• fpiritual conflicts, and inward trials, are un

known.' But be affured, however changeable we are in our fancy and inclination, the word. of God abideth for ever. There is very great reason to fear, nay there is good ground to af firm, that those who are ftrangers to wrestling with God in prayer, are fleeping in fecurity, and under the dominion of fin. You will fay perhaps, you live at ease and undisturbed. It may be fo, and it is fo much the worfe; for the prince of this world will always confult the peace and quietness of his own subjects.

I would earnestly intreat every hearer of the gofpel to fuffer this reproof to enter into his mind, as it is what can be certainly known only to God and your own fouls. Though there is" fufficient outward evidence of the general neglect of this duty, how far any perfon is particularly guilty, must be left to the determination of his own confcience, and the judgement of him who feeth and fearcheth the heart. If there is any among you who habitually despiseth prayer, who makes every little bufinefs, every little indifpofition or laziness of mind, an excufe for neglecting or poftponing it: if there are any who fatiffy themselves with a dead curfory formality in duty; who call in question the reality of com munion with God in others, because they are ftrangers to it themselves; without all doubt they have great caufe to fear, that they are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Tell me, what is the reafon of your backwardness to drawing near to God? Is it not, that you VOL. I.

Сс

are

are afraid of coming into his prefence? Is it not, that you cannot bear the opening of your hearts? Is it not from fome dark jealoufy and fufpicion, that all is not right with you, though you had rather cover than confess it? My ear. neft prayer to God is, that though you keep at a distance from him, he may not keep at a distance from you; that he may, by his Spirit, convince you of your danger, and, in great mer. cy, deliver you from this miferable state."

2. You may learn, from what has been faid, one great caufe of the low ftate of religion, and the barrenness of ordinances among us at prefent. It is the neglect of prayer, and that ma. ny, though they may condefcend to afk, yet do not think it worth their while to wrestle for the bleffing. The profane are not the only per. fons juftly chargeable with a failure in this part of their duty. Many real Chriftians are apt to flacken their diligence in this important exercise, and many often read their fin in their punishment. But is it not very wonderful, my brethren, that those who have once tafted that the Lord is gracious, who have known the fweetnefs of communion with God, fhould ever lofe it by their own indifference and backwardness to maintain it? Yet here we muft, of neceffity, lay the blame. We must fill say, in justification of his procedure, If. lix. 1. 2. "Behold, "the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot "fave: neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. "But your iniquities have feparated between "you and your God, and your fins have hid

"his face from you, that he will not hear."

It

feems to appear from the experience of Chriflians, that God is jealous of their treatment of his love, and deeply refents the alienation of their affections; and therefore, to have fenfible joy in him, and to walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghoft, which is fo great a privilege, cannot be preserved, without the greatest watchfulnefs on their part, and the greatest conftancy in

prayer.

3. Suffer me now, in a few words, to exhort every perfon in this affembly, and in particular those who have fo lately renewed their engagement to God, over the symbols of the broken body and fhed blood of Chrift, to give themselves unto prayer. Of what ufe is your being admitted to this facred table, if it do not incline you to live nearer to God in the habitual tenor of your life? This is the very privilege which we obtain by the blood of Chrift, that we have accefs with boldness and confidence through the faith of him. This is the very advantage that we obtain by his continual interceffion before the throne, Heb.

iv. 14. 16. " Seeing then that we have a great

high priest, that is paffed into the heavens, "Jefus the Son of God, let us hold fast our pro"feffion. Let us therefore come boldly unto "the throne of grace, that we may obtain mer

cy, and find grace to help in time of need." Again, have you not devoted your lives to the fervice of God? have you not promised to keep his commandments? How do you expect to fulfil your promife? Are you not ready to fay, Cc 2 'Not

Not unless he be pleafed himself to preserve ' and keep me; not unless he put his Spirit with* in me, and write his laws in my heart?" And do you not know, that he hath faid, "Yet for "all these things will I be inquired of by the "houfe of Ifrael to do it for them? I will afk you one question more. Do you not know that you are yet in an evil world? Do you not know what variety of temptations and fufferings you may yet be expofed to? How fhall you bear up under trials; how fhall you" glorify God in "the day of vifitation," if you live habitually at a diftance from him? Chriftians, it is to hir you must look when trouble cometh upon you. All other refuge will foon fail; and vanity, va nity, be feen written upon the creature. But with what confusion must you then lift up your eyes to him, if you forget him in prosperity! Therefore let me befcech you, in the most earneft manner, to renew your diligence in the exercife of prayer. In a particular manner, I must recommend this exercife to young perfons. You, my dear brethren, are expofed to many dangers, your ftrength fmall, your experience little, your knowledge imperfect. Live a life of prayer, and dependence upon God. Daniel and his compa nions were young perfons, yet mighty in prayer; therefore learn it early, practife it diligently, and wait upon it habitually and conftantly. Hear what the prophet fays in commendation of it, If. xl. 29. 30. 31. "He giveth power to the "faint; and to them that have no might, he in

creaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint

" and

"and be weary, and the young men shall utter"ly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall

renew their ftrength: they shall mount up "with wings as eagles, they fhall run and not "be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.”

4. I fhall conclude the fubject, by giving you two or three directions for the prefervation and improvement of the spiritual life; and particularly for enabling you to perfevere with uniformity and comfort in the exercife of prayer.

1. Be watchful and circumfpect in the whole of your converfation. Let it be your great aim, to keep confciences void of offence towards God and towards man. Prayer and watchfulness have a reciprocal influence upon one another. Neglect of prayer will make you yield to temptation, and the indulgence of fin will make you afraid to pray. But habitual watchfulness will carry you with comfort to God, at the hour of prayer, both in thankfulness for past mercies, and reliance on him for future ftrength.

2. Obferve with attention the courfe of his providence towards you. Enumerate his mercies to you in profperity, adore his righteous will in adverfity. Let this be the work, not only of particular seasons, but of every day. This will at once fhew you the neceffity, and abundantly fupply the matter of prayer. If you do otherwife, you will prayer without and determinate views of what you are to pray for, and then it is no wonder that it degenerate into a lifeless form. Once more,

go to

any

clear

3. Be much employed in interceffion for o