One less for destruction against the day when they are to be the instruments of God's righteous judgment. Matt. xiii. 39-43, 49.

One more added to the crowd who will join with them in singing, "Worthy is the Lamb." Rev. v. 9-12.

Apply.

Have we given the angels this joy-effectual receiving? Do we strive to give them that joy, in helping on the effectual receiving of it in others?

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations." Religion in the soul is not nourished without trial and struggle. When we devote ourselves to the Lord, we must count the cost-count also the reward.

Count the difficulties to overcome-count also the means of overcoming them.

Temptations-explain the word. Trial-as Abraham Gen xxii. 1. From God in order to prove. Trial to make to sin-from Satan. James i. 13, 14.

These God permits to sift the chaff from the wheat. Luke xxii. 31.

God preserves his people in temptations. 2 Tim. ii. 19. John x. 27-29.

The text speaks more largely of this. Right understanding of the text depends mainly on the words godly, and unjust.

The godly to be delivered, meaning of the word evoεßs-fitly worshipping God. John iv. 23, 24. Acts x. 2, 7; xxii. 12, Titus ii. 12-Live soberly, righteously, and godly. 2 Tim. iii. 12-will live godly in Christ Jesus.

translated devout..

It is contrasted with the unjust adɩkoç.

This means not justified in the sight of God-1 Pet. iii. 18. 1 Cor vi. 1, 9. Acts xxiv. 15.-resurrection of just and unjust. The sense rendered more clear besides in the context.

Noah-the world of the ungodly. Righteous Lot-the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. Heb. xi. 7.

If God did not spare the one, but saved the other, He knows how to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment, and to deliver the godly. (Specially the characters mentioned after the text.)

Consider to which class do you belong? these two—either godly or unjust.

There are only

If you are afraid you shall not be able to stand. The Lord knoweth how to deliver you--the godly.

Temptation suited to you-way of escape. 1 Cor. x. 13. Hold fast the beginning firm to the end-Christ will keep you. Rev. iii. 10.

If the unjust, you may well be afraid. Certain fearful looking for of judgment, &c. Heb. x. 27.

The Lord KNOWETH HOW. He has his providential means outwardly. He has his means of grace to help us inwardly. The Lord knoweth. Heb. ii. 18. Ps. ciii. 14.

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

A right and a wrong way to do everything. The way of doing it makes all the difference in the result.

In proportion as the object is important, the importance of choosing the right way is increased.

Intercourse with God is the most important thing to ourselves; therefore it is most important to find the right way to Him. In prayer in us everything depends on the spirit in which we ask. Prov. xxviii. 3. Matt. xv. 8, 3.

We must honour God in our prayer. His power to act. Matt. xxviii. 18. His willingness to hear. John vi. 37.—Our unworthiness to ask. Luke xviii. 13.-His Justice. Heb. xii. 29. Exod. xxix. 7. Out of these two last points would arise the certainty of his NOT hearing.

Therefore we must come in the way He has appointed for unworthy sinners to come to Him; in which way he is pleased to exhibit His mercy.

That way-Christ. John xiv. 6. Rom. iii. 26. Ps. lxxxv. 10. The sacrifice for sin by Christ.-Atonement. Rom. v. 11. The cross is the one bridge over the great chasm which separates man from God.

But where this sacrifice completed—a SURE way is madesurely He hath, &c. Is. liii. 4.

Oath-Covenant-two immutable things. Heb. vi. 17, 18. Heb. viii. 8. Jer. xxxi. 31. Ezek. xxxvi. 27.

A Faith in this-belief of God's promise-a conviction that he will keep it this produces confidence in prayer-the very state to which God promises an answer. Matt. xxi. 22. 1 John v.14,15. The text contains the strongest assurance of this-compare it with context, verse 19,-at that day-difference of the first and second ask the 1st Epwraw, supplicate, the 2nd aɩrew, demandin v. 24 especially.-Confidence in claiming," that our joy may be full."

This could not be done till the sacrifice was completed-the Cross the bridge erected; nor then till a guide had been sent from Christ to guide us over-Holy Spirit, as in John xvi. 7, and xiv. 16, &c.

This completed sacrifice purchasing our privilege, it is ours in Christ, because purchased by Him for us; we may humbly claim therefore. God is faithful-cannot deny himself.

Persevering confidence the mark of real faith, as Job xiii. 15. Has this been the character of our prayers?

This question applied to five classes of persons. 1. The formal petitioner. 2. The occasional petitioner. 3. The person who continues in sin and the world, though praying. 4. The wordy professor with gifts, &c. 5. The humble child of God:-one who lives under his privileges, but who strives to attain to them.

PRAYER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING. No. IV. Self-examination as to our use of the Church Services. (Continued from Vol. II, page 319.)

69. (c) What is the meaning of the word "miserable?" 70. (e) How have I been in the habit of using that word in the confession?

71. (a) What do we say to God, that we expect to be the result of confessing our sins?

72. (c) What is meant by asking to be spared? Spared from what?

73. (a) What do we ask as the result of being penitent? 74. (a) To what do we look to be restored?

75. (a) To whom do we allude as being penitent?

76. (a) Upon what ground do we venture to ask these things? 77. (a) How has God made the promises which justify us in asking these things?

78. (b) In what parts of Scripture do we find these promises? 79. (a) What do we ask to be the result in our conduct? 80. (a) Upon what ground do we ask this?

81. (a) From what time do we ask that these results may take place? and how long are they to continue?

THE PASTOR'S REMEMBRANCER.

EVERY step of the way of our salvation hath on it the print of infinite majesty, wisdom, and goodness, and this amongst the rest; that men, sinful, weak men, are made subservient in that great work of bringing Christ and souls to meet; that by the "foolishness of preaching," or what appears so to carnal wisdom, the chosen of God are called, and come unto Jesus, and are made "wise unto salvation;" and that the life which is conveyed to them by the "word of life" in the hands of poor men, is by the same means preserved and advanced. This is the standing work of the ministry, and this the thing here bound upon them that are employed in it, "to feed the flock of God that is among them." Jesus Christ descended to purchase a church, and ascended to prove and finish it, to send down his Spirit" He ascended and gave gifts," particularly "for the work of the ministry;" and the great use of them is this, "Feed the flock of God."

Not to say any more of this usual resemblance of a flock, as importing the weakness and tenderness of the church, the continual need she stands in of inspection, and guidance, and defence, and the tender care of the cheif Shepherd for these things; the phrase enforces the present duty of subordinate pastors, their care and diligence in feeding that flock. The due rule of discipline not excluded, the main part of this duty is by doctrine, the leading them into wholesome and "green pastures" of saving truths revealed in the gospel, accommodating the way of teaching to their condition and capacity; and with this they should be, as much as possible, particularly acquainted, and suit diligently and prudently their doctrine to it. They are to "feed the sheep," those more advanced; to "feed the lambs," the younger and weaker; to have special care of the infirm; to learn of their Master, the great Shepherd, to "bind up that which is broken, and strengthen that which is sick," Ezek. xxxiv. 16,-those that are broken in spirit, that are exercised with temptations; and "gently to lead those that are with young" Isa. xl. 11,-those in whom the inward work of grace is as in the conception, and they heavy and weak with the weight of it, and the many difficulties and doubtings which are frequent companions and symptoms of that work. Oh, what dexterity and skilfulness, what diligence, and, above all, what affection and bowels of compassion, are needful for this task! "Who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Cor. ii. 16. Who would not faint and give over in it, were not our Lord "the chief Shepherd," were not all our sufficiency laid up in his rich fulness, and all our insufficiency covered in his gracious acceptance?

The first thing we have to eye and study is, to set him before us, and to apply ourselves in his strength to this work :-not to seek to please, but to feed; not to delight the ears, but to feed the souls of his people; to see that the food be according to his appointment; not empty or subtle notions, not light affected expressions, but wholesome truths, solid food, spiritual things spiritually conceived, and uttered with holy understanding and affection. Archbishop Leighton on Peter.

THE

PASTOR'S ASSISTANT.

APRIL 1, 1844.

PART FIRST.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PASTOR IN HIS STUDY.

m

PASTORAL PRAYER.

THE whole work of a Pastor is one which must be continually enlarging its power upon his heart, or it becomes perfunctory; and besides being a mere labour, it fails of its great object—the finding of lost sheep, and feeding them in the fold of Christ. The great mean for the promotion of this enlargement of its power in the Pastor's heart is PRAYER; and, in the infirmity of human nature, nothing is more disheartening and hindering to pastoral prayer, than the evident and continued worldliness of many of those for whom the Pastor has often prayed most earnestly. There is much in Scripture which tends to counteract the deadening effect of this, and helps us to go on with patient expectation, pleading and hoping for even the most hopeless. May the following article be employed by the Holy Spirit in promoting this state of heart in some of the ministers of Christ : the subject is deeply important to them especially, though it is treated without any pointed reference to the Pastoral tie, in order that it may also be published separately as a tract for circulation amongst their flocks under the title of

PLEADING IN PRAYER.

The power which God has been pleased to assign to faithful prayer is so much beyond the reach of the expectation of man, that often he cannot persuade himself of the reality of what God

VOL. III.-NO. XXVIII.

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