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malice, designs, temptations, and insinuations of Satan. Save them from the spirit, fascinations, oppressions, and customs of the world. Save them from the depravity, deceitfulness, gloom, or levity of their own hearts. Save them from the errors and heresies which are abroad and abound in the world. Save them from false teachers, hirelings, and wolves in sheep's clothing. Save them from all within them, and without them, that would lead them astray, dishonour thee, or grieve thy Holy Spirit, Save them with a present, perfect, and perpetual salvation.

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BLESS THINE INHERITANCE." They are thine own. Thou hast a right to them, an interest in them, and a claim upon them. Chosen to be thy portion, purchased to be thine heritage, and claimed to be employed in thy service, they are specially thine, therefore bless them. Bless them with thy grace, to reign over them, rule in them, and consecrate them to thyself and thy service. Bless them with thy heavenly light to discover to them their dangers, to make known to them their privileges, and to guide them safe to glory. Bless them with everlasting strength, that they may be strong to labour for thee, to conquer and overcome their foes, and to accomplish their journey to the promised land with pleasure. Bless them with delivering mercies, rescuing them from every danger, liberating them from every yoke, and raising them above the fear of death and dying.

Bless them with thy sweet presence to comfort them, and to be a guard, guide, and glory to them.

Be their Shepherd
The Lord has pro-

"FEED THEM ALSO." as well as their Saviour. vided food for his people, and pasture for his sheep, and has promised that they shall be fed. He has fed them in the wilderness, in the promised land, and even in Babylon. Lord, feed thy people. Feed them with the bread of heaven. Feed them in green pastures, and beside the still waters. Feed them with food convenient and sufficient. Feed them daily, in sickness and health, in poverty and plenty, at home and abroad. Feed their bodies, and feed their souls. Lamb of God, feed them, and lead them to living fountains of water. Father of mercies, feed them at thine own table with the fatness of thine house, and make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Holy Spirit, feed them with sweet views of Christ, with bright unfoldings of the glorious gospel, and with foretastes of the heavenly glory. Lord, feed them, for they hunger and thirst after righteousness, they are poor and needy, and unless fed by thee, they will faint by the

way.

66 LIFT THEM UP FCR EVER. Thou hast said, "I will set him on high, because he hath known my name." Lift them up out of self, above the fear of man, and out of the reach of Satan. Lift them up above the present evil world, to sit down in the heavenly

places in Christ. Lift them up out of the grasp and gunshot of their enemies, and set them at liberty from him that puffeth at them. Lift them up above their sins and sorrows, doubts and fears, darkness and gloom, to sit down with thee as their Father, Friend, and Saviour. Lift them up into thy presence and glory, where they shall see thy face, hear thy voice, and join in the songs of the celestial world. O, to dwell on high, and to have the place of our defence, the munitions of rocks!

Observe, God's promises are the foundation of our prayers. On them they rest. By them they are regulated. By them they are enforced. We may safely pray for what God has promised, both for ourselves and others. The Holy Spirit always convinces us of our need, and leads us to pray for the blessings God has promised. He quickens us to feel our need, leads us to see our wants, draws us to the throne of grace, and then helps our infirmities as we plead for promised blessings. David furnishes us with an excellent pattern for prayer. His language is simple, and in prayer our language should always be so. His words are few, there are no redundancies. Every word tells. It is the language of the heart rather than of the head. It is the language of one who knew God, had faith in God, and could freely ask great things of God. For no small mercies does he plead, but for salvation, God's great

est gift; for his blessing, which is the source of wealth, health, and happiness; for food, comprising all the good things of nature and grace; and for elevation, or all the joys, glories, and immunities of eternal glory.

Reader, do you pray? Do you pray from the heart? Do you pray for yourself? Here is a model for you, you need salvation, provision, God's blessing, and heaven. Set your heart upon them, and ask them in prayer. Ask for them with confidence. Ask for them with perseverance. Ask until you obtain them. Do you pray for others ? Prayers, supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks, should be made for all men. You should intercede for others. For sinners, as Abraham did for Sodom. For believers, as David did in the passage we have been considering. Many have obtained a blessing, while they have been praying for others; as God turned the captivity of Job, while he prayed for his friends. Like him, then, let us pray for our friends, for the Lord's people in general, and be this our prayer," Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them also, and lift them up for ever."

NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM.

ONE of the Scribes proposed a question to the Saviour, which he answered: the Scribe then made a very discreet and judicious reply, and our Lord said to him, "Thou art Mark not far from the kingdom of God." xii. 34. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of grace, now represented by the Church of God, all whose members are called by grace, ruled justified by grace, sanctified by grace, by grace, used by grace, and saved by grace. It is the eternal kingdom of the God of all grace, which he has set up in the world for his own praise, and which will ultimately Το melt away into the kingdom of glory. be in that kingdom is an unspeakable blessing, an invaluable privilege; let us therefore consider,

THE PRIVILEGED STATE. In the kingdom of God. This originates in regeneration, for except a man be born again, he cannot see, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. In order to be in this kingdom, we must have a knowledge of Christ the king; for without the knowledge of Christ, we are dead in sin, afar from God, and condemned already. We must agree to, and acquiese in the laws and 311

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