unreasonable, if he denied the possibility of such a thing, and imputed the affirmations of the other to vanity and folly ? Every one knows, that objects dimly seen, may be made clearly visible by the use of glasses : and why may not the acquisition of an humble contrite frame be equally useful to the eye of our minds ? There is not any one so ignorant, as not to know, how passion and interest distort the objects that are seen through them; and that they who are under their influence, view things very differently from what they appear to an impartial judge. Thus then it is in spiritual things : " whilst the eye is evil, the whole mind is dark ; but when it is single, the whole is full of light :" and when God, by removing our earthly and carnal dispositions, presents heavenly objects to the soul in their true character, they shine with a lustre inconceivable to the blind ungodly world. Would any then ascertain whether God will teach his people ? let him pray : but let him pray with sincerity, with fervour, and with faith : these are the requisites of effectual prayer e; - — — — and prayer thus offered, shall never go forth in vain.]
2. Of encouragement —
[Many are discouraged because they have not those mani- festations of God to their souls, which they have heard, and read of, in the experience of others. But have they mortified their in-dwelling lusts as much as others ; and been as con- stant and importunate in prayer ? But be it so : " God gives to every one severally as he will :" yet none shall ever say, that they have sought his face in vain. Our talent may be small ; our capacity narrow and contracted : yet have we no cause to despond : for God has said, that " he will reveal to babes and sucklings the things which he has hid from the wise and prudent : and if only we were more conscientious in look- ing to God for his blessing on the ordinances ; if, before we come to them, while we are under them, and after we have returned from them, we were earnest in prayer for the in- fluences of his Spirit ; we should not so often return from them empty and unedified. God would hear us, and " would answer us, and would shew us great and mighty things, which we know not." Our private meditations also on his blessed word would be attended with " an unction which should teach us all things f." He would " open our understandings to understand the Scriptures." " At the very beginning of our supplication" would he send his Holy Spirit to instruct usg; yea, " before we called, God would answer : and while we were yet speaking, he would hear'1."]
e See Ps. cxlv. 18, 19. Jer. xxix. 12. Jam. i. 5—7.
f 1 John ii. 20,27. e Dan. ix. 20—23. h Isai. Ixv. 2-1.