the word, every spiritual communicant, and every believing offerer of a child in Baptism, and every infant, that so partakes the divinely appointed rite, receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. "Unto you is the word of this salvation sent." May He who gives it a high commission to your hearts, implant it there, and make it the power of God to your salvation!

1

(5.) Once more; Faith has a proper and delightful subject for its exercise, in prayer. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him: but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." Faith and prayer mutually subserve and strengthen each other. "Trust in the Lord at all times: pour out your heart before Him." The Redeemer's faithfulness is pledged for the veracity of his promise, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." The grant is unlimited, the promise unincumbered. "All things are yours," is the language of God to his children; and they are called to sue out their rightful claim, in their Great Head and Surety, by the prayer of faith. "This is the

1 James i. 5, 6.

2 Psalm lxii. 8.

confidence that we should have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" 2 Faith, in supplication, realizes the omniscience of God; his willingness to hear; his unchangeable adherence to his word; the almighty intercession of the High Priest by the throne and mercyseat of heaven. It pleads them all,—while it pleads the utter worthlessness as well as misery of the supplicant: in order that infinite love may be glorified in shewing mercy. Then, (be the subject of the petition what it may, if made according to the mind of God,) faith looks for an answer of peace; and leaves the posture of supplication, as Hannah left the temple, when her heart was relieved, and her countenance was no more sad. The dead child on the other hand, can never inherit the patrimony; and the prayer of a lifeless infidelity, can never obtain those blessings, which are the heritage of God's living sons and daughters. Faith indeed, is the soul's inward sense and act, of which prayer is the expression: and whosoever, thus

1 James i. 5, 6,

VOL. I.

K

2 1 John v. 15.

How

feeling affiance in the promised and covenanted mercies of God, shall call upon Him, shall assuredly be saved. Whatsoever his disciples shall thus ask, in the name of Jesus, He will do. Faith is the mother of prayer; and very blessed is the fruit and offspring, unto those who dwell in its happy exercise. Jesus knew, for He knew all things, that his sheep should never perish; and therefore was the heart of his mediatorial love lifted up to heaven, crying on their behalf," Holy Father, keep them in thy name." Paul knew assuredly that the Lord would deliver him from every evil work. joyous and how powerful then, was his impulse to prayer, and his fervour in the privileged duty of praying without ceasing! And do not such Scriptures, and such examples as these, rebuke and put to shame those who never pray; or when they kneel, never believe their own necessities, nor the fulness of God in his Son; and so can never seek the mercy-seat aright,but utter the words of supplication with unmoved minds, and have their reward in continual barrenness of heart? And this happens, while God waits to be duly entreated; and so to open the windows of heaven, and pour them down a blessing that there should not be room

to receive it. "We ask and have not, because we ask amiss."

A dying hour awaits us all; and doubtless that is a season wherein faith should have its vigorous exercise, if instead of finding death to be the king of terrors, we would embrace him, as the Lord's dismission from labour unto rest. I pray you in the name of God, let it be Christ to you to live. I pray you in His name, to exercise faith on Him in all things; that when the hour of your departure cometh, you may know, in the unspeakable consolations of his love, whom you have believed; that you may commit, soul, friends, parents, children, and all dear to you, into his hands, as into the hands of your own watchful and faithful God : that you may say to those who mourn your loss, "I die, but God will surely visit you:" and as you close your eyes upon a wearisome and sinful world, may cry in the rich experience of faith, "My heart and my flesh faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.'

1 Psalm lxxiii. 26

SERMON IX.

THE PERSEVERANCE, HAPPINESS, AND
TRIUMPH OF FAITH.

HEBREWS XI. 8.

BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO

A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHE

RITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT

WHITHER HE WENT.

KNOWING

IN the attacks of earthly enemies, two circumstances unite to form the difficulty of making a successful defence. When the onset is frequently made, and from many quarters, we know not whither to turn; and when the means of resistance are not in our hands, but must be sought for at a distance, the wound is given before we can obtain them.1 One of these difficulties besets the Christian, in his warfare against the enemies of his salvation. Their attacks are many, and made from all the various

1 Meztrezat Sermons de la Virtu de la Foy, IV. 136.