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xamples of his mercy, either towards ourfelves or others. His name is recorded in every page of the hiftory of providence. And his people cannot, in a more proper or effectual manner, run into it as a ftrong tower, than by confidering and weighing the examples of divine interpofition, in behalf of his faithful fervants. For this reafon, is fo great a part of the holy fcriptures hiftorical; because they ferve, in a more effectual manner, to engrave the truths of religion both on the memory and heart. Many can remember what befel Abraham, David, Samuel, Daniel, and others, who would forget the precepts delivered them in a more abstract manner. And every one must be fenfible, that the instructions which arife clearly and obviously from hiftorical facts, come home upon the confcience with a degree of evidence, fuperior to any thing that flows merely from the deductions of reafon. May not the Chriftian, with great advantage, fay, "Do I not serve an "everlasting and unchangeable God? Is he not the "fame, yesterday, to day, and for ever? Is his hand "at all fhortened, that it cannot fave; or his ear heavy, that it cannot hear? Is not he who faved David, the ftripling, from the ftrength of Goliah; "who faved Daniel from the power of the lions; "and in many other instances, affifted or delivered

his own people, when employed in his fervice, a"ble to fave me from the power of the enemy, and "to carry me through all the trials of this earthly "state, whether they arife from temptation or fuf"fering?" I hope I need not tell you to apply, in the fame manner, all that you have learned of the

wisdom or goodness of Providence, from reading or converfation. For this reason, the Pfalmist declares his refolution of communicating the mercy of God to his foul, Pfal. Ixvi. 16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath ⚫ done for my fou!.'

Suffer me here to fay, that I cannot see a shadow of reason why Christians should not imitate the Pfalmift's example, in imparting their experience of divine grace, for their mutual inftruction and confolation. If the ftudent will communicate his intellectual difcoveries; if the naturalift will communicate his facts and obfervations; if the tradefeman will communicate his attainment in his profeffion; if no man fcruples to communicate what he hath known to be useful, for the health of the body; tell me, ye fcorners, what should hinder the Chriftian to communicate to his fellow fervants, what may ferve for their spiritual confolation and peace?

But if our mutual experience may be serviceable to each other, how much more muft the paft goodnefs of God towards themfelves, encourage his children to put their truft in him? How juft and beautiful the Pfalmift's reflection, Pfal. lxiii. 7. ‘Because ⚫ thou hast been my help; therefore in the shadow ' of thy wings will I rejoice.'. In the fame manner he recovers from his doubts and fears, Pfal. lxxvii. 5,-12. I have confidered the days of old, the years of antient times; I call to remembrance my fong in the night; I commune with mine own heart, and my fpirit made diligent fearch. Will the Lord caft off for ever? and will he be favour.

able no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? 'doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God for'gotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up • his tender mercies? Selah. And I faid, this is my * infirmity; but I will remember the years of the 'right hand of the Moft High. I will remember the works of the Lord, furely I will remember 'thy wonders of old.'

Thus, my brethren, the believer runs, by faith, into the name of God as his strong tower; and as he who once gets into what he thinks an impregnable fortrefs, will speak to his enemies in the language of difdain and defiance; fo he who hath repofed his confidence in an almighty protector, may tread upon the necks of his enemies; may be confident, that through God he shall do valiantly. Neither is it any fable, but matter of certain experience, that many through faith have fubdued kingdoms; wrought righteoufnefs; obtained promifes; ftopped the ⚫ mouths of lions; quenched the violence of fire; efcaped the edge of the fword; out of weakness were made strong; waxed valiant in fight; turn'ed to flight the armies of the aliens,' Heb. xi. 33, 34.

2. The righteous runneth into the name of God as a ftrong tower by the exercise of fervent prayer. Prayer is the immediate and direct mean of imploring the divine affiftance and protection. Faith is the. habitual principle and prayer is the actual application of it. Many are the precepts in fcripture enjoining the diligent exercise of this duty. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the fame with

' thanksgiving. 1 Thef. v. 17. Pray without ceaf'ing.' Many are the promises of a gracious answer to our prayers. Matt. vii. 7. Afk, and it fhall be 'given you; seek, and ye fhall find; knock, and it 'fhall be opened unto you.-xxi. 22. And all things 'whatsoever ye fhall afk in prayer, believing, ye 'fhall receive. John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye ‹ shall ask in my name, that will I do; that the Fa'ther may be glorified in the Son. There are alfo 'exhortations to importunity in prayer. Luke 'xviii. 1. And he fpake a parable unto them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.' Many affurances of the fuccefs of prayer. • Pfal. xxxiv. 6, 17. This poor man cried, and the 'Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his trou'bles. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, ' and delivereth them out of all their troubles,' Many examples of the power and efficacy of prayer, as in Jacob, David, Daniel:-It feems plainly an effential character of true piety, to be given to prayer. Pfal. cix. 4. For my love they are my adverfaries, but I 'gave myself unto Prayer.' I forbear enlarging on thefe particularly, and fhall only fay, that it is quite neceffary, in order to our running into the name of God as a strong tower. Though he knoweth all our wants perfectly, he requires that we implore his affiftance by prayer. Phil. 4. 6. Be 'careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and fupplication, with thanksgiving, let your requefts be made known unto God.'

The truth is, prayer is the natural remedy to which all are ready to fly in extremity. Even bad

men are disposed to cry unto God in great distress, but his own children are more habitually exercised to the duty, and as they only do it on proper principles, and with proper difpofitions, fo they only have the promife of acceptance, and fuccefs. Jam. v. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'

3. In the last place, The righteous runneth unto the name of God as a firong tower, by diligence in his duty. This alfo is neceffary and infeparable from a child of God, and in order to take a distinct view of the Chriftian's diligence, in this particular light, as the foundation of truft, you may obferve, that it implies these following things. 1. Diligence in all duties in general; in order to ascertain his character, and to be affured of the divine favour and protection, the promises of deliverance, of ftrength and prefervation, are all made to thofe who ferve God in fincerity. There is no fuch thing as a promife in any part of fcripture to a bad man, as fuch. There are alfo the most positive and gracious affurances of powerful fupport in fuffering, and all neceffary help to those who truly fear God, Ifa. xliii. 1, 2. But now, thus faith ⚫the Lord, that created thee, O Jacob! and he ⚫ that formed thee, O Ifrael! Fear not, for I have • redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, ⚫ thou art mine. When thou paffeft through the • waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they fhall not overflow thee. When thou ⚫ walkeft through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; • neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' Nay,