more than he has promised, if we would but take care to ask as he requires. But all the hindrance lies in our own felves. We do not ask like men who would obtain; we do not fue for Pardon, as he will bestow it; nor pray for Grace, as if we defired it, or had a mind to make any use of it, and therefore after all our Prayers for God's Supplies, we are still as indigent as we were before; Te ask and receive not, fays St. James, Te defire and cannot obtain, because you ask amifs, Jam. 4. 2, 3. Whereas would we ask things, in fuch wife as God has promifed to grant them; and feek them upon fuch terms, as he has offer'd to beftow them. Would we ask for Pardon of our fins, only in repenting of them, and forfaking them; and for Grace and Vertue, in the use of good and wife Endeavours after them; tis certain, we fhould not go without them. Ask, fays our Saviour, it shall be given you; for every one that asketh in this wife receiveth.

To make my Difcourfe upon this fubject as ufeful as I can, I fhall enquire into these two things.

First, Upon what terms we are to pray for any of God's mercies. And when that is fecured,

Second

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Secondly, In what manner we ought to pray for them.

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1. I fhall inquire upon what terms we are to pray for any of God's mercies; and under what Conditions we must hope to receive them. God's Promifes run upon Conditions, he engages to beftow Benefits when we perform Duties, and offers the reward, after we have done the Service. And now what God promises only conditionally, we must not ask abfolutely; we must not expect. that he will give, till we come duly qualified, and fitted to receive; we must feek his Mercies on his own terms; and ask them only in fuch wife as he has undertaken to bestow them. And this is that rule which St. John prefcribes to us, which he makes the great Condition of our Prayers, and the measure of our Expectations. This, fays he, is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us, 1 Joh. 5. 14.

To know then when we ask any thing upon God's own terms, and fue for Mercies in fuch fort, as he has promised to bestow them; we must enquire what his Will is concerning any thing which

we ask for, or upon what terms he will give them; and on what Conditions the Gospel bids us hope to receive them; and if we come duely prepared therewith, we may be fure upon our Prayers to receive them.

Now that Condition whereupon God has promised to forgive us any wilful Sin, i. e. any Sin against our own knowledge, or against the Checks and Warnings of our own Minds and Consciences, is our fincere Repentance of it, and Care to amend and forfake it. And that Condition, whereupon he has promis'd to bestow upon us any Vertue, is our own ferious and diligent feeking, and endeavouring after it. And that Condition whereupon he has promifed, to confer upon us any gracious Affiftances of his Holy Spirit, is fo far forth, as we are honestly prepared to use them; and carefully co-operate our felves, and concurr therewith; and that Condition whereupon he has engaged to give us health, or cafe, or fafety, or any outward Bleffings, when we seek and labour after them is fo far forth as in the Wisdom of his All-feeing Providence, he fees them fitting for us; or conducing to the advan tage of the World, and the benefits of

others.

others. Upon these terms God has pro mised to bestow these Mercies; and if we have them to fhew, when we pray, our Prayers fhall certainly procure them; but if we are void of them, our Prayers can have no fuch effect; but after all we shall still be unrelieved and go without them. We ask what God is refolved not to grant, and seek what he has declared, we shall never find; and fuch Petitions can never take effect, but must needs be unfuccessful. If we ask his Pardon for any Sin, whilst we impenitently go on therein, and continue to repeat the fame; he tells us plainly, if we will believe him, that we shall not be pardon'd, but that except we repent we shall furely perish. If we beg his Grace whilft we never use it, nor endeavour after those Vertues which we pray for; he affures us, that we fhall be fo far from being intrusted with more Grace; that we fhall lofe what we have received already, and that from him that hath not, shall be taken even that which he hath; these Prayers being altogether against his Will, and contrary to the Declarations of his Gospel; they cannot be heard unless God fhould change his mind, and give us a new Religion, and other ways of obtaining his favour, L 3 than

than those which we have received already.

But in Matters of this moment to be more particular.

1. As for pardon of our Sins, God will not grant that, till we repent of them and forfake them; fo that whenfoever we ask Pardon of them, we must for ever renounce them, and bid adieu to them; or elfe according to those terms of Mercy Christ has purchased for us, we cannot hope to be forgiven. When the wicked man forfakes his way, fays God by Ezekiel, and turns from the wickedness he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right; he fhall fave his foul alive; he fhall furely live, and not die, Ezek. 18. 27, 28. Repent, fays St. Peter, and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out. Act. 3.19. But except you repent, fays our Saviour, you shall all perish, Luk. 13.3.

Thus is fincere Repentance, and forfaking fin made the great Condition of the Forgiveness of it. And therefore if any man would pray for the Pardon of his fins, according as the fame is promifed by God, and is to be expected by us, he must first renounce the Sin, which he defires God to pardon, and pray for

the