7. The Enjoyment of GOD for ever, Pfal. xlii. 2.

4. What grounds. have we to hope for these Things, fo as to rejoice in it?

1. The Faithfulness of GOD, Tit. i. 2.
2. His Power, S. Matth. xix. 26.

3. The Merits of Jefus Chrift, 2 Cor. i. 20.

USE. Rejoice in Hope. Confider,

1. Otherwise you difhonour GOD by miftrufting His Promifes, Rom. iv. 20.

2. You dishonour Religion by accusing it of Uncertainties.

3. You deprive yourselves of the highest Happiness in this Life.

4. The more joyful in Hope, the more active in Duty.

5. Rejoice in Hope now, and rejoice in Sight hereafter.

II. DUTY.

We must be Patient in Tribulations.

1. What are Tribulations?

1. Whatsoever is hurtful to us.

2. What foever vexeth us. 2. What to be Patient?

1. Not to murmur against GOD, Exod. xvi. 3, 7, 8.

2. Nor despair of Deliverance, Pfal. xlii. S. 3. Nor ufe unlawful Means to get out of them.

4. To reft fatisfied with them, 1 Sam. iii. 18. 5. To be thankful for them, Job i. 21, 22. 1 Theff. v. 18.

3. Why are we to be Patient?

1. They come from GOD, 2 Sam. xvi. 10,
11, 12. Pfal. xxxix. 2.

2. Are no more than we deferve, Lam.iii. 39.
3. Are less than we deferve, Exr. ix. 13.
4. Impatience does but heighten them.
5. By Patience we change them into Mercies,
as in Job, Jofeph, David.

USE.

Be Patient.

1. No Afflictions but others have born, 1 S.Pet. V. 9. and iv. 12.

2. Chrift Himself hath undergone more than we can, Rom. viii. 29. S. Pet. iv. 13. and ii. 23. 3. GOD knows how to deliver us, 2 S. Pet. ii. 9.

4. By Patience you make a Vertue of Neceffity. 5. Will do you much good by them, Hebr. xii. 6, 7, 8. By

1. Convincing you of Sin, Fob xxxvi. 8,
9, 10.

2. Purging you from Sin, Pfal. cxix. 6, 7.
3. Your Graces are hereby proved or evi-
denced, 1 S. Pet. i. 6, 7. E

4. Your Graces improved, Rom. V. 3, 4, 5.
5. Your Relation to GOD fhewn, Hebr. xii.
2.6, 7, 8.

6. Your future Condemnation prevented,
11 Cor. xi. 32.

7. You are prepared for Heaven, AƐt, xiv. 22. 2 Cor. iv. 17.

ROM.

I.

ROM. xii. 12.

Continuing inftant in Prayer.

HAT is Prayer? The hearty Desire of neceffary Things from GOD.

1. The hearty Defire, 1 Cor. xiv. 15.

1. Mental, 1 Sam. i. 13. Ephef. v. 19. AváCaris ὅτι πρὸς * Θεόν, S. Bafil.

2: Oral, S. Joh. xvii. 5.

2. Of neceflary Things.

1. Spiritual, for the Life to come.
1. Senfe of Sin, S. Luk. xiii.: 36102
2. Faith in Chrift, S. Luk. xvii. 5.
3. Pardon of former Tranfgreffions, Pfal.
li. 9. alar

4. Subduing prefent Corruptions, Pfal. xix.
12, 13. and exix. 133.

5. The continued Influences of His Grace and Spirit, Pfal. li. 10. S. Luk. xi.

13.

2. Temporal, for this Life, 1 Tim. iv. 8. Prov. xxx. 8. M1

3. From GOD.

1. GOD alone is to be worshipped, S. Matth.

iv. 10. 2. GOD alone understands our Prayers, Ifa. lxiii. 16.

3. He alone can answer them, Pfal. lxv. 2.
4. GOD commands us to call to Him, Jer.
xxxiii. 3. Pfal. 1. 15.
5. Chrift directs us to pray to Him, S. Matth.

vi. 9.

See

See the Error of Papifts, who pray to the Crofs. O crux ave, fpes unica, auge piis juftitiam, reifque dona veniam. To the Virgin Mary, &c. S. Roche for the Plague. Apollonia for the Tooth-ach. S. Eulogius for Horfes. S. Anthony for Hogs. S. Gallus for Geefe, &c.

II. Why fhould we pray?

1. GOD hath commanded it, 1 Theff. v. 17. 2. Encouraged us with a Promise, Pfal. 1. 15. S. Matth. vii. 7.

3. Made it the Condition of all Promises, Ezek. xxxvi. 37.

4. It is Part of Divine Worfhip.

5. Hereby we give Glory to GOD.
1. Of Ómniprefence, Pfal. cxxxix. 2,3.
2. Of Omniscience, Pfal. cxxxix. 7.
3. Of Omnipotence.

6. All Bleffings are fanctified by it, 1 Tim.

iv. 5.

7. Only by this we acknowledge our Depen dence upon Him.

III. How fhould we pray?

1. Before Prayer, confider, Pfal.'x, 17.

1. Who it is you go to pray tô? Exod. χχχίν. 6.

2. What you have to pray for? I S.Job. v.

3. How unworthy you are to ask or receive, Gen. xxxii. 10.

a

4 That Chrift is interceding for you, Ephef. iii. 12. Hebr. vii. 25.

2. In Prayer.

1. Pray with that Humility, Reverence and Submiffion, as becomes a finful Crea

ture,

ture, Gen. xviii. 27. S. Luk. xviii. 13. Ezra ix. 6.

2. Utter nothing rafhly before Him, nor mingle Stories with Petitions, Ecclef.

V. 1, 2.

3. Let every Petition proceed from the Heart, S. Job. iv. 24.

4. Pray only in the Name of Chrift, S. Joh. xiv. 13, 14. and xvi. 23. Hebr. vii.

25.

}

5. Let your Affections and Apprehensions go together, 1 Cor. xiv. 15.

6. Pray in Faith, S. Mar. xi. 24. S. Fam. i. 6. 7. Without Wrath, 1 Tim. ii. 8. S. Matth. `vi. 14, 15.

8. For others as well as for yourselves,
1 Tim. ii. 1. Eph. vi. 18.

9. Pray to a right End, S. Jam. iv. 3.
10. Add Praife to Prayers,

1 Tim. ii. 1.

།

Phil. iv. 6.

1. Praifing GOD is all He expects for His Mercies.

2. 'Tis the best Sacrifice we can offer, Pfal. Ixix. 30, 39.

3. It is the Work of Heaven, Rev. vii. 9. and xix. 1.

3. After Prayer.

1. Confider what you have prayed for.
2. Expect it, Pfal. v. 3.

3. Ufe Means for the obtaining it.

IV. When should we pray? Or how continue inftant in Prayer, Eph. vi. 18. 1 Theff. v. 17. 1. Be always in a praying Frame.

2. Take all occafions of praying, 2 Sam. ix. 13. 3. Never faint in Prayer, S. Luk. xviii. 14 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.

4. Make