and woman would tell others what they have found Jesus to be to their soul, He would most assuredly be abundantly glorified. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. xii. 3). The chief motive for any Christian work, however, should ever be the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the glory of God the Father through Him.

CHAPTER IX.

DIVINE KEEPING, AND THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST DESIRED.

"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled."-JOHN xvii. 11, 12. "I AM no longer in the world."-These words must be overlooked by those who believe in what is termed "the real presence." Jesus had been with the disciples during the three years of His public ministry; but He now says, in anticipation of His speedy departure, "I am no longer in the world."

It is an evidence of the conscious weakness of their cause when the advocates of such an absurd and unscriptural dogma as "the real presence" attempt to establish it by maintaining that such sayings, "I am with you alway," "this is My body," "this is My blood," mean a physical presence. This is more apparent in the presence of such words as these, "I am no more in the world.” If these words mean

anything, it must assuredly be, that henceforth the Saviour would not be in the world, as He had been.

It is comforting and encouraging to know that Jesus is no longer bodily present with His people in this world, but that "He appears in the presence of God for us"; and that the Holy Spirit is here testifying to the completed work of Christ, and of the way to the Father being opened as a living Way. “I come to Thee." Precious words, comforting words, encouraging words to the Lord's weak and sorely tempted children.

Christ is in the Father's presence, as our great High Priest. He is there with all fulness treasured in Him, so that of it we may receive according to our need. He is in the Father's presence, preparing a place for His redeemed, and inspiriting is the assurance that by-and-by He will come forth for the purpose of receiving us to Himself, so that where He is we may be also. For a little while, however, we must remain to suffer, and bear testimony to Him and the all-sufficiency of His grace.

"These are in the world."-This world is one in which sufferings abound, and where principles are tested. The Saviour, knowing that, in consequence of His departure, His disciples would suffer in common with other men, and that they would suffer in a manner peculiar to themselves, prays that they may be kept in the Father's name. "The declaration of the grounds on which the prayer is urged is followed

by the statement of the circumstances which make the prayer necessary. These are simply co-ordinated (and . . . and . . . and); and the bare enumeration of the facts is left without comment. Christ leaves the world, the disciples remain in the world; Master and scholars must then be separated, so that the old connection will be broken. Christ goes to the Father; He enters therefore upon a new sphere of His mediatorial work, in which His mode of action will be changed." 1

In these words we have the fact suggested that the present life is to the believer in Jesus Christ a time. of trial, and one during which he needs Divine protection and almighty assistance: "These are in the world," "keep them." A short time previously to uttering these words, the Saviour had said, addressing His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world " (John xvi. 33). The psalmist felt the need of being kept by God when he prayed: "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about" (Ps. xvii. 8, 9). Jehovah, knowing that man's condition required His constant care, promised respecting Israel in olden times, "I will keep it night and day." Peter, in writing of the glorious inheritance," which is incorruptible and undefiled," says, it is reserved for those 1 Westcott.

"who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time." Jude, in closing his epistle, says, "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 24, 25). The necessity for our being kept by God's power will be more clearly seen, if it is remembered that the enemies with which we have to contend are the flesh, the world, and the devil. Any of these would prove to be a formidable foe, if we were left to our own resources.

The Saviour had assured His disciples that He was leaving them for the purpose of finishing the work which the Father had committed to Him, and for the still further purpose of preparing homes for them. On two occasions He had said, "I go unto the Father." Now, in their presence, in His address to the Father He says, "These are in the world,” “I come to Thee"; and asks that after His departure from them they may, not only be kept, but kept in the name which He had given to them.

We may rest assured that the words, "These are in the world," "keep them in Thine own name," and the circumstances in which they fell on their ears must have touched the disciples' hearts, and caused them to wonder respecting their fullest import, seeing that on a former occasion they had said, when refer