with deep contrition shall find that " there is mercy with him, yea, with him is plenteous redemption." I say, then, that this is a blessing which we are to look for, whensoever we approach God in the house of prayer. Every promise in God's blessed word authorizes this hope : and no one should be satisfied with having offered up his petitions, if he carry not away with him a comfortable hope, that " his ini- quities are forgiven, and his sins are covered."
If it be asked. How shall we secure these blessings ? I answer. Use the means which Solomon employed : and by them we may,
II. Secure to ourselves every blessing that our souls can desire —
We have seen that Solomon diversified his petitions according to the supposed conditions to which, at any future period, the people might be reduced. What- ever, therefore, our condition be, we must apply to God in prayer, with humility of mind, with fervour of spirit, with coujideiice of heart, and with consistency of life and conversatio7i.
We must apply zoith humility of mind. Solomon particularly prays for those who " know every man the plague of his own heart ^." Nor can we ever come before God with acceptance, unless we approach him weary and heavy laden with the burthen of our sins. To " draw nigh to him with our lips, whilst our heart is far from him, is vile hypocrisy : and " all such worship is vain," yea, worse than vain, because it serves to lull our consciences asleep, and supersedes in our own minds the necessity of any better service. It is not possible for any man to have better direction, or more suitable help, than that provided for him in our Liturgy. The whole Service, from beginning to end, is the service of a sinner imploring mercy at the hands of God. What can express deeper humility than our General Confession ? '' Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep ; we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts: we have left
e See ver. 38.