Largeness of the Promise.
Nor ought we here to overlook the largeness of the promise which our blessed Saviour makes to his true disciples, “Ask, and receive, that your joy may be full.” And again, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” And to such a promise as this he solemnly affixed the asseveration, “Verily, verily, or, amen, amen.” What can we desire more? Nothing in the world so great, nothing so small, that we might not every moment be receiving from the Father, if we only asked it in the name of Jesus. Say, what would ye desire to have granted you? Is it to be freed from domestic troubles, as for instance, that your sick child should recover? Would you gladly see your whole household drawn to God? Ask for any such thing in Jesus’ name, and be assured that he will grant it you. But does not experience seem to contradict this? We answer, it does not really do so. The deceit lies within ourselves, through not really asking in Jesus’ name. For let us call to mind what the asking in Jesus’ name implies. You might wish very ardently, it is true, for some peculiar interposition of God, and you might express this wish in prayer, and as you think, in Jesus’ name. But in this it is possible that you may be mistaken. A petition is offered in his name when it is offered in that faith which is of the operation of God, and when what we ask is according to his will. Luther prayed for the lives of Melanethon and Myconius, who were sick unto death, and already given over; and he received the petitions which he desired of God. And whatever we pray for, be it only gold or silver, even this may be granted us when asked according to his will. Thus the pious Professor Franke prayed for means to erect his orphan-houses; and immediately the silver and the gold flowed in upon him, and he who on commencing was scarcely able to command a few pence, had soon enough to found that abode of orphan charity and education whose praise has been in all the churches. Here the Lord granted what his servant desired. It is to this effect that St. John addresses us in his 1st epistle, chap. iii, 21-23: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave commandment.” — Copied from Elijah the Tishbite, by J. Sawyer.