shall stand; and I will do all my pleasure.' He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. Ps. cii. 17, 18. And do you fear to present your supplications and requests? Is this recorded testimony become null and void? Would you hesitate to ask a favour of an earthly prince, if you could lay before him a paper, written, signed, and sealed with his own hand, containing a grant of that very favour? Esther, indeed, from the urgency of her case, determined uncalled to enter the presence of Ahasuerus considering her life and the life of her people at stake, she ventured, without a warrant, to throw herself at the monarch's feet. But have not we loud and frequent calls to enter into the presence-chamber of the King of kings, and great and precious promises to assure us of a welcome reception? Are not our sins many, our wants pressing, our dangers imminent? Whither can we go but to Him, who is rich in mercy?-to Him who is ready to pardon, to supply, to direct, to deliver, and to bless us? Shall we question his truth, his faithfulness, his power, or his goodness? It is unbelief and ingratitude in us, thus to doubt his promises, or dishonour his perfections.

2. We have encouragement to prayer in

the powerful and perpetual intercession of Christ.

Neither our petitions, nor our praises, will be accepted, unless they are offered up in the name, and through the mediation, of Jesus. The vassals of Rome, by praying to the Virgin Mary and to the saints in heaven, incur the just charge of idolatry. There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Mán Christ Jesus. We are commanded to pray, and to give thanks for all things, unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Does it become us to set aside, much less despise, the appointments of infinite wisdom and absolute authority?" Non petitur in nomine Salvatori, quod petitur contra rationem salutis," says Augustin:-That which is not asked in the name of the Saviour, is asked against the rule of salvation. We have not the least reason to expect, that we or our services can be accepted but through our Lord Jesus Christ. It was the custom of the Jewish High Priest, to go into the Holy Place with the names of the twelve tribes engraven in precious stones upon his breastplate. While the people were praying without, he sprinkled the blood of atonement, and made intercession within the veil. The Divine Majesty rendered such a medium of approach necessary; for if the cloud of incense do not cover the Mercy

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seat, Aaron will die before it. (Lev. xvi. 13.) And is not Jesus the great High Priest of our profession? He is not entered into the Holy Place, made with hands, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. How encouraging is this salutary truth to the trembling penitent! How comfortable under a consciousness of much imperfection to the humble devout Christian! What a pillar does it provide for his sinking hope! what a motive to his languishing prayer! The afflicted patriarch, mourning the absence of a gracious God, exclaimed, "O that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to his seat!". Is this your cry? Then be of good courage, for the light of the Gospel shews you where and how you may find God. Lift up your eyes, and behold him seated on a throne of grace, stretching out the golden sceptre to invite your approach. Go, plead with Him; and while you fill your mouth with arguments from the promises of the everlasting covenant, God, who has the sovereign disposal of every blessing, shall fill your soul with joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

But perhaps you say, whatever arguments and reasons the promises furnish, I have no skill to use them. I am ignorant, polluted, unworthy, helpless, utterly undone! My very

prayers are so incoherent and confused, so full of iniquity and sin, that I blush to think of them! Be it so; yet thou hast an Advocate with the Father, to plead thy cause, and perfume thy prayers with the sweet incense of his merits. What greater encouragement can be given or desired? A new and living way to the Father is prepared, the door of mercy stands open, peace is proclaimed through the blood of the cross, and the Friend of sinners is both able and willing to second thy suit with his own effectual intercession. "Seeing, then, that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. iv. 14-16.

3. We have an encouragement to prayer, in the assistance of the Holy Spirit. If it be pleasing to contemplate the promises of the everlasting covenant, and the continual intercession of Christ, our High Priest, the assured guidance and aid of the Divine Spirit claims the next place in our attention. It is a fact, that the nature of man is deeply corrupted; nor can the carnal mind be purified and renewed by any external means, or human agency. We have already proved, that devout dispositions must be implanted and cultivated,

to qualify us for rightly performing the duty, or profitably enjoying the privilege of prayer. We cannot acceptably adore God without profound reverence, nor give thanks to him without genuine gratitude and love; nor confess our sins, and spread our wants before him, without humility and penitence, fixedness of mind, and fervency of heart. But how seldom are we awed and melted, warmed and swayed, by such dispositions and feelings as these! How short are the seasons of unclouded serenity, while so many storms are frequently rising in the regions of the inner man! Even the spirit of the Christian, half immersed in the things of the world, is pervaded by a shooting chill, which weakens and benumbs all the springs of the divine life. When, therefore, we feel so little prepared or disposed for the exercises of devotion, shall we omit or decline them? No; if we cannot sing to the Lord on the mount of joy and transport, let us, like David, cry out of the depths of darkness and adversity. If we cannot pray with freedom and fervour, let us pray for freedom and fervour. "My soul cleaveth to the dust; quicken thou me according to thy word." The same divine agent, who first gives life to the regenerate, can alone continue it. "Through Christ, we all have access, by one Spirit, unto the Father." His influence stirs those emo