attach to them, and the fulness of our desire for their possession, so will be our earnestness and importunity in prayer to obtain ther. To this, however, we are brought only by the Spirit of grace and of supplications, Zech. xii. 10. "The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God," Rom. viii. 26, 27.

The greatest of all spiritual and eternal blessings, is the presence of God. On this our heart's strongest desires ought to be fixed. This is the subject which warrants and rewards the most vehement importunity. Even

in the greatest darkness of soul, even while the countenance of God is withdrawn, nothing can honour God more as a Creator, or gratify his heart more as a Parent, than that we should make the light of his countenance the first and last object of our desires, and be restless and unhappy so long as it is turned away from us. Indeed, not to be importunate after this, proves that we are destitute of the feelings of a child, and shows that we possess little or no love to our heavenly Father. It was this that well nigh burst the filial heart of Christ, in the garden, and on the cross. His whole soul desired to enjoy the smile of his Father's countenance. He knew the goodness of his Father, and he knew that the further he pressed into it, the more of it he should obtain.

In regard, then, Christian reader,

to the extent to which you may use importunity in prayer, here is the greatest of all spiritual and eternal blessings open to you. "The Lord God is a sun and shield: he will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly," Psa. lxxxiv. 11. The Lord will bestow HIMSELF. Ask largely, and you shall obtain largely; pray earnestly, and you shall receive immediately. God is not willing to hide his face for ever from you. His intention is this, "I will return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face," Hosea v. 15. "Seek the Lord, then, and his strength seek his face evermore," Psa. cv. 4. Strive to be able to say, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek," Psa. xxvii. 8.

Though enveloped in thick darkness, yet remember that, "The Lord is able to do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or think," Eph. iii. 20. If, then, like your great High Priest, you are in darkness and desertion, still pray for the return of God's presence to your soul; no petition can you present more agreeable to his ear, or more conducive to your own salvation. Be encouraged, then, to imitate this example, by considering that he who left it is now interceding at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Come, therefore, boldly to the throne of grace, Heb. iv. 16; and cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward, Heb. x. 35, "for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end," Heb. iii. 14.

Keep close, then, under the sheltering wing of Jesus; in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him, Eph. iii. 22. Begin, continue, and end all your hopes in Him; place the fullest confidence in his acceptance with his Father; draw out all your arguments from the treasury of his righteousness; present them without doubting; urge them without hesitation. "The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake." Bring this forth, then, as your strong reason; and with ceaseless importunity, as you value your own salvation, plead it before God. Will he plead against you with his great power? No; he will put strength in you to persevere, till, like your Lord, you are able to exclaim, "Thou hast heard me."