called ])viests, ' to offer up spivitiuil sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,' 1 Pet. ii. 5. There is iudeed another end for which ordinances are ap- pointed, namely, for the conveyance of all kind of blessings from God unto us : but this is to be subordinate to the former, or else we make the glory of God subservient to our particular good, which he will not endure. Possibly we are in some great affliction ; this sets us to pray for deliverance : thus far we keep on our way ; but then we turn aside, when oiu- deliverance is more regarded by us than his glorj' ; this is to make use of God, that we may enjoy the creature. Whatever we prefer in oiu* desires, above the glory of God, is an idol-worshij) by us. The heart can engrave as well as the hand ; and an idol in the heart is as bad as one set up in the house.
But liow niajr I find whether the glory of God, or the particular good thing I pray for, be that which I make my chief end in duty ? First, By the carriage of thy heart in duty. If the glory of God be chiefly aimed at, this will give a tincture to the whole duty, and influence every part of it ; thou wilt suit thy requests to this end. For as there is a secret force from the arm that draws the bow impressed on the arrow, which carries it to the mark aimed at, so there is a secret power which carries the soul out in duty, to act suitably to the end he desires to obtain. We will suppose pardon of sin is the mercy thou prayest for ; now if thou desirest sincerely the glory of God as well as this mercy, yea, above it, this will direct thee in thy confession of sin to afflict thy soul more for the dishonour thou hast by it reflected on God, than the wrath thou hast incurred thyself So in thy petition, thou darest not beg thy pardon on terms that were dishonourable for God to give it, but will desire the mercy in such a way, as his gloiy may be both secured and advanced. Now God cannot pardon the sin of an unpertiuent wretch, that holds still the love of his lust, without infinite wrong to his glorious name ; therefore if his glory be high in thy eye, thou wilt ciy as earnestly for his sanctifying grace as for pardoning mercy, not merely because thou canst not have pardon with- out it, but because by it thou shalt be fitted to glorify him.
Secondly, It may be discoverecj by thy carriage after duty in two particulars: First, when the mercy prayed for is obtained. If thou didst chiefly aim at the glory of God in begging it, thy chief care will be to lay it out for his glory now thou hast it ; whereas he that aimed at himself in praying for it, will as little re- gard God in the using of it, as in begging it. It is natural for things to resolve into their principles. The child that Hannah obtained of God, she dedicates unto the Lord, — why? because this was her end in praying for him, 1 Sam. i. 11, compared with ver. 28. When David's prayer is heard, and he delivered, mark his resolve,—' I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living,' Psa. cxvi. 9. Again, ' O Lord, truly I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds,' ver. IG. He returns the mercy to God, by improving it for him in a holy life. How can we think he aimed at the glory of God in praying for health, that runs away from God as soon as he is set upon his legs ; or in praying for wealth, that lays it out upon his lusts ? Secondly, when the thing prayed for is denied. He that aims shicerely at God's glory in prayer for a mercy, (I speak now of such mercies as are but conditionally promised,) will cheerfully submit to the will of God in a denial, because God can in such petitions glorify himself, by denying as well as granting them. David prayed and fasted for the life of his child ; it dies notwithstandhig : does this denial make him fall out with God? Is he clamorous and discontented? No, it raiseth no storm in his heart, to hinder him in the service of God ; he washeth his tears from his cheeks, changes his apjiarel, and goes cheerfully into the house of God and worshippeth, 2 Sam. xli. 20, so powerfully did the will of (Jod determine his will. Tims, as the heavenly bodies are by the prbnuin mobile carried contrary to their particidar inclination, so grace in the saint overrules his natural alfec- tion, and carries him into a compliance with the will of God when it crosseth his own. Our blessed Saviour had natural affections, which made him pray that the bitter cup of his passion might, if possible, paHS from him ; yet not so but he was willing to take a denial, and therefore desires his Father to glorify himself, though it were by taking away his life, John xii. 27, 28. Having fixed ihy end right, make a diligent search into thy heart and life, whereby
•712 "WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.
thou mayest be enabled more fully and feelingly to lay open thy condition before the Lord.