It is the will of God to dwell in our hearts by his Holy Spirit. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Rom. iii, 16. Now it cannot be said that the Spirit of God dwelled in that man who enjoys it but seldom.
No wonder that the peace, the joy, and imperishable treasures of heaven look dim to those who are not familiar with the operations of the Spirit of God upon the heart. For says the Apostle, "But, as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Cor. ii, 9, 10. But not only does the Spirit of God make intercession for us, but Jesus our Great High Priest ever liveth to intercede for us. His first gift after his ascension upon high, was that of the Holy Spirit.
Let us for a moment look at the wonderful plan of redemption. "Man was afar off from God, guilty, and under the penalty of that sentence, the soul that sinneth it shall die. How was the mercy of God to be displayed, and his justice remain unsullied? By the death of the holy Jesus, the Son of God, his justice is satisfied, and engaged on the sinner's side; so that his mercy may flow to sinners in copious and uninterrupted streams. The divine love has its brightest displays, in being manifested towards the unworthy; and the Almighty arm is now stretched forth to save, and not to destroy the sinful. All the perfections of God being engaged on the sinner's side, the intercession of Him who has accomplished this, will evidently prevail. Here, then, and here only, is the true ground of encouragement for us to draw near with confidence to the holy God."
Consider the character of our Intercessor: "He is the beloved Son of God, the elect in whom his soul delighteth. Isa. xlii, 1. He is 'holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.' Heb. vii, 26. And with all this, he is full of compassion, tenderness, and love. 'We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.' Heb. iv, 15. He is one who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way."
"Consider, further, THE NATURE OF HIS INTERCESSION. John seems to give us an emblematic view of this. (Rev. viii, 3, 4.) 'And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.' Even the prayers of saints are so defective, that they need the incense of our Redeemer's merit to make them acceptable unto God."
"Jesus Christ intercedes BY PERSONALLY APPEARING FOR US BEFORE GOD." In the heavenly Sanctuary he now appears in the presence of God for us. "'This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin, for ever sat down on the right hand of God.' Heb. x, 12. 'By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place.' Heb. ix, 12. The virtue, merit, and power of that blood still remain. How sure may we be, then, that he will obtain what he asks, when he pleads that he died to procure it. He ascended into heaven with that body in which he suffered; and we may imagine, when he makes intercession, the prints of the nails in his feet, and in his hands, and of the spear in his side, silently and yet powerfully urge his pleas in our behalf."
Having made the above remarks on the subject of prayer, and spoken of the necessary aid of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, we pass to notice the different kinds of prayer. And first, we shall speak of
PRIVATE PRAYER. No duty is more clearly pointed out in the Scriptures than secret prayer; and more tendeth to greater prosperity in the service of our heavenly Master. Here in our helpless condition, we come to spread out our wants, and to implore the blessings of heaven, encouraged by the promise of a reward "openly." Says Jesus, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matt. vi, 5-7.
A writer, speaking of some of the advantages of secret prayer over social and public worship, says, "By praying in secret we give God the glory of his being every where present, and seeing and knowing all things. We acknowledge not only his general providence, as taking care of communities, but his particular providence, as watching over us individually. We express our faith in his presence, his power, and his love."
"The christian can also in secret give free vent to every desire; vary his requests according to the present state of his mind; or the present necessities of the day, or hour, in which he is living; he can dwell on his personal wants; and, in short, give full scope to his feelings, and pour out his whole soul before God."
"It is observed by Dr. Owen, that 'if a man of a carnal mind be brought into a large company, he will have much to do; if into a company of christians, he will feel little interest; if into a still smaller, engaged in religious exercises, he will feel still less; but if taken into a closet, and forced to meditate on God and eternity, this will be insupportable to him.' Man is evidently by nature averse to all communion with God. There is an enmity to be removed. Rom. viii, 7. And hence arises the necessity of a change of mind: of obtaining a spiritual mind, without which, spiritual truths and exercises can neither engage nor influence the heart. The man who possesses a spiritual mind, does, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, often find that closet retirement, which Dr. Owen states to be insupportable to the carnal mind, a real privilege."
Says one, "Prayer in secret is also considered by our Lord as forming a line of distinction between the christian and the mere professor. When we are constant in secret prayer, not as an act of self-righteousness, but from a feeling of necessity, and of its being both our duty and privilege, we may hope well of our sincerity and of our state before God. The effects of christian retirement, will appear in the sweet composure of the passions, the evenness and affability of the behaviour, the charitableness of the temper, and the purity and tranquility of the life. The retired violet, which hides itself in the shade, gives one of the sweetest scents; and the lowly christian, who is constant in secret prayer, diffuses a holy feeling, a heavenly atmosphere around him.",
"This blessed intercourse in secret raises the christian above anxiety about temporal things. A holy familiarity with his Maker, gives him a fixedness and serenity which nothing else can bestow, and hardly anything can discompose. It prepares him for all events, and fills him with a noble contempt for all the sinful pleasures and pursuits of a world lying in wickedness. It is like a sure anchor, which is unseen indeed above, but is safely fixed in solid ground, and though out of sight, keeps the vessel steadfast and secure amid the tumultuous waves and the stormy tempest."
"It makes us fruitful in every good work. 'I reckon it,' says Bennett, 'matter of common experience among good men, that they find themselves more or less disposed, and fit for their respective duties and services according as their diligence, constancy and seriousness in secret prayer, is more or less.' The root that produces the beautiful and flourishing tree, with all its spreading branches, verdant leaves, and refreshing fruit, that which gains for it sap, life, vigor, and fruitfulness, is all unseen; and the farther and the deeper the roots spread beneath, the more the tree expands above."
O, then christians, if you wish to enjoy the smiles of our heavenly Parent here, and desire an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord, be encouraged to faithfulness, remembering that every tear of godly sorrow shed in secret, will there be a brilliant gain in the crown of glory surrounding the brow of the overcomer. The christian's reward comes from the Father of infinite power, riches, wisdom, and love; and therefore cannot be a small reward, or an unsatisfactory position.
"But it must not be concealed, that there are PECULIAR DIFFICULTIES IN CONSTANT AND FERVENT SECRET PRAYER. We have many adversaries opposing us. We are by nature both reluctant to the duty, and utterly helpless and insufficient in ourselves. We can do nothing by our own strength; though we may do all things by Christ strengthening us. And besides the oppositions of a corrupt nature within, the temptations of the world without, continually draw and allure us from the practice of this duty. Our great enemy, Satan, also uses every temptation to keep us from secret prayer. Hence, though it is a most evident and needful, as well as profitable duty, yet it is one, which it is not easy with constancy and effect to fulfill. We do not find it so difficult to read the Bible, go to church, or hear sermons, as we do to persevere in constant, fervent and believing private prayer. 'It is easier,' says one, 'to hear a whole hour, than to pray a quarter of an hour.'"
But with the most profound reverence and holy awe, should we enter into audience with the Most High. "The consideration that the eye of God is upon us, that our heavenly Father is in secret, and there beholds us, should be continually on our minds as a motive for continual watchfulness, and a source of the greatest comfort. Thou God seest me, should be written on the walls of our closet, or, rather deeply engaven on our hearts. Before an earthly superior, we are careful and circumspect in all our expressions and actions; how careful then should we be when we approach unto one, who, though he is our Father, is yet the King of kings, and the Lord of lords! If an angel in all his heavenly brightness were to be with us, surely our hearts would feel awed by his glorious presence. How much more then should it affect us, and fill us with a holy fear to think, I am with God: he is present in the room with me, that God is now about me whose glory stains and sullies the beauty, and extinguishes the light of angels.",
"Rush not hastily, then, into the presence of God. Pause for a few moments. Meditate on his character. Consider his goodness: he is our Father; consider his greatness, he is in heaven."
"Recollect THE GLORIOUS MAJESTY OF THAT BEing whom you address. He is in heaven, and we are upon earth. It is with reflections of this kind, that David begins many of his Psalms. Thus he says in the 104th Psalm, 'O Lord, my God, thou art very great, thou art clothed with majesty and honor. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain, who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind.' These recollections of his majesty are calculated, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, to bring your mind to a state of solemnity and devotional feeling. But lest this view of his awful grandeur should discourage you,"
Recollect his wonderful grace and mercy. His blessed promises should encourage us to the throne of grace. "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him." Matt. vii, 7-11.
"What child, in a proper state of mind, will not willingly run to the arms of a tender father inviting it to come to him? It is our want of faith and love that makes our prayers a task and a burden. How often God invites us to pray; how much he promises, in order to encourage us to come to him with a holy boldness and confidence freely and unreservedly! We need not fear to ask, when God himself commands us to do so."