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and hence his desire is kept awake, his improvement is sure. Apply this to the subject in hand: our spiritual wants are numerous, and urgent; the more deeply we are affected with a sense of them, the more earnest shall we be to have them supplied; the more importunate and fervent will be our prayers.-Christ teaches to pray,

3. By strengthening our faith in Divine Promises. —These are at once the encouragement and the best guide of prayer. We ask with confidence in such degree as we are satisfied that what we ask for is promised; and in such degree as we believe that God will do for us as he hath said. That is an interesting plea of the Psalmist's; "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." His hope in the Divine word was of God. It was God who, by his Spirit, had wrought in him. "the work of faith with power:" and you perceive its effects. It stirred him up to pray and to plead "Remember the word unto thy servant. God is mindful of his own word.

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Truly

Here the believer

rests; he is satisfied that "he is faithful who hath

promised, who also will do it."

That man is taught who has learned in

by the Spirit of Christ to pray, humble faith to plead ; and while he pleads, to "hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."Christ teaches to pray,

4. By instructing us in the great utility of his own mediation. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus *.". He himself assures us; "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." And the testimony of the

* 1 Tim. ii. 5.

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Apostle is the same; Through him we have an access by one Spirit unto the Father *." It is not enough at the close of prayer to mention the name of Jesus, and to ask for blessings for his sake; in the whole of your addresses to God, bear in mind, as much as possible, the mediation of his dear Son; what he hath done and suffered to procure your access to the Father, and your acceptance with him. We have, indeed, "an Advocate with the Father." And who is this Advocate? "Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." In the form of prayer which follows the text, the mediation of Christ is not mentioned; nor would it have been prudent, at that time, explicitly to have named it he was, however, sufficiently clear on the subject before he left the world. He said, "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.”— The Lord Jesus teaches to pray,

5. By increasing our pleasure and delight in the duty.-Prayer was never appointed as an irksome task it is our own fault if it be such. Then have we real pleasure and delight when the heart is at liberty and enlarged; when faith is in vigorous exercise; when secret fellowship with the Father, and with the Son, is enjoyed. The best men have been most in their element when nearest "the Throne of Grace" they have spent their happiest hours in converse with their God, and in waiting at his footstool. Do you ask which is the place where the memory of a good man lingers with fondest delight? Jacob will answer it was his Bethel, the house of God,

* John xiv. 16; Ephes. ii, 18.

where he stood at the gate of heaven it was his Peniel, where he wrestled all night with God, wept, and made supplication, and prevailed. The lively Christian will reply, he loves the sanctuary of the Lord, where he has beheld his beauty; where he has witnessed his power and his glory. He loves his closet, the place of his devotional retirement. And why? He is left alone, yet he is not alone, for the Father is with him.

Yes, the access which a believer has to his God is intimate and close: he feels the honour of this, as men glory in being closeted with a king. He is admitted into the presence-chamber of the Majesty of Heaven; and, by the Spirit of adoption, calls him "Father." He comes even to his seat: he orders his cause before him, and fills his mouth with arguments. He says, and no wonder that such is his language," It is good for me to draw near to God."

Thus it is that the Lord Jesus, by his Spirit, teaches us to pray: he convinces us more clearly of the necessity of the duty: he gives us more impressive views of our wants: he strengthens our faith in Divine promises he instructs us in the great utility of his own mediation he increases our pleasure and delight in the exercise. May each of May each of you know this in your happy experience! May you grow in this knowledge, and in all its blessed effects!

We shall close with a few words.

1. To prayerless persons.-There are such who attend the preaching of the Gospel, and who live. in families of religious order. Your privileges are great, but they are not improved; the blessings of which you hear are inestimable, but they are secretly

despised. And what think you would be the result? Living "without God in the world," you live "without hope;" and thus destitute, you must expect to die, and be overwhelmed in the blackness of despair! You are acting, and in a degree you are sensible of it, not only opposite to the Bible, but contrary to every dictate of reason and of conscience; and can you be happy under this conviction? Impossible! As often as you reflect on your prayerless, Christless condition, you must feel inward stings of guilt, and a secret dread of the most fearful consequences. From this hour may you be roused to serious thoughtfulness, and engaged in humble, earnest supplication!

2. A few words to formal professors. And there are many who imagine they do not live without prayer, but whose prayers have no meaning: their words are mere lip-service; they are repeated without the least emotion.-You, to quiet conscience, and to raise a vain hope of heaven, may now and then repeat what "the you call " your prayers:" you may run over Lord's Prayer," and perhaps other forms, which

your

parents taught you when children: but what of this? Your heart feels not; your soul is not engaged! It may be you appear devout in a place of public worship; but it is merely to be seen of men: there is no true devotion of spirit. And "what will you do in the day of visitation," when your Judge shall pronounce you "hypocrites;" when the mask shall be torn off before an assembled world; when that dis

mal sentence shall be denounced, " Depart from me, I never knew you ?"-My fellow-professors, after having associated with the "sons of Zion," how will you endure to be put away "with the wicked as

dross; to be gathered with impenitent sinners, and cast into utter darkness? Surely the more profligate that have perished will exclaim, on the sight of you--"Art thou also become like unto us? Who would have thought it! This man looked as much like a saint as any one on earth, and now he has as much of perdition as any one in hell." God forbid that this should be realized in any of you! But this doom is not averted by abounding in outward duties. You must flee to Christ as a Saviour; implore the mercy of the Almighty through him; receive his great salvation, and give him all the glory.

3. A few words to sincere believers.---You have come to Jesus Christ: you have said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray;" and you have prized his teaching. Continue to do so. Still sit at his feet, and learn of him. Christian duties, remember, as well as graces improve by exercise. Abound, therefore, much in prayer. Let your supplications constantly ascend to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of this precious Saviour, and in his name alone. And forget not there is always need of caution. You may be earnest now; your hearts at present may be seriously affected and fervent; but beware of the world! Ever be on your watch against worldly cares, and an earthly mind, lest you sink into languor, lest you fall into imminent danger, lest the curse of Korah and his company overtake you"The earth swallowed them up!"

In order to keep alive the true spirit and comfort of prayer, we affectionately urge you to be more attentive to private devotion, to set apart more time for the duties of the closet. Do not put God off with a few fleeting minutes, at each corner of the day, while

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