The Fountain of Life Opened

Corollary. 2.

Again hence we learn,¹ that Argumentative prayers are excellent prayers. The strength of every thing is in its joints. There lies much of the strength of prayer also. How strongly jointed, how nervous, and argumentative was this prayer of Christ? Some there are indeed that think we need not argue and plead in prayer with God, but only present the matter of our prayers to him, and let Christ alone (whose office it is) to plead with the Father. As if Christ did not present our pleas and arguments, as well as simple desires to God. As if the choicest part of our prayers must be kept back, because Christ presents our prayers to God. No, no, Christs pleading is one thing, ours another.² His and ours are not opposed, but subordinated. His pleading doth not destroy, but makes ours successful. God calls us to plead with him,³ Isai. 1.18. come now, let us reason together. God (as one observes) reasoneth with us by his word and providences outwardly, and by the motions of his Spirit inwardly: but we reason with him by framing (through the help of his Spirit,) certain holy arguments, grounded upon allowed principles, drawn from his nature, name, word or works. And it is condemned as a very sinful defect in Professors, that they did not plead the Churches cause with God.⁴ Jer. 30.13. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up. What was Jacobs wrestling with the Angel, but his holy pleading, and importunity with God? And how well it pleased God, let the event speak.