From this Encouragement

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that 
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 
                                          Hebrew 4:16

1.  From this encouragement, he draweth another direction, to come
boldly to God in prayer for everything whereof we stand in need.
Then, the Apostle alloweth unto the believer,  1.  Certain persuasion
of the acceptation of his person: he biddeth him Come boldly.  2.  He
alloweth certain persuasion of the granting of his prayers, in the matter
namely of grace and mercy; which includeth the remission of sins.
    
2.  The Throne of Grace, or the Mercy Seat, was above the ark,
within the Sanctuary, and represented God in Christ reconciled to His
people, gracious and merciful unto them.  To this he alludeth, and by
this means teacheth us, 1.  That the substance of that typical Mercy Seat,
is to be found in Christ under the Gospel.  In Him God is ever to be found,
on His Throne of Grace, 2.  That the veil of the ceremonial Sanctuary, is
rent in Christ’s suffering, and an open door made unto the Holiest, unto
every believer, and not for the Highest alone, to enter in, 3.  That God
layeth aside His terror and rigor of justice, when His own come unto
Him in Christ, and offereth access unto the Throne of Grace, unto them.

3.  He will have us coming with boldness to obtain Mercy, including
himself with the faithful, and joining the meanest of the faithful to whom
he writeth in the same privilege with himself.  Then, 1.  Free liberty to
expound all our mind to God, as the word importeth, without employing
the mediation of saint or angel, or any beside Christ, is one of the
privileges of Christian religion.  2.  This privilege is common to the meanest
of the faithful, with the chiefest Apostles.  3.  There is mercy to be had
for such as come for removing of every sin, and remedy of every misery.

4.  He setteth before them the hope of Grace, to help in time of need. 
Importing Hereby, 1.  That albeit, for the present, possibly, we be not
touched with the sense of Wants, Straights, and Difficulties, yet we are to
expect, that time of need will come.  2.  That it is good to foresee this,
and make provision, in the time of Grace, in this acceptable Day, while
God is on His Throne of Grace.  3.  That our prayers, if they get not
an answer presently, yet shall they get an answer in the time of need.
When our need cometh, then shall our Help come also.
                                                           David Dickson

Can Apply One Promise

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, 
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.     
                                Hebrews 13:6

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can 
man do unto me?     
                                                 Psalms 118:6

.....1.  He that can apply one promise to himself, may
confidently apply another also.  2. The weakest true
Believer, hath as good ground of confidence in GOD,
for every good, needful for Soul or body, as the LORD'S
chief Prophets, and as good Warrant to apply the Scriptures,
to their own use, which speak of them.  3.  He who believeth
in GOD, needeth not to fear what flesh can do unto him.
4.  Faith, then, doeth its part duly when it glorieth in                    
the LORD, against all opposition.
                                                        David Dickson

Give Them You!

The Christians Walls are His Prayers

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven 
and earth.
                                                  Psalms 124:8

The Romans in a great distress were put so hard to it, that they
were fain to take the weapons out of the temples of their gods
to fight with them; andso they overcame.  And this ought to be
the course of every good Christian, in times of public distress,
to fly to the weapons of the church, prayers and tears.  The
Spartans walls were their spears, the Christians walls are
his prayers.  His help standeth in the name of the Lord who
hath made both heaven and earth.
                                              Edmund Calamy

It is Sweet Being in His Presence

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, 
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                    Psalms 84:10

Another sign of God’s children is, to delight to be much in God’s
presence.  Children are to be in the presence of their father;
where the King is, there is the court; where the presence of God
is, there is heaven.  God is in a special manner present in his
ordinances, they are the Ark of his presence.  Now, if we are
his children, we love to be much in holy duties.  In the use of
ordinances we draw near to God, we come into our Father’s
presence; in prayer we have secret conference with God; the
soul while it is praying, is as it were parlying with God.  In the
word we hear God speaking from heaven to us; and how doth
every child of God delight to hear his Father’s voice!  In the
sacrament God kisseth his children with the kisses of his lips;
he gives them a smile of his face, and a privy-seal of his love:
oh, it is good to draw near to God.  It is sweet being in his
presence: every true child of God saith, “A day in thy courts is
better than a thousand!”
                                                            Thomas Watson

Standing on the Promises

One Day

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had 
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than 
to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                     Psalms 84:10

The least good look that a man hath from God, and the least
good word that a man hears from God, and the least love letter
and love token that a man receives from God, is exceedingly
precious to that man that hath God for his portion. “One day in 
thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.”  He doth not
say, One year in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere,
but One day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere;
nor doth he say, One quarter of a year in thy courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere, but “One day in thy courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere”; nor doth he say, One month is better
than a thousand elsewhere, but “One day in thy courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere,” to shew that the very least of God
is exceeding precious to a gracious soul that hath God for his portion.
                                                             Thomas Brooks