eart
to speak against religion, even though he has not "a heart to fear God
and keep all His commandments always?" In that day, they will look
upon the righteous man, and "be amazed at the strangeness of his
salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for. And they, repenting
and groaning for anguish of spirit, shall say within themselves, This
was he, whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach.
We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour;
how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the
saints[15]!"

Think of all this, my Brethren, and rouse yourselves, and run forward
with a good courage on your way towards heaven. Be not weary in
well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Strive
to enter in at the strait gate. Strive to get holier and holier every
day, that you may be worthy to stand before the Son of Man. Pray God
to teach you His will, and to lead you forth in the right way, because
of your enemies. Submit yourselves to His guidance, and you will have
comfort given you, according to your day, and peace at the last.

[1] Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Isa. v. 4.

[2] Eccles. xxiv. 21.

[3] Isa. xxv. 6.

[4] Isa. lxi. 1-3.

[5] Hos. xiv. 5-7.

[6] Ps. lxxxi. 13-16.

[7] Ps. iv. 7.

[8] Ps. xvi. 6.

[9] Ps. xix. 10.

[10] Ps. xxviii. 7.

[11] Ps. lxv. 4.

[12] Easter.

[13] 1 John iii. 2.

[14] Rev. i. 14-16.

[15] Wisd. v. 2-5.

SERMON XV.

Mental Prayer.

"_Pray without ceasing._"--1 Thess. v. 17.

There are two modes of praying mentioned in Scripture; the one is
prayer at set times and places, and in set forms; the other is what the
text speaks of,--continual or habitual prayer. The former of these is
what is commonly called prayer, whether it be public or private. The
other kind of praying may also be called holding communion with God, or
living in God's sight, and this may be done all through the day,
wherever we are, and is commanded us as the duty, or rather the
characteristic, of those who are really servants and friends of Jesus
Christ.

These two kinds of praying are also natural duties. I mean, we should
in a way be bound to attend to them, even if we were born in a heathen
country and had never heard of the Bible. For our conscience and
reason would lead us to practise them, if we did but attend to these
divinely-given informants. I shall here confine myself to the
considerat