A30241:83
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.
Sixthly, Consider this Prayer of Christs had that general nature in it, 1which all our prayers have, to be a condition and medium to bring about the good things we desire: For some have disputed about prayer, What use is there of it, seeing God knoweth all things before we ask, and he is unchangeable, our prayers cannot alter his purpose; To this it's answered, That our prayers are not to acquaint God with that he knew not, or to change his will, only God who hath decreed to do such things, he hath appointed prayer as a condition or means for the accomplishment of them; Even as God hath ordained the ⟨p. 12⟩earth to bring forth fruit, but it must be tilled and sown, and as mankind is to be multiplied, but by marriage, so good things are appointed for the godly but by prayer, Mat. 7.7. This is therefore called the golden chain reaching from earth to heaven, Ascendit precatio, descendit miseratio; and for this end is both a command of prayer and a gracious promise to it, so that he who prayeth not presumeth grossly, if he expect the fulfilling of any good thing to him; As it is thus with prayer in the general so also with Christs prayer, whatsoever Christ was to purchase at Gods hand for his people, the same he was to pray for, Psa. 2.8. Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, And thus in this Chapter he prayeth for that glory which yet was from the beginning appointed for him, so that Christs Prayer was a special means to bring about all those admirable mercies promised to his people.
Sixthly, Consider this Praier of Christs had that generall nature in it, 1which all our praiers have, to be a condition and medium to bring about the good things we desire: For some have disputed about praier, What use is there of it, seeing God knoweth all things before we ask, and he is unchangeable, our praiers cannot alter his purpose; To this it's answered, That our praiers are not to acquaint God with that he knew not, or to change his will, only God who hath decreed to do such things, he hath appointed praier as a condition or means for the accomplishment of them; Even as God hath ordained the