of the PERSON Of CHRIST.. 69 dition themfelves, or by fcripture light do know the terror of the.Lord in thefe things. When their complaints are defpifed, and their troubles afcribed untoother caufes than whatthey are really fenfible ofand feel within themfelves, as is commonly done. by Phyficians of no value, it is an aggra- vation of their diftrefs and forrow. And they greatly value every fincere endeavour for relief, either by counfel or prayer. In this Bate and condi- tion the Lord Chrift in the gofpel is propofed as full of tender companion, as he alonewho is able to relieve them. In that himfclf bath fuffered being tempted, he is touched with a feeling of our infirmities, and knows how to have companion on them that are out of the way, Heb. ii. r8. chap. iv. 15. chap. v. 6. So is he alfo, as he alone who is able to fuccour, to relieve and to deliver them. He is able to fieccour their that are tempted, Heb.ii. t8. Hereon are they drawn, conftrained, encouraged to make applications unto him by prayer, that he would deal with them according to his companionand. power. This is a feafon rendring- the difcharge of this duty neceffary.- .And hereby habe innumerable fouls found confola- tion, refrefhment and deliverance. A time of trouble is a time of the ef- pecial axercife'offaith in Chriff. So himfeif gives direction, John xiv. 7. Let.no your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe alto in nie. Di- ftin& aftings of faith on Chrift, are the great meansof fupportment and re- liefein. trouble. And it is by efpecial invocation, whereby they put forth and exert themfelves. An tnftance hereof as unto temptatin, and the diftrefs wherewith it is attended, we have in the apoftle Paul. He had a thorn.inthe:fefh, a Meffenger offaran to buffet him, Both exprefíions declare the deep fenfe he had of his temptation and the perplexity where- with it was accompanied. 'For this caufe be befought the Lord thrice that itmight departfrom him, 2 Cor.'xii. 7, 8. He applied himfelf folemnly unto prayer for its removal, and that frequently. And it was the Lord,that is, the Lord Jefus Chrift unto whom he made his application. For, foethe name Lord is to be interpreted if there be nothing contrary in the context, as the name of God, is of the Father, by virtue of that rule, 1 Cor. viii. 6, 7. To us there is one God the Farber, and one Lord yefus Chrift. And it is evident alfo in thecontext. The anfwer he received unto his prayer was, My grace is fulAcient for thee, for mypower is made petfed in weaknefs. And whofe power that was, whogave him that anfwer, he declares in the next words : Mofi gladly therefore will Iglory in any weakneffes, that the power of Cbrifl ny re/f upon me, that is, the power of him on whom lie calledWho gavehim that anfwer, mypower is ,nade perfeEl in weaknefs. (2. Times of gracious difcoveries either of the glory of Chrift in him- felf, or of lais love unto us, are feafons that call for this duty. Theglory of Chrift inhis perfonarid offices is always the fame. And the revelation that is made ofit in the fcripture varieth not. But as unto our perception and apprehenfion of it, whereby our hearts and minds are affefted withkt in an efpeciakmanner, there are apparent feafons of it, which no believers are unacquainted withall. Sometimes fuels a fenfe ofit is attained under the difpenfation ofthe word, wherein as Chrift on the one hand is fet forth evidently crucified before our eyes, fo on the other he is glorioufly exalted. Sometimes it is fo in prayer, in meditation, incontemplation of him. As an ability was given to the bodily fight of Stephen, to fee upon the open- ing ofthe heavens, theglory ofGod: and Jefus handing at bis right. band, Ads vii. 56, 57. fo he opens the vail fometimes, andgives a clear affecting .difcovery ofhis glory untothe minds and fouls of believers : and in fuch feafons are they drawn forth and excited unto invocation and praife. So Thomas being' furprized with an apprehenfion and evidence of his divine S glory
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