66 LA 'Declaration of the Glorious M Y S T E R Y and fo of private believers, in theirfamilies and clofets, is under an efpecial direetory andguidance. For the perfonof the Father, as theeternal fountain ofpower, grace and mercy, is the formal obje& of our prayersunto whom our fupplications are directed. The divine nature abfolutely confidered, is the objedof natural worship and invocation : but it is the fame divine nature in the perfon of the Father, that is the proper objeft of evangelical worfliip and invocation. So our Saviour hath taught as to call on God under the name and notion of a Father, Matth. vi. 9. that is, his God, and our God, and his Father, acrd our Father, yob?: xx.. 17. And this invoca- tion is to be, by- and in the name of the Son Jefas Chrift, through the aid, of the holy fpirit. He is herein confideredas the mediator between God and man, as the Holy Ghoft ishe by whom fupplies ofgrace enabling us un- to the acceptable performance ofour duties, are aftually communicatedunto us. This is the way whereby God will be glorified. This is the myftery of our religion, that we worship God according to the oeconomy of his wifdom apd grace, wherein he doth difpence of himfelf unto us in the perfons ofthe Father, Son and fpirit. Otherwife he will not be honoured or worfhipped by us. And thofe who in their worfhip or invocation do attempt an approach unto the divine nature as abfolutely confidered, with- out refpeét unto the difpenfationof God in the diftinft perfons of the holy Trinity, do rejeft the myttery ofthe gofpel, and all the benefits of it. So is it with many. And not a few, who pretend agreat devotion unto God, do fupply other things into the room ofChrift, asfaints and angels, rejeft- ing alfo theaids of thefpirit to complywith imaginations of theirown, whofe afliflanceherein theymore approve of. But this is the nature and method ofordinary folemnevangelical invocation. So is it declared, Ephef. Through him we have an atcef' by onefpirit unto the Father. It is the Fa. ther unto whom we have our accefs, whom we peculiarly invocate; as it is exprellèd, chap. iii. r4, rg, 16. Far this eaufe I how my knees unto the Father of our Lord 7efus Chrifl, of whom the whole Family in heaven and earth is named, that be wouldgrant you, &c. But it is through him, that is, byChrift in the exercife of his mediatory office that we have this accefs unto the Father; we ask in his name, and for his fake, John xiv. 13, 14. chap. xvi. 23, 24. They did fo of old, though not in that exprefs exercifeof Faith which we now attain unto, Dan. ix. 17. Hear 0 Lord, andhave mercy for the Lord's fake. All this are we enabled unto by one fpirit; through the aids and affiítance of the fpirit of grace and fupplica- non, Rom. viii. 26, 27. So that prayer is our cryingAbba Father, by the fpirit ofthe Son, Gal. iv. 6. This is farther declared, Heb. iv. 15. 16. chap. x. 19, 20. Herein is the Lord Chrift confidered not abfolutely with ref - pe& unto his divine perfon, but with refpe& unto his office, that through him our faith andhope might be inGod, 1 Pet. i, 20. Wherefore it being our duty, as bathbeen proved, to invocate the name of Chrift in a particular manner, and this being-the ordinary folemn way of worthip of the church, we may confider on what occafions, and in what feafons this peculiar invocation of Chrift, who in his divine perfon is both our Godand our advocate, isneceffary for us, and molt acceptable untohim. (s. Times of great diftreffes in confcience through temptations and de- fections, are feafons requiring an application unto Chrift by efpecial invo- cation. Perfons in fuck conditions when their fouls, as the Pfahnifi fpeaks, are overwhelmed in them, are continually folicitous about compatfi. on and deliverance. Some relief, fome refrelhment they often find in pitty and compaffion from them who either have been in the fame con- dition
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