thy wings will I rejoice."-Above all, we must come, pleading the perfection of the work of the Saviour, and the Divine Glory as connected with it. No argument so powerful as this, or which so effectually secures success. What has Jesus done and suffered in behalf of sinful men? Make mention of his obedience and sacrifice at the seat of the Most High, and say, "" Behold, O God, our shield; and look on the face of thine Anointed :" "For thy Name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity :" "For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemp tion."

There is no blessing that we seek in prayer, but which is the purchase of the Redeemer's death, and the fruit of his intercession: these, therefore, we plead at the throne of the Majesty on high. We draw near with this argument :-"For his sake who bled and died, who lives and intercedes, and in whom it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell for his sake, O Lord, communicate of that fulness; and give us to receive, and grace for grace." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ." Already they are in Christ, and in him in order to be conferred. Then urge this plea; and beseech the Lord, for the glory of his Name, for the honour of his Son, to enrich, to save you, and eternally to satisfy you with his goodness.

IV. It is the language of humble HOPE.

Job had little expectation from his earthly friends: he had pronounced them "miserable comforters," and " physicians of no value." His sorrow did not move their sympathy, or prompt their relief. All his hope, therefore, centered in another, in a heavenly

Friend :-"O that I knew where I might find Him; that I might come even to his seat!"

That he had hope in this Friend is evident from what follows at verse the sixth: "Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me," And again, verse the tenth: "He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

It must not be supposed that our prayers move the mind of Jehovah, or change his purpose, or make him more kind than otherwise he would be. Job asserts in this chapter, "He is of one mind, and who can turn him?” But our prayers and pleadings answer this important end-they move ourselves ; they prove that we are in earnest; they stir up the fervour of the heart; and, by aiding our conviction of entire dependence, prepare us to receive, in a proper spirit, what the Lord hath promised to be

stow.

Blessed hope of the humble believer! "An anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast; entering into that within the vail, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus."-" We are saved by hope." This bears us up in the midst of trouble, relieves us in the deepest adversity, brightens the darkest scenes, and helps us safely through "the swelling of Jordan." "Why art thou cast down, O my soul; and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God."

What, then, is the ground of this hope? When we come to the seat of the Most High, and order our cause before him, and fill our mouth with arguments, what is it that warrants this believing expectation, this cheering confidence of success? We answer, The arguments themselves which he teaches us to urge; the very same considerations which he instructs

us to plead and these are, his own word of promise, and inviolable faithfulness; the good he hath done for others, as well as for us; and especially, the complete atonement, the all-prevalent intercession, of his Son and our Saviour.-Thus let us come to "his seat:" nor shall we come in vain. Our God will hear us, and in due time will help us. He is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think;" and his own glory is concerned in the exertion of this ability." He cannot deny himself," nor will he "disgrace the throne of his glory."

In closing the subject, we inquire, 1. Are you seeking God?

Multitudes, it is-feared, are not. Instead of saying, "O that I knew where I might find him!" their hearts at least indulge the sentiment, "There is no God;" "but if there is, O that I could forget him, and have nothing to do with him!" And how are these persons occupied? What engages their pursuit? The merest vanities; the world, and its follies; "that which is not bread," and "which satisfieth not." Should this be your case, it is well to be apprized that certain disappointment awaits you. There is one "Fountain of living waters," and only one; all beside are broken cisterns, which can hold no water." If you will amuse yourselves with hewing out these cisterns, while the Fountain is forsaken, your souls must remain unsatisfied, and eventually must perish. Dread the condition of those who are living without God in the world, as you would dread eternal banishment from his presence, and from the glory of his power.-But,

2. Are you seeking God in the right way?

It deserves to be repeated, "God is in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself." In this view of the Divine character all is beauty, all is harmony;

mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace embrace each other." "God is love:" he is "just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." Behold, therefore," the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

And Christ is present in the ordinances of his house, particularly in the Supper which he hath instituted. At this sacred feast, the Saviour is " evidently set forth as crucified," in all the tenderness of his pity, the ardour of his love, the glorious plenitude of his blessings, for guilty, worthless man. Is it wise, therefore, to slight the supper of the Lord? Are they acting consistently who turn away from his table, while they yet profess attachment to his Gospel and hope in his salvation? And in all our attendance on Divine ordinances, be this our object, to seek Him whom our soul loveth; to have "fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." This is the way to enjoy true pleasure, while at the same time we derive substantial benefit.

3. Learn to avail yourselves of liberty in approaching to God.-The sentiment of Job you are authorized to adopt : " that I might come even to his seat," the seat of mercy, which is accessible to. sinners through the Mediator. Say also with this venerable believer, "I know that my Redeemer liveth;" and in his name draw near, make known your requests unto God: "order your cause before him, and fill your mouth with arguments."

From the Bible we learn what our "cause" is: we are taught the true state and condition of the soul. Here we are instructed in our wants, and encouraged

to indulge the largest expectation from him who is all-sufficient to supply them. A child speaks with freedom to his father; but the child of God addresses with more confidence his " Father in heaven." He gives his word as the guide of our petitions, but allows us to tell him all that we feel, to use no reserve, to be importunate with him; and the more earnest we are, the better is he pleased. "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: put me in remembrance, and let us plead together." O that there were such a heart in us, to avail ourselves of the full liberty of prayer, and holy fellowship with the Most High!

4. Be assured of final success.

This assurance may rest, and ought to rest, on the validity of the arguments we are taught to plead. Is it possible they can fail; particularly this, which is founded on the atonement and intercession of Jesus Christ? Did he die? It was for our offences; and he was raised again for our justification. He gave his life a ransom, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and reconcile us to God by his own blood. This is he who "liveth, and was dead, and is alive for evermore; who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Believers, while you plead on earth, there is One, "the living One," who pleadeth for you in heaven; and " Him the Father always heareth.".

What, then, is your petition, and what is your request? It shall not be denied. Your sins, which are many, shall be forgiven; your persons, which are guilty, shall be justified; your whole soul and spirit shall be sanctified and saved. All this is as certain, to every believer, as the promise of the Father and the grace of the Son can make it.

"He who hath