yonder the Intercessor stands and pours his
all-prevailing prayer." It is "through Him we _both_," the Jews who
crucified Him and the Gentiles, who by their persevering neglect of Him
crucify Him afresh, "have access by one spirit unto the Father." The
words of promise touching the acceptance of the worship of the Church are
explicit and numerous. "They shall come up with acceptance on mine
altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory." "That I should be the
minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God,
that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being
sanctified by the Holy Ghost." "In the place where my name is recorded,
there will I accept." "In every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with Him." Oh, comforting thought, when I am
convinced of my own sinfulness, and restless and disquieted wander about
in distress, and lie down in sorrow, there is One who hears the stammered
entreaty, and smiles a pardon to my agonized cry, "God be merciful to me
a sinner." When in my daily life I encounter a terrible temptation, a
temptation so strong that it tries my strength to the uttermost, and
gives my heart a struggle and a bitterness which no stranger may know,
there is One who marks my resistance and counts my enduring faith for
righteousness, and whispers me that by and bye, he that overcometh shall
wear the conqueror's crown. When in some moment of unguardedness I
grieve the good Spirit, and become unwatchful, and in remorseful
penitence I could almost weep my life away, the offering of my contrition
is accepted, and there is One who heals my backsliding and soothes my
fretting sorrow. My prayers offered in secret, pleading for purity and
blessing, my praises, when the full heart, attuned, gives its note of
blessing to swell the choral harmony, wherewith all God's works praise
Him, the active hand, the ready tongue, the foot swift and willing in his
cause, the service of labour, the service of suffering,--all these, if I
offer them rightly and reliantly, are acceptable unto God by Jesus
Christ. There is no room for distrust or for misgiving. I need not fear
that, after all my efforts, I shall be met with an averted glance, or
with a cold denial. The promise standeth sure, "To that man will I
look." Oh, if there had been a pause after this announcement, how would
the eager solicitudes of men have gathered round it, and waited for the
comi