To say, in compliment, "I am a sinner;" is easy: but to cry with the publican indeed, "God be merciful to me a sinner," is the hardest prayer in the world.

"God be merciful, in Christ, to me a sinner," are fit to be the last dying words of the greatest saint that lives.

A family without prayer is like an house without a roof, exposed to all the injuries of weather, and to every storm that blows.

Prayer is the breath of a regenerate man.

What we win by prayer, we shall wear with comfort.

Either praying will make a man leave off sinning, or sinning will make him leave off praying.

The Deity, and the sun, are, in this respect, similar; they cheer and refresh humble, cautious beholders; but put out the eye of such as are too daring, prying, and inquisitive.

A proud heart and a lofty mountain are never fruitful.

If once (like Hezekiah) we call in spectators to see our treasure, and grow proud of our gifts and comforts; then it is high time for God, if he loves us indeed, to send some messengers to carry those away from us, which carry our hearts away from him.

It requires more prowess, and greatness of spirit, to obey God faithfully, than to command an army of men; to be a Christian, than to be a captain.

None will have such a dreadful parting from Christ, in the last day, as they who, by profession, went half way with him, and then left him.

God is wise to conceal the succours he intends thee in the several changes of thy life, that so

he may draw thy heart into an entire dependence on his faithful promise. Therefore, though thou, perhaps, might not see thy God in the way, thou shalt surely find him in the end.

Judge not of God's love, by providences, but by promises.

When a believer is in darkness, and endeavours to reason away his unbelief, he will find all his reasonings but lost labour. There is only one thing, he can do, to purpose; and that is simply to cast anchor on God's naked promise.

What we term the course of nature, is the incessant administration of Providence.

He that eyes a providence, shall always have a providence to eye.

God, who feeds the ravens, will not starve his doves.

If God be your father, you can want nothing that is good but the determination of what is good, must be left to his wisdom; for we are not so fit to judge of it, nor to discern our own good. We should, therefore, commit all to his fatherly care and wise providence. Indeed, he chooseth rather to profit us, than to please us, in his dispensations and it is our duty to refer all to his wisdom and faithfulness.

If we trust God for our heavenly inheritance, we may well trust him for our daily maintenance; which he vouchsafeth to the birds of the air, to the beasts of the field, and even to his enemies. He that feedeth a kite, will he not feed a child? He that supplies his enemies, will he not take care of his family? You would think that person monstrously cruel, who would feed his dogs and starve his children. This cannot, without blasphemy, be imagined of our gracious and heavenly Father.

PROVIDENCE.

THE providence of God is one straight line, drawn from the point of his decree. A straight line it is, in itself: however crooked it may appear, through a false medium. God will do whatever he pleases: and what pleases him, ought to please us. It is above nature, it is contrary to nature, to make a full surrender of ourselves to his sovereign and absolute will. Grace alone can enable us to say, from the heart, "Thy will be done."

In a musical instrument, when we observe a number of strings set to harmony, we conclude, that some skilful musician had tuned them.

When we see thousands of men in a field, marshalled under their respective colours, all yielding exact obedience; we infer, that there is a general, to whose orders they are subject.

In a watch, when we observe springs and wheels, great and small, each so fitted, as to concur to an orderly motion, we acknowledge the skill of an artificer.

When we come into a printing-house, and see a vast variety of different letters, so regulated and disposed, as to make a book; we are, at once, convinced, that there is some composer, by whose art they were brought into such a frame.

When we behold a fair building, we conclude it had an architect; and,

When we see a stately ship, completely fitted out, and safely conducted to the port, we know, that it had builders and a pilot.

The visible world is such an instrument, army, watch, building, book, and ship, as undeniably

proves that God was and is the tuner, general, and artificer, the composer, architect, and pilot of it.

THE TWO PRINCIPLES IN MAN.

THERE are two principles, in a man that is born again; a principle of corrupt nature, and a principle of grace: the one is called, the old man; and the other the new. The old man continues unregenerate, to the last. No part in him is regenerated. He remains untouched, and is just the same he was, only deprived of his power and dominion. The new man is wholly regenerate. There is no unregenerate part in him. There is no sin in him, nor done by him: "he cannot sin, because he is born of God." "The king's daughter is all glorious within."

GRATITUDE.

Our whole life should speak nothing but thankfulness; every condition and place we are in should be a witness of our thankfulness: this will make the times and places we live in the better for us. When we ourselves are monuments of God's mercy, it is fit we should be patterns of his praises, and leave monuments to others. We should think life is given to us to do something better than to live in: we live, not to live; our life is not the end of itself, but the praise of the Giver. God hath joined his glory and our happiness together: it is fit that we should refer all that is good to his glory, who hath joined his glory to our best good in being

glorified in our salvation. Praise is a just and due tribute for all God's blessings; for what else do the best favours of God especially call for at our hands? How do all creatures praise God but by our mouths? It is a debt always owing, and always paying; and the more we pay, the more we shall owe: upon the due discharge of this debt, the soul will find much peace. A thankful heart to God for his blessings is the greatest blessing of all. Were it not for a few gracious souls, what honour should God have of the unthankful world? which should stir us up the more to be trumpets of his praises in the midst of his enemies; because this hath a prerogative above our praising God in heaven; for there God hath no enemies to dishonour him.

It is good to see blessings as they issue from grace and mercy. It much commends any blessing to see the love and favour of God in it, which is more to be valued than the blessing itself.

MORAL SUASION.

MORAL Suasion of itself will never change the heart, or bring a sinner to Christ. The Scriptures expressly assert this. They assure us that no man cometh unto Christ unless the Father draw him. We have many proofs in fact. Christ was infinitely able to argue. He was well acquainted with all the arts of persuasion; but "no man received his testimony." Paul had every possible advantage. He had excellent natural abilities, much literature, and great grace. He received his acquired endowments at the feet