Father through him, imploring mercy solely through the blood
and righteousness of your adorable Saviour You will
soon find that the proud heart of man does not easily stoop to so humiliating a way of approaching God. If you might come in your own name, and in your own righteousness, you would perhaps consent to do it : but to come with penitential sorrow in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in a simple depend- ence on his atoning sacrifice, is a work to which you are utterly averse, and which none but God can enable you to perform.
Again, if it be so easy to gather in all the affections of the soul, and to fix them exclusively on God, do it. But you will find that this is far beyond the power of man to effect. In order to this, you must have " a new heart given you, and a right spirit renewed within you : " nor can any power short of that which created the world at first form such a new creation within yon. Lay aside, then, your vain conceits respecting this matter; and begin, without delay, that work, which a whole life is short enough to accomplish, and which, if not wrought speedily, may soon become a subject of remediless and endless woe ]
2. Those who desire, but find it difficult to serve him —
[You, probably, have depended too much on the resolu- tions you have formed. I am far from disapproving of reso- lutions, if formed in dependence upon God. Joshua's has been the just subject of applause in all ages : " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord0." But Peter has sufficiently shewn how weak all human strength is, when unaided from on high. It is by prayer alone that we can hope to prevail, either for the illumination of our minds, or the concentration of our souls, both of which are so necessary in this good work. David was no novice in the divine life ; yet did he cry, " Teach me thy way, O Lord ; and unite my heart to fear thee ! " And, if he had not so cried to the Lord, in vain would he have said, " / will walk in thy truth." If then he, notwithstanding his attainments, still had recourse to God in prayer, know, that there is no other way for us to prevail ; and that, if you would succeed according to your desire, you must cry day and night to God in prayer, and bring down from him those supplies of grace and strength which are so needful for you ]
3. Those who are really walking with God accord- ing to his command —
[Be not discouraged, if you should find that, notwith- standing your good endeavours, you make not all the advance
0 Josh. xxiv. 15.