the world might believe that the Father had sent Him (ver. 21).
If then it should be proved that you, my reader, are not included in
the band of the given ones, that would not necessarily involve you in
the eternal condemnation and loss of the future; though it would
exclude you from sharing with Christ in His lofty mission to the sons
of men.

What are the marks then that we belong to the inner circle of the given
ones? They are these--

1. That we have come to Him (John vi. 37).

2. That we hear His voice, listening for the slightest indication of
His will (John x. 27).

3. That we follow His steps through the world.

4. That we receive His words and believe that the Father sent the Son
to be our Saviour.

5. That the world hates us (ver. 14).

Wheresoever these marks are present, they indicate the hand of the
Great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, and though we be amongst the most
timid and worthless of the flock, He is pledged to keep us, so that
none shall snatch us from His hand, and conduct us through the valley
of the shadow to those dewy upland lawns over which He will lead us
forevermore.

II. WHAT HE SOUGHT FOR THEM--"that they might be consecrated in truth."

Christ does not ask that His own should be forgiven, comforted,
supplied with the good things of life--all thought for these pales in
the presence of His intense desire that they should be consecrated,
_i.e._, inspired by the same consuming passion as was burning in His
heart. He knew that He was no more in the world. High business
connected with its interests summoned Him to the far country, whither
He went to receive the kingdom and return. But He desired that the
passion which filled His soul, His tears, His prayers, and, to an
extent, His sufferings, might always be represented amongst the sons of
men, embodied in human lives, finding utterance through human lips. He
could not Himself perpetuate his corporeal visible ministry among men,
and therefore desired with a great desire that those whom the Father
had given Him should evermore show forth His death till He came. Not
simply by gathering at His table, but by going forth to live His life,
and fill up that which is behind of His sufferings.

Is this your life? We have sometimes heard consecration stated as
though it were a matter of choice whether believers should bind
themselves by its obligations or not. When a student enters the
university there are certain subjects in whic