quire his destruction, as well as that of any other siuner. And in this state of uncertainty, he is constrained to make the supposition, that he may be finally cast off; and when he makes the supposition, he cannot help being willing, or unwilling that God should cast him off. I scruple not to say, that every sinner under genuine conviction is brought to this trial, whether he is willing or unwilling, that God should cast him off; and that no such sinner is willing to be cast off before he is made willing by the renovation of his heart.--The doubting christian is brought to the same trial, as the convinced sinner. For he does not know that he is a real christian, or that he ever shall be. In this doubting situation, he is constrained to suppose, that he may be lost. He must then be either willing, or unwilling to be cast off. If he be unwilling, his unwil lingness is an evidence against him; and he can find no evidence in his favor, until he feels willing that God should dispose of him as shall be most for his glory.--Nothing short of this can give him good ground of hope and comfort. I know of no truth of more practical importance than this, that every person, in order to be saved, must be conditionally willing, that God should dispose of him, for time and eternity, as shall be most for his glory and the good of the universe.

4. If the prayer of Moses was proper and sincere ; then those, who possess his spirit, are the best friends of sinners. The sinners in Israel had no better friend than Moses. He was the most desirous of their temporal and eternal good; and was willing to do the most to promote it. He was continually praying for them, which prevented them from suffering many evils, to which they were greatly exposed; and drew down

them.--

many great and distinguishing blessings upon And had it been necessary, he was ready to give up all his own interests, to promote their future and eternal interests. And what more could he desire, or do for them. Though christians in general have not so large a portion of pure, impartial, disinterested, and universal benevolence as Moses had; yet they all have some portion of it, which disposes them to desire and promote the temporal and eternal good of sinners.--Though they have no disposition to take them out of the hands of God, yet it is their hearts desire and prayer to him, that they may be saved. They not only pray for them, but they instruct them, advise them and admonish them, in regard to their duties and dangers. Nor do they neglect to exercise their proper power and influence, to restrain them from all the paths of the destroyer. But, alas! they too often misunderstand, misrepresent and abuse such benevolent conduct. Nevertheless, christians, like Moses and Samuel, do not cease to pray for them, but continue to say to God, as the leper said to Christ, "If thou wilt, thou canst make them clean." They believe that they are within the reach of divine power and mercy and that God may be waiting to be gracious to them which animates them to persevere in their benevolent desires and exertions ; though they know, if the glory of God and the interests of his kingdom require their destruction, the intercessions of Noah, Job and Daniel cannot prevent it.

5. If the prayer of Moses was proper and sincere, then none can pray sincerely for any good, without being willing to do whatever is necessary on their part, to obtain it. They cannot pray for the poor sincerely, without being willing to do whatever is necessary and

proper on their part, to assist, support and comfort them. They cannot sincerely say to the naked and destitute," be ye warmed, and be ye filled, while they are not willing to give them those things, which are needful to the body. They cannot pray sincerely for the spiritual good of a person, or of a people, or of the world, without being willing to do all that is proper on their part to promote and secure the spiritual blessings prayed for. Moses appears to have been sincere in his intercessions for his people, because he was willing to do and suffer any thing, which he believed to be proper and necessary to promote and se cure their temporal and eternal good. His prayers and faith and works were consistent and sincere; and of vast benefit to the people of God. If christians would follow the example of Moses and act as consistently with their intercession for others, they would avail much in drawing down the blessings of providence and grace upon individuals, societies and all the nations of the earth. All the blessings, which God has still to bestow upon mankind, he means to bestow in answer to the effectual, fervent, sincere prayers of his people. He has set them apart for himself and they have devoted themselves to him. They have a serious and important part to act on the stage of life and their own interests and the interests of all mankind are lodged in their hands; and it highly behoves them to be faithful to God, to themselves, and to the world.

6. If the conditional prayer of Moses was proper and ceptable to God; then the prayers of the people of od are always heard and answered. They always ay as Moses did, conditionally. They pray for

nothing unconditionally and unsubmissively. They never know what it is best for God to grant, or to deny. Moses did not know whether it was best for God to forgive his people, though he ardently desired it; and therefore he prayed conditionally and submissively for their forgiveness. This was acceptable to God and he granted his request; and if he had refused to forgive them, still he would have granted his request; just as he granted Christ's request, though he denied what he prayed for in particular. God knows what is best for a person, or a people, better than they do; and this christians believe to be true; and accordingly refer it to God to grant, or deny the particular favors they plead for; and he always either grants what they ask, or gives them something better, so that their petitions are always answered, He never says to the seed of Jacob, "Seek ye me in vain." To pray in faith is not to pray in a certain belief of God's granting what is prayed for; but to pray in faith is to pray in a belief that he will do what is wisest and best to be done and in cordial submission to the divine disposal. This is all the assurance, that christians ought to desire to have, to encourage their intercession for others. It is all that Moses had to encourage him to pray for himself and others. And they would have reason to be afraid to pray, if they knew beforehand, that God would certainly give them the very things they prayed for. For they might desire and pray for things, that would prove a curse to them and others, instead of a blessing. It is their wisdom, as well as duty, always to pray conditionally and submissively; for then they may be assured their prayers will be answered benevolently and graciously.

7. If the conditional prayer of Moses was proper and acceptable to God; then the prayers of sinners are always sinful and unacceptable to God. For they never pray conditionally, but unconditionally. They are not willing to be denied on account of God's glory. It does not satisfy them to be told, that God cannot grant their requests consistently with his own glory and the good of the universe. For his glory and the good of the universe do not appear so important as their own good; and they will not submit to be denied, for such reasons. But if they will only ask for mercy, conditionally and submissively, they shall certainly find mercy.