fome flender affiftance only to render the conqueft more eafy; this may provoke him to leave us in the hands of our enemies, till, by fome fatal overthrow, we are brought to a thorough conviction of our impotence; for " he refifteth the proud, and "giveth grace only to the humble: the "hungry are filled with good things, but "the rich are fent empty away."

On the other hand, fhould we either queftion his willingness or ability to help us, would not this be to caft upon him vile dishonour, after all the illuftrious proofs he hath given us, both of his love and faving power?" He that fpared not his own "Son, but delivered him up for us all; "how fhall he not with him alfo freely give, "us all things?"

Let us therefore, under a deep sense of our depravity and weakness, humbly and importunately cry to God, that he may deliver us from the oppreffion of our tyrannical lufts; and thefe cries of the oppreffed fhall " enter into the ears of the "Lord of Sabaoth."-At the fame time, let us harbour no difhonourable fufpicions

either of his mercy, or of his power: "We have a great High-priest, who is paf"fed into the heavens, Jefus the Son of "God, who now appears in the presence " of God for us. Having therefore bold"ness to enter into the holiest by the blood "of Jefus, by a new and living way, which " he hath confecrated for us through the “vail, that is to say, his flesh; and having

66

a High-priest who is touched with the feelsing of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are; let us come "boldly to the throne of grace, that we 66 may obtain mercy, and find grace to help

" in time of need.”

If we thus afk, we fhall certainly receive: The great Captain of our falvation, whofe grace is fufficient for all his people, will not only keep us back from presumptuous fins, but in due time he will bruife Satan underneath our feet, and " grant unto us ❝ to fit with him in his throne, even as he "alfo overcame, and is fet down with the "Father in his throne.' Let me only

add, in the

Third and last place, That our prayers to

God

God for restraining grace, must be accompanied with our own moft vigorous efforts to refift all temptations to prefumptuous fins, otherwise they shall not be accepted.

God will fo do his work, as that we fhall do ours likewife; for "God's working in

us to will and do," instead of fuperfeding the neceffity of our own endeavours, is urged in fcripture as a motive and encouragement, to make us "work out our " own falvation with fear and trembling." Prayer is not only an acknowledgement of our dependence upon God for the things we afk, but it likewife imports a refolution on our part, to ufe all proper means for obtaining them; and the vigour of our endeavours is the beft proof of our fincerity. Should a person who is just now praying, "Lead me not into temptation," rife immediately from his knees, and go forth to invite, or even to meet a temptation, who could believe that fuch a man was in earneft? Let us be doing, and then we may, with greater confidence, both afk the divine aid, and hope to obtain it. humble dependence upon God,

If, in a

we faith

fully

:

1

fully employ the strength we have, more fhall be added to us as our neceffities require "For to him that hath fhall be gi66 ven. They that wait upon the Lord "fhall renew their strength, they fhall mount up with wings as eagles, they fhall run and not be weary, they shall walk "and not faint.-Wait therefore on the "Lord be of good courage, and he shall ftrengthen thine heart: wait, I fay, on the "Lord." Amen.

SER

Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof.

HE facrifice of the wicked is an

"THE

abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight." It is the heart of the worshipper which God principally regards; if that be wrong, external homage is only "vain oblation," which can never afcend to his throne with acceptance. Happy were it for us, had we a juft impreffion of this interesting truth; but many, alas! are too apt to impose upon themselves. Instead of afpiring to that inward purity which is neceffary to qualify them for communion with God, they feem to have no higher aim, than to lull confcience afleep by the practice of fome cheap