it be in us as at home, then we abide in Christ, and he in us.

They that abide in Christ as their hearts' delight, shall have, through Christ, their hearts' desire.. The promises abiding in us lie ready to be turned into prayers, and prayers so regulated cannot but speed. If we abide in Christ, and his word, we shall have an interest in God's favour, and Christ's mediation; we shall have an answer of peace to all our prayers. They shall bring forth fruit. From a vine we look for grapes, and from christians we look for christianity; that is, the fruit of a christian temper and disposition, a christian life and conversation, christian devotions, and christian designs and practice. We must honour God, and do good, and exemplify the purity and power of the religion we profess in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father.

He purgeth them that they may bring forth more fruit. The purging and pruning of fruitful branches, in order to their greater fruitfulness, is the care and work of the great husbandman. Even fruitful branches, the best, have in them much that wants pruning. That faith which is received into the heart purifies the soul; there is a cleansing virtue in that word to work grace, and work out

corruption, it cleanseth as fire cleanseth the gold from its dross, and we then evidence that we are cleansed by the word when we bring forth fruit unto holiness. So shall ye be my disciples. So shall we both evidence our discipleship and adorn it, and be to our Master for a name, and a praise, and a glory. That is to be disciples indeed. So shall we be owned by our Master in the great day, and have the reward of disciples, and share in the joy of our Lord.

HYMN.

Come worship at Emmanuel's feet,
See on his face what wonders meet ;
Earth is too narrow to express
His worth, his glory, or his grace:

Is he a rose? not Sharon yields,
Such fragrancy in all her fields,
Or if the lily he assume,
The vallies bless the rich perfume.

Is he a vine? his heavenly root
Supplies the boughs with life and fruit:
O let a lasting union join

My soul to Christ the living vine.

PRAYER

For Sunday Morning.

FOR INCREASE OF GRACE.

O God of all grace, who gavest thy beloved Son that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly, of his fulness may we receive grace sufficient for us, to make us strong in the Lord, and ready to every good work. Thy people go from strength to strength, growing in grace, till they appear before thee in glory; and the path of the just is as the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day. But, O Lord, how barren and unfruitful have we been among the trees of righteousness, how weak are we still in our spiritual estate! O how small is our will and strength to that which is good! How much are we behind many of thy servants in the Christian race. O our God, we have not well improved the talents which thou hast put into our hands, nor answered the care and kindness of heaven, which we have so long experienced. We are ashamed that so many mercies have been lost upon us. Forgive us, O Lord, and repair thy holy image in us.

help us more and more to put off the old

man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to put on the new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness. Whatever else we want, Lord, deny us not thy grace, but increase it in us more and more; yea, let the graces of thy Spirit that accompany salvation, so flourish in our souls, that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may keep our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. Blessed Jesus, our life, our strength, and our Redeemer! strengthen in us, we beseech thee, the things that remain and are ready to die, and cherish all the seeds of grace sown in our hearts, that our souls may prosper and increase with the increase of God, growing in knowledge and grace, and abounding in all the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God; that so we may be fully satisfied of the truth of thy grace in us, by its growing upon us. Lord! carry on with power the work of faith and sanctification in our souls, that our sinful corruptions may grow weaker and weaker every day, and thy grace stronger and stronger. Let it take more entire possession of our souls, subduing every corrupt affection, every proud thought, and bringing all to the obedience of faith. Let grace so prevail in our hearts as

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to make the exercises of it easy and delightful, regular and constant; and may the sins that most easily beset us be more and more subdued. Is it pride? O let it be mortified, however painful we may feel it—till we think of ourselves no more highly than we ought to think, till we can bear injuries, and slight, and contempt, with meekness, as followers of the meek and humble Jesus; and may we be clothed with humility. Thus may every sin be more subdued and every grace growing and abounding within us; and forgetting the things that are behind, may we press forward till we come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

And thus may every member of this family be growing in grace; may the young grow in grace, while they grow in stature; and while their outward man is flourishing in health and vigour, may their souls be in health and prosper. May the aged still bear fruit to the praise and glory of God, till they shall be gathered in their season fully ripe. Thus may grace spread itself over all our hearts, uniting us in love, and preparing us for the family of heaven, where grace shall be ripened into glory. Amen.