John 17:20,21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Neither pray I for these alone,— "I do not make my apostles the only subjects of this my last prayer; but I pray also for all those who shall be converted by my apostles; intreating for them the gracious influences of thy Spirit, that they may maintain the unity of the faith, and all agree in one doctrine; that, as in this great design ofinstructing,converting,andsavingtheworld,a most perfect union subsists between thee and me, they also may be taken into the union, and agree as perfectly with us, and among themselves, as thou with me, and I with thee; the effect whereof will be, that the world, discerning their agreement among themselves and with us, will believe that I their Master have been sent into the world by thee, and am one with thee in essence, perfections, and unity of counsels." The importance of this request will appear to all who consider, that many of those who were converted by the apostles, applied themselves to preach and propagate the gospel; and the expression, that the world may believe, &c. plainly intimates, that dissensions among Christian professors would not only be most uncomfortable to themselves, and a hindrance to their own salvation, but would be a means of bringing the truth and excellency of cur most holy religion into question. And he must be a stranger to what has passed, and is daily passing in the world, who does not see what fatal advantages those divisions have given to infidels to represent it as a calamity, rather than to regard it as a blessing to mankind.