His disciples to pray, this was the graCous appellation by which they were permitted to address Him-viz., "Our Father who art in heaven." This, too,

the very relation He promises to arter into, and the very title by which He condescends to call Himself to us, we obey His Word, and come out from the world and be separate; for He says, "I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." It is D4 merely that He will bear the title, but that He will be a Father to us; and that the kindness, and sympathy, and care, and all other good involved in that relationship, shall be granted to ts. Thus, in all circumstances of trial, adiction, and even of infirmity and imperfection, we may count upon His Fatherly compassion, for, "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord paticth them that fear Him. For He koweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust.' And so also in the bestowment of all needed good and blessing we may assuredly depend upon His Fatherly love and interest in Car wellbeing to give us both grace and glory, and to withhold from us no good thing if we walk uprightly. "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone, or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a serpent, or if he shall ask an egg will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how ach more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him."

But what are the blessings provided for us, and for which we are invited to

Only two are mentioned; but they are most essential, and so comphensive that they may, perhaps, be said to include all other blessings. The first mentioned is MERCY. Hot greatly we need that mercy! for we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. We have all gone astray like lost sheep, we have each turned to his own way. And O how greatly we have sinned! How great is

the multitude of our sins, and how vast their magnitude! "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who should stand? But there is mercy with Thee that Thou mayest be feared." We cannot purchase that mercy. No man can give to God a ransom either for himself or his brother. But God has provided it for us freely; for we are redeemed not with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.

How blessed are those that obtain mercy! It forgives all trespasses; for, however numerous our transgressions may have been, God multiplies His pardons to cover them. However serious our offences, His mercy completely blots them out, for "though our sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, and though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool."

It brings peace into our hearts, for when Christ says, 'Son, thy sins be forgiven thee," He also says, "Go in peace;" and this peace is the peace of Christ, and given not as the world gives; yea, it is the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

It also brings its admonition, and supplies its motive, to avoid transgression, and thus to preserve us from fresh guilt and condemnation. For the Saviour who forgives and bestows peace, says, 'Sin no more;" and one of the results secured by the bestowment of Divine mercy is that those who receive it may fear God, and consequently avoid sinning against Him, and incurring His displeasure. "But there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared." Well may we say, therefore, in the language of the Psalmist, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

The other blessing mentioned is GRACE, or favour, to help us in time of need.

This is, in fact, Grace to help us at all

times, for every time is one of need. There is no portion of our existence, there is no event or circumstance in all our lives, in which to be without God, to be without His care. and sympathy, and help,

would not be an evil most deeply to be deplored, and in which His presence and blessing would not be an unspeakable cause of gratitude.

For the Lord ever guards us against a spirit of self-sufficiency and self-dependence, by reminding us that, "without Him, we can do nothing.' And the apostle (who seems ever conscious of his own weakness, but of the all-sufficiency of Christ's strength, which is made perfect in weakness), exhorts us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." He reminds us also that our spiritual weakness is so great that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think even a good thought as of ourselves; while He also points out the source of our sufficiency by saying, "But I can do all things through Christ who strength

eneth me."

But there are times of special need in which the preciousness of such a promise (for so it is, at least indirectly) would be most encouraging and comforting to the heart.

Such a time, is when the Christian is passing under the dark cloud of temptation. The enemy of souls "goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," and seldom loses the opportunity of assailing our souls when it offers itself, the more especially if by any means we become remiss in watch-. fulness and prayer. What would Peter have done when Satan desired to have him that he might sift him as wheat, if the Lord had not granted him the grace to help him in the time of his special need involved in that special interposition on his behalf, "But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not"? Even under these circumstances his sin was grievous enough, and his fall low enough, in bringing dishonour on the Redeemer's cause, and sorrow and bitterness into his own heart;

but, if the Saviour had not th specially interposed, he would certainly have made shipwreck faith and of a good conscience, a have drawn back into perdition, he would certainly have been drown when, walking upon the water, he beg to sink, if the Lord had not stretch forth His hand, and saved him! B there is Grace, that with the ter tation there may be also a way escape."

Such a time of need also is the s son of domestic affliction and bereaveme When sickness and disease enter house, and the members of our famil are laid upon beds of pain and languis ing, how much grace we need strengthen our faith, and to enable to commit them into the hands of t Lord! But when death comes, feare and perhaps dreaded, and makes its fir inroad upon the family circle; when husband or wife is called to see the d sire of their eyes pass away at a stroke when the beloved son, just rising in manhood, is laid low; and the love daughter, the pride and joy of t household, passes to her long hon and the place that knew them sh know them no more for ever, O he much grace is then needed to keep t heart from being overwhelmed, and keep the spirit from being utter crushed! A friend of mine lately die leaving a widow and five childre The medical attendant, who call about an hour after the death, fou the widow, with dishevelled hair, in state of semi-stupor, kneeling by t bed-side, with her arm round her de husband's neck, and her head lyi upon his, with the five poor orpha weeping around the bed. A mon has passed, but in the visits I have pa her she has seemed so heart-strick that, but for Divine grace in this tir of need, her hope would have utter died out. About a year ago I read account of the deaths of three childr of one family within one week. A a few days ago I read anoth account of the deaths of four chi dren in one family, within the san

would

rt space of time. Who but the ard can bind up the hearts of such stricken parents, and what but the race and presence of the Lord of the neyard, can comfort the heart, and elp it to sustain such losses, even en He transplants these early swers into His own paradise? It is w upwards of a year since the good Shepherd was pleased to take to His heavenly fold my own dear son, at the azy df nineteen. O, how earnestly I ged for his recovery, and prayed that, if it were the Lord's will, He spare him! but when the end ane, and his spirit went forth to Jesus whom he loved and served, though I did not sorrow as one without hope, yet had not God had mercy upon me, in granting me sustaining and comforting Grace, I have little doubt but I should soon have slept the sleep of death too. And there will, perhaps, scarcely be one who reads these Pages who has not known some similar time of need, about which their conviction is, that if the Lord had not sustained them, the deep waters had gone over their soul.

And what a time of need it is when God lays His hand upon us in perlafliction, and this sickness is unto dest!" I have just returned from isting a member of my church, a Christian mother, who left home a few weeks ago for change of air, in the hope of recruiting her health, and who returned about two days since, but much altered for the worse. She is suffering from a disease which will, in all probability, prove fatal, and perhaps in a comparatively short space of time. As I sat and conversed with her, she spoke of her deep and conflicting feel28, as she thought of the fatal result ter illness might terminate in, and of her sorrow of heart, as the painful prospect of separation from husband and children sometimes forced itself upon her. And as I endeavoured to say a few words of comfort to her, I could not but feel what a deep and special time of need it was, and how essential that she should find Grace to

help her therein-to help her to commit her soul into the Redeemer's hands as unto a faithful Creator, and to help her to give up all to His kind care, in whose hands our times are, and to say, "Thy will be done;" for when the flesh and the heart faileth, who but the Lord can be the strength of the heart, and its portion for ever?

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But these blessings must be sought. "Let us come to the throne of Grace." God is, indeed, ready to bless us, hath promised to do so, and waits to be gracious, but He says, "I will yet be inquired of by the house of Israel to do these things for them; Yet observe how closely connected are the promises of answers to prayer, with the invitations to supplication. As our Lord Himself has said, Seek, and ye shall find; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you;" so now, in the same spirit of full encouragement, the apostle addresses us, even when urging us to seek. It is simply, let us come that we may obtain; the feast is prepared, let us come and partake thereof; God holds forth the blessings in His hand, let us come and receive them.

And these blessings if sought, shall not be sought in vain.

MERCY MAY BE OBTAINED. The dying thief on the cross obtained it, and, although he had been a very ungodly man, and a great criminal, and only turned to the Lord at the eleventh hour, yet when he cried, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom," the Saviour immediately answered, Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.'

Paul obtained it. He had been a persecutor, a blasphemer, and an injurious man, who sinned both in ignorance and in unbelief. "But," he says, "I obtained mercy." And that his case is not to be regarded as singular and exceptional, but rather as a lighthouse that stands at the mouth of the harbour of refuge, to guide and encourage those seeking for safety and shelter, is evident, for he says, "How

beit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." And the lesson to you, and to me, and to all, is that we also may obtain mercy at the throne of Grace, however greatly we may have sinned, and however guilty and unworthy we may be.

And GRACE ALSO MAY BE FOUND. The Psalmist found it, for he says (Psalm xxxiv.), "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.' Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Paul also found it, for he says (2 Cor. xii.), referring to the thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, whom the Lord sent to buffet him, "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

me.

David found it when he said (Psalm xxiii.), "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Paul found it when, in anticipation of martyrdom, he said (2 Timothy iv. 7, 8), "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." And this is but the experience of all His saints, of whose wants and necessities He is ever mindful. And so true, and so adapted, and so precious to them, have they found the Saviour's promise in its fulfilment, that they can magnify the Lord with His apostle, and exalt his name together, saying, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities. that the power of Christ may rest Therefore I take pleasure

upon me.

in infirmities, in reproaches, in nece sities, in persecutions, in distresses, Christ's sake: for when I am we then am I strong."

Another matter of deep interest connexion with the throne of grace the holy freedom and boldness with wh we may come. God, in His intial condescension, communes with us.

it were, face to face, as a man speake with his friend. On His friendship may fully rely for sympathy in all trials, and afflictions, and sorrow We may freely seek His counsel on occasions, and in reference to all affairs. So also we may fully con in his fatherly affection and care; as a father pitieth his children so t Lord pitieth them that fear Him; a if earthly parents, being evil, kn how to give things unto their childre how much more shall our Heaven Father who alone is good ("there none good but one-that is God' give good things to them that as Him? We cannot hide anything fro His knowledge, for "all things a naked and open unto His eyes;" we need not think anything that com cerns our welfare beneath His notic for our Saviour tells His disciples, th "the very hairs of their heads are s numbered;" that they 66 are of ma value than many sparrows," and y that "not one sparrow falleth to t ground without His knowledge."

not H

His love to us has been most abu dantly proved by the gift of His ow dear Son; and it is on this ground we infer with absolute certainty t success of our pleadings at the thro of grace. "For if God spared own Son, but gave Him up for us a how shall He not with Him also free give us all things ?" So that we ma come boldly, with freedom of speed with all filial confidence in the love an faithfulness of our Heavenly Fath who hath said, "Open thy mouth wit and I will fill it.”

But I especially desire that yo should realize that the very institutio of the throne of Grace, that access t it by such sinful and guilty creature

we are, the blessings which are disensed by Him who sitteth upon it, d above all the boldness and freedom rmitted to us in our approach to it, all and entirely owing to the sacrifice d mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. says, "I am the way, the truth, nd the life; no man cometh unto the Ether but by me." But the liberty eater into the holiest, even by Jesus, nly by His blood, which has been shed for the remission of sins. It is "wand living way, which He hath

rated for us through the veilthat is to say, His flesh.' For, as the High Priest could not enter into the holiest without blood, so Christ also entered once into the Holy place only by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us; and unless we are sprinkled with this blood, and, as it were, take it in our hands-i.e., by faith, when we go to appear before God-there can be no access for us to the throne of grace.

But the Father is well pleased with the Son for His work and righteousness sake; and His intercession always prevails for those on whose behalf it is ered. Upon the occasion of raising Lazarus from the grave, the Saviour aid, "Father, I thank thee that thou Last heard me;" but also added, " And I knew that thou hearest me always." John xi. 41, 42.) And to His disciples, shortly before His crucifixion, to comfort their hearts in the prospect of His departure, He said, "Verily, ve

I say unto you, whatever ye shall 2- 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."

So let the name of Christ be in your warts and on your lips, when you draw ar to the throne of Grace; you may

then soar above all depressing thoughts your own sinfulness and unworthi, you may lose all fear and lay

aside all doubts; and in all humble faith and assurance, but with all holy boldness and confidence, ask, and receive for His name's sake, mercy to pardon, and grace to help in time of need.

Let me ask you, in conclusion, to guard against those things which will hinder your coming to the throne, or hinder your boldness thereat, and so shut out from your souls these gracious and all precious blessings. Wilful disobedience and transgression, an angry spirit, an unbridled tongue, an inconsistent life, unprincipled conduct in worldly matters, a neglected Bible, a forsaken or partially forsaken sanctuary, cannot consist with the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man, which availeth much.. These are all hindrances to our coming boldly to the throne of Grace. They deaden the spirit, they harden the heart, they chain the soul to earth as in a prisonhouse, and prevent its soaring to the throne, and seal the lips from supplication. If these things exist, and if the accusations of conscience be not heeded and improved, they will cause us to restrain prayer before God; the door of mercy will remain closed against us; and without Christ as our sufficiency, we shall be an easy prey to the tempter, be blown about by every wind of temptation, and suffer great spiritual loss and injury, if, indeed, we do not make fatal and final shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. Again I say, guard against all hindrances-avoid all obstacles-to your access to the throne of Grace. Come to it, come often to it; be instant in season and out of season; come boldly to it in Christ's name and in faith in God; and you shall obtain mercy; you shall find grace to help you in time of need; God will guide you by His counsel, and afterwards receive you to glory.