We have been applied to by two correspondents, “A young Christian,” and “Faint yet pursuing,” for counsel in reference to the same point, namely, as to the rightness of addressing prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe there is a simplicity and an ease in the way of the Spirit of God, in reference to such matters, that would tend to relieve the heart of all difficulty. We know that “The Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God;” and hence, when we address any One of the Divine Trinity in unity, we are addressing God.
This is simple enough. Properly speaking, we have access to the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do; that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-1413And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13‑14)). Again, “In that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” “At that day ye shall ask in My name” (John 16:23-24, 2623And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23‑24)
26At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: (John 16:26)). In Acts 7 we find Stephen addressing the Lord Jesus, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)). We feel quite assured, that when one is praying in the Spirit, he will be in full harmony with the divine mind in reference to this and every other point; and a cold accuracy, without the Spirit, is little worth.