pensed. So that whether we are expecting in accordance with, or contrary to, the specified course, can easily be known; while every expectation will thus be seen in its fallacy, or be confirmed in all its certainty.

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It is thus clear that the Divine word affords every encouragement to the ardent wishes and hopes of the sincere. As that MERCY which is the ground of all safe expectation has spread before us the wide field of promise, and is pledged in every thing there specified, it is actually bound by its own deed, to confirm every hope which has been thus excited by promise. And "having exceeding great and precious promises"-"great" in the blessings which they offer, "great" in the love which originated them, and "great" in the security by which they are sacredly sealed; while they are "precious" beyond all price of human estimation or finite thought, and "precious" as abundantly sufficient to meet all our wants, we have simply to rest our expectations upon the free offers of the Gospel, with that faith which gives glory to God in the truth of His word; simply to

"ask" in such a faith, and receive the blessing which our case requires; to "seek," and realize the supply of our wants; to "knock," and find the whole treasure of heaven opened for enjoyment here, or reserved as a "fulness of joys at God's right hand." And "God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath," in order to confirm our confidence in asking "according" as His word makes known His counsel; "that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie," or man reasonably to doubt the security thus given, "we might have a strong consolation "-one stronger than any consolation arising from expectations founded upon human merit, and which native doubts or guilty fears might easily darken-that we, "who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before," might have this consolation "according to His word." If, then, we can plead the Divine word in our prayers, it is like presenting an order which MERCY has drawn upon itself, and left in our hands; and which can never

be denied and dishonoured at "a throne of grace," when presented in faith.

It is clear, however, that the same word. cuts off all expectations from the presumptuous, who are hoping contrary to the prescribed

course.

It is a well-known fact, that all men are expecting mercy in some way at last; even they who are most abusing it, by now perverting and neglecting its offers and stipulations. If they have despised the Divine favour up to the very hour of death, they trust that mercy will still be found in reserve for them at the day of judgment. But they never pause to consider what reflections they are casting upon the character of God; what a Being they are representing Him to beone too unworthy to be obeyed now, because too weak to be feared hereafter! One whose word can have no meaning for present reverence, and whose favour cannot be worth present effort to secure! These will plainly be found to be the sentiments of the unthinking impenitent, when clothed in the simple dress of so many words. They cannot plead, "Be

merciful unto me ACCORDING to thy word; because God has given no word which accords with their vain hopes. He never speaks of mercy being made secure for to-morrow, while the distant expectation of it is perverted into the licence for its neglect and abuse to-day. His word promises mercy to none but the penitent; if, then, we have not the feelings or features of the specified character, while looking for it, we are bidding defiance to that word, both in its conditions and consequences; and, in thus rudely attempting to break over its limitations, are rashly rushing upon the flaming sword, which ever guards the inviolable region of Divine truth. All is clear and certain, while pleading and expecting "according" to the word of God. All must be the most daring speculation when we abandon the word which plainly lays before us the revealed course of the Divine attributes.

The text thus shows us that the DIVINE FAVOUR must be realized, fully to carry out the idea, that, to us, "the Lord God is a sun and shield"-"a sun" to give that light

which imparts all gladdening animation—“ a shield" to afford that protection where there is every security for our trust, every safety for our hopes. But, to enjoy this blessedness, there must be that solicitude which expresses itself in fervent entreaty; while entreaty grounds all expectation on Divine mercy, and only ventures to expect "according to the Divine word"-the word already spoken, the word fully specifying its own terms of fulfilment, the word thus pledging success to the entreaty which pours out the fervour of the "whole heart," but leaves all expectation totally groundless, which keeps alive no entreaty, or is only hoping where God has not promised. The spirit of the text, then, is, in other words, thus breathed out: "O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." And while this ought to be the fervent language of every heart, the word of God affords every ground of hope, on which we can. ask so as to receive.