joh. 17.17. sanctifie them through thy truth, thy word is truth; Joh. 15.7. if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will; blessed and happy is that soul, upon which these blessed characters appear; which our Lord Jesus hath laid so close together; within the compass of a few Verses in this 17 of Iohn; these are the persons the Father de∣livered unto Christ, and he accepted from the Father in this blessed Covenant.