Secondly, The next thing is why Christ spake aloud in prayer.
I answer — He might have prayed in silence, but he would be our advocate, but so that he might be our teacher. When he prayed for us, he prayed publicly and with a loud voice, for our comfort and instruction, and to give vent to the strength of his affection by leaving this monument in the church : ver. 13, ' These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves ;' that in all trials and afflictions we might draw consolation from the matter of this prayer. You may observe hence, that it is of advantage to use vocal prayer, not only in public, when we may quicken others, as one bird setting all the rest a-chirping, and we profess we are not ashamed of God or his worship, but in private also. God made body and soul, and will be served by both. Words are as giving vent to, or as the broaching of, a full vessel. Strong affections cannot be confined to thoughts : Ps. xxxix. 2, 3, ' My heart was hot within me ; while I was musing, the fire burned ; then spake I with my tongue.' Musing makes the fire to burn. There is a continual prayer by ejaculations and thoughts ; but words become solemn and stated times of duty. Words are a boundary to the mind, and fix it more than thoughts, which are usually light and skipping. The mind may wander, but words are as a trumpet to summon them again into the presence of God. Our roving madness will be sooner discerned in words than in thoughts. When a word is lost or misplaced, we are more ashamed ; and by words, a dull sluggish heart is sometimes quickened and awakened. It is good to use this help.
Now I come to the prayer itself.
' Father.' — It is a word of confidence and sweet relation, in which there is much of argument, in that Christ, as God's only Son, speaketh to his own Father : ' Father, glorify thy Son.' A father is wont to be delighted with the glory and honour of a son, as the mother of Zebe- dee's children sought their preferment. Mat. xx. 20. It is good to observe that Christ doth not say, ' Our Father,' as involving our interest with his, because it is of a distinct kind. Christ would observe the distinction between us and himself : he is a Son that is equal with the Father, co-eternal with his Father ; but we are adopted sons, made so. When he speaketh to his disciples, he saith not, Our heavenly Father, but ' Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things,' Mat. vi. 32 ; and John xx. 17, ' I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God;' clearly distinguishing his own interest from ours. And mark, Christ useth the argument of son and father to show that he was not there- fore glorified because a son, but therefore a son because glorifi.ed. We may note hence —
116 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. I.
1. That it is very sweet and comfortable in prayer when we can come and call God Father. It is a word of affection, reverence, and confidence ; in all which the excellency of prayer consisteth. So Christ in all his addresses : ' Father, if it he possible, let this cup pass from me,' Mat. xxvi. 39. So also all his prayers are bottomed on this relation ; ver. 5, ' And now, 0 Father, glorify thou me with thine own self;' Mat. xi. 25, ' I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth,' &c. He hath taught us the same, to pray, ' Our Father which art in heaven,' Mat. vi. 9. The great work of the Spirit is to help us to speak thus to God ; not with lips that feign, but from our hearts : Eom. viii. 15, ' Ye have received the spirit of adoption, w'hereby we cry, Abba, Father.' We confine the Spirit's assistance to earnest ten- dencies and vigorous motions ; the main work is, to help us to cry, Father, with a proper and genuine confidence. Now all cannot do this : a wicked man cannot say safely to God, My Father. Whoso- ever claims kindred of God, while he is unjust and filthy, it is not a prayer, but a contumely and slander : ' He that sanctifieth, and those that are sanctified, are all of one ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,' Heb. ii. 11. Christ counteth none to be of his kindred but the regenerate. Pagans are strangers, and carnal men in the church are bastards; they had need study holiness that would claim kindred of Christ. Consider then what claim and interest have you in God ? It is sad if w^e can only come as creatures, cry as ravens for food, out of a general title to his providence, or to cry, Father, and lie ; to take his name in vain. It is sweeter to speak to God as a son than as a creature ; ' Lord, Lord,' is not half so sweet as, ' Our Father.' This is a sweet invitation to prayer : Mat. vii. 9, ' What man of you, who if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone ? ' Ver. 11, 'If ye then, that are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him ? ' It is a consolation in prayer : Gal. iv. G, ' Because ye are sons, he hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' It is a ground of hope and expectation after prayer : ' Ye have received the spirit of adoption, to call God, Father.'