vailed in their dealings, or intemperance hath shown itself in their lives. But all this is wholly to mistake the nature of prayer, and to pervert the use of it. Prayer was never intended as a method of compounding with God, for the indulgence of our passions and appetites, or disorderly conduct; but, on the contrary, as a way of obtaining help for the mastery of them. And, when, under a sense of our own weakness, and with acknowledgment of God's sovereign power and goodness, we offer him our supplications for his grace; with sincere desires, and hearty endeavours, that grace may have its perfect work in the obedience of our lives; prayer does then, as it were, open and unfold the mind to the rays of the Sun of righteousness; it becomes an inlet of holiness, wisdom, and happiness to the soul, by which it is disposed and prepared for heaven.

Whatever is excellent or good in the creature, is freely imparted to it by the bounty of God the Creator. This is the doctrine of the text, with which we set out. With a short contemplation on it, as an incitement to gratitude, humility, and other devout affections, let us finish. "In the beginning," says Holy Scripture, "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep." From whence, then, beamed

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light? From whence arose order and beauty? From whence sprung life? From whence was a character of goodness imprinted upon all things? Was it not from the will and word of the Almighty, commanding that thus it should be? Before this change, the creature was nothing; and under it, it hath nothing, but from the immediate hand of God. Where, then, shall it seek throughout the universe, for a spot in which to build a pillar to its own glory, and inscribe it with its own praise and deservings? Rather let it bow before the footstool of its great Author; and, according to Saint John's vision in the Revelation, Let every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, say, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever!

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DISCOURSE VI.

EPHES. V. 8.

FOR YE WERE SOMETIMES DARKNESS, BUT NOW ARE YE LIGHT IN THE LORD: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

It is not unusual with the penmen of the Holy Scriptures, to represent wisdom and godliness on one side, and error and sin on the other, under the notions of light and darkness: those being, in the spiritual world, as contrary to each other, as these in the natural. True wisdom and holiness proceed from God, the Father of lights, and tend to happiness; gross errors in matters of religious truth and duty are from Satan, the prince of darkness, and lead to misery and ruin. The works of the devil, our compassionate Saviour came to destroy; and, by the ministry of his apostles, so far prevailed over them in many nations, idolatrous in worship and corrupt in morals, that multitudes of them turned quickly from their former vain convers

ation, to the gospel of train; and so, from darkLess, became Din in the Lord. Among the people of this description was the church of the Ephesians; who are bere exhorted, by their converter and instructor Saint Paul, to perfect the good work that was begun in them, by walking as children of hi

What it is to walk as children or light, I shall, first, a little more particularly consider: and then, secondly, show the reasonableness and importance of so walking.

And, first, as children of light are opposed to darkness with respect to religious truth and principles, to walk according to their character implies, that they give all diligence to acquaint themselves with God, and their duty to him, as he is the Creator, Upholder, and Governor of the world; the Deliverer of fallen man by his blessed Son Jesus Christ; and the Judge of all men, who will render to them according to their works, by the same his beloved Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. These are high and important truths: some of which, could be known, only by revelation of God; and others of which, if discoverable by reason, were yet generally unknown or disregarded, as the case of these Ephesians shows; a people polished and refined, who, nevertheless, paid their chief wor

ship to the image of Diana, that fell down from Jupiter, the fancied gift of a fabled deity.

What thanks do we owe to our most gracious God, who hath called us out of such darkness into his marvellous light: and, by means of his Holy Scriptures, continues to us of remote ages the knowledge of the most essential truths and facts; the history of his creation and providence; the laws and promises of his heavenly kingdom; the devout sentiments and hymns of his saints; and the life and actions of his blessed Son, the light of the world, by his example, his precepts, and sanctifying spirit. He who would walk among the children of light, will give all diligence in attending to this holy book; with fervent prayer, that, his understanding being enlightened, his heart may be duly affected by it. For, in the next place, the children of light are opposed to darkness, in respect of practice, as well as principles. What will the clearest notions of the wisdom contained in this book avail us, if they rest in the head, without influencing our conversation? What will it profit us to know, that the great aim of our life and actions should be the glory of God, if, in whatever we do that hath the appearance of praise-worthy, we are still seeking our own honour, and the admiration and applause of men? Or, that we profess our conversation and