John 15:7

The third argument pressing the exhortation, (wherwith also the exhortation is repeated and further explained) is taken from the great advantage of accesse to God, and successe in prayer, if they be, and abide in him. Whence learn, 1. As the communion betwixt Christ and beleevers is very intimate; so they who have attained to it, need frequent up-stirring to persevere in it, not only to prove the reality of what they have thereby, and that by continuance they may reape the fruits of communion, which they will not finde at first, John 8.31, 32. But also because for the most part men are so ignorant of the way of constant employing of Christ in all things; so unwilling to deny themselves and depend; so ready to swell with conceit, if they have any thing for present; And so hotly assaulted with tentations, if their faces be toward Christ; and kept so poor and empty in themselves, in Christs deep wisdome, that they get not leave to run away from him; That they are every day ready to weary of this duty: Therefore it must be again recommended, that ye abide in me. 2. Albeit when a man hath fled to Christ, he may exercise him sharply, and permit him to be buffeted very sore; yet nothing doth warrant him to give over abiding in him, or to think that Christ will cast him off; for, whatever his dealing be, we are allowed to credit nothing to the prejudice of his Word, which still saith to such, Abide in me. 3. Such as do entertain communion with Christ, will not only be much conversant with his Word, but will study to have it deeply rooted and constantly setled in their heart, by faith, meditation and prayer; for, of such as abide in him, it is verified, my words abide in you. See Col. 3.16. 4. The way how such as have fled to Christ, to finde communion with him, ought to take him up and finde communion mutual, is, in and by the Word; for, on our part, when we are driven out of our selves to be found in him, our only recourse is not to seek to climbe up to heaven, or descend to the deep, but to lay hold on him in a word of promise, and to trust to it, whatever be the verdict of tentation, or sense or dispensations. And on his part; He is to be found in his Word, hid in our heart by faith, and being sought without his Word, he is sought without himself; and it is by his breathings on his Word laid up by faith in our hearts, that he sensibly evidenceth how near he is to us. Therefore, in place of his abiding in us, as the other branch of mutual communion, he puts the words abiding, to shew that he is to be found only in his Word, and that they who have the Word abiding in them by faith, have him abiding in it. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you. See Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. 5. As it is sense of need which driveth beleevers to Christ; so by their coming to him, their sense of need is not taken away, but rather augmented; their clearer light making greater discoveries, and enjoyments begetting much work and many errands; for, here it is supposed, if they abide in him, they will have yet more work for prayer. And indeed, it is by this means that he keeps them abiding in him, whereas otherwise they would be ready to run away. So that to grow in sense of need is not a mark of one wanting communion, but of the contrary. 6. Whatever be the wants and necessities of them who keep communion with Christ; yet abiding in Christ will breed them, that they can see no out-gate but by prayer, nor can they essay any other mean till first they go to God; for, Abiders in Christ are put to ask, and see the necessity and excellency of prayer. 7. As prayer is the only out-gate for abiders in Christ, so they are actual supplicants, and their keeping of communion promoveth prayer, the Spirit being a Spirit of prayer in them, and their keeping communion with him, making them delight to have many errands to him, that so they may be much in his company: for, of them it is said, ye shall ask. 8. Such as keep communion with Christ, will thereby finde a conformity promoved betwixt God and their will, in the matter of their desires; so that in so far as they are renewed and hold, communion with him, their unruly lusts will be subdued, and their unlawful desires, whether for matter, manner, or end, will be laid aside, and they will acquiesce in the good pleasure of God, and seek the most excellent things; Therefore it is offered here, Ask what ye will; Not that men are warranted to pray for what they will, or to expect an answer in whatsoever they desire; but that in so far as they abide in him, and his words abide in them, their wills will be limited in asking, by his Word and Will, and the Spirit in them will make intercession according to the Will of God, Rom. 8.26, 27. Though otherwise their unrenewed part will be debording, and when they interrupt their communion, lusts will make their prayers muddie. 9. Such as keep communion with Christ will not only see their wants, and be put to prayer, but they will have an high estimation of the answer of their prayers, as a thing they cannot want; for, it is an encouragement to them, that it shall be done unto them. 10. A right sense of need in supplicants, and a due estimation of the hope of audience, is an argument to move them to entertain communion with Christ, and not to go far from him, lest they misse their help when they have most need; for, it is an argument, strongly pressing them to abide in him, that what they ask, shall be done to them. See Mic. 7.7. 11. Such as, entertaining communion with Christ, do conforme their desires to his will, and present and prosecute them by prayer, though they were never so many, or difficult to compass; yet they shall get a good answer, and they, dwelling constantly in Christs bosome, shall finde it but a short step to go to God through him; and get audience in every particular need; for, ye shall ask, even, what ye will, and it shall be done to you. And albeit he may exercise supplicants for a time, for their good, yet they shall succeed at last, according to the tenour of the promise. See 1 Joh. 5.13, 14. Whereas the ill entertainment of communion makes us speed worse in our particular suits, even albeit the things desired be lawfull.