without it but spiritual blessings are its chief object. Now with the unconverted it is otherwise. If they pray, it is only in form, and outwardly. Besides your attendance on public worship, when do you pray in private? What vehement cries and groans of soul did you ever utter? When did your heart break out for the fervent desire that it had to God's judgments? Here is the essential difference between Jacob and Esau.-I beseech you, brethren, weigh this, and apply. Be assured, praying people, you will find the benefit of your prayers; and the less you find it here, the more you will find it hereafter. But ye who despise praying, and cannot endure it, know, that if your proud spirit is not bent to it here, you will have to wail in torment hereafter. It is fitting that God should have his glory from his creatures some way or other. Better give it him now, in humble prayer.-And in the history of all good men there are generally some remarkable seasons, in which, when brought very low, they found the benefit of prayer. This in Jacob we have seen; and it is not singular: I trust there are persons here who can say, 'At such a time, in sickness-in agony of conscience-in great family affliction-under sore temptation, when I seemed overpowered-I prayed and was heard.' It is worth while for all praying people to treasure up these things: they are of use to strengthen faith, and patience, and hope, and gratitude.

God this way shews what he is; and every such instance demonstrates the benefit of the Throne of Grace and of such an Advocate as Jesus. Oh, if there were more praying, God would thus be better known in the world than he is, and earth would be more like to heaven. Oh, if men under trouble learnt, with Jacob, to wrestle in prayer, instead of repining, murmuring, and disputing, and using forbidden ways to help themselves, afflictions would then indeed appear to be blessings in disguise, and would richly pay for all the pain they bring on us, by their wholesome fruit, and the experience they would afford us of the grace and power of that God who is nigh to them who call upon him in truth.

3. For it must be observed, and the whole story of Jacob shews it, that the dearest children of God are subject to affliction. The privileges of a child of God are not to be estimated by outward things. Of these two brothers, Jacob and Esau, the former has all along the testimony of the Divine favour; the latter, of his displeasure; as it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.". Yet in outward things the contrary appeared. Except in the few last years of his pilgrimage, Jacob's whole life was a series of trials, as is well known; but Esau was successful and prosperous in the world, and, as far as appears, suffered little in comparison of his brother. Let every one who seeks the Divine favour learn

hence what he has to expect, and place his hopes and affections on things above. For,

4. Here let the Israel of God learn to repose: all shall end well. Jacob could say at last of his God, that he was "the God who had fed him all his life long....the Angel which redeemed him from all evil." And in his last dying words to his children, he cried, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord:" and his end was peace. Christians must expect a variety of crosses, often grievous crosses. To look above and beyond them all, to the land of rest and peace, would be their wisdom; and thus to possess their souls in patience, till their change

come.

5. Lastly, then, let the concluding advice of the text be written on our hearts: "Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually."-Brethren, we find ourselves in a world of evil and vanity. What shall we do? Seek for happiness from the world? Bitter disappointment will be sure to attend us. Give ourselves up to murmuring and dejection of spirit? This is to dishonour God, and disqualify ourselves from enjoying him either in this life or the next. What then? First, "turn to God :" Come near and close to him: for in Christ he offers himself to become our God, our portion for ever. Confess your misery and sinfulness; be humbled before God; believe his promises in Christ; venture on them for your own sal

vation; and put yourselves into his hands, to be wholly converted and made his for ever. Then, secondly, "keep mercy and judgment." Let no afflictions or ill treatment induce you to forsake the path of uprightness. Be just, be merciful. In the strength of his Spirit walk thus steadily with God all your days;-and, thirdly, as still you will find matter enough to try your patience through life, never cast off hope; trust Him"continually," till you see what he can and will do for you. Your best things will be to come hereafter.

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SERMON XX.

PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER TAUGHT BY

THE EXAMPLE OF MOSES.

EXODUS xvii. 11.

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

THE state of affairs among the children of Israel, during the crisis of the text, was as follows:-The chosen people had been in the iron furnace of oppression in Egypt, and their cry had come up to God by reason of the bondage; and God, remembering his covenant with them, had at length brought them out of Egypt by a mighty hand, with terrible demonstrations of his power, and overwhelmed their enemies in the Red Sea. The people, under the conduct of Moses, were travelling, through a waste and terrible wilderness, to the land which he had sworn to give them; and in their march, we are told (Deut. xxv. latter end), they were met by Amalek, who "smote the hindmost of them, even all that were feeble behind them, when they were faint and weary: and he feared not God." In this distress, Joshua,