cursing : whose end is, to be burned." Pray rather to God, that his Holy Spirit may be poured out upon you, as " rain upon the mown grass* ;" and that your beloved Saviour may " come down into your souls, as into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits11." And be not contented with any measure of fruitfulness which at any time you may have attained : but, if there be the blade, look for the ear ; and if there be the ear, look for the full corn in the earx;" that "you may be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord ; and that he may be glorified."]
2. What you should desire for the world at large —
[Take for your prayer these words of the prophet : " Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness : let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation ; and let righteousness spring up together y." You have abundant encouragement to address your God in these terms, because he has absolutely promised that the event predicted shall be accomplished : " The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose : it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing : the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon ; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our Godz." Shall such prospects be opened to us, and we feel no desire to have them realized ? Let us be ashamed that we can be so regardless of God's honour, and so indifferent about the salvation of our fellow-men. And, whilst we pray to God to effect this great work, let us, according to our respective abilities, be " fellow-workers with him ;" and never rest till "the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest3."]
* Ps. lxxii. 6. u Cant. iv. 16. * Mark iv. 28.
y Isai. xlv. 8. z Isai. xxxv. 1, 2. a Isai. xxxii. 15.