do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

HITHERTO, the apostle Paul has described in this Epistle, the office of the ministry which the Gospel in the New Testament sets forth. And he presents to our view in the most sublime and exalted language, what an ocean of benefit, of power, of wisdom, yea of all blessings, that office brings unto us: namely, that God by this ministry sheds upon us copiously all wisdom and power, and all that good which he hath in abundance, both in heaven and in earth. For the Gospel proclaims unto us life from death, righteousness and freedom from sin, deliverance from hell and every evil, and translates out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. Which things are so great, that Paul cannot find words to describe them; and he speaks of them in language so sublime, that expressions more exalted could not be used. And then, to all this he adds, as it were, a certain concluding climax; praying, that all these great things may not be preached and be brought to the external hearing and judgment only, but may reach to the heart also, and may work in the internal recesses of the mind in the same way as their external sound reaches the ear. For, it is of little service that they be taught by the sounding voice only, and be heard by the ear, if they do not enter into the heart and break forth into works. The kingdom of God, as Paul saith, standeth "not in word but in power." For all these things ought internally to be believed in the heart, and that faith ought to exercise itself externally in love, so that the whole may be power and not word, life and not talk! These things were so ordained, that the word might not rest on the tongue and in the ears only, but become power, and that works might proceed from it. In the Old Testament also Moses said many things in words, but no one did the works. But here, we are to say little, and work much. Hence it is, that Paul here prays, that the Gos

pel may not be preached in vain, but may accomplish that for which it is preached.

Behold! what a pillar Paul is to Christianity, and what an example and rule he gives, especially to ministers themselves, for the way of building up the church! We rashly commit the matter to the mercy of the winds. For as soon as we have heard the Gospel and have learnt to talk a great deal about it, we think that it is sufficient, nor do we suffer this our coldly conceived knowledge to proceed any farther, so as to go forth into works also. And most certainly our great deficiency is here:-we do not continue instantly in fervent prayer. Whereas, it becomes us to ply continually the ears of God, to groan to him day and night, and to entreat him to give efficacy to his Word, that it might operate on the heart! as David saith, Ps. lxviii., "Lo, God will give power unto his voice, which he sendeth forth. And this ought to be the great concern, not only of all preachers of the Gospel, but also of all Christians: and for the attainment of this, there should be continual prayer, that God, who has given us the knowledge, would also grant us the power; in order that, his Word may not only rest upon our lips, but be brought to "effectual working." For this is now every where the great complaint, that there is a plenty of preachers but no effectual workmen. Nay, on the contrary, the hearers of the word are rendered so frigid, lifeless, and dead, that, to their shame be it spoken, they are less inclined to diligence now than they were before; and that too, when so great and so clear a light has risen upon us, that if we be not blinder than moles, we may all sce what is good and what is evil throughout the whole world. Wherefore, we have more than an abundant cause for betaking ourselves to prayer, as Paul does here; where he says, 'You have now an abundance of blessings, and the Word is poured upon you as a flowing torrent; which is so preached to you, that it is set as meat immediately before you. "For this cause, I bow my knees," that God would accompany it with his blessing, and would have respect unto his glory and

honour; and that he would strengthen and confirm you, that the Word may beget in you in due time, as in fruitful trees, fruits meet for Christians.

And here observe how he prayed. He adapts the gesture of his body to his prayer. And although those gestures which are made outwardly, are mere hypocrisy when they are alone, yet nevertheless where the prayer is true and lit up from the fire within, where necessity is the chief thing that urges, then the gestures of body given unto us are good, and, through the word, make an impression upon the people. By this also, we are ourselves inflamed, and bow our knees and pray for them who have heard the Word. Wherefore, as soon as the Word is lit up in the heart, and burns, the body will rightly form itself unto it by the lifting up of the eyes and hands, and the bowing of the knees, and there will be no need of any care to form the gestures. This is how Moses, and David in his psaltery, prayed. When thou hast thus prepared thyself; that is, when thou prayest out of a fervent heart, the external gestures will come of their own accord, for the spirit will press them forth. Wherefore, they are not altogether to be banished from prayer, excepting when they are performed without the Spirit from mere hypocrisy, as though we thought by them, as a meritorious work, to gain the hearing of God, when the heart is not engaged in them as the Prophet saith, Isaiah xxvi., "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."

Paul saith, moreover, I bow my knees "unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." And thus I have always taught you, that no one should ever attempt to speak any thing, or pray at all before God, unless he approach him under that name that Paul here does: namely, as "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." For Christ is our only mediator, and no one can approach, pray to, or be heard by the Father, but he who comes unto him in the name of the Mediator, acknowledging him as his Lord, and as being given unto us of God that he might intercede for us, and might rule both our body and our soul. The prayer that is thus offered up, is ef

fectual prayer. But it is no easy matter to enter into this sweet name, and to conceive in our minds of God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is a word full of consolation that Christ is our Lord. But we have made him a cruel one, by imagining to ourselves that he is a rigid and angry judge, holding in his hand a sword, sitting in heaven with a terrible countenance, and threatening to hurl his bolt at our heads. Whereas, the very end for which he rules over us, is, that he might defend us from the assaults of other lords and tyrants, that is, of the devil, the prince of this world, of death and sin, and of all other evils that threaten us. For we are his peculiar property. He, therefore, will take us under his care, will make us better and better, and will preserve us safe from all peril and tyranny. Wherefore, that name is sweet unto us and replete with much consolation, rendering the conscience peaceable in them that believe.

And this brings with it a consolation above all the most abundant-that my God and my Lord is a Father. From which name, there shines and bursts forth all divinity: so that, whatever I can desire in that name is given unto me. This name is full of pure help and grace: for, as a Father, God will put me in possession of all things temporal and eternal. Paul saith, moreover, that he is not only Father, but a true Father, and above all that is called father both in heaven and in earth. The fathers which we have upon earth, are fathers who have begotten us according to flesh and blood. And they also are accounted fathers whom we call so from their age, or by way of honour: for every one does right in calling his aged master, father, as we see the servants mentioned in the book of Kings did. Paul therefore would here say, that whatever is called father upon earth, is only a mere shadow and faint representation when compared with this Father. But reason can never see this, nor can any one conceive it in his heart, unless the Holy Spirit work it there. This, indeed, reason can do,-it can call God a horrible and angry judge, who makes the world and all hell so narrow

unto it, that it knows not at all where to abide. Nay it is impossible unto nature to call God from its heart, Father! Much less can it account him a Father transcendantly above all that is in heaven and earth, in comparison of whom all other fathers are but the faintest shadows.

And now, consider how a father carries himself toward a son, and a son toward a father. For although a man may not be a father in natural affection, yet the very name carries in its signification so much confidence, refuge, and comfort, that nothing but good seems to be included in it. If, therefore, the affection and favour which earthly fathers bear towards their children, is but a faint representation and shadow, what must this heavenly Father be who is infinitely above all fathers! Paul, therefore, would take us by the hand as children in leading-strings, (according to the German proverb,) and teach us how to walk; that from this natural confidence of children in their parents, we may form a conception of what God is as a Father, and what we ought in hope to expect from him. He who knows how to get his heart away from its natural opinion of God, and also from himself, in this manner, and can conceive such an opinion of, and confidence in God, as to be emboldened to address him from his heart, Thou art my only beloved Father!' What, I pray you, would he be afraid to ask of him! and, what could God on the other hand deny him! Such an one's own heart would tell him, that whatever he should ask would be done! Of such efficacy is this firm hope and confidence of heart! And so assured is it, that it never shall have a denial of that, for which it may approach to ask! Behold! In this way it is we are taught how the heavens are to be broken open, that we may meditate upon God as there concealed, and view him in his real character!

In the same way also Paul is persuaded, that what he prays for is well-pleasing unto God, and shall be done and if we were to follow his example, and do as he did, without doubt we also should be heard. And although there are still some holy men who ply the ears of