It would fix our gaze upon ourselves, until we sank abased in the dust. It would attract us all to the cross; that whilst drawn to one common centre, all would be drawn closer to each other. Such would appear the transcendent glories of that object, that all others would in comparison lose their power to charm or interest us. The ruin, guilt, danger, wants, and woes of a perishing world, would awaken our tenderest compassion and ever watchful solicitude. Eternity unveiled—heaven in its peerless glories—hell in its hopeless torment, would so bring our spirits under the “powers of the world to come;” that we should be blind, and deaf to all things of inferior moment. Were this gracious influence but felt and cherished, all would indeed be one. Divisions would be healed. Stumbling blocks be removed. Hearts joined to hearts. Joys mingled with joys; and the blessed SAVIOUR’S prayer, receive its full accomplishment, and His people be one, even as He and the FATHER are one. It remains for me in the Third place, to direct your attention _to the reasons_, _why this Christian Unity should be so earnestly desired_. Now here we might, if it were necessary, advert to many and weighty reasons, for seeking to promote and increase this spirit in the church of CHRIST. I shall only however, fix upon the two more immediately connected with the text; the one _implied_, and the other _expressed_ by it. The first is derived from _its being the great prevailing desire of our divine Redeemer_. It rested much upon His heart, or he would not have prayed so earnestly for it. He was then going forth to gird himself for His arduous undertaking. He was about to engage in fierce conflict with the powers of darkness. He had before him the accomplishment of a glorious work—the vindication of the divine honor—the illustration of the divine perfections!—the recovery of a ruined and apostate race—the establishment of a kingdom, which eventually should be co-extensive with the world. In doing all this, he would have to pass through scenes of humiliation, suffering, and death. He would have to assert his victory over death and the grave, by raising himself, and “spoiling principalities and powers, make a shew of them openly, triumphing over them.” He would finally have to ascend up on high, “leading captivity captive,” to receive his reward, and claim his kingdom; to mark the success of his cause, and the triumphs of his cross. But he plainly foresaw how intimately that success, and these triumphs, were connected with the unity of his disciples—how preeminently their one-ness constituted their strength—of what vast importance to his ultimate conquest of the world, was the mutual agreement and brotherly love, which His people should evince. And so he interceded, with a spirit yearning for the fulfilment, and deeply interested in the result, “FATHER I pray that they all may be one.”