EPC Australia

Though "one" of the disciples only said this, we have no reason to think the rest differed from him in sentiment. He was the mouth for them all. When our Lord said to the twelve, Will ye also go away? Peter answered — but it was in the name of his brethren, and expressed the conviction of each of them — "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." It is very probable he was the speaker here, for his heart was always very near his lips. But whoever the speaker was, every thing here was praiseworthy.

I admire his decorum. Some are satisfied with the moralities of conduct; but there are the proprieties too, and these are not to be overlooked. "Let every thing be done," says the Scripture, "decently, and in order." This should be peculiarly the case in our holy assemblies. Let us guard against every thing that is unseemly and disturbing. Let us avoid coughing as much as we can. Let us not look and stare all over the house of God. Let us not talk or whisper. Let us beware of coming in during the service. How painful and injurious is it to the preacher and worshipper to be interrupted and diverted in those sacred moments in which we ought to attend on the Lord without distraction. Observe these disciples. They surrounded our Saviour while he was engaged, but with breathless silence, and did not break in upon his devotion, but waited till he had "ceased praying."

I admire his emulation. Having heard his Master, he began to say, Well, this is prayer. What dignity, what wisdom, what reverence, what submission, what fervour are here! According to this, we have never prayed yet. Lord, teach us to pray. Indeed, the more we attend on him in any thing, the less shall we think of ourselves. The beams of this Sun will soon darken our tapers.

I admire his wish to resemble what he so much admired. We should always endeavour to improve by the superior endowments and excellences of others. These should not excite envy, or yield discouragement, but excite to imitation. What others are, they are by grace; and when we see how any of our fellow-Christians bear prosperity, or endure affliction, or fill up their stations, we should be anxious to follow them, even as they follow Christ.

I admire his spiritual wisdom. Some wish to resemble others in worldly possessions, or bodily qualities, or mental endowments and acquisitions. But it is better to resemble them in grace, than in any of these. Many would rule, or compose, or speak like others; but the thing is, to pray like them. It is by prayer we hold communion with God. It is by this we unlock all his treasures. He that knows how to pray, has the secret of safety in prosperity, and of support in trouble. He has the art of overruling every enemy, and of turning every loss into a gain. He has the power of soothing every care, of subduing every passion, of adding a relish to every enjoyment; the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof, than much fine gold. Many things are good for me, but none so good as to draw nigh to God.

I admire his humility. He is convinced that they are not sufficient of themselves for the duty, but need Divine aid. We want instruction in every thing. The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps; but we peculiarly need guidance here. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, says the Apostle, for we know not what to pray for as we ought. The best of men have erred in their prayer. Take my life from me, says Elijah, in the very midst of his usefulness. I beseech Thee, says Moses, show me thy glory. You ask for death, says God; for no man can see me, and live. "James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying. Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them. What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them. Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" What would children be — how miserable, how useless, what burdens to themselves, and what plagues to others, if they had whatsoever they desired! As to temporal blessings, it is hard to distinguish between our real and our imaginary wants, and between what is pleasing, and what is profitable. And even as to spiritual things, we never see their beauty and glory, so as to desire them supremely, till the Lord teaches us to profit. Nor do we know of ourselves how to come before the Lord, and deal concerning them. Under a sense of guilt, and a concern to obtain acceptance, what strange expedients do we often adopt, and what a self-righteous traffic do we carry on, before we come to the blood of sprinkling, and make mention of his righteousness only! We may also err, as to our end and aim. We often ask, and receive not, because we ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts.

"An easy thing to pray!" Who that has made the trial, and is concerned for the result of it, but exclaims, with Elihu, "Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness," or, with the disciples, "Lord, teach us to pray?"

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay