Gal. v. 13. Footnote 244: Matt. xv. 14. Footnote 245: Acts xvi. 3. Footnote 246: Gal. ii. 3. Footnote 247: 1 Cor. ix. 19, 20, 22. Footnote 248: Gal. ii. 3-5. Footnote 249: 1 Cor. x. 23, 24. Footnote 250: 1 Cor. iii. 2. Footnote 251: 1 Peter i. 18, 19. Footnote 252: Gal. v. 1, 4. Footnote 253: 1 Cor. vii. 23. Footnote 254: Rom. xiii. 1, 5. Footnote 255: Rom. ii. 15. Footnote 256: 1 Peter iii. 21. Footnote 257: Heb. x. 2. Footnote 258: 1 Tim. i. 5. Footnote 259: 1 Tim. i. 19. Footnote 260: Acts xxiv. 16. Footnote 261: 1 Cor. x. 28, 29. CHAPTER XX. ON PRAYER, THE PRINCIPAL EXERCISE OF FAITH, AND THE MEDIUM OF OUR DAILY RECEPTION OF DIVINE BLESSINGS. From the subjects already discussed, we clearly perceive how utterly destitute man is of every good, and in want of all the means of salvation. Wherefore, if he seek for relief in his necessities, he must go out of himself, and obtain it from some other quarter. It has been subsequently stated, that the Lord voluntarily and liberally manifests himself in his Christ, in whom he offers us all felicity instead of our misery, and opulence instead of our poverty; in whom he opens to our view the treasures of heaven, that our faith may be wholly engaged in the contemplation of his beloved Son, that all our expectation may depend upon him, and that in him all our hope may rest and be fully satisfied. This, indeed, is that secret and recondite philosophy, which cannot be extracted from syllogisms; but is well understood by those whose eyes God has opened, that in his light they may see light. But since we have been taught by faith to acknowledge, that whatever we want for the supply of our necessities is in God and our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom it has pleased the Father all the fulness of his bounty should dwell, that we may all draw from it, as from a most copious fountain, it remains for us to seek in him, and by prayers to implore of him, that which we have been informed resides in him. Otherwise to know God as the Lord and Giver of every good, who invites us to supplicate him, but neither to approach him nor to supplicate him, would be equally unprofitable, as for a man to neglect a treasure discovered to him buried in the earth. Wherefore the apostle, to show that true faith cannot but be engaged in calling upon God, has laid down this order—that, as faith is produced by the gospel, so by faith our hearts are brought to invoke the name of the Lord.[262] And this is the same as he had a little before said, that the “Spirit of adoption,” who seals the testimony of the gospel in our hearts, encourages our spirits, so that they venture to pour out their desires before God, excite “groanings that cannot be uttered,” and cry with confidence, “Abba, Father.”[263] This last subject, therefore, having been before only