404 The Gofpel of the Incenfe 4.. The Ineenfe was to befet on fire, and fo the Smoak went up be. fore the Throne, Exod. 3o. 7, 8. This fpeaks that holy Fervency in Prayer. There fhould be ardent Affeaions inflamed by the Fire of the Holy Ghofl, Yam. 5, 16. the eJ ellual fervent Prayer of a righteous fan availeth much. We Ihould not come with a dead cold Heart before the Lord in Prayer. 5. This burning of Incenfe was a Serviceperformed every Day, Morn - ing and Evening, Exod. 3o. 7, 8. This teacheth us, that Prayer Ihould be a daily Work, Morning and Evening. David tells us of his pray- ing in the Morning, Pfal. 5.3. My Voice (halt thou hear in the Morning, o Lord, in the Morningwin I direlk my Prayer unto thee, and will look up. And alfo in the Evening, P/al. 141. 2. The lifting sip of my Hands ass the Evening-Sacrifice. Yea both he and Daniel ufed to pray thrice a Day, Pfal. 55.17. Dan. 6. to. Anna departed not from the Temple, but ferved God with Failings and Prayers Night and Day, Luke 2.37. and we are commanded to pray continually, 1 Theft: 5. 17-----Praying always with all Prayer, Ephef.6. O. that is, every Day in the feafons ofPrayer. And Paul mentions his praying Day and Night, r Theft: 3. 10. 2 rim. 1.3. which may well be underflood of Evening and Morning. See alfo r rim. 5. 5. and Alts 26. 7. 6. The time of burning the Incenfe was when they dreffed and lighted the Lamps of theSanuary, Exod. 3o. 7, 8. This teacheth us the Con- jun&ion of the Word and Prayer in the Church, Deut. 33. ;o Alts 6. 4. But we willgive our [elves continually to Prayer, and to the Miniflry of the Word. 7. The Smoak of the Incenfe afcended with a Tweet and fragrant fmell into the Holy of Holies before the Mercy-feat, as Rev. 8. 4.. and the Smoak of the Incenfe which camewith the Prayers of the Saints afcended sip before God out of the Angel's Hand. It went up out of the Angel's Hand. This fpeaks, that our Prayers come up before the Lord into his Holy Place, even into Heaven, before the Throne of Grace, with acceptance through the Merits and Mediation of Jefus Ghriïl. .4th 4, r o. tby Prayers are come up for a memorial before God. Hence that Expreflion, 1 Kings 8. hear thou in Heaven thy Dwelling-place. For the Holy of Holies was a Type of Heaven; and the Mercy -feat is that Throne of Grace where the Lord is faid todwell between the Cheru- bims, Pfal. 80. i. It fpeaks alfo that God returns gracious Anfwers to them; as it is Zell. 1.13. the Lord anfinered the Angel that talked with me with good and comfortable Words. Sometimes there is a gra- cious Terriblenefs in them ; I mean a mixture of Mercy and Terror in the Lord's anfwers and returns of Prayer, Pjal.65. Verf 5. by terrible
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=