CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Secondly, Take notice of the nature of this Prayer, it's by way of Mediation; It's a Mediatory Prayer, and so differs from all the prayers of other men: As they are bare mere men, so their prayers are bare mere prayers; There is no merit, no mediation in thee, but Christs prayer is of a far more transcendent nature, Even as the blood of the Martyrs came far short of Christs; Their blood was not expiatory, it was not by way of a Sacrifice for sins, whereas Christs was; Thus there is a vast difference between prayers and prayers, God may regard one mans prayer more then another's, it may be more effectual, as in that supposition, though Daniel and Job stood and prayed, they should not be heard; Job, you know was commanded to pray for his Friends, and his prayer was accepted of more then theirs, and Daniel was said to be a man greatly beloved, because his prayers were so readily heard; Likewise the prayer of many, or a Church, is more prevalent then the prayer of one single person; So a Prayer from one in office as a Minister, is more then of one in a private condition: but yet the prayer of Christ as in the office of a Mediator doth far surmount all. So then in Christs prayer we are especially to look to the Mediatory power, to the impetratory efficacy of it; It's not a mere supplication as ours are, but a powerful obtaining of what is desired; His prayer can be no more refused then his blood, they both are in the same nature, they go along under the same respect, his blood may as well be without advantage as his prayer; The high-Priests prayer for the people was of greater concernment for the people then their own prayers; I tell thee all thy own prayers are not of that consequence to thee as Christs prayer is, all Mediatory and impetratory efficacy is from that.

¹Secondly, Take notice of the nature of this Praier, it's by way of Mediation; It's a Mediatory Praier, and so differs from all the praiers of other men: As they are bare meer men, so their praiers are bare meer praiers; There is no merit, no mediation in thee, but Christs praier is of a farre more transcendent nature, Even as the bloud of the Martyrs came farre short of Christs; Their bloud was not expiatory, it was not by way of a Sacrifice for sinnes, whereas Christs was; Thus there is a vast difference between praiers and praiers, God may regard one mans praier more then anothers, it may be more effectuall, as in that supposition, though Daniel and Job stood and praied, they should not be heard; Job, you know was commanded to pray for his Friends, and his praier was accepted of more then theirs, and Daniel was said to be a man greatly beloved, because his praiers were so readily heard; Likewise the praier of many, or a Church, is more prevalent then the praier of one single person; So a Praier from one in office as a Minister, is more then of one in a private condition: but yet the praier of Christ as in the office of a Mediatour doth farre surmount all. So then in Christs praier we are especially to look to the Mediatory power, to the impetratory efficacy of it; It's not a meer supplication as ours are, but a powerfull obtaining of what is desired; His praier can be no more refused then his bloud, they both are in the same nature, they go along under the same respect, his bloud may as well be without advantage as his praier; The high-Priests praier for the people was of greater concernment for the people then their own praiers; I tell thee all thy own praiers are not of that consequence to thee as Christs praier is, all Mediatory and impetratory efficacy is from that.