in future. Now these are the very things specified in our text, as to be asked by us in the name of our High-priest with boldness and confidence : and we are assured, that they shall be granted, both in the time and measure that we need them. We are not to be accounting any thing too great to ask, because there is nothing too great for him to give. We " are not to be straitened in ourselves, seeing that we are not straitened in him." We may '* ask what we will ; and it shall be done unto us'^." However " wide we open our mouth, it shall be filled V Let our need of mercy be ever so great, " we shall obtain mercy ;" and our need of grace ever so abundant, the supply shall be proportioned to our need. If we want grace to sustain suflfering, to fulfil duty, to transform the soul into the Divine image, " Ask and have," is the Divine com- mand : and our boldness in asking cannot be too great, pro- vided it be of a right kind : it must not be of an unhallowed and presumptuous cast; but duly tempered with penitential sorrow, and patient resignation. Then it may rise to a con- fident expectation, and a full assurance of faith™.]
But whilst we are thus encouraged to draw nigh to
God, let us LEARN,
1. That nothing is to be obtained without prayer — [It is not the death of Christ as our sacrifice, nor the
intercession of Christ as our great High-priest, that will save us, if we do not pray for ourselves. Though he is on a throne, and that throne is a " throne of grace," we shall receive no benefit from his power or grace, if we do not sue for it in earnest and believing prayer. His offices are not intended to supersede our endeavours, but to encourage them, and to assure us of success in the use of the appointed means. Those are always characterized as " enemies, who call not upon God :" and we are warned plainly that we cannot have, if we neglect to ask". The means must be used in order to the end ; and it is only in, and by, the means, that the end can ever be attained". Hear this, ye who neglect prayer, or draw nigh to God with your lips only and not with your hearts ! Unless "in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanks- giving, you make your requests known unto God," you can never experience his blessing upon your souls, nor ever behold the face of your God in peace.]
2. That in all your addresses to God your eyes must be directly fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Mediator and Advocate —
•^ John xiv. 13, 14. ' Ps. Ixxxi. 10. '» Heb. x. 19 — 22. » Jam. iv. 3. « Matt. vii. 7, 8.
2286.J ENCOURAGEMENT FROM CIIRISt's CHARACTER. 5il7
[When the high-priest was passing through the vail into tlie holy of holies, the eyes of all were fixed on him as their mediator ; and from his intercession all their hopes were de- rived. And how much more should our eyes be fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Advocate and Intercessor ! It is in his name that we are taught to offer our supplications i': and it is through his intercession alone that they can come up with acceptance before God''. Seek then at all times to realize this in your minds : and beg of God to make you deeply and abidingly sensible of it : for " then only do you honour the Father, when you thus honour his dear Son"";" and then only will the Father be glorified in you, when he is thus honoured and glorified in the person of his Son^]
3. That when you thus approach God in and through his Son, all doubts of acceptance must be put away —