wilful Breach of God's Commandments, SERM. and is obliged to come before him to pre- VI. fent his Supplications, What can he ask? Any Evil to be removed, any Bleffing to be conferred? His Confcience must retort the Prefumption in his Face, till he has firft asked for Pardon, and fued for Reconciliation. But how can he ask THAT, but upon the Terms prefcribed by God for obtaining it? They, manifeftly, are Repentance for the Offences paft, and a full Determination of future Obedience. If his Offence had been against a Superior on Earth, the Fact might be unknown, or the Doer, or the Intent with which it was done; and fo he might have approach'd him boldly, and, while an Enemy, have hoped to gain, as many do, the Favours of a Friend. But here, as we have already feen, he is convinced, that the Thing, and the Perfon, and his Heart, are all open and undisguiseable to the perfect Knowledge of him with whom he hath to do. In the former Cafe, though his Guilt were apparent, yet a feigned Sorrow and falfe Promifes of another Cónduct might prevail for Remiffion; whereas

M 3

before

SERM. before the Searcher of Hearts thofe MeVI, thods can have no Effect, but that of a

fresh Provocation. Again; with us, after Men's Crimes are known, and their Continuance too in the fame evil Difpofition; ftill the Neceffity of Affairs, the Defect of Power, and fometimes of Justice, fecures them a Connivance. But the Criminal that ftands before GoD cannot, as we have fhewn, but be a Believer in the Holiness of his Juftice, and in his Omnipotence to give it certain Execution. And can he then offer himself as the Object of his Favour, being confcious he is only qualified for that of his Vengeance? Every Call therefore to the Duty of Prayer, from the Senfe of his Neceffities, or the publick Order and Example, is a fresh and forcible Admonition to repent of his Wickednefs, and form the Refolves and Methods of reforming his Life. And thefe Admonitions carry with them a Terror, fuch as one fhould think would never fuffer the Man to take any Reft, till he had complied with their Demand. Is he not in the State of an Enemy and Rebel, known and obftinate; as to his Caufe, felf-con

demn'd;

6

demn'd; and to the Iffue, defperate; and SER M. yet refufing the Terms, the only poffible VI. Terms of Forgiveness and Reconciliation ? And in this Condition does he, without Horror, enter into the House of his Lord, and appear in the Midft of his faithful Servants, and affume a Share in their Hopes and Requests, their Services and Adorations? Very ftupid, or very defperate, indeed he must be, that does. The juft Conftruction upon fuch a Proceeding being fo terrible and fo obvious, that it partakes of Hypocrify, and Neglect, and Indignity towards God; before whom he behaves as if he had bribed his Juftice, or dared to defy his Power, or would diffemble with his Omniscience. There is but one Way for a Perfon in these Circumstances to turn himself. He cannot lay afide the Duty of Prayer: That were to renounce all Intereft in Heaven, and remain abandon'd and deftitute in the Midft of this World of Dangers, and confign'd to eternal Mifery in that which is to come.

And yet, as we have fhew'd, he cannot continue that Duty; fuch an Impenitent, every Time he bows the M 4

Knee

SERM. Knee before Almighty God, imitating in VI. Effect the Pattern of the Soldiers who

mock'd our bleffed Saviour. What remains? God and his Laws are immutable: The MAN then must be changed, and the Impediment removed, THAT SIN PERSISTED IN, which difqualifies him from all Intercourfe with Heaven, but that of a mad Provocation here, and thence a fuitable Retribution. This is the natural Force of the enjoin'd Exercife of Prayer to compel our Repentance and Obedience: It is working inceffantly; and to People, that have not thrown from them all their Reafon, irresistible. May it have that Effect upon us.

2

And let us magnify our Heavenly Father, for his wife and gracious Appointment, perverted and objected to only for its infinite Condefcenfion. Let us make a reverent and affiduous Use of it; and the bleffed Succefs will anfwer the Proinife: Let us ask, and it shall be given us; feek, and we shall find; knock, and it

fhall be open'd unto us.

4

(:、,,

SERMON VII.

SERMON VII.

Of Praying in the Name of Chrift.

PART I.

JOHN. xvi. 23.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye fhall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you.

W

HEN our Lord, knowing SERM. that his Hour was come, VII. had declared to his Apo

ftles, that he should be

with them yet but a little

while ; we read their

Heart was troubled, and fill'd with Sor row. Indeed it could be no otherwife : The Apprehenfion of their Master's Suffering, and their own Orphan State, amidst the Hatred of the World, after the glo