attained by it ; and this prayer will be found no less instructive to the mind, than it is reviving and refreshing to the soul.]
Address —
1. Those who have no experience of the things
here prayed for —
[How many are at this moment ignorant of " the work of faith," and of that " divine power" with which it operates in the soul ! How many are altogether strangers to the idea of Christ being glorified in them, or their being glorified in him, or of the eternal purposes of God's grace being dis- played in them! Little have such persons known of true religion : they even " need to be taught the very first prin- ciples of the oracles of God." O brethren, the Gospel is not such a meagre thing as you make it! it is a wonderful display of God's mercy and grace in the redemption of a ruined world: and, wherever it is received aright, it will fill the soul with such views and such desires as are expressed in our text. Do not, I beseech you, continue ignorant of these things : for, if you know them not, or feel not their influence, how shall you stand accepted at the judgment-seat of Christ? It will be too late to commence your inquiries then : they must be begun now : yea, you must now glorify Christ by a life of faith in this world, if ever you are to be glorified with him in the world to come.]
2. Those whose prayers and intercessions accord with those of the holy Apostle —
[Doubtless there are many amongst you whose hearts go forth with the petitions in our text ; and who shall ultimately experience all that our text unfolds. But, in order to this desirable end, we recommend to all to consider the strictness of the scrutiny at that day. Verily, the Judge, as he himself tells us, has "eyes like a flame of fire :" and he "tries the very hearts and reins, in order to give to every man according to his works1." It will be to little purpose to be " accounted worthy" by your fellow-creatures, if you be not so accounted by your God : and it must not be forgotten, that there are many who " have a name to live, whilst" yet, in reality,, " they are dead." O dread lest that should prove your state at the last : and be earnest with God in prayer, that he would " fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." Be satisfied with nothing short of this. Aspire after the highest possible attainments, that the Lord Jesus Christ may even now be glorified in you, and that your
1 Rev. ii. 18, 23.