carried thither, if it were not sprinkled before the mercy-seat, and accompanied with the clouds of incense. Thus not even the death of Christ is, of itself, a sufficient warrant for us to draw nigh to God. But his intercession added to it gives us boldness, and access with confidence ^ We may go to God upon this ground as to a reconciled father. Nor need any sinner whatever deem himself too unworthy to approach his throne. All are now constituted priests unto God^. And all who bring the blood of Christ with them, and rely on his pre- vailing intercession, shall surely find acceptance with him.]
There is however something further which the worshippers of God must attend to, namely,
II. The manner in which we should approach him —
Christians are not to go to God with a rude and inconsiderate famiharity. They should consider the majesty of Him before whom they come ; and should draw near to him with,
A sincere heart —
[To go before God and declare things which we neither feel nor believe, is to mock and insult him. If our confessions be without humility, our petitions without fervour, and our thanksgivings without gratitude, how is it possible that God should hear us ? If we draw nigh to him with our lips while our hearts are far from him, we worship him in vain^. To have imbibed true notions, is not sufficient. God requires truth in our inward parts'^. And they alone can worship him acceptably, who worship him in spirit and in truth'.]
An assured faith —
[When we go to God in prayer, we should not doubt whether He be willing to accept us. We should be thoroughly persuaded that " Christ is the way, the truth, and the life^;" and that he will save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. To be assured of our own personal interest in him is not necessary. But we should have the most assured belief of the sufficiency of his atonement and intercession. Nor should we limit his power and grace under an idea of our own unworthiness. To ask with a doubtful mind, is to cast a re- flection upon him at the very time that we are imploring his favour. And we are warned by God himself that such wavering petitions never shall prevail'.]
e Heb. vii. 25. f 1 Pet. ii. 9. Rev.i. G. s Matt xv. 8, 9.
'1 Ps. li. 6. ' John iv. 24. '^ John xiv. 6.
- Jam. i. 6, 7.