great pleasure in administering every assistance that he may deem necessary for the purpose; not only by placing him in suitable situations, and furnishing him with ample means, but by personally enabling him to surmount those difficulties, to which his own powers may not be fully adequate. Yet in such cases, co-operation alone is employed. It is always expected that the Son should exert his own endeavours to the utmost. Otherways the Father would foster in his son a spirit of indolence and inattention; and deprive him of the advantages of beneficial habits, which are alone to be acquired by his own application.

The assistance of the Heavenly Father is promised to his willing and obedient offspring, in a similar manner, and for a similar object; which is to train them up in the dispositions and habits indispensably requisite for their future destination. Under the Jewish Dispensation, the Being, presence, and agency of the Deity were continually placed before the eyes of the Israelites. Every thing was ascribed to his interposition. Their successes, and defeats, notwithstanding the obvious interference of natural causes, were considered as immediate acts of remuneration or of chastisement from God. To him they looked for worldly pros

perity. They were ordered to call upon him in the day of trouble, with the assurance that their devout and penitential supplications should be favourably received. These aids were expected from Jehovah, both as the ruler of the whole earth, and as the God of Israel, in a more particular manner; and, generally speaking, they referred the good to be enjoyed, or the evils endured, to the present state of things. Hence is he uniformly styled their God, their helper, their deliverer, the God of their Salvation.

Under the Christian Dispensation, the divine superintendence and agency is always represented as referring to more important purposes. It is chiefly promised as being co-operative with the virtuous and pious endeavours of the converts to this new religion; that they may "walk worthy of the holy vocation wherewith they are called;" that they may make an exemplary progress in all the graces and virtues of the Christian character, and become prepared for a more exalted inheritance, than the descendants from Abraham had been encouraged to expect. In his paternal character, the Supreme Being professes to become more intimately connected with the true disciples of his beloved Son. The language of our Saviour is, "If a man love me he will keep my words, and my

Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him." He frequently represents himself as the immediate agent of superior aid. "Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in the midst of them to bless them. Lo I am with you always to the end of the world." Sometimes these divine aids are ascribed to the Holy Ghost, in the character of the Comforter. " I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." "The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things." Hence it is that the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Philippians, declares, "I can do all things, through Christ that strengtheneth me." To the Thessalonians he writes, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our father, who hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work." The form of his epistolary salutations is, "the Grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ be with you." "The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." In writing to the Corinthian converts,

he expostulates, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Ch. iii. 16.

Whatever conceptions we may form concerning these different modes of expression, or whatever hypothetic opinions may be entertained explanatory of them, it must be admitted that this is a style peculiar to the Gospel Dispensation; and that it must convey truths of peculiar importance.

Those who are fathers after the flesh," and deserve the title, are prompt to afford assistance, wherever it may appear to be necessary, without its being previously desired. They seldom make it a condition that aid shall be solicited. From this conduct the supreme Parent deviates in his wisdom. He enjoins it upon his offspring to apply to the throne of grace as a duty and a condition. To those alone who ask, is a promise given that they shall receive, and to those who seek, that they shall find. They are ordered to pray without ceasing. It is enjoined upon them to intercede for every thing necessary for their daily support; for protection from danger; power to resist evil; wisdom to direct, as well as for the forgiveness of their offences; and also for their brethren of mankind, of every class, and in every situation,

and of every character. Upon these terms ample assistance and final success are secured; for it is written, "every one thatas keth receiveth, he that seeketh shall find, to him that knocketh it shall be opened." "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." "I exhort," says the Apostle Paul," that supplications, prayer, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man," says the Apostle James, "availeth much." These assertions are doubtless founded upon the encouraging assurances of their master. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

The above representations strongly indicate that the great Being who, under the Christian œconomy, hath "revealed himself to us, as our Heavenly Father," is not reluctant to bestow every necessary aid. He is more disposed to communicate, than we are to receive; nor can his benevolent disposition towards us be aug