extremely from some mental, or even bodily, infirmity, which he did not judge it necessary or proper to mention. Perhaps the Apostle was harassed with some extraordinary temptation, which sank his spirits, lessened his vigour and activity, and threatened some degree of discredit to the cause in which he was embarked, and in which the very idea of becoming a cast-away, after having preached to others, would prove to his mind an afflictive and almost insupportable circumstance.

To amuse ourselves with conjectures on such a subject, would be an employment useful neither to the hearer nor to the preacher: therefore, suffer me rather to impress on your memories (and may God's Spirit give an abiding effect to the impression !), that whatever may be the nature of the thorn which Satan sends to buffet the disciples of Christ, prayer is the never-failing remedy;-prayer, not for the removal and departure of the thorn, the messenger of Satan; but prayer for a sufficiency of grace to support, and secure victory against all its attacks, secret or open, violent or artful. Ever remember, that it is your Father's good pleasure to keep his servants in a state of discipline, probation, and improvement. He permits

Satan to tempt, but not to overcome.

The promise is express, that "he will not suffer the godly to be tempted above what they are able, but will, with the temptation, make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it." Your prayer, there fore, should be, not for deliverance from the contest, but for strength to obtain victory by patient enduring. This is God's way of preparing his servants for heaven it is his way of preserving their humility, and sense of dependence; and it is his way of securing them against the great danger of spiritual pride and exaltation.

It is the character of Almighty God, as a reconciled Father, that he is a prayer - hearing God. Moreover, prayer is the proper food and nutriment of the Christian's life in Christ Jesus. Christ is the Vine; his people are the branches; but without prayer, the branches soon wither, and are cast away. It is my firm belief, that no sincere and fervent prayer is ever thrown away. "Ye ask, and ye receive not," it is said, " because

ye

ask amiss: ye ask...to consume it on your lusts." To such prayers, it is true, there is no promise: such prayers cannot be called sincere, on Christian principles. But a very sincere prayer may be

offered up in ignorance; and it will not therefore, on that account, be lost. It was in great ignorance of what was best for him, that even St. Paul requested that the thorn in the flesh might depart from him; but such was his sincerity, and such his fervour and importunity in prayer (for he asked thrice), that a better thing, no doubt a far better thing, was granted to his prayers, than the departure of the thorn in. the flesh: He who vouchsafed

to answer, My grace is sufficient for thee," did not merely convey that important piece of information, but doubtless accompanied the information with the grace that was sufficient for the trial. And St. Paul records this piece of evangelical history for the instruction of the church in all ages.

Brethren, it is a very easy thing to talk of the necessity of the grace of God in a general way; and many persons often express a wish or hope for the possession of it; but those only know its value, who, on trial, have felt the need of it, and have failed for want of it; and have lamented the strength of inward corruption, and the subtlety of temptation. Such men listen to and obey the Saviour's invitations, and daily obtain from him

those necessary supplies of grace which he calls "living waters," and which he ever liberally imparts to those who thirst for them under a deep conviction of their necessity.

167

SERMON XVIII.

JOSHUA xxiv. 15.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

THIS is the well-known determination of Joshua, that, whatever others did, he and his house would 66 serve the Lord." He had been suggesting the most powerful motives to induce them to serve the God of Israel, by recounting the many singular benefits which they and their fathers had received from him; and then he bids them choose what gods they would serve: "but as for me and my house," he adds, "we will serve the Lord."

Joshua,

The people, in their answer, expressed the most earnest determination to do the same. who knew how little they were to be depended on, tells them they "cannot serve the Lord; for