USE. 1. See one great Reason that our Prayers are not answered, S. Joh. xvi. 24. 2. Hence note, how we may have them anfwered, even by Faith, S. Mar. xi. 24. IV. DOCTRINE. Whatsoever we ask in the Name of Christ, we fhall certainly receive, S. Joh. xiv. 13. and xv. 7. 1. Becaufe Chrift has fatisfied for our Sins, that made us not accepted, Ifa. lix. 2. Rom. V. II. 2. Because He intercedes for us, Hebr. vii. 25. Object. But we oft do not receive what we ask, Habak. i. 2. Mic. iii. 4. I. Perhaps thou art no true Believer, S. Jam. i. 6. 2. Or doft not pray in Chrift's Name, S. Joh. xvi. 26, 27. In ejus nomine petit, quem cogitat cum petit, S. Auguft. 3. Or not to a right End, S. Fam. iv. 3. 4. Or what thou askeft may do thee Hurt,Prov. xxx. 8, 9. 5. Or GOD may give thee fomething better in lieu of it, Gen. xvii. 18, 19, 20, 21. 2 Sam. xii. 8. 6. Or, poffibly, GOD has granted this Petition, but defers the giving it to a more convenient time, 2 Cor. vi. 2. and xii. 8. Gen. xv. 16. Quadam enim non negantur, fed ut congruo dentur tempore, differuntur, S. Auguft. 1. We may not be fenfible enough of our Want of it, S. Matt. xxiii. 37. 2. He may do it to exercise our Faith, in believing what we fee not, S. Joh. xx. 29. Nam fi vides, non eft fides, S. Aug. 3. Or our Patience, Hebr. vi. 12. 4. To teach us to fubmit to His Wifdom and Contrivance in timing all Things, Job ix. 4. Act. i. 7. 5. To make us prize it the more, when we USE. Pray in the Name of Christ, 3. For Mortification, Pfal. cxix. 133. 4. For Guidance in the Ways of Holiness, Pfal. cxxxix. 24. 5. For a clear Understanding of the Divine Mysteries, Pfal. cxix. 18, 27. S. Fam. i. 5. 6. For Strength of Grace, Pfal. cxix. 28. S.Luk. xvii. 5. 7. For a fanctified Ufe of all your Enjoyments, S. Job: xvii. 17. Rom. viii. 28. 8. For what temporal Things you want, only fo far as GOD fees them for His Glory, and your own Good, S. Luk. xxii. 42. DIRECTIONS. 1. Set yourselves as in GOD's Presence, Pfal. xvi. 8. and liv. 3. 2. Carry yourselves reverently, Job xlii. 5,6. 3. Keep your Minds intent upon the Things you are praying for, Ezek. xxxiii. 31. 4. Fix the Eye of your Faith constantly upon the Merits and Mediation of Christ, A&t. xv. 11. Ephef. iv. 32. 1 Theff. v. 9. 5. After Prayer expect an Answer upon His Account, Pfal. v. 3. S. JOH. S. JOH. xvii. 4. I have glorified thee on Earth; I have finished the Work, which thou gavest me to do. N this Chapter is Chrift's Petition, ver. 1. raifing Him up according to the Promifes made to Him, Pfal. xvi. 10. Ifa. xlix. 8. and 1. 8,9. A. ii. 27. 1. Because the Hour is come, v. 1. 2. That thy Son may glorify Thee, ver. 1. 3. That He may perform His Truft, v. 2, 3. 4. Because He had been faithful in difcharg ing His Truft, and glorifying GOD, and finishing His Work, ver. 4. From which Words obferve, I. OBSERVATION. It was Chrift's End in executing His Mediatory Office to glorify GOD. 1. What is it to glorify GOD? Pfal. lxxxvi, II. Rev. XV. II. 1. Not to add Glory to Him, Pfal. viii. 1. and cvi. 2. 2. But to declare the Glory that is in Him, S. Matt. v. 16. and xv. 31. S. Job. xii. 28. and xvi. 14. And accordingly, to glorify in the vulgar Tranflation of the Bible, is clarificare, S. Joh. xvii. 5. As alfo S. Cyprian de Orat. Dom. p. 143. Clarificate portate Deum in corpore vestre. veftro. And, Ille me clarificabit, S. Aug. in Joan. tract. 107. 2. This was Chrift's End, S. Job. vii. 18. 1. Not His own Glory, S. Joh. viii. 50. Hebs. xii. 2. 2. Nor ultimately Man's Happiness, Phil. i. II. and ii. II. For, 1. GOD does all Things for His own Glory, Pfal. xlvi. 10. Prov. xvi. 4. 2. All Creatures are bound to glorify Him, Levit.x. 3. 1 Cor. x. 31. 1 S. Pet. iv. II. 3. His Glory is the best End, Rom. xi. 36. 3. How did Chrift glorify His Father? S. Joh. xiv, 13. 1. By declaring His Holiness, S. Joh. xvii. II. 2. By fhewing forth His Praise, S. Matt. xi. 25. 3. By the Works He did in His Name, S.Joh. x. 25. and xi. 40. 4. By the Occafion He gave others to bless 5. By teaching His Difciples to afcribe all 16. 7. By the manner of His Death, S. Job. xxi. 10. Phil. ii. 8, 11. 8. By the Conqueft thereby obtain'd over the Devil, GOD's greatest Enemy, Hebr. ii. 14. 9. By His glorious Refurrection from the Dead, and visible Afcenfion into Heaven, Rom. i. 4. S. Luk. xxiv. 51, 52, 53. U SES. 1 USES. 1. Comfort to Believers, that their Salvation is for GOD's Glory, 1 Tim. ii. 4. 2. Exhortation to follow Chrift in glorifying GOD, I Cor. X. 31. 1. In your Thoughts, Prov. xii. 5. Isa. lv. 7. 2. In your Affections, Gal. v. 24. Coloff. iii. 2, 3. 3. In your Words, S. Jam. iii. 6, 9. 4. In your Actions, S. Pet. ii. 12. II. OBSERVATION. Christ finished the Work which His Father fent Him to do, S. Job. iv. 34. 1. What was the Work Chrift had to do? 1 Cor. XV. 22. 3. The fallen Angels were left in a miserable Condition to fuffer for their Difobedience, Hebr. ii. 16. 2 S. Pet. ii. 4. S. Jude vi. 4. 5. But the Son of GOD undertook the Recovery of fallen Man, 1 Tim. ii. 6. To which end, the Father also condefcended to accept of Him as our Ranfom, S. Joh. iii. 16. 2 Cor. v. 19, 21. 6. The Son, to capacitate Himself for this great Work, affumed our Nature, and became Man, S. Joh. i. 14. 1 Tim. i. 15. 7. Being thus made Man, the Father exacted of Him, Ifa. lxi. 1, 2, 3 1 Tim. v. 6. |