Those who would obtain knowledge from him must seek it by prayer —
[This is God's command. He needs not indeed to be pre- vailed upon by our solicitations, as though he were of himself averse to grant us his blessings ; but still it is our duty to pray unto him ; and he teaches us to expect his blessings only in the discharge of this duty : " Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find :" " If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God; and it shall be given him." We are far from saying that prayer is the only mean of obtaining knowledge ; for we must read, and meditate, and search after truth, as much as if all depended on our own unaided exertions : but we say, that our exertions without prayer will be of no avail : we must " search for know- ledge, as for hid treasures ;" but we must also " cry after it, and lift up our voice for understanding :" when we combine the two, " then shall we find the knowledge of God : for the Lord giveth wisdom ; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding15."]
Nor is this an arbitrary, but a wise and gracious
appointment —
[By this means our hearts are prepared for the reception of divine knowledge. If we could obtain it purely by our own study, we should pride ourselves in it, as having made our- selves to differ from those around us : but when we have been made sensible that it is God alone who " openeth the eyes of the understanding," we learn to acknowledge him in our gifts, and to humble ourselves in proportion to the benefits we have received at his hands. We are stirred up also to improve our knowledge as a talent committed to us, and to diffuse, for the benefit of others, the light with which God has irradiated us.]
As all are invited to ask, so every prayer shall be heard and answered.
II. It shall be effectual —
The things which God shewed to Jeremiah, related, not merely to the return of the Jews from Babylon, but to Christ and his spiritual kingdom0: and, respect- ing Christ, "he will shew great and mighty things unto all that ask him."
1. To the ignorant —
[Little do the world imagine what great and glorious things are known to those whom they despise ; things, " which prophets and kings in vain desired to see," and " which angels
» Prov. ii. 1—6. c ver. 14—16.