He beareth to them a peculiar Favour, He longs to be included in their number, and to participate in their privileges. He evidently prays that he may be one of the favoured and beloved People of the Lord: that he may himself be dealt with as the Lord deals with them: that being freely and graciously placed among the children, he may experience all that compassion and care, that continual protection, and that unchangeable love, which a God of infinite mercy, power, and truth will never cease to feel and to exercise towards the objects of his special favour and choice.

Now in this Desire one thing which demands our notice, is plain. The object of it is Personal, "O Lord, remember me with the favour which Thou bearest unto Thy people." "Remember me." So in another place of Scripture, which bears a great resemblance to the text, we read, "O, look upon me and be favourable unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that love thy name." True Re ligion is a personal thing; that is, it leads every man to seek his own Salvation. will pray indeed for others. indeed for others. He will seek their salvation also. He will entreat the Lord to remember them with His Favour. But whilst he thus charitably thinks of others, and feels for them; he does not for

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He remembers that his own soul is to him personally of more value than the whole world besides: and that the Salvation of thousands, or of millions, could be no compensation to Him for the loss of his own Soul. If he perishes, he perishes for ever. Hence

it is his first concern to work out his own Salvation; and with this view to seek a personal interest in the promises and favour of God. It is his own nature which must be changed and renewed by Divine Grace. It is his own soul which must be washed from guilt in the blood of Jesus. It is his own conscience which must be purged from dead works. It is his own heart, in which Christ must live and reign; and in which the New Man must be created, and grow. All these things he knows and feels. Hence he does not satisfy himself with bare general supplications to the throne of Grace; with merely praying for others, and for himself among the rest; but he expressly prays for his own salvation and for his own Soul. "Lord, pardon me.' "Create in me a clean heart." "Renew in me a right Spirit." "O look upon me.' "Say unto my Soul, I am thy Salvation." "Remember me with the favour which Thou bearest unto Thy People."

My Brethren, is your desire, are your petitions of this sort? Do you feel a lively interest for your own Salvation, and do you anxiously

pray for your own Soul? Do you look upon true Religion as a personal transaction between yourself and God? Do you consider it as your first and chief concern, to secure your own individual interests in the blessings and promises of the Gospel? Do you deeply reflect that it is your own individual soul, which must be washed, and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God; or which, unpar doned and uncleansed, must be for ever a cast-away, and perish in utter darkness? I ask, whether these are your views, and feelings in respect to true Religion; and whether they excite in you desires and prayers corresponding with the petition in the text? Believing the same Great Truths, which the Psalmist believed, do you with him sincerely desire, and heartily pray, " Remember me, Lord, with the Favour which Thou bearest unto thy People ?" I say sincerely desire, and heartily pray. For many may feel a wish, and utter the prayer, who are very far from having any real Religion in the heart.

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Let us all call to mind with aweful apprehensions, the seemingly fervent wish, and passionate exclamation of Balaam, "Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like His."* Here was a desire, and a petition for a personal blessing; but the

des re was not sincere; the petition was not from the heart. It was merely a transient, passing wish, excited by the sudden impulse of the moment, by a temporary conviction of the understanding; which quickly died away, and left no lasting impression on the Soul. It was not in fact a wish which spoke the habitual desire of the Soul. Balaam had no desire of this kind, no habitual desire to have his portion with the people of God. Otherwise He would have wished not merely to die with them, but to live with them; not solely to die as they die, but to live as they live. Does a person then cry out with the Psalmist in the text, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people?" Let him take care that this is not merely a barren wish, an empty desire, without any corresponding impression and feeling in the heart. While he prays, that the Lord would remember him with favour, does he remember the Lord in his ways? While he prays to be favoured as one of the Lord's people, is he one of his people? Has he those prevailing dispositions, and principles, which distinguish and characterize his people? Is he living by faith? Is he walking in the Spirit? Is he overcoming the world? Is he bearing his cross? My Brethren, I would urge you strictly to examine yourselves, and see the state of your heart. I

would caution you against the supposition, that merely to wish for the Lord's favour, is of itself any proof that you will obtain it, or any evidence that you are one of his people.

On the other hand, far would I be from making the heart of the Righteous sad: far would I be from discouraging one humble, sincere, and anxious soul, which is seeking salvation; and whose real and earnest prayer is "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people." Are there any of you, my Brethren, who believing that the Lord has a peculiar people upon earth, and that He beareth a peculiar favour to them, are truly desirous in your souls to become one of that happy number, and most fervently pray, that He will remember you with this Favour? Be assured that He will remember you with it. Whom did he ever forget, that called upon Him, and sought His favour? Did He forget the dying Penitent, who called upon Him, and said, "Lord, re member me, when Thou comest unto thy Kingdom." He said to Him, "To-day, thou shalt be with me in Paradise." Be assured, that He will in like manner remember all who call upon Him. Be assured that He will so remember you. The very longing which you feel after his favour, is of itself a proof that He has remembered you. If he had not re