SERMON XXXV.

CHRIST THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER.

PSALM LXXII. 15.

Prayer also shall be made for him continually.

THIS was a Psalm for Solomon, and to him the words of my text may be applied. David prayed for him—“ Give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart." It is our duty also to pray for kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Thus Israel prayed for David; and he reaped the benefit of their prayers. But "behold a greater than Solomon is here;" for as many passages in this Psalm are applicable to no other, so I apprehend this is to be applied to Christ, whom prayer respects in various

ways.

I. It is to be made to him. He, jointly with the Father and Spirit, is the proper object of prayer; and, indeed, Stephen's dying prayer has, with propriety, been adduced as a strong and irrefragable proof of the supreme deity of Christ, and that with the same force of argument as Christ's dying prayer, to which it bears a striking resemblance, may be brought as a proof of the divinity of the Father. The union of the divine with the human nature in the person of Christ does not, cannot, set aside that worship which is due to the Divine Being; and as he is the object of other

and universality of their obedience. It was cordial, undissembled, and uniform. In a word, we should take care that our obedience be not only stedfast without wavering, and constant without fainting, but humble and evangelical. "So likewise ye," says Christ to his disciples, "when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants." The law may direct us, but it is the gospel only can save us. By our good works God may be honoured, the possession of grace evidenced, and a good example afforded, but heaven can never be obtained. In a word, those only make a right use of the law, who are thereby brought to see the insufficiency of their own righteousness, and seek after a better. I conclude with one remark.

From what has been said, we may learn that religion is not only a real but a visible thing. It is something that may be seen, felt, heard, and understood. Christianity is a friend to practical godliness; nor does true faith lead to licentiousness. "Thou hast faith," says the apostle James, " and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." As we cannot enter into heaven by our good works, so neither can we conclude that we are in the way to heaven without them.

SERMON XXXV.

CHRIST THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER.

PSALM LXXII. 15.

Prayer also shall be made for him continually.

THIS was a Psalm for Solomon, and to him the words of my text may be applied. David prayed for him-" Give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart." It is our duty also to pray for kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Thus Israel prayed for David; and he reaped the benefit of their prayers. But "behold a greater than Solomon is here;" for as many passages in this Psalm are applicable to no other, so I apprehend this is to be applied to Christ, whom prayer respects in various

ways.

I. It is to be made to him. He, jointly with the Father and Spirit, is the proper object of prayer; and, indeed, Stephen's dying prayer has, with propriety, been adduced as a strong and irrefragable proof of the supreme deity of Christ, and that with the same force of argument as Christ's dying prayer, to which it bears a striking resemblance, may be brought as a proof of the divinity of the Father. The union of the divine with the human nature in the person of Christ does not, cannot, set aside that worship which is due to the Divine Being; and as he is the object of other

there is all that in him which requires and encourages it. He is omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful, and all-merciful. He can behold the most solitary suppliant, hear the gentlest whisper, remove the heaviest burdens, redress the most oppressive grievances, and supply the greatest wants. To him there is nothing impossible or unknown. He never refused prayer, he always accepts us. Hence it is made the discriminating character of all true believers, that they call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. It is made through him, not only by virtue of his gracious assistance, but in his all-prevailing name. Our access to God, not only at conversion, but in all after times, is through Christ, and by the Spirit; for God can have no immediate intercourse with sinful creatures, being to such, as the apostle says, "a consuming fire." As all communications from him, so all applications to him, must be in and through a mediator; and Christ is the way both to the throne of grace and the throne of glory. Without a constant regard to him in our prayers, we may as well not pray at all. Hence it was a severe reproof to his disciples, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name;" which intimates that they had not as yet a clear knowledge of the necessity of his interposition, and the nature of his undertaking. Our prayers must ascend in the perfumes of Christ's merit, as the angel did in the smoke of Manoah's sacrifice. Laden with guilt, and exposed to wrath, therefore, we should ever observe this rule in all our advances to God," Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me."

3. It is continually made by Christ. He is our advocate with the Father. His presenting his spotless sacrifice before the throne, is a powerful intercession. He also presents the prayers and supplications of the saints, without which, instead of being received with complacency, they must be rejected with abhorrence. But besides this, is there not a vocal intercession? The Scripture leads me to think that there is. Christ was that angel who pleaded

for Judah and Jerusalem." In the days of his flesh he prayed for Peter, that his faith might not fail;" and he assured him, and the rest of the disciples, that he would perform the same office for them in heaven: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter." And as Job evidently speaks of Christ as a Redeemer in one place, so it is not at all improbable that he refers to him as an advocate in another: "O that one," says he, "might plead for a man with God as a man pleadeth for his neighbour."" It is," says Dr. Owen, no ways unbecoming the human nature of Christ, in its glorious exaltation, to pray to God; for this seems to be one condition of the advancement of his interest as mediator. "Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." I have made the two last remarks chiefly because some translate the words of my text,--" Prayer shall be made by him, or through him, continually."

He

4. It is to be made for Christ. Thus it is in our translation, and to this I shall adhere in the following part of my discourse. These words cannot have reference to Christ personally; for he has no need of prayer. cannot be greater or better, more excellent or more glorious, than he is. As he is exalted above all praise, so also above the want of prayer; nor can he be benefited by it. He is immutably fixed upon his throne of majesty, nor can any addition be made either to his authority or his happiness; all is received from him, and nothing can be given to him; for with respect to his own state, and the gracious relations in which he stands to his people, he is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." In what respect, then, is prayer to be made for Christ? In answer to this question, I observe,

1. That it is to be made for his kingdom and interest. "Thy kingdom come," was a request which he inserted in that comprehensive and most excellent prayer which he