CHAPTER V,

The First Illuminations of Divine Grace.

What was that I heard thee say? speak again and declare it fear not, little child; fear not, thou who art just born to a new and better life.

2. Methinks I hear thee say,-" Already I feel new joys in the name of Jesus-already I perceive have some interest in that name:

3. Already something unexperienced before, shows me the wretchedness of my fallen sinful state, and my thorough want of such a redeemer :

4. Already I feel that without him nothing can avail me-Oh! why is this heart so stony? why, why am I so slack to believe? why is not my soul wholly athirst? why do I not pant! why do I not more earnestly long for thee, my Lord and my God.

5. Come, Lord Jesus, come and deliver mecome, ever blessed Son of the Father-come and be thou my ransom and glory: when shall thy mercies refresh my soul? oh when shall my sins be washed away in thy blood?-when shall I touch thy garment's hem, and feel my bloody issue

staunched?"

6. Were not those, awakened sinner, were not those the earnest breathings of thy soul?

7. And wouldst thou know what it is to be born again, what it is to be renewed and enlightened by the Spirit of the most High ?.

8. Oh, dwell not on vain words! consult once more with thine own heart, enter into the secret closet of it; commune well with it; be sincere, and. thou shalt know that these thy new apprehensions of things are the first illuminations of divine grace.

9. Already the Comforter beginneth to make himself known unto thee: he beginneth to convince

-he beginneth to dispel thy former darkness, and bring thee to the knowledge of that marvellous light which is the life of every creature.

10. Go on, and still seek his aid; request, importunately request, his sanctifying power, that thus illuminated, thou mayest go on from perfection to perfection, and from strength to strength, until the love of God is shed abroad in thy heart, and until thou hast attained that peace which passeth all understanding.

11 Stand firm therefore, in this thy calling; lay fast hold of thy Love, and let him not go: trust not to these first dawnings of grace; but ride on, finish the conquest, subdue, by the might and grace of thy all prevailing Conqueror, the world, the flesh and the devil; so shalt thou perform an acceptable service unto him; so shalt thy good resolutions daily break forth into action..

12. But trust not to thyself: lean not on the broken reed of thy own strength: rely on thy God

and diligently seek him, where he may be foundso shall the means prove effectual; so shall the desire of thy love-sick soul speedily be accomplished and fully gratified.

CHAPTER VI,

THE MEANS OF GRACE.

PRAYER.

1. As the young eagle, feebly fluttering with her weak pinions, would fain mount on the winds, and gaze upon the bright beams of the sun;

2. So thou, son of man, but weak and poorly feathered for such a flight, anxiously desirest to reach that heaven whence thou art fallen, wouldst soar a lofty height in holiness-while yet thy efforts are feeble, chained as thou art, rivetted and confined to the world and its many impedi

ments.

3. Oh how shalt thou win to thee that heavenly paraclete, whose power can exalt thee to heaven, whose influence can soon deliver thee from all the dross of thy earthly corruption !

4. Go on in the way thou hast begun; labour to attain the divine gift; pray, search the word, and communicate.

5. What is prayer, but the earnest and sincere desire of the soul turned to God?

6. Thou knowest well thy human wants-and well canst thou ask and speak for them, thou must

know thy spiritual necessities before thy desire can be turned to them, before thy desire can open

itself in prayer.

7. Seest thou thy need? seest thou thy wants? hast thou a true and hearty desire to attain health from God-and knowest thou indeed that he is well able to succour and assist?

8. Lift up thy heart: behold the gates of heaven are open to thee; the ears of the Almighty are ever attentive to the voice of thy supplication.

9. Early in the morning, at noon day, at even, and at midnight, pour forth thy soul to thy Love: pray without ceasing, let thy heart's desire ever be turned to God; for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be; and thou canst not fail to request it of him, who is all powerful to give or refuse.

10. Remember well what a majesty thou art to address; and see that the humiliation of thy soul and body be exemplary and becoming.

11. The best humiliation is deep self-abasement and filial dependence on the love of your Redemer.

12. And wherefore should we doubt? wherefore should we waver? See at the right hand of the Father, our great intercessor, pleading his blood and merit for us.

13. Hark!—oh, sinner-he intercedeth even for thee: he knoweth all our wants, he knoweth all our weakness: he prayeth for us-oh let us mingle our petitions with his!

14. Can we fear, when such an all-prevailing friend taketh the cause which we have in hand?