1. In the private duties of the closet —
[Christ has said to his Church, " Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." This is to be understood, not of his corporeal, but spiritual, presence ; according to what St. Paul prayed for in behalf of Timothy, " The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit*." In reading the Scriptures, he will, by his Holy Spirit, cast a light upon the Scriptures, as he did in this exposition which he gave to the Disciples ; fixing our attention upon those points which are of primary importance, and " opening our understandings to understand them V He will give us that spiritual discernment which is necessary for a right perception of their import0, and will so impress them on our hearts as to make them effectual for all the purposes of his grace d. Sometimes he will cause his word to distil as the dew, or to descend as the rain and snow, which fall not to the earth in vain e; and at other times he will cause it to pierce as a sword f, or to burn like fire, or, like a hammer, to break the rocky heart in pieces g.
In prayer also will he give " boldness and access with con- fidence by faith in himh." His Holy Spirit will " help our infirmities and teach us what to pray for as we ought," and " make intercession in us with groans which cannot be uttered1." He " will draw nigh to us whilst we draw nigh to himk:" he " will hear us and answer us," and say, " Here I am1:" he will also impart to us the things we pray for, and give us " grace sufficient" for every occasion that can arise"1. Thousands can yet attest the truth of these things : they have gone to his throne of grace weak, dejected, disconsolate ; and have lost all their burthen there, and come away filled " with joy and peace in believing."]
2. In the public ordinances of religion —
[Our Lord has particularly promised, that " where two or three are met together in his name, there he will be in the midst of them n." In the public assemblies of his people there- fore he will assuredly be present. Indeed it is his presence there which alone makes them effectual for the end designed : and "if he go not up with us, it is to little purpose that we go" thither. It is he who gives energy to the word preached: " though Paul should plant, or Apollos water, it is He only that gives the increase0." Ministers are merely the instru- ments whereby God communicates his blessings to the Church.
a 2 Tim. iv. 22. b Luke xxiv. 45. c 2 Cor. ii. 14.
d Acts xvi. 14. e Deut. xxxii. 2. Isai. Iv. 10, 11.
f Heb. iv. 12. f? Jer. xxiii. 29. h Eph. iii. 12.
' Rom. viii. 26. k Jam. iv. 8. ' Isai. lviii. 9.
™ 2 Cor. xii. 9. " Matt, xviii. 20. ° 1 Cor. iii. 5—7.