nigh to Him." On those occasions, " he manifests himself unto us as he does not unto the world :" he " lifts up the light of his countenance upon us," and " sheds abroad his love in our hearts." Hence the Christian accounts prayer not so much a duty as a privilege: he says with the beloved Apostle, " Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son
Jesus Christ"
This arises entirely out of the nature of our dispensation, which is justly called, " the perfect law of liberty." It pre- sents to our view our great High-priest entered for us within the vail, and " ever living to make intercession for us." And, " having such an High-priest, we di'aw nigh unto God with full assurance of faith." Nor does he take less pleasure in com- muning with us, than we with him ; for " the prayer of the upright is his delight."]
Learn from hence the true reason why the genera- hty of Christians differ so httle from the Jews or heathens —
[They understand not the nature of the dispensation under which they live ; and therefore they get no material good from their religion : they are not made holy by it, nor are they made hcifpy : they think that an assured sense of our accept- ance with God is unattainable ; and that communion with Him is an enthusiastic dream. They regard Christianity as little else than a milder publication of the law ; reducing the de- mands of the law to the present ability of man, and making ample allowances for man's infirmity. They view it as a sys- tem of duties, rather than of privileges ; and they expect more from their partial obedience to its precepts, than from a humble affiance in its promises. What wonder then if, when when they so assimilate the Gospel to the law, they experience no more benefit from it than the law conveyed ? What wonder, I say, if they never be made perfect by such a religion as theirs ? Would we attain to perfect love, and perfect peace, and perfect holiness, we must look more to the atoning blood of Christ, and to the sanctifying influences of his Sj)irit. In the former, we shall find all that we need for our reconciliation with God ; and in the latter, all that we need for our restora- tion to his image. The Gospel, mutilated and debased by unbelief, will bring us neither present nor eternal happiness : but if embraced, as it ought to be, with unmixed, unshaken confidence, it will prove " the power of God to the salvation of our souls."]