This, then, I would desire of you, my Brethren :
1. Beg of God to make you sensible of your wants —
[You are not a whit less indigent than that insolvent widow. But the testimony of faith is weak in comparison of that of sense. You see how bent she was on obtaining relief: let me entreat you to follow her steps in this respect ; and to
'1 2 Cor. vi. 12. ^ Isai. Iv. 1. '^ John iv. 14.
1 John vii. 37—39. "^ Zech. iv. 1—6, 11—14.
n Ps. Ixxxi. 10. 0 John xv. 7. p Matt. ix. 29.
1 2 Kings xiii. 15—19. "^ Tit. iii. 6. '^ Eph. iii. 19.
ask of God himself, who has promised to " supply all your wants acording to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus*."]
2. Assign no limits to the supplies which he will afford you —
[See what God did on the day of Pentecost : three thou- sand were converted in one hour ! And why should not his grace abound in like manner towards us ? He has said, that "a nation shall be born in a day":" and that "when he shall breathe upon the dry bones, the dead shall arise a whole army^." Enlarge, then, your expectations, to the utmost extent of God's power and grace. And, if a doubt arise whe- ther your insignificance or unworthiness shall not divert his attention from you, or arrest his arm, know, and be assured, that no father upon earth would so readily supply the wants of his first-born child, as God would fulfil your desires in the gift of his Holy Spirit to your souls^. " Ask, and ye shall receive ; and your joy shall be full^"]
t Phil. iv. 19. u Isai. Ixvi. 8. ^ Ezek. xxxvii. 9, 10.
y Luke xi. 13. ^ John xvi. 24.