walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance: in thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

PRAYER is the cry of faith; the way in which grace is obtained and increased, and it is founded on our sense of need. Encouraged by the assu

rance that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, and that he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, we gladly avail ourselves of the gracious invitation, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Not boldly only, but earnestly, you must strive hard in prayer: cold petitions will not do. David says, my soul followeth HARD after God; that word hard is significant and instructive. As the drowning man would cry for help, as Peter cried, Lord save or I perish; so must we cry for grace. O be assured a careless prayer and a heartless wish never yet marked a saved soul. You must wrestle with God in prayer, if you would receive effectual grace. There will be strong cries and tears like our Saviour's. Nothing will content you but God's favour and love, if you are in earnest for it, what you need above all other things is God's grace. Whatever else you get, without

this you are miserably poor; whatever else you lose, if you get this you are unspeakably happy. Grace is the seed of glory-grace is the first thing. The Lord will give grace and then glory, Ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall opened unto you. All this shews the earnestness and perseverance with which you should pray. Do you further ask how you may know whether you have effectually received grace. I reply, it is marked by LOVE. We love that grace which we have received. We glory in it. We value it above every thing. And surely it is above all price-surely every Christian does desire nothing so much as the grace of God. If men think it worth while to make their house comfortable where they only dwell a few years; if men think it worth while to lay up treasure on earth for a short life, O is it not, I appeal to your understanding as men, is it not infinitely better worth while, to lay up our treasure where we must dwell for ever, and to have our wealth in a bank that can never break, and with a banker, who has the universe for his possession, and whose favour is better than life itself? The apostles so valued grace that in every epistle they salute the churches with this prayer, Grace be to you. While the

term grace is offensive and unintelligible to those who receive it in vain, it is precious and delightful to those who receive it effectually. How the Apostle loves to dwell upon it. God hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness to us through Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved. One sure note of an effectual reception of grace is a supreme value for it. I remember a time, before I knew my sinfulness and my danger, being offended with seeing what I then thought so unmeaning a term as grace so often repeated in hymns; but when I felt my true state as a fallen creature, no word was more precious to me than this.

In practically applying the subject, I would solve some fears and address different characters.

I would first SOLVE SOME FEARS that may hinder and retard you in receiving this grace.

Perhaps you are afraid of this world's ridicule. If you become earnest in religion, you will be counted singular, and you cannot bear the laugh of your companions. O it is one of the most wonderful of the blindnesses and obliquities of our fallen nature, that persons wise and sensible in other things, who would not be laughed

out of any worldly gain, should in a case so infinitely important, bend to a sneer and be turned aside by a mere scoff. Be not you laughed out of your sense of religion. Risk not so foolishly your soul. If you are so afraid of ridicule, think what ridicule will be worst at last. If a foolish companion can thus now affect you, how will you bear to be the laughing stock of Satan, and the scorn of all his hosts through eternity? O the inexpressible folly of squandering away in mere earthly business, in vain pleasures, in idleness, in pomp and empty shew, in ambition and the glory of this transitory world, that day of grace in which you might gain solid and everlasting joy and an exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

Perhaps you fear that the day of grace may be past. Do you really fear this; the fear itself is a hopeful sign, and shews that conscience is not yet seared or past feeling; but O let not the enemy contrive by such a fear to keep you inert and inactive, doing nothing till the day of grace be past.

One more fear may be an impediment to you. You may fear that you are not among God's elect, and therefore it is of no use for you to strive. Who can tell you that you are not among

his elect; his decree of election is ever secret, till it is happily manifested by our turning to him; not feignedly, but with all the heart. Repent and believe, and you shall assure your election.

I would in conclusion address different characters

Have any reason to think that hitherto they have received the grace of God in vain, that they are yet in their sins: O, I beseech you, look diligently now, lest you fail of the grace of God. There is no time for farther delay. The Sun of righteousness has been shining for hours in the day of grace, and you have hitherto been fast asleep; the night cometh when no man can work; now cry mightily for grace. O let not the sermon you are now hearing find and leave your heart hardened; but let it be as the awakening voice of the Saviour, leading you effectually to receive his grace.

Have any a besetting sin that entrammels and hampers them. It is the day of grace and gospel liberty. Bring the power of grace against the power of sin, and it shall conquer your mightiest corruption. (Rom. v. 21.) Divine grace shall be sufficient for you. Only Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.