(Sdly,) Times of persecution for his Name's sake, and for the profession of the gospel, are another season rendering this peculiar invocation of Christ both comely and necessary. Two things will befall the minds of believers in such a season; — [Is^,] that their thoughts will be greatly exercised about him, and conversant with him. They cannot but continually thmk and meditate on hivi for whom they suffer. None ever suffered persecution on just grounds, with sincere ends, and in a due manner, but it was so with them. The invincible reasons they have to suffer for him — taken from his person, love, grace, and authority — from what he is in himself, what he hath done for them, and what account of all things is to be given unto him — do continually present themselves unto their minds. Wildernesses, pisons, and dungeons, have been filled with thoughts of Christ and his love. And many in former and latter ages have given an account of their communion and holy intercourse with the
SEASONS OF INVOKING CHRIST. 117
Lord Christ under their restraints and sufferings. And those v/ho at any time have made an entrance into such a condition, will all of them give in the testimony of their own experience in this matter. [2cUi/,] Such persons have deep and fixed apprehensions of the espe- cial concernment which the Lord Christ hath in them as unto their present condition — as also of his power to support them, or to work out their deliverance. They know and consider — that " in all their afflictions he is afflicted" — suffers in all their sufferings — is persecuted in all their persecutions; that in them all he is full of love, pity, and unspeakable compassion towards them; that his grace is suffi- cient for them — that his power shall he perfected in their weakness, to carry them through all their sufferings, unto his and their o"wn glory. In these circumstances, it is impossible for them who are under the conduct of his Spirit, not to make especial applications continually unto him for those aids of gi-ace — for those pledges of love and mercy — for those supplies of consolation and spiritual refreshments, which their condition calls for. Wherefore, in this state, the invocation of Christ is the refuge and sheet-anchor of the souls of them who truly believe in him. So it was unto all the holy martyrs of old, and in latter ages.
This doctrine and duty is not for them who are at ease. The afflicted, the tempted, the persecuted, the spiritually disconsolate, will prize it, and be found in the practice of it. And all those holy souls who, in most ages, on the account of the profession of the Gospel, have been reduced unto outwardly unrelievable distresses, have, as was said, left their testimony unto this duty, and the benefits of it. The refreshment which they found therein was a sufficient balance against the weight of all outward calamities, enabling them to rejoice under them with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." This is the church's reserve against all the trials it may be exercised withal, and all the dangers whereunto it is exposed. Whilst believers have liberty of access unto liini in their supplications, who hath all power in his hand, who is full of ineffable love and compassion towards them, especially as suffering for his sake — they are more than conquerors in all their tribulations.
(■ithly,) When we have a due apprehension of the eminent actings of any grace in Christ Jesus, and withal a deep and abiding sense of our own want of the same gi'ace, it is a season of especial aj^plica- tion unto him by prayer for the increase of it. All graces as unto their habit were equal in Christ — they were all in him in the highest degree of perfection; and every onie of them did he exercise in its due manner and measure on all just occasions. But outward causes and circumstances gave opportunity unto the exercise of some of them in a way more eminent and conspicuous than others were
118 THE PERSON OF CHEIST.
exercised in. For instance; — such were his unspeakable condescen- sion, self-denial, and patience in sufferings; which the apostle unto this purpose insists upon, Phil. ii. 5-8. Now the great design of all believers is to be like Jesus Christ, in all grace, and all the exercise of it. He is in all things their pattern and example. Wherefore, when they have a view of the glory of any grace as it was exercised in Christ, and withal a sense of their own defect and want therein — conformity unto him being their design — they cannot but apply themselves unto him in solemn invocation, for a farther communi- cation of that grace unto them, from his stores and fulness. And these things mutually promote one another in us, if duly attended unto. A due sense of our own defect in any grace will farther us in the prospect of the glory of that grace in Christ. And a view, a due contemplation, of the glorious exercise of any grace in him, will give us light to discover our own great defect therein, and want thereof Under a sense of both, an immediate application unto Christ by prayer would be an unspeakable furtherance of our growth in grace and conformity unto him. Nor can there be any more effectual way or means to draw supi^lies of grace from him, to draw water from the wells of salvation. When, in a holy admiration of, and fervent love unto, any grace as eminently exercised in and by him, with a sense of our own want of the same grace, we ask it of him in faith — he will not deny it unto us. So the disciples, upon the prescription of a difficult duty, unto whose due performance a good measure of faith was required — out of a sense of the all-fulness of him, and their own defect in that grace which was necessary unto the peculiar duty there prescribed — immediately pray unto him, say- ing, " Lord, increase our faith," Luke xvii. 5. The same is the case with respect unto any temptation that may befall us, whereivith he was exercised, and over which he prevailed.