'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — January 6

Jesus appears before God for us—representing us continually before his Father—and mark: not only has Jesus this liberty to enter into heaven, but all the saints, and that not only at death but in their life time. All of us, not only when we die, but now we have boldness to enter. The veil is rent, and now we have the privilege to come freely to converse with God. O, what a great privilege is this, that we have a Father in heaven! Though we do not have personal access till death, yet by the blood of Jesus we may come with boldness, presenting ourselves before the Lord with all our needs and desires. The great distance between heaven and earth shall not hinder our communion with God, since we have a friend above. Therefore it is very comfortable now to say: 'Our Father in heaven', that is, our gracious and reconciled Father, in and by Christ. Since we have a Father in heaven, let us look up to heaven often. Let me especially press you to this with an eye of faith; look within the veil, and when you come to pray, see God in heaven, and Christ at his right hand. The great work of faith is to see him that is invisible, and the great duty of prayer is to get a sight of God in heaven, and Christ at his right hand. A child is never so well but when he is in his mother's lap or under his father's wing. So with us in the presence of God, and getting into the bosom of our heavenly Father. Love it for his sake. O, let us not forget our heavenly Father's house. As we draw home quickly, let us grow more heavenly-minded every day; and seek the things above. The reason man is so haunted with the world, and the things of a worldly interest and concern when he comes to prayer, is because his heart is taken up too much with these things.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Manton, Works, I:63-65
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