sideration. Let a man then place himself in the presence of Almighty God, and endeavour to see Him in his majesty and glory, with the eyes of his heart and understanding. O how often does He find them blinded by the cares of this world, by the pride and vanity of the flesh, by the delusions of the tempter! So far from seeing God as he would, he does not even steadily keep his eyes upon his commandments, which are the representation of his justice, and expression of his power and dominion. So far from seeing Him on his throne, he in some cases cannot so much as lift up his eyes to his footstool, in considering, as he ought to do, the glory of his works upon earth. Even the man who hath sought Him diligently and so found Him effectually, cannot continue to see Him without continued watchfulness and prayer. If he relax in these, the cloud of the darkness of this world soon takes God out of his sight again. And what is man without all sight of God? Where is his help, where is his hope, where is any thing truly desirable?

And therefore it is that the true child of God, who uses all the means of his enlightening grace, that he may have more light still amid the darkness of the crooked ways of this world, therefore it is that he daily watches the passing by of his Saviour in the daily means, blessings, and opportunities afforded him, and sits, as it were, by the roadside begging, in humble

importunity of prayer. And although at times the infirmity of his nature, which, while it believes, requires help to its unbelief, and the suggestions of the artful tempter, that would have him trust in him and his, rather than in God; though these may sometimes lift up a voice within him, and charge him that he should hold his peace, yet he will not give up his endeavour, he will not let himself be disheartened from persisting in prayer, but becoming stronger from his perseverance, and more abundant in grace, he cries out with the faith which is strengthened by the exercise of patience; yea, he cries the more a great deal, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" And then Jesus, the great Mediator and High Priest, on his throne in heaven, orders him to be called to his presence, and he hears the summons in the joyous motions of his heart, where that Saviour dwells by faith, saying, "Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee." And then he receives from the Lord's hand that increase of light, that quickness of spiritual sight, for which he prayed, and goes forth to his daily duties under the blessing, "Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole."

If such be the daily needs and continual necessities, even of the obedient child of God, what must be the case of such as enjoy that title as members of his Church, but not as doers of his word; as baptized with water, but

not bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit; as relying on having so put off the filth of the flesh, but not careful as to the answer of a good conscience toward God? Surely their need is extreme indeed. And yet they are least aware of it. This is what they require being stirred up to. And not only they, but all require it, as we have seen, more or less. We are living in a world where the powers of darkness are allowed to have their time: we are dwelling in flesh, which has not of itself eyes to see God, and is naturally at enmity with his law: we feel and see through a body over which the tempter has prevailed, and may prevail again, until it be entirely subjected to Christ as its master. And nothing can be taken out of his hands. Being thus blind, thus poor, shall a man allow himself to become blinder still, poorer still? And every one that does not daily place himself where his Saviour shall go by, that is, on the ground of the means and ordinances of his Church, holding communion with Him by prayer, strengthening himself by resolutions made in prayer, fortifying himself against his besetting sin, preparing himself ever for the especial duty of his station; he surely is in peril of greater blindness still. And he who makes not use of the blessed direction which he has received; of placing himself in the presence of Christ his Saviour, and receiving from his hands the daily increasing

riches of his grace, surely must grow poorer. And here lies the peril of carelessness. The blinder men become in spiritual things, the less they feel that blindness, the less they feel the need of a Saviour to remove it. Indeed, they come at last to that pass, that they had rather not have it removed at all, since their conscience tells them that then they would see Christ indeed, but not on the seat of his mercy, but on the throne of his judgment. They turn away therefore from every road by which Christ cometh; they will not read his word, they will not seek his Spirit, they will not observe his ordinances, they will not keep his command

ments.

And if we may judge from the manner in which that word, those ordinances, those commandments, are too frequently regarded, how wide, and how greatly does blindness of the spiritual heart and understanding prevail! If a great man was expected to pass along the road, you well know what crowds would gather from all the neighbouring towns, villages, and houses, to see him pass. What a long expectant gaze would there be all along the visible line of road for his coming; how patiently would they wait under sun or rain, sitting or standing, and enquire of every one that came up, “Is he at hand?" And when he came, what admiration would there be of his equipage, of his company, and all his worldly ensigns and trappings of

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earthly rank and dignity. But every day Christ takes his round through his Church, through well-known roads, every one of which is directed by Scripture, suggested by the Spirit, every one of which has been pointed out again and again by the word of his ministry, and the experience of his servants, if not publicly set before a man. Who has not been told the way of Him that is the way? Who knows not where to find Him, if he will but seek? Who knows not that a heart truly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, so as to love Him, and keep his commandments, sets the man at once upon that blessed way?

And now, where are the crowds upon that way, where is the eager expectation, where is the earnest enquiry, where is the fervent admiration? And yet the King of Glory passes by, the Healer of blindness is there, the Dispenser of every good gift to man is there; yea, the Raiser from the dead, and the Redeemer to everlasting life is there. What! shall there be so few to see Him, that you may count them? Shall so few have the spirit of the blind Bartimæus? Of the millions of beggars that need the bounty of the Lord of Salvation, will so few come and beg by the highway? Alas! many will not confess themselves to be in the condition of beggars; and some, even of such as know better, are ashamed to beg, and some are even afraid. But if they would but look