ceiving his soul with false hopes, and urging before thee false pleas, strip him of all such erroneous and soul destructive notions. May he be brought to renounce all dependence upon any thing which he has done, or any thing which he possesses, or any thing which he thinks he can perform: and as a convinced, humbled, and penitent sinner, cleave to that only method of justification, which thou hast revealed in the Scriptures. Prevent him from seeking salvation, by the deeds of the law. May he know that that law denounces a curse upon all that have transgressed it; and convince him that he has broken that law, either in thought, word, or deed. Let him think that his afflictions are merited, but not meritorious, and cannot be a substitute for repentance, faith, and holiness. May he relinquish self, and rely upon Christ. Abundantly pour out thy Spirit upon him, to teach him the nature of sin, the spirituality and extent of thy law, that he may see and feel his exposure to its awful curses, and flee from Mount Sinai to Calvary from the law to Christ's finished work and justifying righteousness. Slay the natural pride and enmity of the heart, and may he cheerfully and thankfully submit to the righteousness of God, and avail himself without delay, of that provision which thou hast made for the pardon and justification of every one that believeth. Let Satan no longer blind the heart, and carry on his fatal delusions; but aroused from his fond dreams of his own goodness, may he as a penitent sinner, look to Christ and be saved. Oh God, let him not die with a deceived heart. Bless the Scripture truths which are read, and the instructions which are given unto him upon divine things; and mercifully hear the prayers we offer for him at this time, that he may brought to see the truth as it is in Christ Jesus; and resting his hopes upon an allsufficient Saviour, may he obtain at last an entrance into thy kingdom, for ever to praise the infinite merits of the Redeemer. be We thank thee for revealing the way of salvation. We bless thee for making known the righteousness of Christ as sufficient to justify, and that thou hast promised to accept and justify all that repent and believe in thy Son. Listen, we beseech thee, to these our supplications, and receive these our thanks, and pardon all our sins, for the sake of him who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. Amen. Wherewith, O Lord, shall I draw near, I plead the merits of thy Son, CHAP. XV. To the Poor. FIRST SCRIPTURE PORTION. He I WILL also leave, in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord, Zeph. iii. 12. raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill, Psa. cxiii. 7. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures and trouble therewith. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right, Prov. xv. 16.; xvi. 8. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent the bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked, Psa. xxxvii. 14, 16. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it, Prov. x. 22. Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he nath promised to them that love him, James ii. 5. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, Phil. iv. 6. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, Prov. xxx. 8. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be on the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation, Hab. iii. 17, 18. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over, Psa. xxiii. 1–5. But godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us therewith be content, 1 Tim. vi. 6-8. SECOND PORTION. 1 Kings xvii. 9-24. Matt. vi. 9-25. 1 Cor. i. 26-29. Job v. 15, 16.; xxxvi. 15. Psa. ix. 18.; x. 14.; xii. 5.; xxxiii. 18, 19. xxxvii. 1—3.; xli. 1, 2.; lxix. 33.; lxxii. 12-14. Isa. xxxii. 16.; xli. 17, 18. Heb. xiii. 5, 6. Phil. iv. 19. ADDRESS. If Though poverty in itself is neither a sin nor a disgrace, yet it adds, very much, at times, to the weight of affliction which presses upon the sufferer. It is a great relief, in the season of sickness, to enjoy the comforts and conveniences of life, but if God in his providence has denied them, it is your duty to submit to his will. If you have trials which the rich have not, you have blessings which they have not. We must not judge of real happiness or misery by mere external appearances. you have the presence of God, the smiles of Jesus, peace of mind, and the prospect of heaven, you need not envy the rich worldling, for better is it to be in the hut of poverty and on the bed of sickness, with the grace of God supporting the mind and sanctifying the heart, than to inhabit a palace and enjoy bodily health, without the fear and the favour of the Lord. The best of men have often been the poorest of men, and the most afflicted of men; but then they have been the most happy of men. If you are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, you need mind but little a state of poverty in this world. You have not so fine a house, so richly-furnished a table, such good apparel, nor so much silver and gold, and lands as the rich; but you have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. You have meat to eat which the world knows not of. You have beautiful |