engaged all the Church to unite with them in their supplica- tions. The benefit of this measure to all who engaged in it, you have already heard : whilst they were in the very act of pouring out their souls before God, an answer was given from on high ; and every soul was filled with grace and peace. And say, brethren, has it never been so with you? Look back to seasons of affliction, when you could find no refuge but in God : have they not proved seasons of peculiar refresh- ment to your souls ? Have you not received " strength accord- ing to your day," so as not only to endure your tribulations,
but to glory in them? Bear in remembrance then that
direction which God himself has given you ; " Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Yes, " cast your burthen on the Lord ; and he will sustain you."]
2. How to recommend our principles —
[It is to the shame of Christianity that there are so many parties amongst us, and that there is so little love exercised by them towards each other. Compare the Church at this time with the Church of Christ in that age : alas ! at what a low ebb is vital godliness amongst the professors of the present day ! Instead of uniting against the common enemy, they do little but dispute with each other : and, instead of every one denying himself for the good of the whole, they are all immersed in selfishness, and are intent only on their own personal ease or interest. But so did not the saints of old : they constrained their very enemies to say, " Behold, how these Christians love one another !" O that such seasons might speedily return, and that our eyes might witness them in this place ! But it is to be feared that we shall never learn this lesson, till we are taught it in the school of affliction. Yet how much better were it to learn it from the example of the primitive saints, and especially from the example of " the Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich !" Beloved brethren, set these examples before you, and implore grace from God, that you may be able to walk in these blessed paths. Then will you " put to silence the ignorance of foolish men," and constrain your very enemies to "acknowledge, that God is with you of a truth."]