§. 34. Of Christs frequent praying.
THe act here applied to Christ, as he is our Priest, is thus expressed, a 1.1 When he had offered up. This is the interpretation of one Greek word, which in refe∣rence to things offered unto God, is proper to a Priest. Hereof see v. 1. §. 6.
The word is a Participle of the time past, to shew the efficacy of that which Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉: For it hath reference to Gods hearing Christ. Christ having offered up pray∣•…•… to God, God heard him.
The word translated b 1.2 prayers is derived from a c 1.3 Verb that signifieth to need, (Act. 17. 25.) and also to crave: For we use to crave the things which we need. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Noun is oft indefinitely used for any kinde of prayer, Phil. 1. 4. Sometimes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is distinguished from d 1.4 p•…•…tition for good things, and then it is put for deprecation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prayer for removing evil, as Act. 1. 14. Eph. 6. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 1. Our English, when it is thus distinguished, translates it supplication.
That which in generall is here intended is, that prayer was the means which* 1.5 Christ used for help in time of need. He herein verified the foresaid double signifi∣cation of the Greek word, which was to need and to ask.
The holy Ghost takes speciall notice of Christs frequent use of this duty, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his flesh, when he was compassed about with many infirmities, and stood in need of many things.
When Christ was first baptized he prayed, (Luke 3. 21.) Early in the morn∣ing* 1.6 before he went out to preach, he prayed, Mark 1. 35. He prayed all night, before he chose, and sent forth his Apostles, Luke 6. 12. After he had fed his bearers with his word in their souls, and with bread and fish in their bodies, and had sent them away, he went to a mountain to pray, Mark 6. 46. He prayed a little before he gave his Disciples the power of binding and loosing, Luke 9. 18. He prayed when he prescribed a form of prayer, Luke 11. 1. At the raising of Lazarus he prayed, Ioh. 11. 41. When he first began to be troubled in his soul, he prayed, Iohn 12. 27, 28. A solemn prayer of his is recorded, Iohn 17. In his great agony he prayed again and again, Matth. 26. 39, 42, 44. On the Crosse he prayed for his persecutors, (Luk. 23. 34.) and for himself, Luk. 23. 46. On sundry other occasions it is said that * 1.7 he lift up his eyes and looked unto heaven, which was an outward evidence of the prayer of his heart.
This Christ did,
- 1. In acknowledgement of his Father to be the fountain of all* 1.8 blessing.
- 2. To shew his prudent care and conscience in using warrantable means for ob∣taining what he desired, Matth. 7. 7.
- 3. To obtain a blessing upon what he had, 1 Tim. 4. 5.
- 4. To shew himself a worshipper of God, Psal. 95. 6.
- 5. To shew himself to be of the number of Gods people, who call upon God, Psal. 99 6. Act 9. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 22. Others call not upon God, Psal. 14. 4. Jer. 10 25.
- 6. To give evidence of the Spirit of grace and supplication in him, Zech. 12. 10.
- 7. To make himself an example to us, Ioh. 13. 15.
Of this duty of prayer, See The whole Armour of God, Treat. 3, Part, 1. on Eph. 6. 18. § 4, &c.