98 HELPLESSNESS OF MAN. they are those of a sovereign and a warrior, so universally applicable to the case of every private Christian. One of our best poets- himself an unsuccessful courtier - from a personal experience of the mortifying feelings of abject solicitation, has said, that if there were the man in the world whom he was at liberty to hate, he would wish him no greater punishment than attend- ance and dependence. But he applies the heavy penalty of this wish to the dependants on mortal greatness. Now, attendance and dependence are the very essence both of the safety and happiness of a Christian. Dependence on God is his only true liberty, as at- tendance on Him is his only true consolation. The suitor for human favour is liable to continual disappoint- ment ; - if he knock at the door of his patron, there is probably a general order not to admit him. In the higher case, there is a special promise, that " to him that knocks it shall be opened.",
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