surely not a license to offend. Prayer and insolence ill accord together.

This boldness, then, arises from nothing in ourselves, but purely from the goodness of the Being we address-and it consists principally, in a persuasion that we are freely authorized to come, and may confidently hope to succeed.

What a change is made in the views and feelings of a person by conviction of sin? Sin was once nothing in his view, but now awakened to consider, and enlightened to perceive its nature and consequences, he feels it to be the greatest evil; as before he could not be made to fear, he can scarcely now be induced to hope. Knowing his desert, and judging under the influence of human and guilty feelings, he finds it difficult to believe that God will receive him-But till he does believe this, he will not, he cannot come to him aright. God has, therefore, made provision to excite and sustain the confidence of self-condemned sinners.

He has revealed himself not as implacable, but as full of pity and compassion, "as the Lord God gracious and merciful. He has commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The conclusion is not more justly drawn, than it is infinitely encouraging: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also, freely give us all things? Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." His blood "cleanseth us from all sin. He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. He suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might

bring us unto God." I mention this the more fully, because we come unto God by him; and in proportion to our knowledge of the Mediator, and our reliance upon him, will be our enlargement and consolation in duty. It is here that our hopes take their rise: it is here that we are "filled with all joy and peace in believing. In whom," says the apostle, speaking of Christ, "we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." And again, "Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We have also exceeding great and precious promises such as these: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

To illustrate these promises, and to banish every fear which, springing from unworthiness and guilt, would hinder our application to him, he has been pleased to add a succession of examples. Some of these are derived from characters the

most vile; but vile as they once were, they 66 were washed, they were sanctified, they were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Among men, the chief offenders are always made examples of justice-but here they have frequently been made the examples of mercy. Civil governors are afraid to pardon the most criminal, lest these pardons should operate as encouragements; but here they are designed to be precedents: "For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me, first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering as a pattern to them that should believe on him to life everlasting." By these instances he has said "Why will you despair? See what 1 can do: and learn that neither the number nor the heinousness of your sins shall destroy you, if you are willing to obtain salvation, by the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In time, also, the believer's own experience much aids his confidence. Though he has no more dependence upon himself than he once had, he learns to trust more simply and firmly in Him who has never turned away his prayer, but has been a very present help in every time of trouble.

This boldness takes in not only a confidence of success, but also "a holy liberty in our addresses to him, expressive of intimacy and privilege." Are we Christians? We come not as strangers and foreigners, but as fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. We have received not the spirit of bondage again to fear; but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father! Other monarchs can be approached only at certain seasons, and in certain cases; and with certain formalities. But you may call upon him at all times; and in all circumstances. You

may "in everything make known your requests unto God." You may go and inform him of all that perplexes, all that alarms, all that distresses you. He deems nothing too little to be spread before him. You may tell him what you can tell no earthly friend. And you are not required to keep at a distance, but allowed to come "even to his seat to order your cause before him-to fill your mouth with arguments-to put him in remembrance-to plead with him-to persevere and not let him go, except he bless you!"

II. Having considered the manner in which we are to draw nigh to the throne of grace, let us next observe the purposes for which we must come. They are these-to obtain mercy, and to find grace. These blessings are wisely connected together by the apostle, because there are too many people, and,-I dare say you have met with such, who try to separate them. They would be saved from hell, but not from sin. They wish to be pardoned, but not renewed. They would have mercy, but not grace. But be not deceived. Whom God forgives he sanctifies and prepares for his service. And both these blessings are equally important and necessary parts of our salvation. Let us, therefore, pray for both.

First. Let us pray for mercy. And let us pray like those who know they greatly need it. You are verily guilty. You are charged with innumerable transgressions, and your consciences tell you that many of them are attended with circumstances of peculiar aggravation. Till these are pardoned you are in a state of condemnation : and O! what a doom is that which is denounced upon you by the law which you have broken.Think of "the wrath of God:" think of "the

worm that dieth not, and the fire that is never to be quenched. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" And you are continually liable to the execution of this sentence: you must die soon, you may die this very night, this very hour; and then it will be too late to cry for mercy. Be prevailed upon therefore to seek it immediately and earnestly. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”

But we shall need the exercise of mercy as long as we are in the body. We often contract fresh guilt. Our most holy things are defiled. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin!" Archbishop Usher often said he hoped to die with the language of the publican in his mouth; and his biographer tells us his wish was fulfilled-he died, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. What an exalted character is given us of Onesiphorus! But, says the apostle, the Lord grant unto him, that he may find-not justice, but-mercy of the Lord on that day. He would need mercy till then, and then he would need it more than ever. And when we all come to appear before his righteous tribunal to have our actions and our motives tried-" should he mark iniquity-who could stand?" Let us, therefore, say with Job, "Though I were righteous, yet would I not answer him, but I would make supplication to my Judge."

Secondly. Let us pray for grace to help in time of need. But is not every time a time of need with us? It is. And there is not a moment in our existence in which we can live as we ought, independent of divine grace. We need