Imatges de pàgina
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For Christ ever gives us signs and admonitions by which we should compare our condition and examine whether we are in true grace or not; for a man can receive grace of God by which his heart shall be, in part, changed, and his life and conversation ameliorated. But if he is not completely subjected to this grace, so that it can work in him according to the good pleasure of God, he remains stationary, yea, not stationary, but begins to retrograde and fails of the grace of God; from which a bitter root springs up, and causes great trouble, so that by it many are defiled. Heb. 12, 15.

For a Demas can again love this present world, (2 Tim. 4, 10.), Hymeneus and Alexander made shipwreck concerning the faith, and learned to blaspheme, (1 Tim. 1, 19. 20. Chap. 6, 10.); Phygellus and Hermogenes turned away from Paul, (2 Tim. 1, 15.); some among the Corinthians denied the resurrection of the dead, (1.Cor. 15, 12.), and the Galatians, having begun in the spirit, desired to be perfected by the flesh, (Gal. 3.); the Hebrews, who for the time ought to have been teachers, had need for some one to teach them again the first principles of the oracles of God, (Chap.

5, 12.): the church at Ephesus left her first love, (Rev. 2, 4.); the church of the Loadiceans became rich and increased with goods, supposed she had need of nothing, and knew not that she was wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Rev. 3, 17.

Many examples of a similar kind could be adduced, tending to show, that it is of the highest importance for men, constantly to watch and pray; and this in spirit and in truth, for God is a spirit, and seeketh such worshippers as worship him in spirit and in truth, (John 4, 23. 24.); for all prayers are not offered up aright, the heart must harmonize with the prayer; we must desire from our heart what we pray for, or our prayer is not rightly offered up; and whatsoever God declares unto us by his word and Spirit, the same we must do willingly, or our prayer will be of no avail: For many pray with the mouth for what the heart does not desire; to them may be applied the words of the prophet and of Christ, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Is. 29, 13. Matt. 15, 8. O what mockery! for a man to draw nigh to God

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with his mouth when his heart is far from him! Ah reader, be not deceived; God is not mocked: he searcheth thy heart; he trieth thy heart; he demandeth thy heart: for it reads, My son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways, Proverbs 23, 26.

David says, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps. 51, 19. Also, The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit, (Ps. 34, 18.); He looketh to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word. Is. 66, 2. Behold, reader, such hearts are qualified to pray; therefore examine well whether thine is thus disposed, whether thy sighs proceed from the depth of thy soul, and whether thy spirit longs incessantly after grace. For the true longing of heart after grace is the unremitting prayer, which cries day and night to God, which does not at all times break forth in words, but in thoughts and groans; and if at times in words, the words accord with the emotions of the heart; and this is to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Now, if a person does not pray in this

manner, but, from practice, makes this or that form of prayer, or learns fine and spiritual prayers out of books, and prates them with the mouth without the accordance of the heart: to such the Lord declares, When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations: incense is an abomination unto me: the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with. Isaiah 1, 12. 13.

II.

Christ, therefore, in this blessed discourse, charges believers to take heed saying, When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Verse 5.

This was the practice among the apostate Jews as regards the scribes and pharisees; and it is now the practice among the apostate Christians and the new scribes and pharisees, who not born of God have planned and adopted a system of faith adjusted in fit proportions to the will of the flesh, so that their godliness is mere gain or profession. 1 Tim. 6, 5.

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