comfortable words does the Gospel contain ! What exceeding- great and precious promises are there made to every true peni- tent ! Will Christ ever cast out one of this description ? Never. Is there to be found so much as one single word in all the Bible that should prove a source of discouragement to such a character? No, not one; on the contrary, if there were but one such being in the universe, God would fix his eyes upon him with pleasure, and press him to his bosom with more than parental kindness. Call then upon Him, whoever thou art that mournest thy low condition ; and know, that, as sure as ever thou humblest thyself before God, thou shalt be exalted in due time.]
2. What encouragement we have to intercede for the Church of God —
[Whether we contemplate the state of the Jews or Gen- tiles, we find equal need to importune God in their behalf. Even the Christian world are far from being in that state of purity and blessedness which their superior privileges autho- rize them to expect. We should therefore lay to heart the state of the world around us : " our eyes should be as a foun- tain of tears, to run down day and night" in behalf of the myriads who are perishing in their sins. We should implore of God to take to him his great power, and reign amongst us, and to hasten the season when " all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ." Our blessed Lord teaches us to make it a part of our daily prayer, and never to approach our God without saying, " Thy kingdom come." Did we but thus plead with God from day to day, what might we not hope for ? Verily, our prayer should not go forth in vain : nor should it be with " good and com- fortable words" only that God would answer us, but with an abundant effusion of his Spirit, as in the days of old. Then should " a little one become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation ; for the Lord would hasten it in his timeV]
k Isai. lx. 22.