now, exalted to the throne of his glory, He is able to fulfil it to the uttermost." * (2 Cor. i. 20.)

My dear fellow-sinner, we leave this as our parting advice, that as prayer is the breath of the new-born soul, it is the golden key to unlock all the treasures of heaven; let it be your first thoughts in the morning, your last at night, and uppermost all the day! Beseech the blessed Spirit, who will teach you all things, (John xiv. 26,) to pour upon you the spirit of grace and of supplication, (Zech. xii. 10,) "Who that knows the worth of prayer,

But wishes to be often there?"

A throne of grace is the best place a sinner can be, ere he reach a throne of glory. Draw near to it, then, in the Lord Jesus's adorable name; without him God will give you nothing; but, through him, you will freely receive all things. (John xiv. 14; Rom. viii. 32.) You read how Joseph opened the storehouses of corn, to supply the famished Egyptians; (Gen. xli. 56;) they felt their need, and went to him. Go to Jesus: he will not send you empty you

away ;---his heart, full of compassion and pity for sinners, who despised the offers of his grace,

66

wept over Jerusalem!" Yes! that heart which

* Erskine's Sermon on the Mediatorial Glory of Christ.

was pierced with the soldier's spear, will rejoice over you to do you good. (Jer. xxxii. 41.) He is far more willing to give than we are to ask : He has all power in heaven and in earth, and will open the storehouses of his grace to supply all the wants of your needy soul. (Matt. xxviii. 18.) "Prayer is the outlet of all trouble, and the inlet of all comfort;" therefore make every thing a matter of prayer and thanksgiving,--your duties, comforts, trials, and temptations,and you will experience the apostle's promised blessing. (See Phil. iv. 9, 7.) Well, then, might this song be sung in the land of Judah, and from the heart of every believer: "We have a strong city salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." (Isaiah xxvi. 1.) The gracio us LORD, who sustained him every moment through life, (Isaiah xxvii. 3,) will sustain him every moment in death; will safely lead him through it, and happily land him in the "rest that remaineth for the people of God.” (Heb. iv. 9.) "A rest from every thing but praise!"

:

This Tract may not impossibly fall into the hands of the young ;-of one, it may be, in full possession of youth, and health, and strength; saying to themselves: "Soul, take thine ease: thou hast much goods laid up for thyself for

258 SERIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE AGED.

many years." (Luke xii. 19.) "But is there not an appointed time for man upon earth?" (Job vii. 1;) a time appointed for the young, as well as the aged? And you know not, but the warnings, and invitations, and encouragements addressed to them in the above pages, may be the last message addressed to you by the God of all grace. This is the day of salvation-we never read of to-morrow in the Bible. Seek and find, (for seeking, thou shalt find,) at the hands of our merciful and now satisfied God, pardon, holiness, and heaven!

ON THE

POWER AND GRACE

OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT.

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."-1 Cor. ii. 14.