about to winnow them: "Pray that ye enter not into temptation," Luke xxii. 40. If as oft as we are assaulted by the tempter, we did but look unto the Lord for grace to help in the time of need, temptation would be very unsuccessful. Two things are done in prayer against Satan; by our confession of sins, this accuser is silenced; by petition, grace is obtained to withstand him.

By confession of sin this accuser is silenced. Satan is styled, "the accuser of the brethren ;" and to show how malicious and eager he is in his accusations, he is said to "accuse them day and night before God," Rev. xii. 10. But in prayer, believers bring bills of indictment against themselves; not only all that Satan can truly lay to their charge, do they also lay to their own charge; but also all that God has against them, they acknowledge; they cover not their sins, but confess and aggravate them; they blame and judge themselves. And how earnest are they that sin confessed may be pardoned, and purged away by the blood of Christ? Now Satan's mouth is stopped; his charge signifies nothing; for thus confessing sin, and looking unto

Jesus for cleansing as well as atonement, "God is faithful and just to forgive them their sins, and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness," 1 John i. 9.

By petition, grace is obtained to withstand Satan. The apostle Paul, when buffeted by the devil, falls to prayer, and what answer has be? The Lord said unto him," My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. And the apostle is satisfied that, the power of Christ rested on him. Prayer brings us to the God of Peace, who promises to tread Satan under our feet shortly, Rom. xvi. 20. By prayer wisdom is derived from God; and the more wise the Father of lights makes us, the better we understand the devil's wiles, and his design is seen through, which is to deceive, to defile, and at last to murder souls. And as wisdom is increased, so faith, and love, and fear, and other graces, by prayer; and the more we believe God, the less credit we shall give the evil one; the more we love God, the more we shall hate that evil which we are tempted to; the more we fear the Lord, the more will our hearts be united to him; and it will

be a matter of great difficulty to persuade us unto departing from him.

5. A Christian's security lies in prayer, for a prayer is a great means to make every other ordinance effectual for our safety and spiritual advantage. The word of God and prayer are coupled together: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word," Acts vi. 4. Our sermons which we preach unto you, should be begged from heaven; they should be begun, ended, followed after with prayer; and if you that are hearers would but help us here. in by prayer, it would be in effect to help yourselves. If there were but more praying before you come to the sanctuary, that you might be taught to profit, so many sermons would not be lost; so much seed would not be sown in vain. Prayer sets an edge upon the word, and makes it quick and powerful to kill sin, and keep off Satan. Prayer works the word into the heart, and being hid there, is a mighty preservative against iniquity. There is a spiritual instinct in believers to join prayer with every ordinance of God; because they know that ordinances cannot secure or benefit them, except the Lord

I

concur and work along with them. have proved that a Christian's security lies in prayer.

In the fourth place, I am to give you some reasons why we ought to pray always.

1. We should pray always, because God is always ready to hear. "The Lord's ear is not heavy, that it cannot hear," Isa. lix. 1. He hearkens after prayer, and "looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God." Psalm xiv. 2. The Father is said to seek for right worshippers, namely, those that worship him in spirit and in truth, John iv. 23. We have therefore encouragement at all times to trust in him, and at all times to pour out our souls before him. "God is a refuge for us, Selah." Psalm xii. 8. Verily, seeking of God in sincerity, never was yet in vain, and never will be. God has heard sinners then, when they perhaps have little thought he minded them. When Ephriam bemoaned himself, was as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, was ashamed, and confounded because of his evil ways, and cried, "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned;"

says God, "I have heard him, I have surely heard Ephraim," Jer. xxxi. 18, 19; and gives him to understand, that "he was a dear son, a pleasant child, and that he would surely have mercy on him." There is not a tear but God has a bottle to put it in, nor a sigh but God observes it, nor a true desire, but he is ready to satisfy.

12. We should pray always, because Christ always intercedes;" He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them," Heb. vii. 25. The prayers of believers will be well seconded. This Angel of the covenant has incense sufficient to perfume, and to make the prayers of all the saints at all times acceptable. Christ in heaven is always presenting to his Father his sufferings, and by his sufferings all that we pray for has been purchased. His blood therefore is said to speak in Scripture, and it "speaks better things than that of Abel," Heb. xii. 24. The blood of Christ cries in God's ears, on the behalf of those that pray, that "the curse that Christ hath borne may be removed from them; that the sins for which Christ was wound