DISCOURSE XXIV.

THE UNION OF PRAYER AND WATCHFULNESS.

Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night.-Nehemiah iv. 9.

IN this mode of defence we have an example worthy of our imitation. It is equally expressive of piety and prudence; of dependence upon God, and the use of

means.

And such a union as this is equally pleasing and useful. It forms the man, and the christian. It blends duty and privilege together. It keeps our devotion from growing up into rank enthusiasm; and our diligence from sinking into the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God.

Let us not imagine that the force of this example is inapplicable to us. What did our Saviour say to his disciples in the garden? WATCH and PRAY, lest ye enter into temptation-the very thing here exemplified by Nehemiah and his brethren: "nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them "day and night." Besides; one of the most common and striking images by which the life of the christian is held forth, is that of a warfare. A warfare we find it to be" without are fightings, and within are fears." Like this good man, we also are opposed by various classes of enemies who labour to hinder our work, and are always endeavouring to get an advantage over us. What then can be more reasonable than to betake ourselves to 66 prayer-and vigilance?"

I. Let us "make our prayer to God." On him let us place our reliance; and bring all our perplexities, afflictions, and wants, and spread them before his throne. Nothing can be done without prayer.

Prayer is recommended by God himself." Call up"on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, "and thou shalt glorify me."

The very exercise of prayer. is useful. It calms the mind; it drives back our fears; it strengthens the weak hands, and confirms the feeble knees.

Prayer-is forming a confederacy with God and bringing down the Almighty to our assistance, and

"Satan trembles when he sees

"The weakest saint upon his knees."

He knows that he cannot contend with omnipotencebut he will never be afraid to meet you alone, however you may be armed; he will never be afraid to engage you in the field if he can keep you out of the closet. This then is our wisest course, because it is our safestnot to encounter the enemy single handed, but when we are in danger of any sin, feel any rising passion, or perceive any approaching temptation-to say-" O Lord, I "beseech thee deliver my soul. Here is a foe, and I "feel my weakness, and my ignorance-O come to "my succour; inspire me with strength; teach my "hands to war, and my fingers to fight. O Lord, hast thee to help me."

For let us remember that every thing is under his controul, and according as we please for offend him; according as he interposes in our favor, or refuses his aid-we fail or prosper. "Except the Lord build the "house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the "Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in "vain.".

Does a nation dispense with God, and place their proud dependence on natural and acquired resources? He can "lead away their councellors, spoiled and make

"their judges fools." He speaks; and the tempest roars and a navy sinks in " the mighty waters.' He sends sickness; a general is laid by and his absence occasions the destruction of a whole army, and the devastation of a whole country.—

Does a man in trade dispense with God, and rely upon the wisdom of his own understanding, the power of his own arm, or the claim he has on the friendship of others?-How easily can God convince him of his dependence upon providence? He can touch an invisible spring and a thousand occurrences are in motion: the man wonders to find his plans crossed, his hopes disappointed. It matters not what he gets-he gets nothing: ye have sown much, and bring in little ye eat, but ye have not enough: ye drink, but ye are not filled "with drink ye clothe but there is none warm; "and he that carneth wages, earneth wages to put it in"to a bag with holes," Or he may succeed but his prosperity will destroy him. The God he disregards stands by, and as he drinks the poison, says let him alone. He would be rich without consulting God-and he is rich and falls" into temptation, and a snare, and into 26 many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in "destruction and perdition."

you,

Surely a christian does not think of going on without God? generally, and habitually he does not. Without me, says the Saviour, ye can do nothing; and the believer is convinced of this but not so much as he ought to be: and sometimes he seems entirely to forget the conviction. Let us take an instance. When onr Lord fore-warned Peter of his danger; Peter deemed the pre-monition needless-" Though all men should be "offended because of thee, yet will I never be offend"ed; though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny." And he was sincere-but though warm, he was not wise: he was not aware of his own weakness: he did not consider how differently he would feel in new circumstances-he did not apprehend that a little curiosity would bring him into company, and company

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into danger; and that the impertinence of a maid-servant would induce him to " curse and to swear, saying, "I know not the man." Had he prayed where he presumedhad he said, "Lord, thou knowest all

things; thou knowest my frame, and rememberest "that I am dust; I bless thee for the merciful cau"tion, hold thou me up and I shall be safe"—he would have triumphed where he fell and have been not an instance of the weakness of human nature, but of the power of divine grace. Let his injury prove our security. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, "lest he fall.-Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and "lean not unto thine own understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of "that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in

"time of need.

grace,

But what is the dependence upon God which we recommend? It is wise, it is cautious, it is active. And if vigilance be nothing without prayer, prayer is nothing without vigilance. We must therefore,

II. Set a watch because of our enemies, night and day." I am very sorry to say, that this is not so much attended to, as it ought to be. For the help God affords, is not designed to favor indolence-but to encourage exertion; and in his wisdom he has connected the means and the end together: and therefore to expect the end, without the use of the means, is nothing but presumption.

If people would exercise the same common sense in religion which they discover in the ordinary affairs of life, it would save them from a thousand mistakes. Behold the husbandman. He knows that God gives the increase-but he also knows how he gives it-and therefore manures, and ploughs, and sows, and weeds. His reliance upon God tells him that favorable seasons and influences are necessary to raise and ripen the corn-but he is never guilty of such folly as to go forth at harvest, and expect to reap where he has not

sown.

Nevertheless, such is the folly of many with regard to religious things. Such is the folly of a man who complains he does not profit by the word—but never tries to impress his mind with the importance of the duty in which he is going to engage, never hears with attention and application; never retires to review what he has heard, and to make it his own. Does the word of God operate like a charm-so that it is equally the same whether a man be awake or asleep?Such is the folly of a man who complains that his children are not religious, when he knows that he never trained them up in the way that they should go; never prayed with them; never instructed them early in the principles of the gospel; never placed before them a good example in his own temper and life.-Such is the folly of those heads of families, who complain of servants--not considering that kind affections, expressions, and actions, can only be returned where they are received--that a harsh, unfeeling, tyrannical master; that a haughty, niggardly, scolding mistress--can never be served by cordial attention, and cheerful obedience. By failing in their duty to their dependents, they set the consciences of their dependents easy in the breach of duty to them.-A poor man may talk of casting all his care upon God, and sing Jehovah jireh-the Lord will provide as long as he pleases; but if he becomes idle, wandering about from house to house if he omits opportunity of exertion, and lives beyond his expected income-let such a man remember that he tempts God, but does not trust him: that he may pray without ceasing, but that an inspired apostle says, 66

any man also will not work, neither shall he eat."God knows our dispositions, and hence he is prepared to advise us--and he has commanded us "not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers." If we disregard this admonition, and form irreligious alliances--all the devotion in the world will never remedy the mischief or the misery.

He then who, while he lives carelessly, and indiffer