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15. No-we will approach with the full assurance of faith, and mingle our prayers with the incense arising from his golden censer.

16. He knoweth, he pittieth, and all our infirmities: yea he giveth us offer up one word for ourselves.

bleedeth for abilities to

17. More grateful than the sweet perfumes arising from the incense, let thy prayers, oh, my brother! forthwith ascend to the throne of thy father.

18. Ask, with humble, yet firm reliance on his love: ask, nothing wavering:-ask and thou shalt have.

19. Ask, and cease not; humble penitent! knock earnestly, and the door of grace shall be opened unto thee.

20. Oh! be not slack-be not cool and indifferent-increase thy fervour; grow warm, grow solicitous, grow importunate.

21. Beg, entreat, implore; weep and sigh: be not refused, be not comforted, let not thy beloved depart, till he turn in and make his abode with thee.

22. Dwell on his own eternal word; dwell on his great and never failing promises; dwell on his mighty and unspeakable acts of loving kindness.

23. He himself hath spoken, he himself hath promised, he himself hath done it ;-his word cannot be reversed, his truth cannot fail-his promises stand sure and immutable; yea to thy comfort, sealed and confirmed by the word of an oath.

24. "Ask, and ye shall have: ask the father in my name, and he will give it you. I will pray the father for you."

25. Blessed words of joy and consolation! Elevated by them, to the firmest and fullest confidence on his infinite love-let us, oh my brother! let us join on bended knees and hearts deeply conscious of our own unworthiness-let us, with one soul and one voice, join with the intercession of our master, the united voice of all his saints and servants, and say,

26. "Hallelujah-salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, be unto the Lord our God-blessing, and honour, and glory, be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the lamb for ever and ever! Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation: and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.-Amen, come quicklyeven so, come Lord Jesus. Hallelujah!"

D.

CHAPTER VII,

II. READING THE SCRIPTURES.

1. Thus seeking, thou shalt surely find. 2. But beholdest thou this sacred volume? sonof man, seest thou this divine book?

3. This is the word of everlasting life; this is the spring of all thy joy; this is the fountain from whence all thy comforts flow; this is the bread of life; this is the fortress of thy faith, the sword of the spirit, thy buckler and defence.

4. O meditate well herein: search, read, hear, mark, learn; so shalt thou find it heavenly manna to thy soul.

5. This is the word of God-canst thou enough reverence, canst thou enough esteem and delight in it?

6. Every line droppeth peace, as the honeycomb: every page aboundeth with gladness and good tidings, as the ocean is filled with waters.

7. Read, but with a single eye; read, and thou shalt understand: be not wise in thine own conceit;-read with an earnest desire to gain profit and knowledge herein; so read, and thou shalt understand.

8. Read with firm faith, as knowing it the infallible word of the eternal; with deep humility, as knowing thy own worthlessness and inability to teach thyself; with anxious longing for the spiritual teaching, that heavenly unction from the Holy One, which alone teaches us all things.

9. Oh! look not on this book with common or curious eye, but deliver up thyself to be taught of God herein: apply it wholly to thyself: bring it home to thine own heart, evermore cryingLord, is it I?

10. So shall the day dawn, and the day-star arise in thine heart: so shall the light dispel the darkness; and thou, spiritually instructed, be enabled to discern the spiritual things of God.

11. As the diamond alone can cut its fellow, so can the spirit that dictated, alone unfold the secrets of his word.

12. In every page and portion behold thy Redeemer, he giveth light to every part as the sun enlighteneth the whole world, that other divine book, written also by the hand of Jehovah.

13. Read with the spirit-look for thy Redeemer in every patriarch, action, rite, and ceremony-seek him, and in all things thou shalt sure. ly find him, who is in all things, and who filleth and reigneth in all !

14. Oh, Jehovah !--how shall I sufficiently bless thee for this wonderful display of thy love, this clear knowledge of it, revealed to all thy faithful servants from the beginning of days?

15. Oh that I might never depart from the light of thy countenance, but, meditating evermore on this thy will, grow in grace, and understand the way of thy commandments.

16. I wandered, I went astray; darkness and sin surrounded me, thick night overwhelmed my soul;

17. Till thy blessed teachers declared to me thy truth-Oh! how beautiful are their feet who bring the glad tidings-who preach the gospel of peace!

18. How I erred from thy way, my God, blind and helpless!-till the voice of thy servants awakened my soul, till the word of thy power through them, entered into my heart!---I heard and wondered; I heard and panted after that peaceful but unknown way!

19. When I heard, oh, my SAVIOUR! rejoiced I not with exceeding great joy? held not awful silence her finger on my lips, while the gracious message gladdened my soul? sat not attention on my eyelids while I beheld thy holy messengers calling aloud to the sinners of Israel, dispensing the word of health and comfort to thy people?

20. I heard, and with thirsty desire hastened to the written word of thy commandments! I search ed if these things were so-how then was night speedily turned into day?

21 Was ever joy like unto my joy! say my soul, wast thou not happy in the fruition of thy heloved!

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