[2.] Observe Christ's order and method. From preaching he de- scendeth to prayer ; the word worketh not without the divine grace. We may open the word, but God must open the understanding, Luke xxiv, 28, with 45. Christ himself, you see, sealeth his doctrine with the seal of prayer. Moral suasion worketh not without a divine and real efficacy. The apostles said, Acts vi. 4, ' We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word.' When God hath spoken to us, we must speak to God again. Prayer is the best key to open the heart, because it first openeth heaven. Those that hear a ser- mon, and do not pray for a blessing, see nothing of God in his ordi- nances, nothing but what is of man's oratory and argument. Efficacy is quite another thino- and when God speaketh in his word with
VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. Ill
Samuel, they think it is Eh. It reproveth them that, when the sermon is ended, go out, and turn their backs upon prayer ; this is to neglect Christ's method. And it presseth you still to help on the word l)y your prayers : Eom. xv. 30, ' I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers.' If you would have Christ's glory and the Spirit's efficacy promoted, you must take this course.
[3.] Observe the industry and diligence of the Lord Jesus in holy things. He letteth no time pass without some saving work ; from doc- trine he turneth himself to prayer. He began with the supper, and goetli on with discourse, and finisheth all with prayer. It upbraideth us that are soon weary of holy things. We are like foolish birds that leave the nest, and are often straggling, and let the eggs cool before they are hatched. Our religion cometh by flashes, which are never perfected and ripened. Now especially should we imitate Christ upon solemn days of worship ; as the Lord's-day, our whole time should be parted into meditation and prayer and conference. And yet more especially after the Lord's supper we should continue the devotion, and make the whole day a post- communion, as civet-boxes retain their scent when the civet is taken out ; and when the act is over, our thoughts and discourse and actions should still savour of the solemnity. Certainly it is an argument of much weakness to be all for flashes and sudden starts. If we would refresh ourselves with change, it should be with change of exercise, and not of affection. If it seem irksome, con- sider, it is more easy to persevere in a heavenly frame than to begin again; and when the heart is warm, we should take heed we do not lose the present advantage. A bell is kept up with less difficulty than raised ; and when a horse is warm in his gears he continues his journey with more ease than if he should stand still a while and grow stiff. If we yield to weariness, how shall we hope to raise the heart again, and to get it to this advantage ? Corruption doth but cheat thee if thou think- est to get a fresh start by intermission. As I said before, there is re- freshment in change of exercise ; and when one teat is drawn dry, we may, as the lamb, suck another that will yield new supply and sweetness.
' And lift up his eyes to heaven.' — The scripture taketh notice of the gesture. Christ's gestures are notable, because real significations of the motions of his heart. In the garden, when he began his pas- sion, he fell on his face and prayed, Mat. xxvi. 39 ; but here he lifted up his eyes. When he travailed under the greatness of our sins, his posture is humble ; but now, when he is treating with Ood for our mercies, he useth a gesture that implieth a more elevated and generous confidence. Gestures, being actions suited to the affections, are signifi- cant, and imply the dispositions of the heart. Let us see what may be collected out of this gesture, lifting the eyes to heaven.
1. The raising of the heart to God in prayer. Prayer is dvd/daai^ Tov vov TTpo^ Tov Qeov, the ascension or elevation of the heart to God, the motion of the body suiting with that of the soul ; so David ex- presseth it, Ps. xxv. 1, ' I lift my heart to thee.' When you pray, know what is your work. If you would converse with God, you need not change place, but raise the affection. God boweth the heavens, and you lift up the heart ; it is not the lifting up the voice, but of the
112 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. I.
spirit. The lifting up of the voice, or of the eye are good, as outward significations, but the chief work is to lift up the heart ; the under- standing in raised thoughts of God, the affections by strong operations of desire and love. Usually our hearts are heavy, and sink as lead within us ; it is a work of difficulty to raise them. We must pull up the weights, tt pocrKapTepovvre<i rfj 7rpoa€V)(rj, ' continuing in prayer,' Acts i. 14. As Moses his hands easily fell and sunk, so do our hearts, Exod. xvii. There are plummets and weights of sin hang upon us, which must be cut off if we intend to get up the heart in prayer.