PART [t. SERMON VI. 87 ing to the various sorrows and difficulties which attend him, so various mayhis pleadings be for the removal of them. There is not a circumstance which belongs to his affliction, but he may draw someargument from it to plead for mercy ; there is not one attribute of -the divine nature, but -he may use it with holy skill, and thereby plead for grace ; there is not one relation in Which God standsto his people, nor one promise of his covenant, but mayat some time or other, afford an arg'anient in prayer. But the strongest and sweetest argument, that achristian knows, is the name and mediation of Jesus Christ his Lord. It is for the sake of Christ, who has purchased all theblessiogs of the cove- nant, that a saint hopes to receive them ; and for the sake of Christ, he pleads that God wouldbestow tlìem. But having treated largely on this subject, in my discourse, intitled, A Guide to Prayer, I shall not repeat the saine things here, but refer the reader to the first chapter of that book, sect. 5It remains that I snake a few us of:d red ections on the whole foregoing discourse. Reflection I. What a dull and uncomfortable thing is religion, without drawing near to God ! for this is the very busi- ness for which religion is designed ; the end and aim of religion is gettingnigh to God; if it attain not this end, it is nothing. - O the madnessof hypocrites, who satisfy themselves to toil in long forms of worship, and appear perpetually in the shape òf religion, but unconcernedwhether they ever get near to God byit or no ! They lose the end and design for which religion was made. What if we know all the doctrines of the gospel; what if we can talk rationallyabout natural religion ; what if we can d educe one truth from another, so as to spread a whole scheme of godliness before the 'eyes or ears of those we converse with ; what if we can prove all the points of christianity, and give in- contestible arguments for the belief of them ; yet we have no religion, if our souls never rt.et near to God by them; A saint thinksit a very melancholythingwhen he is at a distance from God, and cannot tell God his wants and sorrows. Though he be-never so much studied in divinity, and the deep things of God, yet if God be not with him, if he does not come near to his mercy-seat, so as to converse with him as Isis friend, thesoul is concerned, and grieved, and never rests till this distance be removed. It is to little purpose that we get into churches, join in the fellowship of the gospel, and attend many seasons of . prayer : It is to very little purpose to read chapters, and to hear sermons, one day after another : It is to little purpose all these forms are maintained, if we have not the substance and power
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