(3.) Lastly, as it is in Col. iii. 17, ' Whatsoever we do in word or in deed, we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.' "We do no honour to God, but through Christ ; and so in the particular of our prayers we have the less joy, living in dis- couragements, not giving the beginning of all unto him, and the riches of his grace. When because we have nothing of our own to put in, where- upon we may build and rely, we go away heartless and discouraged, as though we should not be so bad, but somewhat should be in us to procure his mercy, never all this while having sufficiently seen our nakedness, that
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there is nothing in ns, and tliat wo must be covered altogether, and wholly in his presence, that no filthincss be discovered. We read, Exod. xxviii. 42, that the high priest going about his sacrifice must have on his linen breeches, from the loins even unto his thighs, that he might not bear iniquity, and die, discovering his nakedness. What ! Such a high priest ? so holy, so gloriously attirod, so covered with rich robes? yet he shall die for all this if he want his linen breeches. I fear many of us come thus to God, not having soundly seen our own nakedness, and where only all our comfort is to be found. The apostle, 1 Cor. iii. 21, says, ' Therefore let no man glory in men : for all things are yours ;' to wit, with the former limi- tations, to do us good. ' All things are yours; whether Paul, or ApoUos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, things present or things to come, all are yours :' but a man's title must be in Christ : for it follows, ' And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.' So Rom. viii. 32, the apostle's argument is, ' He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things ?' If Christ be once f given thee, Christ is more than heaven, and earth, and all ; if he be given, God will deny thee nothing.
The auxiliary helps are as foreign soil to barren grounds, marl, lime, and the like, which make fruitful ; and herein consider these things,
(1.) The general graclniisness of God to all his creatures. This is a great help that he feeds the young ravens ; yea, as it is Mat. vi. 20, that he feedeth all the fowls of the air. Whence from his general goodness the inference is, ' Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to- day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith ? ' The consideration of his graciousness unto all the sons of men, and especially to many evil men, when they have called upon him, of which God hath shewed us many instances that they have been heard, should make us not keep off, but hope to speed well ; yea, and in this also to consider the graciousness of God in receiving great sinners unto mercy, which the prophet, admiring, thus speaks of : Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance ? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy,' &c. I doubt many wrong themselves in this, because they erect before them a false image of God. If one should see a picture of God before him, as the papists do make him, like an old man with a cloak and a staff, and a great many about falling down before him, frowning on some, beating of others, kicking of others away, what an absurd thing would we think this (//) ! What difference is there betwixt a false picture and a false image of God in thy heart ? When thou canst not conceive of him but as terrible and incensed against thee, assure thyself, thou dost not prostrate thyself with right thoughts before him, if being a sinner thou thinkest he will smite thee down.
(2.) Secondly, His all-sufficiency and oinnipotency , being in heaven above, and overruling all, who is excellent in knowledge, wonderful in working, all-sutficient to save, and powerful to put down the mighty from their seats, and to exalt the humble. He is beyond all fathers. They see but a little, they are not always present, they are not always able to help when they would, but he doth see thee at all times, is ever present, and able to help thee in all distresses ; he is greater than all in breadth, in depth, in height, in length, in mercy, in power, as being in heaven above all ; fathers are not so. These be two special helps.
(3.) Thirdly, The promises, the faithfulness of God. The precedents of
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them in former times to thyself, or others. As Ps. Ixxvii. 5, David was in great and sore distress, yet, saith he, ' I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times,' &c. And in another place the church pleads, ' Our fathers trusted in thee, and were delivered ; ' and so from thence raiseth a ground of confidence. Thus the prophet David he reasons the matter with Saul, when he was to go forth and fight with that great and terrible Philistine : 1 Sam. xvii. 34, ' Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock ; and I went out after him, and delivered it out of his mouth ; and when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear ; and this uncii-cumcised Philistine shall be as one of them.' The danger was now the same, where- fore having the like faith and protection, he looks for the like deliverance. So look what experience thou hast had of that which God hath done for thee, and make thy advantage thereof. Withal remember how even good men, where they have been bountiful, delight to give more and more still. Though it be not so always with men, yet it is so always with God ; if once he have heard thee in mercy, he will hear thee always.