that "God will raise up his power, and come among us :" and, a confession of both these deficiencies, is a natural movement of the humble soul which feels them; a just and expected tribute to the gracious Being who remedies them.

And who, my brethren, will not confess these things? Who will gainsay the Apostle, when he tells us, "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us?" Who will say that he sinneth not? And who can be ignorant that every sin he commits, increases the power of the "flesh to lust against the spirit?" Who knows not, that unless we were daily renewed by the Spirit, sin would gain the dominion over us ; that unless the Lord were " at hand," and did speedily help and deliver us, our sins, like a wreathed snake", would. "let and hinder" us in our race, and finally cast us down and destroy us?

Impressed with a due sense of these things, we shall sincerely pray that the Almighty will "raise up his power, and come among us, and with great might, succour us;" we shall heartily “rejoice" that "the Lord is at hand:" we shall be careful for nothing."

6.6

But though the Lord be at hand; though

* 1 John i. 8.

h "Corripiunt, spirisque ligant ingentibus."-Virg.

we be careful for nothing; we must be` cautious not to extend the encouragement given us by the Apostle beyond the proper limits.

He says indeed, "be careful for nothing," be not over-anxious; but he does not here or elsewhere, (I have before pressed, and cannot too strongly press this upon your notice); he does not countenance supineness and inactivity in our spiritual concerns. He does not.

authorize us merely to "make known our requests unto God," and then to take no farther trouble in "working out our salvation." No. This would be in positive contradiction to the whole tenor of the religion which he preached, and to his own exhortations in various other parts of his writings.

We are taught that we must strive for the mastery; that the race that is set before us. must be run; that we have impediments to obstruct us, and very formidable impediments; we are taught too that in our difficulties and distresses we may make "known our requests to God, by prayer and supplication." But they must be such requests as are sanctioned by the Scriptures: not the requests of the idle and supine, who will do nothing for himself; but of the diligent and sincere believer, who exerts himself to the utmost in his Christian calling, and who knowing his weakness

and imperfections, entreats the Almighty to succour him—not to dispense with his efforts, but rather to quicken them to excite his will, to enlarge his powers, and to supply his deficiencies. Without such views and resolutions, prayer for the assistance of God's holy Spirit would be nugatory, or worse than nugatory. For were the gift conferred, and like the talent in the parable, wrapt in a napkin, and hid, we should only have received the grace of God in vain, and be liable to greater condemnation. Sensible of the importance of this gift, and of what will be expected from us by the Giver, "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.".

With these sentiments on the subject of our prayer, let us now close these sermons, by taking a brief and connected retrospect of the several petitions we have offered up on each of the Sundays preparatory to the celebrating of our Lord's Advent. Let us observe what particulars are requisite to make these petitions effectual; to cause our requests so to be made known unto God, that "the peace of God, which passeth all understand

¡ Heb. xii. 1.

66

ing," may keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

We are enjoined in the rubric to repeat the collect for the first Sunday, together with each of the succeeding Sundays in Advent. And one reason for this direction I conceive to be, that in this collect we pray generally for the important objects, to which the petitions of all the other collects have reference, and are, in fact, subservient. We pray for God's grace to enable us to "cast off the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light;" and those things for which we pray, in the three following collects, are so many means, all tending to the accomplishment of these important objects.

We

For, if we pray, that we may duly and profitably read the "holy Scriptures;” that God's blessing may be on his " ministers" to enable them to explain, and enforce this word; and that the impediments occasioned by our sins, and wickedness may be removed; what are the ultimate purposes, for which this knowledge, these graces, and this assistance are implored? Are they not, that we may cast

Phil. iv. 7.

I am not aware that any commentator supports me in this conjecture, but, as I have not advanced it with any fondness for novelty, so I trust I shall not be harshly charged with presumption in maintaining it.

off the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light; now in the time of this mortal life, in which Christ came to visit us in great humility; and that, in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and dead, we may rise through him to the life immortal?

Now bear in mind these leading purposes, while we recapitulate, and sum up the petitions we have made on the four Sundays in Advent. Consider well, the duties, which, placed in this point of view, they suggest; consider, and remember what should be your conduct to render these petitions effectual; not mere formalities; a solemn, and senseless mockery of your all-seeing and almighty Judge.

I. You pray, then, in the first place, to be able to "cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light;" remembering, that he, in whose service you are so to do, came to visit us in great humility; and will 'come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and dead. If your heart be

with your lips in this prayer; need I say,

reflect often, reflect deeply upon this humility. Contemplate with the warmest affection him; "who did humble himself even to the death upon the cross, for us, miserable sinners, who