of different stations, ages, and temperaments. There would be, also, those who were tried with various kinds of affliction, either in their secular concerns, or in their family, or their persons; those who had suffered persecution, imprisonment, and confiscation of goods. Besides all this, there would be the differences in the stature and features of the spiritual man,-in the degree in which sanctified excellence was possessed: there would be "babes," "little children," "young men," and "fathers;" among these, too, there would be particular weaknesses and defects; the character of one would be imperfect in one respect, another in another, and so on; they would thus, as a whole, be liable to all sorts of personal temptation, and exposed to every species of spiritual danger. Now, when you put these things together, you cannot but be struck, I think, with the extent and comprehensiveness of the apostle's prayer; when you thus think of the language "grace be with you all," as having respect to such a multitude of persons,a multitude including such varieties of class,

character, feeling, and circumstance, you are, or you ought to be, impressed with the delightful view which it gives us of that God who was supposed, by the apostle, to be able and willing and ready to fulfil it.

We are thus taught, you see, by illustrating the words in this way, the only way, in fact, by which we can perceive their fulness and force, we are taught, how unlimited and immense is that assistance, which is ready to be given to all that ask it. Our wants never can exceed the Divine resources. Were this congregation ten times or a hundred times larger than it is, and were our circumstances and trials ten times or a hundred times more diversified than they are, still, there would be "grace" for all and for each of us in God. There is assistance of every kind, exactly appropriate to every character. All ranks of society, all classes of minds, can receive the peculiar and precise communications they require. There is something to be obtained exactly adapted to each stage of experience, and to all varieties of affliction. "My grace is sufficient," is an an

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nouncement that may be addressed, with equal truth, to every Christian, in all ages of the world, in every condition of life, and of any kind of personal peculiarity.

Now, this teaches us to consider, how intimate and perfect is the knowledge which God has, of all our minds and characters, with all their properties and defects. It is only by possessing this knowledge that he can answer this prayer. Mere power is useless, and may be mischievous, without intelligence to guide it. Power, indeed, to accomplish a certain, definite object, implies an accurate acquaintance with that object, and with the way int which it may be accomplished. This union of knowledge and power, is what we mean when we speak about the Divine ability to bestow all manner of grace on every member of the church. It is thus that the omniscience of

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the Almighty,- the attribute which is so terrible to the wicked, becomes a subject of pleasing contemplation to the believer. "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, and art acquainted with all my ways." "". Thou

understandest my thoughts afar off; there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Such reflections, to the man who feels that this Being is his enemy, are necessarily pregnant with agony and terror; but to his reconciled children they are soothing and delightful; they are the rational, as his promise is the authoritative, foundation for their expecting the fulfilment of the apostle's prayer; by the union of both, they know, as well as believe, that he is able to give "grace" suited and sufficient for them all.

Another lesson involved in the subject, is, the universal necessity of this Divine assistance. Whatever might be the property or the rank, the learning or the intelligence, of any of the Hebrews; however long they had sustained the Christian name; however far they had advanced in Christian attainment; whatever they had suffered,-whatever achieved; by whatever circumstances they were elevated above or distinguished from others; yet, for all of them Paul felt grace still to be necessary, and therefore for all he solicited the boon. Hence, let

none of us imagine that we can do without God. "Let not the rich man glory in his riches; nor the mighty man glory in his might; nor the strong man glory in his strength; nor the wise man glory in his wisdom;" nor the poor man glory in his poverty, as if there were a charm in that which of necessity secured the favour of God;-but let each, of every class, seek for that poverty of spirit which may belong to all, and which at once prompts us to seek, and prepares us to enjoy, the communications of grace.

The language of the apostle is a prayer, and it is a prayer for others. It thus instructs us, both how we are to obtain the blessing, and, I was almost going to say, how we might impart it; for it almost amounts to this, when, through our intercession, others are assisted. Earnest personal supplication to God, however, is what we are to rely upon, as the appointed means by which grace is to be obtained. is true, others may pray for us, as Paul prayed for the Hebrews, and they may be successful; but be assured, the best proof that such prayers

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