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A Comment upon Christs Last Prayer in the Seventeenth of John

Name: A Comment upon Christs Last Prayer in the Seventeenth of John
Author: Thomas Hooker

Thomas Hooker 1656

A detailed commentary on Christ's intercessory prayer in John 17, exploring themes of unity, sanctification, and divine purpose in Hooker's exegetical method.

London: Peter Cole, 1656. TCP A44344; Wing H2643. Text from the TCP TEI transcription, original spelling; page numbers as printed.

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, from p. 1, in the spelling of this edition.

p. 1MR HOOKER'S Seventeenth Book Made in NEW-ENGLAND.

I Pray not for these alone: but for them also who shall beleeve on me through their word.

IN this 17. Chapter: We have a most heavenly prayer of our Savior, expressed immediately before his departure hence, which I suppose he presents to the Father, not as a man, or yet Minister of the Circumcision, unto whom he was sent, but as Mediator, & is part of that Intercession, which he performeth in the behalf of his Church and people. And being now shortly to offer up himself, and to lay down his life for his Children, and to go out of the World, (as though his soul had been transported into the Suburbs of Heaven, as though he would unbowel p. 2his dearest and heart-blood desires into the bosom of his Father) he sends this prayer before-hand in the power of his Intercession, to lie leidger there in the behalf of his Disciples and faithful ones, that so he might fully provide for their everlasting life and spiritual welfare, before he left his own life, and provide comfort in Heaven to be sent down to them, before he left the Earth, and went to Heaven.

A Prayer of unconceiveable and incomparable worth, above al that ever was expressed or recorded in the word: Like a confection or compound of those soveraigne excellencies; beyond the highest strayn of the desires or conceivings of the souls of the Saints.

That which containes the quintessence or the pith of al the cordialls of the Gospel; the very marrow of al that great redemption, he had wrought and purchased: the highest pitch of al that happiness, which Heaven can afford, or the very richest Diamond in the crown of Glory: for that we may see, he here prayes for something beyond glory, that for which glory was made, and therefore better than glory it self, for so the words: I have given them my Glory, that they may be one, as we are one. So that that is the end of Glory, and therefore better than Glory, able to carry the heart beyond al the riches of admiration.

This is expressed in the parts of it according to the parties for whom it is made, and those are two.

p. 21 For himself to vers. 6.

2 For his servants and those

The rest of Beleevers.

Hence generally for our imitation and direction, learn from our Savior.

1. That the first especial scope of Prayer should be for such things that do more especially concern us.

Whether it be in regard of any thing which respects p. 3the Glory of God, the furtherance of his truth, or the good and benefit of such, whose conditions or relations do most neerly touch us; for thus Prayer serves the end best, for which it is appointed by God, and for which it should be used by us, to help forward the occasions that be under our hands: Prayer is like the passing boat of the Ferry, it helps al Travellers, but it attends them next, that come first; So it was with Jacob, it plyed God for the particular, and especially where the pinch lay, Gen. 32.10.11. So Eleazar, good Lord make it hit right to day. Gen. 24.12. And it seems it was that which God complaines of Isa. 64. At least he condemnes in Josuah, that his hand was in the wrong box. Jos. 7.10. quorsum hoc? not that he fasted, but that he searched nor, examined not the sin, and sought not the reformation of that which indeed did especially concern him.

The present work done, want to be supplied, the way of Providence furthered. Here is our prick and mark at which our prayers should aim, we must not shoot at rovers, Prayer like a Skilful Physitian, studies the cure of al diseases, but administers a receipt to him, whose necessities present themselves.

2. Prayers must be of a speeding nature so to attend persons or things of present necessity, as to reach al in a right order. So David Psal. 50.2. last. Paul brings in al Churches within the compass of his care and of his prayers. I make mention alwayes of you; and of you al in my prayers, and this almost in al his Epistles. Prayer is like the blood and spirits which pass through the whol body of Christ, and hath its conveyance even into the least member and joynt. Like a Pinnace of dispatch, that gives intelligence from each quarter.

p. 3The Subjects of our Saviors Prayer are set forth, two wayes.

p. 41 From their quality and special effect, they shal beleeve: and that from the generality of the

Object, in Me.

Time, Hereafter.

Instrument by which it shal be wrought, by their word.

2. From a comparison of equality or parity. i. e. Christ prayes not alone for the Apostles, but equally, but indifferently, for al, as wel as they.

For Explication, there is nothing difficult but that: what is meant by their word.

That is the Gospel, which they published by preaching, or left upon record in writing, as they were inspired by the spirit: The Lord Christ providing therein for the good of his Church, unto the end of the world, that so they might have the path of life paved out before them, and a certain rule to guid them, until the end of the world. Not that none did formerly beleeve by the word of the Prophets in the Old Testament, for even then also the Gospel was preached, Gal. 3.8. Preached the Gospel to Abraham, in thy seed shal all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. The word was preached to them, as wel as to us, and it was a word of promise Heb. 4.1.2. And therefore the Apostle professed, He preached no other things, but what were contained and expressed in the law and the Prophets. Acts, 26.22. the Prophets and Moses did say, should come; the Prophets foretold, in the Types was prefigured, and in the Covenant expressed, in Genesis promised. So that this their word is opposed to two things.

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THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
MR HOOKER'S Seventeenth Book Made in NEW-ENGLAND.p. 1
The word of the Gospel is the onely ordinary means to work Faith.Doct.p. 5
Reason, 1.p. 5
Reason. 2.p. 7
Reason. 3.p. 7
Use. 1. Of Terror.p. 8
Use, 2. Instruction and Comfort.p. 9
Use, 3. Examination.p. 10
Use, 4. Exhortation.p. 10
Saving Faith hath the Lord Jesus for its object.Doct.p. 11
The Interceding Prayer, or Intercession of our Savior doth alike…p. 12
Use 1 for Instruction.p. 17
Use 2 for Direction:p. 19
Use 3.p. 19
Use 4.p. 20
Use 5, Exhortation to beleevers;p. 21
Our Savior hath a speciall care for those that shal beleeve on…p. 22
Use 1 of Instruction.p. 29
Use 2.p. 31
Christ's Prayer FOR BELEEVERS.p. 35
The chief Priviledg of the Saints,Doct. for which our Savior…p. 38
I. Reason.p. 45
2. Reason.p. 49
Use to Instruct Comfort Exhort Us.p. 50
Use 2. Comfort.p. 51
Use 3. Of Direction, How to expect all from God. How to go to God for all.p. 65
USE, 1. Of Examination.p. 86
USE 2. Of Comfort to al the Saints.p. 87
REASONS.p. 93
USE, 2. Of Instruction.p. 96
USE 3 Its Matter of Thankfulness.p. 97
USE, 4. Of Exhortation.p. 97
The end why the Saints receive all glorious Grace from our Savior Christ, is this,Doct.…p. 99
USE, 1. Of Reprehension.p. 107
I in them. Christ is by his Spiritual Presence in a special manner in the Faithful.p. 111
USE, 8. Of Exhortation.p. 126
USE, 2. Reprehension.p. 152
USE 3. Exhort.p. 155
God the Father loveth the Faithful, as he loveth Jesus Christ.p. 156
USE, 1.p. 164
USE.p. 178
That the world may know thou hast loved them, as thou lovest me.p. 180
Point. Then shall the world know that the Father hath loved the…p. 184
USE, 1.p. 191
USE, 2. Of Exhortation.p. 192
It's the care of our Savior to seek and provide for the welfare of his Servants, even…p. 197
REAS. I.p. 199
USE, 1.p. 201
USE, 2. Instruction.p. 203
USE, 3. Of Direction.p. 204
All beleevers are given unto Christ by God the Father.Doct.p. 205
REASONp. 206
REASON 2.p. 211
USE, 1. Information.p. 213
The second Particular. The thing desired.p. 214
USE 1. Of Instruction.p. 221
USE, 2.p. 222
USE, 3.p. 323
USE, 4.p. 324
USE, 1.p. 332
USE, 3. Comfort.p. 334
USE, 4. Of Instruction.p. 342
The Eternal Glory of Christ, is a Gift of the Eternal Love of the Father.p. 344
REAS. I.p. 348
USE, 1. Trial.p. 350
2. TRYAL.p. 352
USE, 2. For COMFORT to the Saints, whom are beloved of the Father…p. 353
USE, 3. Of Direction.p. 353
Our Savior doth affectionately desire to have the presence of the Faithful in Heaven with…p. 354
REASON.p. 356
USE, 1. Of Instruction.p. 358
USE, 2. Of Reprehension.p. 359
USE, 3. Of Spiritual Comfort.p. 360
USE, 4. Of Exhortation.p. 362
The happiness of our being in Heaven is to behold the glory of the Lord Jesus,Doct. which…p. 366
USE, 1. Instruction.p. 379
USE. 2. Examin.p. 380
USE, 3. Of Direction.p. 381
We must in our Prayer look at those Excellencies in God, Point 1. from whence we may…p. 388
God in Faithfulness dispenseth his Fatherly Love to his. Point 2.p. 390
USE, 1. Instruction.p. 392
USE, 2.p. 393
USE, 3. A word of Reproof.p. 394
The wicked and ungodly of the world,Doct. they know not the Fatherly Love of God, which…p. 396
REASON.p. 402
USE, 1. Of Instruction.p. 404
USE, 2. Of Terror.p. 405
The Disposition,Doct. and Carriage of our Savior, and the Saints, towards God, is wholly…p. 408
REASONS, are three.p. 409
USE, 1. Of Instruction.p. 413
USE, 2. Of Examination, and Tryal.p. 416
O Righteous Father, the world hath not known thee, but I have known thee &c.p. 418
The Lord Christ hath the knowledg of the Father in a peculiar…p. 420
USE, 1. Instruction.p. 428
The Saints have a special Knowledg,Doct. that the Lord Christ is sent…p. 431
USE, 1. Matter of Admiration.p. 440
USE, 1.p. 451
USE, 2. Of Examination.p. 452
Verse 26. I have made known thy Name to them, and will make it known.p. 454
To make known the Name of the Father to the truly humbled Soul,Doct.…p. 455
The Lord Christ extends the same Care at all times,Doct. to all his…p. 465
REASON.p. 466
USE, 1. Of Instruction.p. 467
USE, 2.p. 468
USE, 3. Of Direction.p. 470
USE, 4 Exhortation.p. 472
To the First. There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name…p. 476
USE, 2. Of Direction.p. 485
The Second Doctrine. The Lord Christ lends dayly Direction,Doct. and…p. 486
That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in…p. 477
It is the Desire, and Endeavor of our Savior,Doct. 1. That the…p. 511
USE, 1. Of Reprehension.p. 517
USE, 2. For Instruction.p. 518
Our Union and Communion with God in Christ is the top of our…p. 329
USE, 1.p. 530
USE, 2. Examination.p. 531