the truth: Therefore the unbelieving and the unclean hath no part in CHRIST. GOD's way is the way of righteousness and true holiness; yet no man by his works can procure for himself, or deserve any part of his glorious falvation: If therefore thou continueft not in the faith, following after peace with all men, and holiness, thou art none of his, and canft never see the LORD. Those whom GOD faves by grace are created in Chrift Fefus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. But truft not in thyfelf for wisdom, ftrength, or ftedfastness, to do that which is right in the fight of Gon: For he hath put no trust in his faints. Therefore truft not thou in thy own faithfulness, but in God's faithfulness, to make and keep thee faithful unto death, thro' JESUS CHRIST Our Lord.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to prefent you faultless before the prefence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wife God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Theff. ii. 13.

Ibid. xv. 15.

+ Eph. ii. 10. + Job iv. 18.Il Jude 25.

SERMON

SERMON XII.

EPHES. VI. 18.

Praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and fupplication for all faints.

TH

HE Apoftle (in the preceding verses) having defcribed the whole armour of God, and exhorted the Chriftian foldier to put it on, that he might be able to withstand his fpiritual enemies in the day of trial, and quench all the fiery darts of the Devil: He, in the words of our Text, counfels and directs him to make use of earnest and conftant prayer to GOD, in all his conflicts, and warrings against fin and Satan. Hereby he plainly fhews, that unless we fupplicate, and obtain

help

help from GOD, and CHRIST the Captain of our falvation, the armour before mentioned will profit us but little For he only that clothes us with it. can keep it on, and help us to make a faving and profitable use of it. Therefore, altho' the Chrif tian is completely armed with the whole armour of GOD, the Apoftle exhorts him not to truft in himself, nor in his armour, but ftill to look unto his glorious Captain and Redeemer; and acknowledging his own weakness, to rely upon God in Christ, and ask help and affiftance from him continually : Thus he exhorts the believer to pray always; for in every time of need it behoves him to flee to Christ, and make him his hiding place, and ftrength. Neither muft he draw nigh to GoD, and call upon him with his lips only, but with the whole heart. Not praying to the GoD of his life in a cold, careless, and formal manner, but with diligence and fervency of Spirit; and watch thereunto with all perfeverance, without fainting: Because our adverfary the Devil is not despicable nor flothful, but fubtil and powerful; who, as a roaring lion, goeth about feeking whom he may devour.-He wills and commands the Chriftian likewife, not to pray thus for himself alone, but for all faints; that is, for the whole army of believers, that they together, as one body, may stand firm, and ftedfaft in the faith; and there

by

by prevail, and triumph over all the rage and might of the enemy.

The Hebrew word for prayer is derived from a verb which fignifies to feparate, divide, or determine judicially, for which appeals are made (as in all matters of controversy) to the fupreme ruler or judge. Hence prayer is an appeal to God; wherein the perfon praying prefents both himself and kis caufe before God, to be heard and determined by him who judgeth righteously. Wherefore he faith, the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers +: But, on the contrary, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear met. And again, of the wicked he faith; they cried, but there was none to fave them; even unto the Lard, but be answered them not. The Apostle also affures us, that if our hearts condemn us not, then bave we confidence towards God; and whatsoever we afk we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do thofe things that are pleafing in his fight §.

Therefore if we pray unto God, and ask any thing of him either for ourfeives or others, we . must have a special regard to the righteousness of

+ Pfal. xxxiv. 15. § 1 John iii. 21, 22.

GOD

Pfal. lxvi. 18.

|| Pfal. xviii, 41.