The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 53
CHAP. LIII. A third Duty, to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, preſſed.
(3) COme boldly to the Throne of Grace; as Children to a Father.
1 Under the Aſſurance of Gods love; this is eaſie. This will make a man talk with God face to face, as a man talketh with his friend, as it is ſaid of the familiarities that paſſed between God and Moſes. Exod. 33. 11. to commune with God, and draw nigh to plead with him, when others ſtand at a diſtance, as Abraham, Gen. 18. 22, 33.
2 We may, under that aſſurance, claim it as our priviledg. A Princes Son, when others are kept out by Officers and Guards, is admitted at all times, if any Guard ſtop him, he pleads the priviledg of his Relation, So though there be never ſo much darkneſſe, and fire, and terror round about God, that ſeems to guard his preſence from a Creatures approach, an aſſured Saint can ſay, Make way there, and let me come to my Father; guards are appointed to exclude ſtrangers, not ſons.
3. God expects and requires we ſhould come with boldneſſe to his Throne, Hebr. 4. 16. Let us come boldly, foreign, taking liberty to ſpeak any thing; ſo the word ſignifies in the Original. Not ſimply, any thing, quicquid in buccam, for Solomon cautions us againſt that, Eccleſ. 5 1. (as is aboveſaid) but any thing that becomes the reverential duty and honour that we owe to God as to a Father. A child may ſay any thing to a father, that is, that becomes a child to ſpeak, or a Father to hear. Beſides, he may ſpeak without fear of being made an Offender for a miſplaced word, for a fault of circumſtance, as other ſtrangers are.
Nay, when God doth not hear the Saints voice (as many times when they are under ſome preſſures that over-burthen them, he may not.) How he calls for them, and invites them to ſpeak, Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove, let me hear thy voice, for thy voice is ſweet; q. d. I wonder I heare not from ſuch or ſuch a child of mine. It may bee my little child thinks I cannot away with broken language, the language of a troubled ſpirit. O, yes, the broken and ſtammering tongue of a child is ſweet. It is a mighty encouragement to boldneſſe; that a man cannot be more bold then he is welcome.
4 This is the purchaſe of Chriſts blood. We have foreign, this bold liberty of ſpeech, through the blood of Jeſus, Heb. 10. 19. We may draw nigh (which is an action importing confidence, when we have to do with our betters) but upon what account? Upon the account of Chriſts bloud, when ſtrangers muſt ſtand off, and keep diſtance. Epheſ. 2. 13. And it is the fruit of his Interceſſion. Therefore Heb. 10. 22. we are bid to draw neer in full Aſſurance of faith, that God wil not bid us depart his preſence, or ſtand further off, and the ground of this boldneſs is the purchaſe, and interceſſion of Chriſt, v. 20, 21.
Hee that hath made his way by an acceptable preſent, or hath the protection of ſome honourable and acceptable Courtier, will draw nigh and preſent a Petition to an earthly Prince, with confidence. God never received a preſent that he was more delighted with, then the active and paſſive obedience of his Son, nor can wee come to God under the wing of a more powerful Advocate. On this laſt Head I could enlarge abundantly. As by repreſenting to you,
The dearneſſe of this Son to God. He is his beloved Son, Mat. 3. ult. in whom his heart is at reſt.
The infinite value of his obedience; which we plead; in proportion whereunto, the things we ask are leſſe then nothing. Hee offered that to God, which by the merit of its worth, might have ſufficed to purchaſe infinitely beyond what 'tis poſſible for us to enjoy.
The earneſtneſſe, ſenſibleneſs, importunity authority, (if I may ſo ſpeak with reverence, of his Interceſſion.
See the former, Hebr. 4. 14, 15. and 2. 17, 18.
The latter, John 17. 24. There are, in a ſort, Verba Imperatoria, words of command (ſhall I ſay?) Father I will, that thoſe whom thou haſt given me, be where I am.
5 The Spirit of God is the Framer of our Petitions, and we may then be bold to preſent them, becauſe he makes Interceſſion according to the will of God
If a skilful Lawyer frame a Petition for a man, and put every word in its place, a man will be more emboldned to preſent it, then if it were his own compoſure. Rom. 8. 26▪ 27
6 'Tis for Gods diſhonour when his children come ſneakingly and puſillanimouſly to the Throne of Grace. If a man ſhould ſee a Father, that his children did ſcarce dare to ſpeak to, but in a mumbling, tremulous manner, would he not have cauſe to look upon him, as a cruel tyrannical father, unreaſonably ſevere to his children?