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precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him," Psa. cxxvi. 5, 6.

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth," Eccl. xi. 1, 2. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that," Eccl. xi. 6.

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They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever," Dan. xii. 3.

Lord, I beseech thee, guide me; teach me, and incline my whole heart to thyself. Then I will go through floods and flames for thee! Thou, O Lord, knowest my path, and art acquainted with the devious circumstances in which I now stand. Uphold my footsteps; let me not slip. Hold me by thy right hand. Let me not speak unadvisedly with my lips. Let me not, in word or in deed, give the foe an advantage. In this business stretch forth the right hand of thy power in my defence, and bruise the serpent's head, and let mine head be lifted up above mine enemies that are round about, and these trials raise me higher above the world; unite me more to thy sacred service, and let me, from this time, be more victorious over every foe, for thy name's sake. Amen.

Lord, I am opposed in thy great work by enemies without, by ungodly and unbelieving

persons; and whilst called to pass onward through them in steady perseverance, I am retarded by corruption within, heavy with unbelief, cast down because of these things. I hunger and thirst after thee, for grace to overcome, to press onward. Holy Spirit, apply these thy promises with power to my soul, I beseech thee, for thine own sake.

"If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day and the Lord shall guide thee continually." Lord, I do believe it; help thou mine unbelief! Remove from my judgment error and perplexity; soften my unkind temper; take away my impatient asperity; destroy my uncharitableness. Oh, give me meekness, humility, patience, forbearance, lowliness of mind, willing always to take the lowest place, that I be prepared to go forward in thy name, with increasing success in thy great work, seeking to bring sinners to thee! "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness," Isa. xli. 10. Lord, I have infinite support, peculiar and especial ground of certain hope, because I have not only faith in thy promises of truth as respects the future, but long years of past experience have proved my interest in thee, thy free favour, love, and grace to me. As to the present, nay, both present and continued grace, which I now desire, and need to be replenished with, it is sure, as this thy word tells: "Thou shalt increase my great

ness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee, even thy truth, O my God, O thou Holy One of Israel," Psa. lxxi. 21, 22. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved," Psa. lv. 22.

This promise, O Lord of prayer, and its fulfilment, is at this moment adapted to the circumstance to which thou appliest it. I embrace it with joy. "Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways," Job xxii. 27, 28.

"There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee," Acts xxvii. 23, 24. Here was an abundant recompence. Well might St. Paul be ever joyful and full of hope. Give me such support, I pray thee, O my Father.

Decision-Singleness of heart towards God, and independence on man in purpose and

actions.

"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ," Col. iii. 23, 24.

Happy shall I be, O my God, to obtain grace of thee to carry forward this great principle in whatever I am called to undertake for thee.

Impart freely unto me that grace, I beseech thee. Ah, how I detest the hypocrisy, the fear of man, on the one hand, and the love of human favour on the other, which taint and corrupt what looks outwardly like good works. Wash, cleanse me, and cleanse all I do, both in purpose and in deed, I beseech thee, in thy precious blood. Give me that high principle, that strength of purpose, that independence on man for favour or approbation, and that power of love towards thee, which, coming from thee, will seek thy glory in doing thy will below, in patient hope and strong faith, until I enter on thy glorious work above, for Christ's sake.

Saul

Samuel was grieved at the falsehood of Saul, who, seeking to retain the name of a righteous man, was in heart clinging to the world. did not obey the commandment of the Lord, but consulted his own heart. Such did not Samuel; he dealt with Agag, as I desire for grace to conquer and cut down every foe in my evil heart that would stand between me and my God.

When human judgment, prejudice, or any feeling, or motive, or principle would forbid my simple and strict observance of thy will, O my God, may I give it no quarter, no indulgence, but with unhesitating obedience follow thy commandment. When pretended and deceitful human feeling would say, This is unkind, and That is uncharitable, may it be regarded by me with deaf ear and resolute heart to turn away when thy word says the contrary to it, and, like Samuel, obey God rather than men. "Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the

bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord," 1 Sam. xv. 32, 33.

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