heaven are continually "desiring to look into." See what was St. Paul's prayer in behalf of the saints at Ephesus, tvhom he speaks of as eminent for their ^' faith in the Lord Jesus, and their love to all the saints ;" " I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers ; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of ivisdom. and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may knotv what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints ; and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead p." Let this be your prayer for yourselves, my beloved brethren, how- ever advanced ye be in faith and love. In truth, it is by your increase in knowledge that you are to increase in grace : for it is by your " comprehending with augmented clearness the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, by comprehending this, I say, ye are to be filled with all the fulness of God\'"'\
2. Press forward for higher attainments in holi- ness—
["This I wish, brethren, even your perfection ^" Rest not satisfied with any thing short of a perfect transformation into " the Divine image, in righteousness and true holiness." Make this the ultimate object of your knowledge ; and employ your knowledge for the production of it. St. Paul's prayer for his brethren at Colosse will serve you as a model for your prayers, and as a standard for your endeavours : " Since the day I heard of your love," says he, " I do not cease to pray for you, and to desire, that ye may be filled tvith the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ; that ye may walk ivorthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and hicreasing in the knowledge of God ; strengthened with all might, unto all patience and long-suffer- ing with joyfulness ; giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light ^" You will scarcely think yourselves so advanced as the Apostle Paul: yet what does he say of himself? "Not as though J had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have appreheiided : but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
P Eph. i. 15—20. ^ Eph. iii. 18, 19.
r 2 Cor. xiii. 9. >* Col. i. 9—12.