Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. PSALM XXVi. 2. Search me, O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALM CXXXIX. 23, 24.

WOULD David, the man after GOD's own heart, not trust himself, but present his heart to the LORD to be tried? much less can or ought we to trust our hearts; "for he that trusts in his own heart," says the wise man, "is a fool." Prov. xxviii. 26. We have more reason to be afraid of our own hearts than of all other enemies. It is not necessary for us to know when or by what means the LORD searches our hearts; but every one that is really in a state of grace, and walking in the fear of the LORD, will pray to him to search the heart, and to deliver him from every wicked way. The Holy Spirit hath various ways of searching the hearts of his people, and makes use of different means with the same person. We are not to limit the mode nor the extent of his operations; but it is our duty to pray that he will in everything guide us in the way that leadeth to everlasting life. Some may be worked upon very differently from what we have been; but the whole is under the direction of infinite wisdom, and tends to manifest the glory of divine grace in our salvation. All things work together for good to them that love GOD. Rom. viii. 28.

LORD, search my soul, try every thought;
Though my own heart accuse me not
Of walking in a false disguise,

I beg the trial of thine eyes.

Let not one wicked perverse way
Be found in all I do and say,
But grant thy grace my soul to feed,
And in the path of life me lead.

Lord, all my desire is before thee. Teach me thy way; I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. PSALM XXXviii. 9, and lxxxvi. 11.

ENCOURAGED by thy blessed word of

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mise, O LORD, that before men call thou wilt answer, and whilst they are yet speaking, thou wilt hear (Isa. lxv. 24), I now draw nigh to thee, and present my supplication before thee. Teach me, by thy word and Spirit, the things of my everlasting peace. Let my soul be cast into the mould of the Gospel, and let me be obedient to thy will in all things. Manifest thyself unto me, as thou dost not to the world; show me my inward corruptions, and let me see into the depth of iniquity that is in my heart; grant me that "fear of the LORD, which is the beginning of wisdom; incline my heart unto thy testimonies; lead me into all truth; help me to learn, that he that believeth will not make haste;" restrain the impetuosity of my natural temper, that I may do all things deliberately, as becometh one that feareth alway, that is ever looking unto thee for direction. LORD, preserve me calm in my spirit, gentle in my commands, and watchful, that I speak not unadvisedly with my lips; moderate in my purposes, yielding in my temper, where the honour of my GoD is not immediately concerned; and ever steadfast where needful. LORD, grant me thy protection; and may thy blessing be upon me, that I may not bring an evil report upon that good land I was permitted to spy out; but walk honourably through the wilderness, and pass triumphantly over Jordan into Canaan. Amen.

Be with me, LORD, where'er I go;

Teach me what thou wouldst have me do;
Suggest whate'er I think or say;

Direct me in the narrow way.

Strive to enter in at the strait gate. LUKE Xiii. 24. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. PHIL. ii. 12. Forgetting those things that are behind, I reach forth into those things which are before. PHIL. iii. 13.

THE road to heaven is called a narrow road, because the travellers on it are not permitted to turn either to the one side or the other; such turnings are sin. The gate to this road is called strait, because on entering you deny yourselves to all the pleasures of the world. He that feeds only upon CHRIST, and yet with fear and trembling works out his own salvation, is in the narrow way; the former preventing discouragement, and the latter presumption. Grant, O GOD, that I may still continue to fight the good fight of faith, and never look back on the flesh-pots of Egypt; but "rather choose to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." May the painful death which thou sufferedst on the cross have an abiding place in my heart, that thereby unbelief and slavish fear may be destroyed on the one hand, and security on the other; that I may walk at all times and in all places with holy and filial reverence, as in thy presence. Amen.

As new-born babes desire the breast,
To feed, and grow, and thrive;
So saints with joy the Gospel taste,
And by the Gospel live.

Grace, like an uncorrupted seed,
Abides and reigns within;
Immortal principles forbid
The sons of GOD to sin.

Not by the terrors of a slave

Do they perform his will;

But with the noblest powers they have,
His sweet commands fulfil.

David's Prayer.-Create in me α clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. PSALM li. 10. Divine Answer. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them an heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. EZEK. xi. 19, 20.

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GLORIOUS promise which may be relied on, and will certainly be fulfilled if heartily pleaded in prayer. "And blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Matt. v. 8. In regard to justification, we are perfectly clean by CHRIST'S atonement; but in regard to sanctification, our hearts are not perfectly clean yet, but we have still need to pray, "Create in me a clean heart." Amen. O LORD! may thy blood and Spirit cleanse and sanctify me thoroughly from all my sins! sins! Amen.

Bless'd with the joys of innocence
Adam our father stood,

Till he debased his soul to sense,
And ate th' unlawful food.

Now we are born a sensual race,
To sinful joys inclined;
Reason has lost its native place,
And flesh enslaved the mind.

Great GOD! renew our ruin'd frame,
Our broken powers restore!
Inspire us with a heavenly flame,

And flesh shall reign no more!

Eternal Spirit, write thy law
Upon our inward parts!
And let the second Adam draw
His image on our hearts!

And Enoch walked with God. GEN. v. 24.

HAPPY they who, in their early days, are turned from sin, themselves, and the world, by repentance towards GOD, and faith in the promised seed, as Enoch was, who, from the time of his conversion, walked with GOD in a continued progress in his work and ways. To "walk with GOD," is to come out from a sinful generation and cleave to the LORD, as Noah and Caleb did; and GOD requires this of all believers. 2 Cor. vi. 17. It is setting the LORD before our eyes continually, and fearing him always, as Joseph and Nehemiah did; thereby avoiding everything that would offend him. It is also making an open profession of faith in him and zeal for his service, as our highest honour and best interest. And further, it is such a walk as obtains an holy intimacy and communion with GOD, which is kept up by constant meditation, prayer and praise; hearkening to the voice of his word and Spirit, and walking humbly before him; hereby holiness is promoted and encouraged in the soul. Thus "Enoch walked with GOD;" thus he maintained a holy confidence in him, committing all his ways to him, always expecting help from him, and rejoicing in the hopes of being with him for ever.

For these happy ends the grace of God is sufficient for all that see their want, and ask it. The LORD help us to seek it, that, like Enoch, we may walk with GOD here below, and live with him for ever in glory. Amen.

My heart is prone to rove, I see;

LORD, plant it near thy bleeding side;
Then will it kindly gaze on thee,

And in thy love and fear abide.