have been so with me. to no purpose, I know not whether I should have returned the third time to the throne of grace: But the Son of God was pleased by his humble and frequent returning, to atone for my imperfections in this particular. Had I prayed once or twice PRAYER. O blessed Lord and Saviour! give me also such a holy constancy in prayer, that I may humbly knock at the door of grace time after time, and not so hastily take a denial of my suit. Henceforth I will say, with Jacob, I will not leave thee until thou bless me.' MEDITATION. 'He prayed the third time.' How carefully does the Spirit of God enumerate the precious sighs of our High Priest, which he poured forth in the extreme anguish of his soul into the bosom of his Father. This the Psalmist had predicted of the Mes`siah, when he introduces him speaking in this manner, Put my tears into thy bottle; are they hot in thy book?' (Psalm lvi. 3.) Alas! my sighs are far inferior to the sighs of my Saviour; but as he condescends to sanctify them by his intercession, so unquestionably will my Heavenly Father condescend to hear them, and note them in his book. PRAYER. O dearest Saviour! may I send up my prayers incessantly to thee, since I know that they are so exactly noted in the book of thy remembrance. Are the hairs of my head counted, and wilt thou not much more take account of those sighs and tears which are produced by the Holy Spirit? MEDITATION. The Lord Jesus prayed thrice, that the cup of his bitter mental sufferings might soon pass over. Paul likewise prayed thrice, that the messenger of satan might depart from him; and at last obtained for answer, that God's 'grace was sufficient for him.' (2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.) PRAYER. Oblessed Jesus! may I persevere unweariedly in prayer, without abating of my zeal. Grant me therefore fervour and attention in my prayers; and help me to ask until I receive, to seek until I find, to knock until it be opened unto me. MEDITATION. 'And he spake the same words.' O how fixed and determined is the Lord Jesus in his prayer! The source of all true eloquence, who teaches men what they should say, who gives speech and wisdom to his disciples, continually uses the same form of words to petition his Heavenly Father. PRAYER. Thanks be to thee, O blessed Lord and Saviour, who by thy constancy in prayer didst atone for my inconstancy. When, oppressed with temptations, I shall be at such a loss for words as to have only one faint sigh remaining; let it be acceptable unto thee, and let thy spirit plead for me with sighs unutterable. MEDITATION. 'And he said, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.' Ah, how bitter must be the dregs of that cup! since our blessed Lord prayed three times that it might be removed from him. How dreadful must the sense of the divine anger be, when such amazing strength could not bear it with. out shuddering! PRAYER. O blessed Jesus, how could I then have borne what thy human nature could scarcely bear! Would not this load have pressed me down to the deepest abyss of hell, if thou hadst not in my stead taken it on thee, and borne its oppressive weight. Eternal thanks be ascribed to thee for drinking the dregs of the cup of God, that the pure and bright waters of his comfort might be plentifully poured into it for me. Thanks be to thee who didst sweeten the cup of my cross, and from thy sacred lips didst cause pure mercy abundantly to flow into it. Now will I also willingly take the cup of salvation, and call upon thy holy name. MEDITATION.. 'Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.' This is now the third time that I hear the will of Christ, in his sinless human nature, humbly submitting itself to the will of God. How much more should I do so, who am infected with original and actual sin. PRAYER. O my Lord and Saviour, thanks and praise be to thee, who by the submission of thy will, hast acquired for me strength to break my stubborn will, and to triumph over the sinful motions of it. Thanks be to thee, who by thy meritorious victory hast so ordered it, that such evil motions shall not be imputed unto me. MEDITATION. "And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven.' How must this angel be amazed at the low abasement of his creator! How must it have delight. ed him to have looked down on the deep humiliation of the Son of God! With what humility must he have adored the purity and holiness of God, in this stupendous transaction! PRAYER. Blessed Jesus, as the angel with admiration delighted to behold thy stupendous love to mankind; so grant that I may also with a holy complacency and desire, with the deepest humility and wonder, look into its amazing depth. May thy bitter passion be the constant subject of my meditations! MEDITATION.' O how deeply do I here behold my Saviour abased! and the Son of God here becomes less than the angels. The God of angels is immersed in sorrow; and the angel of God comforts and supports him. The beloved Son is beaten; and the servant binds up his wounds. Amazing and unheard of humiliation! PRAYER. O blessed Lord and Saviour! Thou descendest so low in thy humiliation and abasement, that scarcely can my mind follow thee down the abyss. I stand afar off, and wonder at thy stupendous love, which has drawn thee into such a depth of misery. Praised be thy name, who was pleased to descend to such a lowly condition, as to stand in need of the consolation of an angel, that by thy merits I might enjoy the service and protection of those blessed Spirits, against the wiles and assaults of the spirit of darkness. MEDITATION. How faithful, how merciful, is God! He proportions his reviving comforts to the degree of our sufferings. When the Lord Jesus had in the wilder ness gone through his conflict with satan, the angels came, and ministered unto him. (Matt. iv. 11.) Here, the encounter being sharper, and the struggle greater, an angel steps in during the conflict to strengthen and support him, PRAYER. O my Saviour! Give me always such consolation and strength in my conflicts, that I may obtain the victory. When all the sons of men forsake me, let thy holy angels surrouud me, and thy blessed spirit assure me of thy love. MEDITATION, An angel strengthens my Saviour, undoubtedly by a consolatory discourse; and a kind remonstrance. That it is the Father's will that he should drink this cup, who would soon place the crown of perfection upon his sufferings, and then he should again return to the bosom of his dear Father; that his sufferings would be attended with the most transcendant and salutary effects, to the unspeakable glory of his Almighty Father, and the eternal salvation of an infinite number of souls. God undoubtedly accompanied these words of his refulgent messenger with such efficacy and power, that the human nature of our blessed Lord felt itself greatly and wonderfully strengthened by them. PRAYER, Thus, O my Saviour, let me never be without such pious souls who, under any difficulties into which I may fall, may support me by their consolatory discourse. Give to the words of thy consoling messengers such force and energy, that I may be sensible that thou hast sent them to strengthen and support my desponding courage, |