Holy Father, keep them in your name.

Choice excerpts from John Flavel

Holy Father, keep them in your name.

"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in
 the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father,
 keep them in your name." (John 17:11)

The world is a sinful, infecting and disturbing place; it
lies in wickedness. It is a hard thing for such poor, weak,
imperfect creatures to escape the pollutions of it. And if
they do, yet they cannot escape the troubles, persecutions,
and strong oppositions of it. Seeing therefore I must leave
Your own dear children, as well as Mine, in the midst of a
sinful, troublesome, dangerous world, where they can neither
move backward nor forward, without danger of sin or ruin;
O, since the case stands so, look after them, provide for
them, and take special care of them all. Holy Father,
consider who they are—and where I leave them.

They are Your children—left in a strange country.

They are Your soldiers—in the enemies grounds.

They are Your sheep—in the midst of wolves.

They are Your precious treasure—among thieves.

"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in
 the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father,
 keep them in your name." (John 17:11)