We are also to desire deliverance from evil, with submission to the will of God, as our Lord did, saying: "If it be possible, let this cup pass from us. Not our will, but thine be done." So, as disciples of Jesus, we ought to pray in such cases, because we know, that God is able to overrule all these things for our good. And that if he do not see fit to prevent the evils we fear from befalling us, he can uphold us, and enable us to bear them with patience, and for his glory.

2.) Another direction of Christ concerning prayer is, that we pray, filled with love to one another, and to all men in general.

Mark xi. 25, 26, "And, when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you. For if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." To the like purpose, Matt. vi. 14, 15.

Matt. v. 44, "But I say unto you: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you. All this they are prepared for, and are able to perform, who, as before shown, believe in Jesus, and endeavour to act as his disciples.

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A christian, in his prayers, ought to be filled with good will to all men, and to desire the same things for others, which he asks for himself. And they who unite together in prayer, ought mutually to desire each other's welfare and prosperity, spiritual and temporal. This may be what our Lord intends, when he says: "Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," Matt. xviii. 19, 20.

3.) Another direction of Christ to his disciples, is, that they should pray with humility.

Luke xviii. 9-14, Our Lord “spake this parable unto certain, which trusted in themselves, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a pharisee and the other a publican. The pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are.- -And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven; but smote upon his breast, saying: God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For every one that exalteth

himself, shall be abased. And he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted."

In the application of another parable, our Lord says to his disciples: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say; We are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do," Luke xvii. 10.

Christ taught his disciples, daily to ask forgiveness of sins. A true disciple of Jesus will confess his sins and failings, and own the defects of his service and obedience; still believing, that God is very good, and that his rewards will exceed the merit of our services.

4.) Another direction of our Lord is, that we pray in faith, with a firm persuasion of God's goodness, and of his readiness to hear and answer, and give the good things we ask for, and stand in need of.

Matt. viii. 9-11, "Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks, receives: and he that seeketh, findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or, what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or, if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more will your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" And to the like purpose exactly in Luke xi. 9-13.

And it is the doctrine of the text. "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily I say unto you: whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." One reason of this is, that they who pray in Christ's name, or according to his directions, ask for nothing but what is lawful and good, with a view to the glory of God, and with resignation to his will, if they are temporal things. Therefore their prayers are heard, and their petitions are granted. They either receive the good things they ask; or have what is better, strength to practise self-denial and patience, and thereby to glorify God.

However, certainly, it is the design of our Lord, to encourage his disciples to go to God, with a lively persuasion of his goodness. He requires that they should live in this world without anxiety, and depend upon the divine bounty for needful supplies; and not seek them with an importunity which implies a supposition that God would not grant with

out much entreaty. Therefore he says, Matt. vi. 7, “ When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do. For they think to be heard for their much speaking." Again, ver. 31, 32, “Therefore take no thought," be not anxious "for your life, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed?-For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things."

This trust in God, this assurance of being heard, is also recommended by Christ's apostles. James i. 5, 6, 7, “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." They who waver in their profession of christianity, and are doubtful in their fidelity to Christ, will receive nothing. But they who are stedfast in their profession, and in the general tenour and course of their life act as christians, and sincerely strive to behave in all things as such, when they seek for wisdom, will obtain it, and ought to be persuaded that God giveth liberally and upbraideth not.

And Heb. iv. 14-16, "Seeing then, that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession; for we have not an High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need."

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5.) Another direction of our Lord is, that we persevere in prayer, and, as occasions require, renew our addresses to God, and pray with importunity, hoping he will at length hear us, and vouchsafe a gracious answer to our requests. Luke xviii. 1–7, " And he spake a parable unto them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint, saying; There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying; Avenge me of my adversary. And he would not for a while. But afterwards he said within himself; Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said; Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall

not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you, that he will avenge them speedily."

There is also somewhat to the like purpose in Luke xi. 5-9; after the evangelist's account of our Lord's teaching the disciples to pray, or delivering to them what is called the Lord's prayer. "And he said unto them; Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. And he from within shall answer, and say; Trouble me not. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise, and give thee. I say unto you; though he will not rise, and give him, because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you; Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Agreeable to this doctrine of our Saviour, are various directions of the apostles in their epistles. Eph. vi. 18, Praying always, with all prayer and supplication, in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints." And 1 Thess. v. 17, « Pray without ceasing."

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Of such prayer, for himself, and others, we can perceive from his epistles, that St. Paul was an example. Yea our Lord himself in the time of his ministry has given us an example of frequent, renewed, believing, importunate, persevering prayer to God.

That is the second thing which we have supposed to be included in praying in the name of Christ, even according to his directions, and agreeably to the nature of his institution. Several of which directions have been now men

tioned.a

3. In praying in the name of Christ may be included, that always, or at least oftentimes, we should present our addresses to God through him, as by our high priest, and intercessor with God.

This particular may be illustrated by several things in the Acts, and the Epistles.

Eph. iii. 14-16, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,--that he would grant you to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." That is, he worships God in the character

* If any find this sermon too long to be read at once, here may be a proper pause.

of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So in the Old Testament the pious among the Jews often worshipped God in the character of the God of Abraham, and the other patriarchs. 1 Kings xviii. 36," And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let it be known this day, that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant." See also 1 Chron. xxix. 10, and 18.

Moreover it is a respect due to Jesus Christ, by whom we have been brought nigh unto God, and through whom God dispenseth blessings to us, not only that our prayers, but our praises also, and all our sacrifices and services should be presented to the Father, as by his means, and through his hands.

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In Heb. iv. 14--16, before quoted, the apostle says, Seeing then, we have a great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens- -let us hold fast our profession; for we have not an High Priest, which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Having such an High Priest, we have encouragement in all our pressures and difficulties, especially in the cause and service of true religion, to offer up prayers, through him, with hopes of obtaining all needful aid and

succour.

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In the same epistle the apostle gives a like direction concerning praise. And it may be applied to every part of worship, and to every kind of religious and spiritual service. Heb. xiii. 15, 16, " By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. But to do good, and to communicate, forget not. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Agreeable hereto is what St. Peter says: "Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ," 1 Pet. ii. 5, Which words, I apprehend, might be more properly rendered thus: "Ye are a royal priesthood, to offer up through Jesus Christ spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God." Denoting, not that they are acceptable through Christ, but that those spiritual acceptable sacrifices, should be offered up to God through Christ. St. Peter exactly agrees with the apostle Paul, Rom. xii. 1. Spiritual sacrifices are such as God requires, and are in themselves acceptable to him. This interpreta