Whatever they ask in Christ's name, shall be given thenim. Let them "open their mouth ever so wide, it shall be filled"." They mav exhaust all the powers of language in their petitions, and may then extend their thoughts to the utmost limit of a finite conception ; and they shall not only have all, but more than all, yea, " abundantly above all that they can ask or think0."]
The assertion in our text deserves the most atten- tive consideration on its own account ; but more especially on account of,
II. The insight which it gives us into truths of the greatest importance —
From this we obtain an insight into,
1. The character of God —
[We think of God, for the most part, as a Being of infinite majesty, who, unless in matters of very extraordinary moment, does not trouble himself with the concerns of men: and hence, if a person were to speak of having received answers to his prayers, he would be accounted wild, visionary, and presump- tuous. But let God be viewed as he is represented in the text : let him be viewed as noticing with the deepest interest the very least and meanest of his children ; as attending to their every cry, and treasuring up in his vials their every tear1'. Not so much as a " breathing" of theirs escapes his notice ; or a desire, of which they themselves perhaps are scarcely con- sciousq. The highest archangel does not more engage his attention, than does a poor despised Lazarus : nor is he less concerned about every individual amongst his people, than if there were but one in the whole universe. This is the true light in which to view his condescension and grace ; of which a mother's feelings towards her first-born child afford but a slender and very inadequate idear.]
2. The Christian's state —
[In respect of external appearance, there is no difference between a child of God and any other person : but in reality, as they are viewed by God, they are widely dissimilar. In the one God beholds his own image : in the other, the image of the wicked one. On the one he looks with pleasure and com- placency : the other he views afar off, with utter disdains. To
m John xiv. 13, 14. and xv. 7. and xvi. 23. and 1 John hi. 22. and v. 14, 15.
11 Ps. Ixxxi. 10. " Eph. hi. 20. P lJs. lvi. 8.
i Ps. cxlv. 18, 19. Lam. iii. 56, r Isai. xlix. 15.
s Ps. exxxviii. 6.