CHAPTJ°`R I. 99 founded ; let me be a partaker of the same favour whilst I cry unto thee, and make thee my trust : thou hast never saidto the seed of Jacob, seek,ye my face in vain ; and let it not be said that thy poor servant has now sought thy face, and has not found thee. Often have I received mercyin a way of return to prayer : often hath my soul drawn near unto thee, and been comforted in the midst of sorrows : often have I taken out fresh supplies of grace according to my need, from the treasures of thygrace that are in Christ ; and shall the door of these treasures be Shut against me now ? Shall I receive no more favours from the hand of my God, that has heretofore dealt them so plentifully to me ?" Now how improper soever this sort of argument may seem to be used in courts of princes, or to entreat the favour of great men, yet God loves to hear his own people make pse of it :tor though men are quickly weary of multiplying their boun- ties, yet the more we receive fromGod, if we humbly acknow- ledge it to him, the more we are like to receive still. . 7. The most powerful and most prevailing argument, is the name and mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. And though there be somehints or shadows of it in the Old Testament, yet it was never taught us in a plain and express manner till a little before our Saviour left this world ; John xvi. 23, 24. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name, ask and ye shall receive, that yourjoy may befull. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in met name, he will give it you. This seems to be reserved for the peculiar pleasure and power of the duty of prayer under the gospel. We are taught to make mention of the name of Jesup, the only begotten and eternal Son of God, as a method to receive our biggest requests and fullest salvation : and in such language as this we should address the Father, as Lord, let my sins be forgiven for the sake of that love which thou bearest thine own Son, for the sake of that love which thy Son beareth to thee ; for the sake of his humble state, when he took flesh upon him, that he might look likea sinner, and be made a sacrifice, though himself was free from ; for the sake of his perfect and pain- ful obedience, which has given complete honour to thy law ; for the sake of the curse which he bore, and the death whichhe suf- fered, which bath glorified thine authority, and honoured thy justicemore than it was psssible for icy sins to have affronted it : remember his dying groans;. remember his agonies when the hour of darkness was upon him ; and let not thepowers of dark- ness prevail over me : remember the day when thou stoodest afar from thine own Son, and he cried out as one forsaken of God, and let nie have thine everlasting presence withme; let me never be forsaken, since thy Sou hath borne that punishment." Again, we may plead with God the intercession of Jesus our High-priest above : " Father, we would willingly ask thee for nothing, but 0 2
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