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an enemy. Regard it with caution. Walk as among Be circumspect; be watchful; and if you would pass through the world with safety, recollect,

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IV. THAT THE DIVINE PROTECTION IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR SECURITY. The more valuable things are, the more dependant will they be found. Sheep require more care than wolves; vines than brambles; a garden demands more attention than a wilderness; and children are reared with far greater solicitude than animal young. Nothing equals the dependence of the christian; but herein lie all the spiritual resources; for when he is weak, then he is strong.” When in himself he can do nothing, he forms an alliance with Omnipotence, and can do all things.

Be sensible of your inability to sustain and defend yourselves. Bring under your review all those, who possessing every advantage, have drawn back unto perdition. They advanced far, and promised well; but like a stone urged up the side of a hill, which, when the impelling force is removed, rushes back with greater velocity, and bounds further into the plain below; so these have entered again into the world, and are more distinguished by its vices and follies than be fore. "For if after they have escaped the pollutions "of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord "and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome; the latter end is worse than "the beginning."

Mark the falls of good men themselves, who have been "recovered from the snare of the devil." When they went forth, but not in the strength of the

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"Lord," they were found unequal to the trial, and by bitter experience were convinced of their weakness. When our Saviour had informed the disciples, that "the Shepherd would be smitten, and the sheep scat❝tered abroad; Peter said, "though all men should "be offended because of thee, I will never be of "fended." When our Lord gave him the premonition "before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me "thrice; he exclaimed "though I should die with "thee, yet will I not deny thee." He was sincere, but self-confident; and what was the consequence? His resolution failed him; and he denied his Lord with oaths and curses." Weigh well the language

of One, who knows what is in man, and who has said "without me you can do nothing: compare your experience with it; and painful as it will be, call to your remembrance the numerous variations, instabilities, declensions, backslidings of your lives.

Be equally persuaded also, that the divine power as adequate, as it is necessary to your preservation. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the

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young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait

upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall "mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and "not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." It is his character, and his prerogative; "he is able to "keep you from falling, and to present you faultless "before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." He preserved Abijah in the wicked family of Jeroboam. He secured "saints even in Caesar's household." Behold yonder illustrious "multitude standing before "the throne with palms in their hands." Full of

weakness, they passed through a world of danger; their sufficiency was of God; he enabled them "to "hold on their way and to wax stronger and stron"ger;" he "girded them with strength, and made "their way perfect ;" by "him they ran through a "troop, and leaped over a wall;" by him they "trod " on the lion and adder, the young lion and the drag"on they trampled under feet ;" and He is the same. His "hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor "His ear heavy that it cannot hear." "The Lord re"deemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them "that trust in him shall be desolate."

As the divine protection is necessary, and adequate to your defence, so it is attainable; and the last division of our subject shews us how it is to be obtainedBY PRAYER. 66 Ask, and it shall be given you; "seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be open"ed unto you." Hence the practice of the saints "Set a watch, O Lord, upon my lips, keep the door "of my mouth." "Hold thou me up, and I shall be "safe." "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." "Uphold "me according to thy word, that I may live; and let "me not be ashamed of my hope." "Lead us not "into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Christians however are sensible of the imperfections of their own performances. They can scarcely call their weak efforts, prayer; "like a crane, or a swal"low, so did I chatter. Could I see an inspired rec"ord of all my prayers; could I see as God does the * manner in which I have always addressed him; the

"vain thoughts; the numberless distractions; how, of "ten I have asked amiss ; sometimes without ardour, #sometimes without confidence." Hence it is a plea sing relief to their minds, to know that their brethren pray for them; that God is daily hearing from lips more devout than their own, "Do good, O Lord, un ❝to those that be good, and to them that are upright " in their hearts." Let all those that seek thée, re❝joice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvas "tion, say continually, the Lord be magnified." Is my character here described? How pleasing is it 'to reflect, that I am peculiarly interested in the daily sup plications of all the people of God; and that "the ef "fectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth " much!"

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But their chief consolation is derived from a higher source. "And another angel came and stood at the "altar, having a golden censer; and there was given "unto him much incenfe, that he fhould offer it with "the prayers of all faints upon the golden altar, which

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was before the throne. And the smoke of the in"cense which came with the prayers of the saints, as "cended up before God, out of the angel's hand." Thus Jefus perfumes and prefents our fervices; thus he obtains for our fupplications audience and acċeptance. Whether the interceflion of our High Priest in heaven be verbal, or mental only, it is not neceffa ry for us to determine. We know it is real; we know that he appears in the prefence of God for us;" we know that having been "reconciled by his death," "we fhall be faved by his life;" and that "he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that 22

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"come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to "make intercession for them." It may be necessary however to caution you, not to mistake the nature and design of his intercession. It is not to inform God, as if he were ignorant; to remind him, as if he were forgetful; or to persuade him, as if he were unkind. The appointment is entirely his own; it sprang from his mercy, and exemplifies his wisdom. What a view does it give us of the majesty and holiness of God, that he will not suffer us to approach him without a Mediator! How powerfully does it remind us of our unworthiness and vileness! How loudly does it preach to us reverence and humility! What becomes of self-righteousness, if we can bring nothing deserving the divine regards; if our best duties need forgiveness, rather than recompense: if "the iniquity "of our most holy things" would be sufficient to destroy all our confidence? But, O how it meets the fears of the returning sinner, and the discouragements of the dejected saint! "We have boldness and access ❝ with confidence by the faith of Him." If this dispensation were not designedly typified, it is beautifully illustrated in the address of God "to Eliphaz, and "his two friends." "You have not spoken of me "the thing that is right; therefore take unto you "now seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my "servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for "him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly."

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We conclude by observing, what a view this gives us of our Lord and Saviour. What an infinitely im

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