......4.. nor lot in them. I would look unto Jesus, that I may be faved, but my fins hang heavy on my heart, fo that I am not able to look up. Yet I fometimes fay, Though he flay me, I will truft in him. I have no where else to go. If the Saviour of finners frown me away, I perish; for I know no other refuge. I am well affured, that he that findeth him, findeth life, and fhall obtain favour of the Lord. But without an intereft in him I am undone for ever.' Having thus briefly fhewn the neceffity of faith in order to the enjoyment of God's favour, and fuggested some hints concerning the way in which finners are brought nigh to him, what shall I more fay? I would encourage the poor foul whofe cafe I have been defcribing, not to flagger at the promife of God through unbelief, but to fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope fet before us in the gofpel. Remember that Jefus, the compaffionate Saviour, hath faid, "I will in no wife caft out." Let the needy trembling finner continue to cry earneftly to God for the manifeftations of his pardoning grace and mercy. The fame person who faid, In his favour is life, had fought that privilege with diligence. "I entreated thy favour with my whole heart." Go thou, and do likewife. A fense of intereft in his favour is worth feeking. Cry Cry earnestly for it, and be not content to have a denial. Pray always, and faint not. Take with you words and go unto him, Lord, I am a poor, forlorn outcaft, a miserable, guilty creature; lift thou up upon me the light of thy countenance. Let me not be shut up in a dungeon of darknefs, and lie in the fhades of death. I know I might justly be banished from thee for ever. But though I deserve no favour, in Jesus Chrift, thy Son, thou haft declared thyfelf well pleased. Did he not die, the juft for the unjust, to bring finners unto thee, and to deliver them from the wrath to come? Has he not opened a new and living way of accefs to thee? Did he not rife, as the Sun of righteoufness, on this benighted world, with healing in his wings? Hath he not brought life and immortality to light? O thou who didft cause the light to shine out of darkness, fhine into my heart, to give the light of the knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Jefus Chrift. • I read in thy holy word, that through the tender mercy of our God, the day-fpring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that fit in darkness, and in the fhadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Lord, look upon me in mercy, through thy dear Son; let the bowels of thy compaffion be moved towards thy creature in �ས�རu《་ in mifery, caft on me a pitying eye, and let thy hand of mercy help me in my diftrefs. Be not a terror unto me, but speak a word of pardon, of peace, and of comfort to my poor foul; for thou only art my hope in the day of evil. I am not worthy to come into thy prefence, loaded as I am with guilt, and covered with pollution; yet have mercy upon me according to thy loving-kindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my tranfgreffions. Caft my fins behind thy back. Be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Deal with me according to the favour which thou beareft unto thy people. O vifit me with thy falvation.' If this is your language, my dear reader, you are not far from the kingdom of God. Wait on the Lord, and he will fave you; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for him. Be entreated, without delay, to make a full furrender of yourself to God. Prefent your body and your foul to him, as your reasonable service. Devote your whole felf as a free-will offering to him, and he will receive you. Study his word, feek to know his will, and ask of him a right way. you, and wear it with delight. felf unto the Lord, and then unto his church, according to his will, that you may walk in all his Take his yoke upon or ordinances and commandments blameless. Make a willing profeffion of your subjection to the gospel of Chrift. Be ready to fay, I am the Lord's; dare to call yourself by the name of Jacob, and to subfcribe with your hand to the Lord, and furname yourself by the name of Ifrael. Be fincere and hearty, warm and zealous in the business of religion. Let it be your uppermost concern to walk with God in humble reverence from day to day. Keep your heart with all diligence; practise continual felf-denial; be fober, and watch unto prayer, putting on the breaft-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of falvation. Remember that Jefus has faid, "If a man love me he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." This is the This is the way in which finners are brought to enjoy a comfortable sense of the divine favour. The Lord will not grant the "tokens of his favour in any other way than that of his own appointment. Go then to the houfe of God, inquire in his temple, attend to his ordinances, caft in your lot among thofe who conftitute his family and household, shew your love to Jefus by keeping his commands; fo may you expect to be "fatisfied with favour, and to be full of the blessing of the Lord." Thy .............4.. Thy favour I entreat, I'm vile, and felf-abhorr'd, O hearken to my cries, Thou, O my God, wilt not despise Thy well-beloved Son Hath fhed his precious blood, T'atone for crimes which we have done, Thy promis'd Spirit give, Thy faving grace impart; Help me in Jefus to believe With undivided heart. O tell me thou art mine, Thy gracious fmile afford, For life is in thy favour, Lord, CHAP. |