guilt and danger. He then begs of God to load them with all " blessings" through this dreary wilderness. He entreats that they may be " fed," and " governed," and protected, as sheep by a careful shepherd, or as a faithful people by a wise and powerful Prince 1. And, lastly, he desires that they may be " exalted" to happiness and glory in a better world. Thus does he implore of God to confer on them all that they can ever need, " giving them grace and glory," and withholding from them nothing that can by any means conduce to their welfare'.]
3. The extent of it—
[He desires these things for all, without exception. There is not one so good or great, but that he needs all these things at the hands of God ; nor one so mean, but that he may expect of God a supply of all these things, in answer to the prayers thus offered for him.]
Behold, then. Brethren,
1. Your duty —
[God commands that we " make our intercession for all men." And, if we have any just knowledge of God, we shall improve our interest with him for the benefit of our fellow- creatures. Say not, " I know not how to pray." Well I know that this is a common complaint ; but I am perfectly assured, that the straitness of which we complain, and perhaps justly complain, arises, in a very great measure, from our igno- rance of God, and of the divine life. If we spread more our own wants before God, and obtained answers to our prayers, as David did, we should, like David, become intercessors for others, and find at the throne of grace a liberty of which we have at present but little conception ]
2. Your privilege —
[Are you to ask all these things for others; and shall you want them yourselves ? No, Brethren ; you may ask salvation from all the penal effects of sin : you may ask for blessings, even all that a fallen creature can by any means want : you may ask for provision and protection to the utmost extent of your necessities : yea, you may ask for all the glory and fehcity of heaven ; and God will bestow it all. " Open your mouth ever so wide, he will fill it ; " yea, " he will do exceeding abundantly for you above all that you can ask or think."]
^ In the Te Deum the words are quoted in this sense. See also Ezek. xxxiv, 23, 24. r Ps. Ixxxiv. 11.