The Advocate with the Father.
By W. C. Gage
"PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire."
THUS saith the poet. But, alas! how many prayers we hear which seem to contain no desire and no sincerity. Oh, that Christians would realize the nature of prayer as it really is, and the blessed privilege we enjoy of coming to the throne of grace by means of the "Advocate." Just think for a moment what would be our condition if we were deprived of this boon. We are left here in a world of sin, pitifully weak mortals, in constant danger of going astray and violating God's law. By its transgression we incur the penalty of death, and how can we escape it? God in infinite mercy, has provided a way for "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father." Thus the load of guilt and sin may be removed, and the Christian experience the joys of sins forgiven. Were it not for prayer the conscience would become overwhelmingly burdened with accumulating guilt, or else become so hardened that its office would cease and sin lose its enormity. In view of the priceless privilege we may enjoy, does it not become us to study carefully the matter and manner of our prayers, that we may approach the throne with "reverence and godly fear." How often have we been shocked to see men with unbended knees take the name of the Lord (I had almost said in vain) into their lips as though he were but an equal. If we realize even in a slight degree, the difference between the creature and the Creator, and our dependence upon an independent God, we shall come in the "depths of humility." We should also consider whom we are to address. If we have transgressed the Father's commandments we should seek forgiveness of Him. If we wish for temporal or spiritual blessings, to whom should we go except to the giver of those blessings? We have heard long prayers, every word of which was addressed to Christ as the hearer and answerer of prayer. Such prayers may do for those who believe that the Law of God is abrogated and the "commandments of Christ" substituted in their stead, but for those who believe in "repentance toward God and faith in his Son" it seems more appropriate to come to God through the "advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," ever remembering that "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath;"
"Restraining prayer, we cease to fight."