John 17:22

In this verse, Christ (to presse this suit before the Father, and convince his Apostles and all beleevers of the necessity of this union) holds forth what excellent priviledges he had conferred and allowed upon them to advance their union; even a communication of that glory given to him by the Father. Which is not to be understood as if the essential glory and attributes of Christ as God, or the glory of the personal union of the manhood of Christ to his Godhead, or of the office of Mediatour, were communicable to any other, or that any glory given to him, is communicate to any in the same measure with him: nor yet only of the glory of the Apostleship or Ministry committed to him. For that was given only to the Apostles and their successours, this to all beleevers; But the meaning is, That as his incommunicable glory is made forth-coming for them; so the glory of Sonship, of his sanctification without measure, of being on Gods secrets and dwelling in his bosome, and of his union with the Father, is communicate to them in its own kinde and measure, and they are made Sons, sanctified in part, admitted to the knowledge of the Fathers secrets, and to be one with the Father in him, and all this in order to their union, which also is a resemblance of that glory of his unity with the Father communicate unto them. Whence learn, 1. Christ is truly glorious, having not only essential glory, the same and equal with the Fathers glory, and which was declared to be in him, by his exaltation, but our nature being exalted in him to the glory of the personal union, and of the offices and dignities following thereupon; for, there is the glory which thou gavest me. 2. Christ is communicative of his fulnesse to his people; all his excellencies being either communicate to them to partake of, or daily forth-coming for them; for, the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them. 3. All that is in Christ for beleevers, or communicate to them from him, cometh by free gift, without any deserving on their part, and should be esteemed of as an excellent gift; for, I have given them the glory. 4. What beleevers have in and from Christ, doth advance them to a glorious estate, and is their begun glory and salvation; so that none but they have any true glory, nor is any thing enjoyed by men truly glorious, but the grace and other priviledges they enjoy in and from him; for, it is the glory which I have given them. 5. It is not enough we know what we have in Christ and from him, unlesse we also take up the end for which it is allowed, and emprove it accordingly; Therefore doth he subjoyne, I have given them that glory, that they may be one. 6. All Christs communication of himself to beleevers, doth tend to advance their union; Their union among themselves in some sort of resemblance with that union betwixt the Father and him, and their union with God through him for that end, is in it self a part of that glory which he giveth them; And all their participation of the fruits of that incommunicable glory which is in Christ, and all that is communicate by Christ to them, should sit them the more for union, and make them grow in humility and mutual condescendence for that effect, and not puffe them up; for, the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. 7. Christ would have the excellency of union studied, in the gloriousnesse thereof, in his large communications for the advancement thereof, and in the resemblance it hath with the union betwixt the Father and him; Therefore doth he so point it out here, to the conviction of all, I have given them the glory, even to be one, and that they may be one even as we are one. 8. Such as would promove the welfare of Gods people, ought not only to wish or pray for it; but must also be active in their station for promoving thereof; for, so much doth Christs practice teach, who, as he prayed for this union, so he gave them the glory, that they may be one. 9. It may, upon the one hand, shame beleevers from division and dissention, that hereby they do what they can to deprive themselves of that glory gifted by Christ, to be one as the Father and he are, and to make void the fruit of all his glorious communications; And, on the other hand, it may assure them who long for union, that Christ whose desire and allowance it is, and who hath laid out so much for it, and is daily interceding with the Father for that effect, will, in due time bring it about among his people; Therefore, both to shame his people from their contentions and neglect of union, and to presse his suit before the Father, how averse soever they be, he useth this Argument, The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, &c.