This is the character given of the Israelites in the wilderness: "They remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant." Ps. lxxviii. 35-37. Whatever objects engage and engross the heart, are the real objects of worship. Hence the prophet, speaking of some, who, while they still professed to serve Jehovah, were entirely devoted to their secular schemes and pursuits, says, "Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous." Hab. i. 16.

When we approach to God, there ought to be the ingenuousness and simplicity of a child. Let us see to it, that our aims and motives are upright. Setting the Lord always before us, and remembering that all things are naked and open to his eyes, let us renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, and lay aside every pretext and disguise. He who would not gird round him the cloak of the hypocrite, may put on a garment disfigured with too many stripes and patches cut out of the same piece; the apostle, therefore, prays that the Philippians might be sincere and without offence till the day of Jesus

Christ. Without perpetual care, the spirit of the world, running in a thousand secret insinuating currents, will glide into the channel of our devotion, and pollute the stream as it flows, or, gathering feculence and impediments, block up its course. All base and unworthy designs must be entirely cast away, and for ever abandoned, that we may call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The sacrifice of prayer and praise, cannot be acceptable to God, unless there be a readiness to sacrifice sensual passions and selfwill. He who secretly cherishes, or habitually and wilfully commits sin, vainly spends his breath in prayer. Ps. lxvi. 18-20. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Reader, if your experience agree with this of the Psalmist, say with him, 66 Blessed be God!" While you enjoy the evidence that sin is not cherished in the heart, render praise to whom it is due. Mr. Henry observes on the passage, "Whatever be the premises, God's glory should always be the conclusion: God hath heard, therefore blessed be God! He hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.' Mark the expressions; they breathe the most amiable humility, and most admiring thoughts of Divine mercy, While

God receives, he communicates: he receives the prayer of the unworthy; he communicates the mercy needed from his throne: he turns not away the latter from us; therefore he rejects not the former from him. Divine mercy, flowing to sinners by Jesus Christ, is at once the fountain of blessings already received, and the foundation of our hope for blessings yet in reserve."

The Christian's heart his prayer indites,
He speaks as prompted from within ;
The Spirit his petition writes,

And Christ the Saviour gives it in.

2. Reverence is another disposition requisite in performing the duty of prayer.

By reverence, is meant that mixture of love and fear which is the opposite of levity and rashness. Can we contemplate the infinite greatness of God without awe, or his infinite goodness without pleasure? Can we view the glorious perfections of Jehovah, as they are displayed in his works, or revealed in his word, without sentiments of the profoundest veneration? Surely, God is greatly to be "feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence by all that are round about him." Persons who have to stand before a prince, to transact important business, think their behaviour must be agreeable to the rules of propriety

and decorum. And if respect and honour are due to an earthly monarch, who is only a faint image and passing shadow of power, a "dim miniature of majesty," with what feelings of solemn awe ought we to adore the mighty King of kings, the Creator and Governor of the universe? Even the angels, those pure and happy creatures, are represented as encircling the throne with their faces veiled, and crying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts*. It is the last extreme of folly, and the greatest height of presumption, to pour contempt upon the Majesty of Heaven, by mixing levity with divine worship. Nadab and Abihu, offering strange fire before the Lord, were instantly smitten with death. Though they were the sons of Aaron, the high priest, neither their relation, nor their office, could shield them from divine wrath; but they paid the penalty of their rash presumption, that others might take warning from their doom.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified." Lev. x. 3. Beware of lightness, when you take the awful name of

* "Sic ora, quasi assumptus et præsentatus ante faciem ejus, in excelso throno, ubi millia militium ministrant ei." Bernard. So pray, as if you were taken up and presented before God, sitting upon his royal throne on high, with millions of his glorious servitors constantly ministering to him.

God upon your tongue; and rush not thoughtlessly into his presence, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Reflect on his power and wisdom, his justice and truth, his mercy and love, his majesty and glory, till trains of sacred thought and devout feeling pervade the mind, and duly affect the heart. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." Heb. xii. 28.

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3. Humility is a disposition of mind requisite in the important duty of prayer.

Humility, the very opposite of pride and arrogance, is a lively sense of our insignificance, our unworthiness of the Divine favour, our unfitness for the Divine presence, and our exposure to the Divine vengeance. Humility puts us in our proper place-the dust of abasement, and makes us prize the meanest lot within the golden line of mercy, seeing we have deserved a place in the burning furnace of wrath. Without this disposition, we cannot be duly qualified to pray. Prayer is the free, full, and penitent confession of our manifold sins and aggravated iniquities; but pride blinds the mind, and hardens the heart, and speaks nothing but the language of self-justification. Prayer is the offering up of our requests to God, the suit of poverty to Him who has an unwasting