20.

We have no such way now; but we have one which in all respects is as good, and in some better; for He doth not manifest His special presence now in any one particular place only, as He did then; but in all places where any that know His Name meet together in it; we may be confident of it; for we have it from His Own mouth, saying, "Again, Matt.18.19, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." Where we may take notice, that this promise is made only to public congregations or assemblies of His people met together in His Name, and to such only as agree together beforehand, what to ask of Him: and therefore not to those where the people know not what the minister will ask, nor perhaps he himself, until he hath asked it. But to such as this, where we all knew before, and agreed that such and such things should be prayed for, we have His Own word for it, that what we have thus agreed to ask, shall be granted us: and so we have too, that He is here in the midst of us; for if He be so where but two or three, the least number that can be, much more where so many are gathered together in His Name, as we now are: and therefore may and ought to be as certain that He is now in the midst of us, as that we ourselves are here; and that we may seek Him by prayer and supplication in this place, as effectually as His ancient people did before the mercyseat. "Let us therefore," as the Apostle speaks, “come Heb. 4. 16. boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

But that we may be sure to find the favour we seek God for, there are three things especially to be observed. First, that we ask it only in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ; for we have no ground to expect any thing from Him but what He hath promised to us, and according as He hath promised it but He hath nowhere promised to give us what we ask in any other name, but only in the Name of Christ; for so runs the promise, "If ye shall ask any thing John 14. 14. in My Name, I will do it ;" and, "Verily, verily, I say ch. 16. 23. unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name,

LXIII.

Act 4. 12.

SERM. He will give it you." It must still be in His Name; "For there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," nor whereby we can receive any John 1. 17. mercy at the hands of God; "For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." It was merited for us only by His death, and is conferred upon us only by His Mediation. Hence it is, that His faithful people under the Law offered up their daily prayers while the sacrifice and incense were burning upon their respective altars, typifying His death and intercession; which was in effect praying in His Name, as Daniel expressly did, when He Dan. 9. 17. prayed to God to hear him for the "Lord's sake," which

could be no other but the Lord Christ. And therefore, John 16. 24. When our Lord saith to His Disciples, "Hitherto have

[2 Cor. 12. 9.]

ye

asked nothing in My Name," it is not to be so understood, as if they had not before prayed in the Name of Christ, as the promised Messiah; but they had not yet prayed in the Name of Jesus, in His Name, as He was the Christ that was promised, which we must now do, as ever we desire to be heard. In all the prayers that we make to the Almighty Creator and Governor of the world, we must look up to Jesus, the only Mediator between Him and us, desiring nothing but in His Name, for His sake, and upon the account of His death, whereby He purchased all manner of blessings and favours for us. Otherwise, we have no reason to think that He should hear such sinful creatures as we are; whereas if we do that, we have His Own word for it, that we shall have whatsoever we ask.

But then, in the next place, we must not expect that God should give us what we ask, immediately from Himself, or by altering the course of nature, but in the use of such ordinary means as He hath appointed for it as if we pray that "His grace may be always sufficient for us," we must exercise ourselves continually in those which we call the means of grace. If we want and desire the necessaries of this life from Him, we must follow some such particular calling or employment, which by His blessing may procure them for us. If we be in any great difficulty or trouble, and pray to be delivered from it, we must do what we lawfully can ourselves for it; I say, lawfully; for he that takes an unlawful

course to get out of any trouble, will but sink himself deeper into it; if he doth not fall into a greater, as it often happens. Be sure it is impossible to get good by doing ill; we may flatter ourselves at present with the thoughts of it, but we shall soon see our mistake, especially if we pretend to seek help of God, and yet go out of His way to find it: this is not seeking, but provoking God: it is not praying, but mocking Him; which He will never endure, but avenge most severely one time or other. But if we ask any thing sincerely, earnestly, and incessantly of God, in the Name of Christ, and use all such means, and such only as are agreeable to His revealed Will for it, we need not, or rather we ought not to doubt but that He will give it us at such time, and so far as He sees it to be good for us.

For that is the last thing to be observed in all our prayers, that we trust in God for the answer of them. Though we must use the means, we must use them only as means, not depending at all upon them, but only upon Him, who alone can make them effectual; but we must trust on Him Prov. 3. 5. with all our hearts. And for that purpose must lay aside that mischievous custom which is crept in I know not how, among all sorts of Christians, of putting up many prayers to God, without ever minding afterwards whether He answer them or no: for that is the way never to have them answered indeed. But we, when we have directed our prayers to God, Ps. 5. 3. must look up, as David did, expecting the blessing we prayed for, according to His promise; for He having promised to give us what we ask in His Son's Name, unless we do Him so much right as to take His Word, and believe that He will make it good, we lose our interest in His promise, and make ourselves incapable of having it performed to us. Therefore our Lord makes this a necessary condition in all our prayers, saying, "All things whatsoever we shall ask in Matt.21.22. prayer, believing, ye shall receive;" and, "therefore I say Mark 11.24. unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them;" which being the words of Him, by Whom alone our prayers are heard, we cannot but from thence conclude, that as ever we expect that our prayers should be heard by Him, we must always

pray in faith, nothing wavering or doubting, but firmly James 1.6.

LXIII.

SERM. believing that God, according to His Word, will give us what we ask in His Name, if it be really good for us. And that if He doth not give it us, it is because He knows it is better for us to be without it, than to have it; which if we had known as well as He, we should not have prayed Him to give us it, but rather not to give us it. And so He answers our prayers in general, by not giving us that particular [Rom. 12. thing we prayed for; but in that case too, if we “continue 12.] instant in prayer," according to His Will, He never fails to give us something that is better for us in lieu of it.

Tit. 1. 2.

For He never fails them that seek Him. This is the reason which He Himself by His Prophet David here gives, why they who know His Name, put their trust in Him; and therefore it must needs hold good, as God Himself is true and "cannot lie." For He having made so many promises to all those who diligently seek Him, He hath engaged His truth for the performance of them: His truth, that Divine perfection that is so particularly celebrated all the Bible over; where there is nothing more frequently spoken of than His mercy and His truth; His mercy in making, and His truth in fulfilling His promises to us; and all, that we might have the firmest ground that can be to believe and trust in Him. Which therefore also is made the great duty, upon which all our hopes and expectations from Him depend, both for this life and the next. Insomuch that [Ps.32.10.] according as our trust is in Him, so is His mercy to us. Ps. 37.40; And He doth not only save them who trust on Him, but He therefore saves them, because they do so. Well then might the Psalmist say, "Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."

Jer. 39. 18.

Ps. 2. 12.

Thus blessed are all they who know His Name; they constantly put their trust in Him, and as constantly find, that He never fails them who thus seek Him. He never fails to give them the blessing they seek Him for, and more, yea, all they can desire; we may be confident of it, for we have His Own word, and the constant experience of all His Ps. 34. 4. faithful people for it. "I sought the Lord," saith David, "and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." 2 Chron. 14. "We have sought the Lord our God," saith king Asa," we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side."

7.

28.]

The same might be said of all that ever sought Him aright; they always found Him true and faithful to His word, gracious and liberal to them beyond either their deserts or desires, always making all things work together for their [Rom. 8. good, and sometimes altering the very course of secondary causes for it; as we find it recorded in the Holy Scriptures. So happy are all they who seek Him with all their hearts, and live with a steadfast dependance upon Him; whatsoever other people may imagine; such, I mean, as either do not know Him, or else do not seek Him as they ought.

Now from these things thus plainly delivered, we may first observe, how necessary it is for all men to be fully instructed in the knowledge of the true God, the Maker of the world, and Saviour of mankind; for it is their ignorance of Him, that makes them slight His promises, as well as transgress His laws. Did we all but know God according as He hath manifested Himself unto us, as we should never dare to offend Him, we should put our whole trust and confidence on Him, so as to fear nothing in the world but offending Ver. 2. par. Him.

From hence we may also learn, how much it concerns us

17.9.

to beware of those who bring in damnable heresies, "denying [2 Pet.2.1.] the Lord that bought them," and Him that made them too, so as not to own Him any further than their own natural reason and philosophy, that is, their pride and conceit, seems to represent Him to them. To such, all that I have now said, will seem groundless and insipid, or at the best, like their natural philosophy, mere guess and conjecture, although it be taken out of God's Own Word; yea, for that very reason, because it is so. These can never know God aright, and then it is no wonder they neither love Him, nor fear Him, nor serve Him, nor worship Him, nor believe nor trust in Him, as they ought; but after all their fine talk and fair pretences, live as without God in the world. But [Eph. 2. although they will not seek Him, it is not long but they will find, there is a God that judgeth the world.

None here present can take this as spoken of themselves. For your presence here commands me in charity to believe that you all desire to seek God, and came hither for that very end. That being the only end of our meeting together

12.]