Luke 18:43

REFLECTIONS

Reader! let us both beg of God the Holy Ghost, for his sweet and gracious office it is, to lead to the mercy-seat, to endite our prayers when there, and to give us everything suited to that sacred place; that He will of his rich mercy so help us in our infirmities, that we may be enabled to do as Jesus here commands, always pray and not faint. And oh! what unanswerable motives the Lord hath here furnished us with, in beholding a cruel, time-serving, unfeeling judge, at length prevailed upon to give way to a poor widow's unceasing importunity; when we call to mind that the Lord to whom we go in Christ, is our righteous, gracious, compassionate tender Father; and who himself hath expressly said: It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear! Oh! for faith, to believe the record God hath given of his dear Son!

Lord hide pride from our eyes, that no child of thine may be tinctured with pride, like this haughty blinded Pharisee; but give to all thy redeemed grace to be humbled like this poor Publican, that with self-contrition as his, we may each smite upon his breast as he did, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner!

And oh! for the continual teachings and leadings of the Holy Ghost, that as babes desiring the sincere milk of the word, we may come to Jesus; and never be sorrowful, as the young man rich in this world was, when called upon to leave all for Christ. Do thou, blessed Lord! do by us as by the blind man near Jericho, put a cry on our heart, and the more the ungodly rebuke for following Jesus, the more may our souls cry aloud for him, until Jesus heareth and answereth prayer, opens all the blinded senses of our spiritual faculties, and gives us grace to follow him in the regeneration; that we may glorify the Lord upon earth, and praise him to all eternity in heaven.