2. As private Christians —
[Our Lord assigns the same office to all his people ; " All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them"." All indeed are not called upon to exert them- selves as ministers : but all are to glorify Christ by a holy conversation, and are to take of his virtues and his graces, and to exhibit them to the world. This is one end of their calling, namely, " to shew forth the virtues of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light0." All are to " shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life"
k John xv. 26, 27. ' Acts ii. 32—36. and iv. 10—12.
m 2 Cor. iv. 6, 7. " John xvii. 10.
0 1 Pet. ii. 9. The marginal reading. H2
in their own conduct, so that all may read it, yea, may be compelled to read it, as transcribed in their livesp. What an exalted office is this for every private Christian ! O that all might be ambitious to execute it aright ! for Christ himself has said, " Herein is my Father glorified, that ye may bring forth much fruit; so shall ye be my Disciples'1."]
p Phil. ii. 15, 16. i John xv. 8.
John xvi. 24. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be
full.
THIS world is justly characterized as a vale of tears. Even they who experience the most happiness, find many interruptions of it : nor is there any way of securing permanent tranquillity, but by waiting upon God in prayer.
The Disciples were sorrowful on account of the approaching departure of their Lord, with whom they had hitherto enjoyed the most familiar fellowship. Our Lord tells them, that though they would no longer be able to inquire* of him, yet, if they would askh of the Father in his name, he would grant them whatsoever they should need ; and that the answers which they should receive to their prayers would abundantly overbalance the loss of their present pri- vileges, and fill them with unutterable joy.
In the direction given them, we may notice,
I. Our duty —
It is comprised in one word, " Ask." Now this is,
1. An easy duty — [We do not mean that it is always easy to pray, (for there is nothing more difficult when the heart is indisposed for that exercise ;) but that is the easiest condition that coidd possibly
be imposed and that, when the heart is in a proper
frame, prayer is as easy to the soul, as breathing is to the body: it is the first, and most natural, effort of a living soul : " Be- hold, he prayethc!"]
8 vcr. 23. it)o)T7]f7er£. b ver. 23. ain'/err/rt. c Acts ix. 11.