or what he asked at the blind men, What will ye that I should do unto you? It is opening his heart, that we may importune him to open his hand and bless. He promises, that we may pray and ask. He invites, that we may come; and he offers, that we may receive. Till brought to be importunate, we neither have just views of the value of the blessing, nor are our hearts in a right frame for receiving it. The Lord delays and hides, that we may be prepared. His time for bestowing the blessing is always ready; not so the time of our preparation for receiving it.

3. God's call to prove him opens a door for the greatest familiarity and boldness, and lays a solid foundation for the strongest faith. For sinful dust and ashes to wrestle with God and prove him, is truly great and arduous work; but his own call is the warrant. Venturing on it, the on it, the poor believer cannot use too much freedom and familiarity. This encouraged Abraham in his fervent and repeated supplication for Sodom. Impressed with his own sinfulness, he thought he had used much freedom when he had spoken once; but God's condescension convinced him that his familiarity was scarcely begun. Those only who have some experience of it, can form any suitable ideas of that astonishing boldness and intimacy, which the believer uses with God when wrestling for the blessing. Never did earthly friends make so free with one another. In this solemn exercise often the Christian is ready to faint; but he considers the grounds of faith, renews his strength, takes

fresh courage, and perseveres in wrestling till he obtain.

4. The Divine call is also the great mean of bringing the Lord's people to the glorious exercise of proving him. While it is expressive of his willingness to give, it is the appointed mean of influencing them to apply. As the Gospel call is the mean of awakening the dead sinner, so the frequent and kind invitations to prayer and proving, are the means of reclaiming the straying, and quickening the declining saint. It is on this account that God so often addresses his people in such language as this, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." These calls have not power and virtue in themselves to produce the effect; but they are the channel for conveying those gracious influences, which infallibly bring the saints to proper exercise. Though morally dead in our natural state, the Lord addresses us as rational creatures; and though all the efficacy be from the Holy Ghost alone, still he exerts it in the use of means. He never works upon the soul but in and by the word. This method sweetly joins these truths-that the strongest exertions on the believer's part are duty, and that all the efficacy is of grace. Thus at God's call, the Christian works out his own salvation, and God works in him both to will and to do. While grace inclines to duty, it also crowns it with success.

In fine, when complied with, God's call ensures success. The Lord never calls to fruitless exercise. As sure as his promise and oath are true, right

proving of God will open the windows of heaven, and draw down the blessing. Engaging cordially and conscientiously in any duty, we have no reason to fear that our labour shall be in vain in the Lord.

This part of the subject is practical in itself, and the less application is necessary. It directs our attention to three things, calculated to fill the mind with astonishment-God's condescension, the believer's doubting, and the carelessness of the sinner. God is willing to bestow every blessing. He wants to be importuned. He beseeches and entreats. When his people are importunate he hears them, and when backward he bears with them. Their best frames are owing to his grace, and he loves them in their worst. He admits them to great intimacy and nearness. He is never kinder than when they are most familiar. If he frowns, it is for their benefit. If he withdraws, it is that they may follow. If he delays, it is that they may prove him. He will not give up with them. He is determined to save them, and will take every method to promote their spiritual interest.

The murmuring and doubting of the saints is astonishing. God's word and oath are pledged that they shall not want. They are called to pour out their hearts, and ask all they need. They should seek, and not be afraid. He has given Christ unto them, and will withhold nothing. They should prove and wrestle, and they shall be successful. They should not call his word in question, but be strong in faith. Other creatures may want, but goodness and mercy shall follow them. In what a glorious light does

their familiarity with God place them! They are his friends, and favourites of heaven. They have an intercourse with the far country. Their hearts are above. They are still in the wilderness. They cannot expect heaven by the way. Trials are necessary. They exercise grace and prove it to be genuine, They increase it, and meeten the Christian for glory, Indeed the saints should believe!

Sinners care for none of these things. Their necessities are great, but they will not ask. They are strangers to God. They hate prayer. If they attempt it, it is only in a cold, formal way, infinitely removed from proving. They know not the value of the blessing, nor the veracity of the promise. They are far from God. If they continue, and will not prove him; he will thrust them still farther, and say, Depart from me. Oh sinners, begin, and

pray, and

prove,