being troubled and cast down, we are inclined to lay the blame on accidental or natural lowness of spirits, or whatever exease occurs, let us take heed lest there be in us an evil wart of unbelief*, or disobedience. If there be, amending that is the way to uphold him that 2018 fill ag, and strengthen the feeble knees †.

But in vain shall we attempt any thing beneficial to sit we trust to ourselves for success. And to make his caution effectual, the Apostle

A most necessary direction. In every thing by yer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

The usual method is, to be careful about many things, and pray about nothing but the right one is, to be careful about nothing, but pray about every thing, which is of importance enough to be laid before the Lord of all. The movements of our hearts indeed, though unuttered, are clearly discerned by him and he foresaw from eternity whatever we should wish on every occasion. But the Scripture speaks in the language of men: and calls that making known our requests to God, which is only expressing before him what he is perfectly acquainted with already, in order to imprint more efficaciously, on ourselves and others, the sentiments concerning him, which belong to our condition.

Applying to the Almighty in our difficulties immediately reminds us, on whom we and all things depend and brings it strongly to our thoughts, that the most threatening dangers cannot advance one step farther, than infinite wisdom sees it proper they should, and infinite goodness permits. Placing ourselves in his presence, awes and composes our worldly + Job iv. 4. ‡ Luke x. 41.

Heb. iii. 12.

fears; not by a servile dread of him, forcibly overcoming them, and substituting itself, a still worse terror in their stead; but by a filial reverence, mixed with humble reliance on his favour, which calms and revives us in such a manner, that we perceive our solicitudes to vanish even whilst we are confessing them; and quickly smile at what we shuddered at before. Then, besides, venting our desires to him, shews us in the fullest light, which are sinful, and to be repressed, if we hope for acceptance with him; and begging his help, must powerfully admonish us, that we are not to think of helping ourselves by methods displeasing to him; but adhere strictly to our duty, and be assured it will lead us out of whatever perplexities it leads us into. Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust shall bring it to pass *. Further yet, praying to our Father which is in heaven, leads us to consider him as our common Father: who is concerned, not only for us, but for all our friends; and expects us to be zealous for the general good, as well as our own; and on no account to withdraw from the service of the body, of which he hath made us members. Piety therefore, excites the truest and firmest public spirit ; but smooths and tempers, at the same time, that roughness and vehemence, which too frequently renders it ineffectual and hurtful, by promoting, as it doth beyond all things, an humble opinion of ourselves, and meekness towards others.

in him, and he

With such dispositions, we shall be duly qualified for the mercy we intreat: and they who are, will never fail to receive it. For this is the confidence which we have in him, saith the beloved disciple, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

* Psalm xxxvi. 5.

And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we desired of him *. We are sure of the very favours we beg, if they are conducive to his glory, and the happiness of his creatures: which doubtless the deliverance of this pation from its enemies must be, since we profess and support his holy truth, would we but penitently conform our conduct to it. And his long forbearance under our provocations, gives us room to expect every instance of mercy, in case of our amendment. What indeed the humble applications of a few may do for others, he only knows. But for themselves they will certainly obtain infinitely greater benefits, than sharing in the highest degree of earthly prosperity. Now the sole reason of our praying for any thing is, that we suppose it will be good for us. And therefore we pray for nothing of this world absolutely, but on that condition. So that if God, who knows best, withholds it because it would be otherwise, he grants our request in the general, though he refuses it in the particular: and if we are wise, far from being overwhelmed by the severest dispensations, we shall not only be contented, but glad, in such measure as human infirmity and sympathy permit, that His will should be done, not ours t.

For this cause the Apostle, when he might have said, what most people would have thought very sufficient, that we should make our requests known unto God with resignation, chose to say more, that we should do it with thanksgiving. And indeed we ought to be heartily thankful, not only for the many and great blessings, temporal and spiritual, national and personal, which God continues to us in the midst of his corrections, (O that we would all think + Luke xxii. 42.

1 John v. 14, 15.

seriously, how many and great they are!) but even for his corrections themselves and much more for the alarms and warnings, the liftings up of his rod, which are designed to prevent the necessity of heavier judgments. What he doth with this view, though it produce terrifying apprehensions, is the most real kindness; the only kindness, that we permit him at present to shew. Many, we may hope, will be influenced by such awful notices, to amend their ways. But at least we need not fail of being influenced ourselves to what is right. And then, whatever the event be to those around us, to us it shall be happy: if in no other respect, yet in that, which, beyond all comparison, is of the greatest consequence: Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, shall work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory*.

Knowing these things, well might the Apostle add in the text,

III. An assurance of the blessed effect, which raising our thoughts from earth to heaven will produce. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.

Bad persons, as they have never any well-grounded, have seldom any long-continued peace of mind, even in prosperity: and much less can they hope for it in troubles and dangers. If they have not been just and merciful, they are conscious of ill-deserving behaviour to their fellow-creatures. If they have not been uniformly virtuous and religious, they know they have acted undutifully and ungratefully to their Creator. If they have not by due application for pardon reconciled themselves to him, the guilt of * 1 Cor. iv. 17.

the sins remains upon them: and the whole creation is a wosnon in his hands against them. They may be sturdy unmoved by these considerations: they may affect to hide their convictions, or strive to run way from them into whatever presents itself. But usually the liveliest and strongest natural spirits will sink under them, in a time of severe trial. Or supposing they do not; the more obstinately such persons hold out, and the more gaily they go on, the heavier in all likelihood will be their present ruin, but the dreadfuller certainly their final sentence. For sooner or later, and with full recompense for ever so long delay, the solemn and repeated denunciation must be verified, Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap

But the obedient and devout soul, which looks beyond worldly appearances, and rests itself on the Divine providence, is entitled, whatever outward commotions happen, to the truest, the steadiest, the most delightful inward composedness: to that peace of God, that sense of being in friendship with him, that feeling of comfort and joy flowing from him, which passeth all understanding; exceeds the conceptions of those who have not experienced it, and shall exceed hereafter the present conceptions of those who have. Yet the sincerely good may not constantly enjoy a very high degree of this. The imperfection of their goodness, the lowness of their spirits, errors of judgment, sudden alarms, afflictions uncommonly grievous, may lessen, may interrupt it: or God may, for secret reasons of infinite wisdom, hide his face from them for a time. But, ordinarily speaking, their tranquillity and consolation will be found proportionable to their improvements in real religion. + Psalm xiii. 1.

Gal. vi. 7.