A30241:2535
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Neither did Christ pray for any spiritual gracious mercies; These are the chiefest matter of our prayer, insomuch that temporal things are prayed for only with a submission unto Gods Will, and so far as they conduce to our spiritual good, but Christ had already received the Spirit of God in so full measure, that he could not pray for further Sanctification, nor for a better heart or more communion with God then he had, much less could he pray for such things as suppose a sinful Imperfection in the Subject, So he did not or could not pray for the pardon of sin which yet he taught the most holy that are, to pray continually for, neither could he pray for justifying Faith, for although he had faith and confidence in God, yet he had not justifying Faith, which is the relying upon Christ for Righteousness; Neither could he pray for the conquering and subduing of corruption seeing his pure Nature remained altogether spotless and free from the least stain or pollution.
2. Neither did Christ pray for any spiritual gracious mercies; These are the chiefest matter of our praier, insomuch that temporall things are praied for only with a submission unto Gods Will, and so farre as they conduce to our spirituall good, but Christ had already received the Spirit of God in so full measure, that he could not pray for further Sanctification, nor for a better heart or more communion with God then he had, much lesse could he pray for such things as suppose a sinnefull Imperfection in the Subject, So he did not or could not pray for the pardon of sinne which yet he taught the most holy that are, to pray continually for, neither could he pray for justifying Faith, for although he had faith and confidence in God, yet he had not justifying Faith, which is the relying upon Christ for Righteousnesse; Neither could he pray for the conquering and subduing of corruption seeing his pure Nature remained altogether spotlesse and free from the least stain or pollution.
Neither 3. Were Prayers to him as they are to us, means to quicken up and excite the heart, to make it more Heavenly and zealous; Prayer in us doth quicken and excite a man, and takes off the rust upon his Soul; Christ was always in contemplation and enjoyment of God, and therefore he did not need prayer to make his soul ascend higher to God.