The Sunday Sermon

The Magnificence of Prayer - Preface

by Alexander Whyte (1836-1921)

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 11 Verse 1

And so it was, that as he was praying in a certain

place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto

him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his

disciples.

The First Epistle General of Peter Chapter 2 Verse 9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood,

an holy nation, a people set at liberty, that ye

should show forth the virtues of him that hath called

you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

"I AM an apostle," said Paul, " I magnify mine office." And we also have an office. Our office is not the apostolic office, but Paul would be the first to say to us that our office is quite as magnificent as ever his office was. Let us, then, magnify our office. Let us magnify its magnificent opportunities ; its momentous duties ; and its incalculable and everlasting rewards. For our office is the " royal priesthood." ( Exodus 19:6; Hebrews 5:10; Deuteronomy 7:6; ) And we do not nearly enough magnify and exalt our royal priesthood. To be " kings and priests unto God" ( Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; )what a magnificent office is that! But then, we who hold that office are men of such small and such mean minds, our souls so decline and so cleave to this earth, that we never so much as attempt to rise to the height and the splendour of our magnificent office. If our minds were only enlarged and exalted at all up to our office, we would be found of God far oftener than we are, with our scepter in our hand, and with our mitre upon our head. If we magnified our office, as Paul magnified his office, we would achieve as magnificent results in our office as ever he achieved in his. The truth is, Paul’s magnificent results were achieved more in our office than in his own. It was because Paul added on the royal priesthood to the Gentile apostleship that he achieved such magnificent results in that apostleship... And, if we would but magnify our royal priesthood as Paul did it hath not entered into our hearts so much as to conceive what God hath prepared for those who properly perform their office, as Kings and Priests unto God. ( Isaiah 64:4; Isaiah 65:17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; )

Prayer is the magnificent office it is, because it is an office of such a magnificent kind. Magnificence is of many kinds, and magnificent things are more or less magnificent according to their kind. This great globe on which it strikes its roots and grows is magnificent in size when compared with that grain of mustard seed : but just because that grain of mustard seed is a seed and grows, that smallest of seeds is far greater than the great globe itself. ( Mark 4:31-32; )A bird on its summer branch is far greater than the great sun in whose warmth he builds and sings, because that bird has life and love and song, which the sun, with all his immensity of size, and with all his light and heat, has not. A cup of cold water only, given to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, is a far greater offering before God than thousands of rams, and ten thousands of rivers of oil; because there is charity in that cup of cold water. ( Micah 6:7-8; Mark 10:41; Matthew 10:42; Mark 12:41-44; Jeremiah 33:11; Hebrews 13:15; And an ejaculation, a sigh, a sob, a tear, a smile, a psalm, is far greater to God than all the oblations, and incense, and new moons, and Sabbaths, and calling of assemblies, and solemn meetings of Jerusalem, because repentance and faith and love and trust are in that sob and in that psalm. And the magnificence of all true prayer its nobility, its royalty, its absolute divinity all stand in this, that it is the greatest kind of act and office that man, or angel, can ever enter on and perform. Earth is at its very best, and heaven is at its very highest, when men and angels magnify their office of prayer and of praise before the throne of God. ( Revelation 7:15; Revelation 14:5; )