David's Prayer.-I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant. Ps. cxix. 176. Divine Answer.-Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out; I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away; and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Ezek. xxxiv. 11, 16. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. xl. 11.

Isa.

HE that is wise in his own conceit, as philosophers usually are, does not pray like David to be sought after and healed by Jesus Christ; and therefore he continues, amidst all his boasted wisdom, deeply ignorant of his fallen nature and his ruined state. But as thou hast given me, O thou good Shepherd, to understand my lost and helpless condition; and that like a wandering sheep I can neither find myself when lost, nor advise myself how to return. I beseech thee to seek, heal, lead, feed, carry, and strengthen me also as my various needs require; that I may be able to say with David, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is his name;

In pastures fresh he makes me feed.
Beside the living stream!

He brings my wand'ring spirit back
When I forsake his ways;
And leads me, for his mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;

O may thy house be mine abode,
And all my work be praise!

L

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. Gen. xxii. 10. Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Sam. vii. 18. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him. Ps. viii. 3, 4.

A SOUL truly humbled highly esteems every favour, and judges itself utterly unworthy of the least, looking upon everything as a free gift, and bestowed only for Jesus Christ's sake. Now, O my dear Father! it is true, in myself I deserve none, no not the least of thy mercies; but as thou hast graciously looked upon me, and given me thine only Son, who hath purchased all blessings at a high price for sinners, I do believe that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Amen. Be it so, holy Father, to thy glory and my everlasting joy!

Now to the power of God supreme

Be everlasting honours given;

He saves from hell, (we bless his name,)
He calls our wand'ring feet to heaven!

Not for our duties or deserts,

But of his own abounding grace,
He works salvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for his praise.
'Twas his own purpose that began
To rescue rebels doomed to die :
He gave us grace in Christ his Son,
Before he spread the starry sky.

Jesus, the Lord, appears at last,

And makes his Father's counsels known;
Declares the great transactions past,

And brings immortal blessings down.

I beseech you, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed, &c. Rom. xii. 1, 2. See also 1 Cor. vi. 19.

THE presenting our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, when attended with serious prayer and reading the Scriptures, is the best means of knowing the will of God. To neglect this, and use other means, is tempting God, and exposing ourselves to the temptations and siftings of the wicked one. We may think ourselves to be divinely convinced by faith of the will of God, though we follow our own imaginations, and spoil the best of our actions. Self-will generally takes quick resolutions, and has a great deal of assurance: whereas God very often leads his people blindly, and takes methods quite different from ours. "Who therefore believes shall not make haste." Isa. xxviii. 16. Let every one be careful that he does not mistake self-will and plausible representations for divine convictions and assurances of faith; always strictly examine himself first, whether his body, soul, will, affections, are entirely offered up to the good-will and pleasure of God; for God requires the service of the whole man, even a sacrificing our whole selves to him, not only at church, but in all other places, that we do not conform to the world, but be daily transformed by the renewing of our minds. Though lifted eyes salute the skies, And bended knees the ground,

Yet God abhors the sacrifice

Where truth cannot be found.

Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways,
And make my soul sincere ;

Then shall I stand before thy face,

And find acceptance there.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul skall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. Isa. lxi. 10. CHRIST has a garment of the finest work for every saint. It is this garment they must wear, no other one will do in the sight of God. Then, O my soul, put on this garment. It is one of unspotted whiteness; thou canst wear it by faith. In vain dost thou dress up and adorn thyself, before thou approachest CHRIST. To him thou must come, filthy, naked, and miserable as thou art; he will clothe and adorn thee himself; and in this ornament alone thou shalt rejoice. For the very best of our robes and performances are not without spots, but still want to be washed in the blood of CHRIST, and covered with this ornament. "These are they who come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev. vii. 14. This, and this alone, is the way to enjoy and maintain true peace. This will enable us to rejoice, that our names are written in heaven. Awake, my heart,-arise, my tongue, Prepare a tuneful voice;

In God, the life of all my joys,
Aloud will I rejoice.

'Tis he adorned my naked soul,

And made salvation mine;
Upon a poor polluted worm

He makes his grace to shine.

The Spirit wrought by faith and love,
And hope, and every grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
The robe of righteousness.

Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed
By the great sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise,
Let all thy powers agree.

David's Confession.-I have sinned against the Lord. 2 Sam. xii. 13.

Divine Answer.-The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 2 Sam. xii. 13. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1 Cor. xi. 31.

HE that with unfeigned repentance accuses and judges himself, accounting his own righteousness and best doings as filthy rags, and seeks for mercy through Jesus, may expect to receive forgiveness of all his sins at once, though chastisement may follow; for pardons are not bestowed in parcels or various measures, as spiritual gifts are. God, through CHRIST, receives the whole person of a penitent sinner into his favour, forgiving both original and actual sins in one instant; so that either none òr all are forgiven: but though repentance be needful to humble a sinner and to bring him to CHRIST, yet no sins are forgiven on account of this repentance, but through faith alone in the blood of CHRIST. This fountain washes away the guilt of all sins, though ever so numerous and heinous; for it is written, "The blood of CHRIST cleanseth from all sin." 1 John i. 7. Come, then, my soul, believe and be washed in this fountain.

Shew pity, Lord! O Lord, forgive!
Let a repenting rebel live.

Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in thee?

My lips with shame my sins confess,
Against thy law, against thy grace;
Lord, should thy judgment grow severe,
I am condemned, but thou art clear.

My crimes are great, but don't surpass
The power and glory of thy grace;
Great God, thy nature has no bound;
So let thy pardoning love be found!