faith is called to a present exercise about. Let all Christians, in all their approaches to the throne of grace, behold this as written on the open gates to this throne, and hear it proclaimed by him that sitteth on it, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Some believers are apt to think, that a trembling fearing frame is fitter for them; and that raising of expectation of good from God, will prevent or hinder humility, and lying low before the Lord. But they are quite mistaken that think faith and humility are inconsistent. They not only agree well together, but they cannot be parted: Hab. ii. 4. Behold, his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. To bottom expectations of grace from God, on the account of any good, real or apprehended, in us, or done by us, is not only destructive of humility, but of faith also. A boaster is an abominable creature at the throne of grace; but a pleader for, and expectant of grace, for grace's sake, is an humble believer, and a right courtier at this throne.

Exhort. 3. You must not only seek grace when you come to the throne of grace, and expect it when you seek it, but you must be careful to receive grace when it is given. Make room for it. What is said by the Lord in the prophet, Mal. iii. 10. though spoke in another case, is applicable to this: I will open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Felt want, and strong faith, make much room for the grace of God. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it, Psalm lxxxi. 10. It . must be a wide-mouthed, soul that takes in, and a well-filled soul that receives a fill of God. How mighty is that prayer, Eph. iii. 17, 18, 19.? We have all need not only to get it by heart, but to get it into our hearts, and to send it up to heaven daily from our hearts. Paul makes a special preface to that prayer, ver. 14, 15. In it he prays for the strengthening of the inner man, by the Spirit, ver. 16. That Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith, ver. 17. That being rooted in love, they might measure the dimensions of Christ's love, and know it that passeth knowledge, ver. 18, 19. Can any man go higher in prayer? Yes, one step higher; That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now, who hath room in his soul for the

answer of such a prayer as this is? If we had not these mighty words in this way, we should be tempted to think that it were rather a prophecy of what is to be enjoyed within the vail, than a prayer of faith to be put up by travellers in the way to heaven, and for blessings to be enjoyed in the house of their pilgrimage. But a prayer it is, and some good performance is given within time; though the main measure of the answer of this (as of all the most spiritual prayers of saints in this life) is reserved for the day of the Lord. It is a greater matter, both of duty and difficulty, than most Christians think, to have the everlasting doors of our souls lifted up, and cast open, that the King of glory may enter with his super-abounding grace. Many believers take much pains, and make many prayers, for that grace of God, which yet they receive not, when it comes, and craves room and admittance. Grace comes always in and with Jesus Christ. Whatever therefore hinders his welcome, excludes his grace from entering. Grace comes in and by the promise. If the promise be not received by faith, how can the grace promised be received? Grace comes always as grace, free and undeserved. How can a proud person receive it? And there is pride often working in the discouragements of Christians. They find they want much of the helping grace of God: they ask it, they see it in the promises, and in Christ's hand : but they think, Should such as I lay hold on such a precious gift as his grace? Why not? It is grace, grace offered of grace, given of grace. Do you need it? Why do you not receive it, and make room for it? Some receive not that grace that is tendered to them; because it is not the particular grace they sought, and expected, or because it comes not to them in that way they looked for it in. Others receive not, nor welcome the grace they beg; because they think they cannot receive it. They look on receiving as a great and difficult business, far above their ability. But is refusing of it hard also? Alas! that is easy, because natural to our hearts. Is not the seed of receiving in all sincere asking and expecting of grace from God? Receiving of his grace, is no more but a heart-willingness that his grace may enter in, and act like itself upon us. And this receiving act of faith doth greatly VOL. I.

M

glorify God. Some think it very strange, and hardly credi ble, that any believer can ask earnestly that grace, which when tendered he is not willing to receive. See how it was with some eminent saints: Job ix. 16. If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would not I believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. Why so? For he breaketh me with a tempest, ver. 17. But may not fatherly love and correction be together on a believer? Rev. iii. 19. Yet the sense of the smart of correction, is a strong temptation to question the love of the corrector. David, or Asaph, Psal. lxxvii. 1, 2, 3. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. Who would think that this man refused to be comforted ? Did he not pray for consolation? Yet he saith, My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. There is a peevishness of unbelief, that Christians should watch against.

Exhort. 4. You must take care to guide this helping grace of God, when you have received it. Guiding of grace, is an art and mystery that Christians should study diligently. The rule of this art is this, Guide the grace of God received by you, for those ends for which it is given by him. Now, what ends hath the Lord in giving of his grace? They are only two. 1. For the praise and glory of the giver. 2. For the benefit of the receivers. Guide his grace for those ends, and you guide and use it well. Christians have little of his grace, and complain sorrowfully; not because he gives, and they receive little; but because they guide and manage this richest talent poorly. Dare any believer forbear to say, If I had kept all I had got, and guided well all he hath given, I had been far richer in grace than now I am? Misguiding of grace received is the greatest sin, because an abuse of the greatest blessing. Watch against it, if you love his glory, and your

own weal.

II. I come now to the fourth and last thing in the verse, about this grace of God; and that is, the seasonableness of its help. It helps always, but especially in time of need. On this I shall now only note some few things in general.

Obs. 1. Whatever believers present case be, a time of need

may come; and they should foresee it. Though they know not particular circumstances, yet they should lay their account with it. The Lord gives faithful warnings in the word; faith should take them. We see the times of need that many others come in; and we should take warning by their experience. Every Christian hath found times of special need formerly; the like may come again.

Obs. 2. Christians should pray before the time of need come, for that grace that may help them when it comes. The prophet speaks of hearing for the time to come, Isa. xlii. 23.; the apostle, 1 Tim. vi. 19. of laying up in store a good foundation for the time to come. So here, men must pray for the time to come. Is any man afflicted? let him pray, James v. 13.; and because any man may be afflicted, he should pray beforehand.

1. Because we know not but we may be surprised by a time of need; our Lord's argument, Mark xiii. 33. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. The Lord tarely gives particular warning of the time when special need is coming. It ordinarily comes by surprise to us. Death may, but sickness, losses, and affliction, usually come on suddenly and surprising trials are sore and searching ones.

2. We should pray before a time of need come; for often when that time comes, we are thereby disabled for prayer. The distress may be such, that even a believer can do nothing. The night may come, when no man can work, Joh. ix. 4. Pray

much before it come.

3. Because many prayers have their answer delayed till a time of need comes. Christians think, that every day and hour of their life is a time of need, (and so it is in some sense); but there are some special seasons of great need, of which the Lord is the only disposer; and he fits such times with dispensings of that grace, that his people have many a day begged before. There may be worse reasoning than this: " It "may be there are some blessings of grace, that I have oft "sought, and have not yet got, that are reserved for me by "the Lord, against a time when I shall need them more than "now I do."

Thus you see, in the scope of the apostle in these words,

that there is strong arguing for constant seeking of God's grace. You are either at present in a time of special need; or if it be not present, it may come. Whatever case a believer is in, his obligation is in a manner equal to this great duty, of coming to the throne of grace, for grace to help him, as his matters do require.

SERMON X.

HEB. iv. 16.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

YOU have heard that the gracious exhortation in the text, to coming to the throne of grace, is directed with respect to the getting of two great blessings, or of one under two names, God's mercy and grace. Concerning this grace I have spoken to three things. 1. What this grace is. 2. What the finding of this grace is. 3. What is the helpfulness of this grace so found. I also entered upon the fourth and last thing, the seasonableness of this helping grace.

The truth I am to speak to, is this:

DOCT. The grace of God is specially helpful in times of special need.

My work then is to shew,

I. What are those times of need.

II. What the helpfulness of grace in them is.

Only I would usher in this discourse, with a general consideration of the constant need that all stand in of God's mercy and grace. And that I would branch into four. We need God's mercy and grace, as creatures, as men, as sinners, and as Christians; and that always.

1. As creatures. The native notion of a creature is, that