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fhip-wrecked upon this coaft, use your experience to avoid it for the future. Much have you fuffered, and dearly have you purchased this trial of your ftrength. There is, however, a fupport that will not fail you in all your difficulties, if you

apply to Heaven for it. The advantage of this fupport the Apoflle thoroughly experienced, when he faid, I can do all things through Chrift that ftrengtheneth me. +

I fhall conclude this difcourfe by recommending to you the means of procuring this fupport, and that is, fervent and diligent PRAYER. See we not, in common life, with how much earnestnefs the hungry beg for food, and the naked for cloathing? Do we not behold the diftreft, of every denomination, fupplicating the relief of their wants, with an Importunity not to be refifted?

+ Phil. iv. 13.

And

And fhall we be less earnest, less importunate, in addreffing the Father of Mercies, from whom every good and perfect Gift defcends, † to relieve us from the Tyranny of Sin, the chains and captivity of the Devil? Afk and ye fhall have, fays our Saviour himfelf; feek and ye fhall find, knock and it fhall be opened unto you. † Can we imagine a fight more pleafing to a God of infinite Goodness than to behold an Aflembly of reformed prifoners, praifing him from the depths of the dungeon? To fee thofe, who were the terrors of their neighbourhoods, joined together in bands of holy friendship-to behold cruel fathers weeping over their affectionate children, or profligate children healing the wounds, and foothing the forrows, of their unhappy parents?

In hinting at these causes of do

E 3

+ Mat. vii. 7.

mestic

meftic Affliction, I hope none of you are fo loft to all the feelings of Nature, as to remain infenfible to their Impreffion. I might, indeed, probe deeper the wounds in your heartsbut rather, much rather would I heal and alleviate your forrows. But the affection I would now infpire, is not that which fprings from fenfibility alone-it is actual reformation of life; and the means I would propose for the relief of your bosoms, as well as a fupply of your wants, is, Prayer to God. Whatsoever ye fhall afk in prayer, believing, ye fhall receive. * Happy would be your ftate if you could experience the comforts of true devotion; if you could open your whole heart to God, lay all your wishes and your wants before him, and humbly expect fuch a return as he fhall think fit to grant you. Enclosed within these Walls, you have, or at least ought to have, no Inter

Mat. xxi. 22.

ruption

ruption in performing the Exercifes of religion. Thefe fhould be the Employments of every leifure moment. You should proftrate yourfelves before the Throne of Mercy, bewail with strong crying and tears all your former tranfgreffions, and feek pardon from him, who refufeth not to hear the Groaning of the prifoner.

In addreffing your prayers to God, you fhould not only be fervent and zealous, but express and particular. The Situation you stand in requires this attention. General Supplications may be very proper for public devotions, but when the World is fhut out, when your own Souls are the immediate Objects of your cares, nothing less than the minuteft fcrutiny, the most fincere and exprefs acknowledgement of your Guilt will be fufficient to render you accepted in the day of the Lord.

Heb. v. 7.

Retire,

Retire, then, to the Solitude which this place affords-but think not that because you are removed from the open Scenes of Life, you may spend the live long day in fleeping or in Idleness, much less in profane difcourfe or gaming of any kind. Trust me, my unhappy friends, bufinefs preffes upon you with greater Earneftnefs. The time is precious to you. If you employ it in lamenting the profligacy of your former lives, in ferioufly refolving to live better for the future, and in diligently befeeching God, thro' the merits of your Saviour, to hear the forrowful Sighing of fuch as are in captivity, your prison doors will be thrown open, the chains will fall off from your hands, and you will finally be received into the company of glorified Spirits, who will wipe away all tears for ever from your Eyes, and conduct you to those regions, where Sorrow and Sighing will be heard no more.

‡ Rev. vii. 17.

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