Ver. II. the 17thChapter of St. J OH N. 5 knoweth the State of his Flock, and readily giveth an account to the Father. 3. That thefe Prayers might be a conftant Fountain and Foundation of Spiritual Blef ings. Chrik's Prayers are as good as fo many Promifes 5 for he is always heard, John 11.42. In this Prayer, Chrift fpeaketh as God -Man. There is not any ipssi I ark, but ,9sfAw, I will. Verf. 24. Father, I will, that they alfa be with me where I 4,11. A Word, not of Requeft, but Authority. The Divine Nature, giveth a Force and Efficacy to thefe Prayers. When he prayeth, whole Chrift prayeth, God -Man : and as his Paffion received efficacy from his God-head, fo did his Prayers : A &s 2o. 28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath perehafedwith his own 'Blood ; as it was the Blood of God, fo it is the Prayer of God. The God -head is interefied in all thefe A &ions; it is the Prayer of the Son of God made Flefh. The things which he asketh, belong to the Humane Nature, yet he prayeth as God : He that heareth with the Father, will be heard by the Father. Chrift's Prayer, is not like the Prayers of other Holy Men recorded in Scripture, for a Form and Pattern, but as a Fountain of Comfort and Bleffing. This fhould beget a Confidence in the Accomplifhment of all thefe Pro - mifes, the Safety of the Ele&, the Succefs of the Word, the Unity of the Church, and the Poffeffion of Glory. 4. To commend the Duty of Prayer. He commanded it before, and commended it by Promife ; John 14. 13, 14. Whatfoever ye (hall ark of the Father in my Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 'rye Jhall ark any thing in my Name, .1 will do it. John 15. 16. That whatfoever ye Jlrall ask of the Father in my Name, he may give it you. Now, to Precept and Promife, he would add his own Example. Certainly, there are none above Ordinances, if Chrift the Eternal Son of God was not. If Chrift, who was of the fame Majefty and Power with his Father, did pray fo earneftly and ferioufly, when, in the Light of Omnifciency, he faw the Fruit of his Paffion ; How much more are Prayers neceffary for us, under fuch infirmity of Flelh, to which we are fubje &, and fach rage of Satan, and the World ? In all Cafes, we mutt ufe this Remedy. They that are above Prayer, are beyond Religion. In his greateft Works, Chrift defpifed not this Remedy. Chrift knew his own Deliverance, and was fore of it ; yet he will not have it, but by Prayer. He had an eternal Right to HeavenatEl Glory, and a new Right by Purchafe ; yet he would have his Chatter confirmedrayer. And fo, though we have affurance of Mercy, we muff take this courfe to get it accomplifhed : Though we have large Poffeffions, and a liberal fupply, when it is at the Table, we muff receive it as a Boon from Grace ; Give us this day our daily Bread. If for no other Reafon, Prayer is neceffary for fubmifiion to God, and that we may renew the fenfe of that Tenure, by which we hold a Chárter of Grace ; that by asking, we may (till take it out of Free - Grace's Hands. Chrift had a Right, yet, becaufe of that mixture of Grace with. Juffice, in all Divine Difpenfations, he is to ask. 5. That our Prayers might be effe &ual. Chrift's Prayer is large and comprehenfive we can mention nothing, but he has begged it already, in terminis, or by confequence. The Prayers of the Saints have their Efficacy, but not from any virtue in them, but by Chriff's Merit, by virtue of his Prayers. Now Chrift hath confecrated the way, it is like to be fuccefsful,no Prayer can mifcarry. God may call out the Drofs, but he will be Cure to receive the Prayer. Now he doth not refufe your Mony, but rubbeth off the filth of it. It is very notable, that Chrift confecrated all Ordinances, and made them fuccefsful by his own Obedience. Baptifm 5 he made the Watets of Baptifm, falutary. Hearing ; Chrift was one of john's Auditors. Behold the Lamb of God, John 1.29. Singing, Prayer, receiving the Supper ; he loveth the Society, ever fine he himfelf was a Communicant. Matth. 26. 29. I will not drink henceforth of the Fruit of this Pine, until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom. Chrift doth but a& over that Ordinance in Heaven. So for Prayer. Secon4ly, The next thing is, Why Chrift fpake aloud in Prayer. I anfwer 5 He might have prayed in filence, but he would be our Advocate, but fo, that he might be our Teacher. When he prayed for us, he prayed publickly, and with a loud Voice, for our Comfort and 'nitration, and to give vent to the ftrength, of his Affe &ion, by leaving this Monument in the Church. Vert 13. Theft things I fpeak in the World, that they may have my Joy fulfilled in themfelves.5 that in all Tryals and AHii &ions, we might draw Confolation fraps the Matter of this Prayer. You toy obferve hence, That it is of advantage Is ufa vocal.X'rayer not 0111y' in Publick; Wined
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