acquaintance with this plague is sufficient : we must know the depth and inveteracy of our disorder. Our knowledge too must produce an imfeigned self-abhorrence, and a full conviction of our utter helplessness: nor without this knowledge can we offer up one acceptable prayer. We cannot lament what we neither feel nor know; or seek for mercy, when we perceive not our need of it. While ignorant of our depravity, we are not in a state to receive mercy : we should not even be vdlling to accept of mercy on God's terms. The very offers of salvation would rather excite our displeasure than our gratitude^.]
2. A believing view of Christ —
[The temple of Solomon was the more immediate resi- dence of the Deity : all were on this account directed to look towards it when they prayed. That temple was typical of the Lord Jesus Christ '^ : in him " dwells all the fulness of the God- head bodily:" to him our eyes are therefore to be directed''. We are to offer all our petitions to him, or in his name®. This regard to him is necessary to the acceptance of our prayers : it is through him alone that we gain access to the Deity ^. We cannot approach the Father in any other way^; nor is there any other channel whereby the divine blessings can flow down to vis^. On these accounts we must " stretch out om: hands towards" him : we must view him as our only source of spi- ritual blessings.]
They who truly seek after God will soon expe- rience,
II. The efficacy of prayer when attended with those requisites —
Cold or unbelieving petitions will receive no an- swer'; but humble and believing prayer will obtain the richest blessings :
I. National —
[The passage before us relates to the whole Jewish nation : it supposes them to have incurred the heavy displeasure of
^ A man, not sensible that he had subjected himself to capital punishment by breaking the laws of his country, would reject with indignation an offer of deliverance from an ignominious death : but a self-condemned criminal on the eve of his execution woidd receive such an offer gladly.
*= See John ii. 19, 21. and compare Exod. xxiii. 21. with the ex- pression " My name shall be there," 1 Kings viii. 29.
d Isai. xlv. 22. ^ John xiv. 13, 14. f Eph. ii. 18.
s John xiv. 6. '> John i. 16.
' Jam. iv. 3. Matt. xv. 8, 9. Jam. i. 6, 7.