When (the) prayer-meeting comes, then we ought, if possible, to be present.

In prayer in (the) family, in secret prayer, this Society ought ever to be mentioned.

In short, if Jesus wept for Jerusalem, how show we any likeness to Him unless . . . .? Where is the head as water, (where) are the eyes as a fountain of tears, in such absence of kind and tender sympathy?

Our blessed Lord wept, but this was the least that He did for Jerusalem...

For the sake of poor wretched sinners He flew from heaven on the wings of love. No difficulties, no sacrifice of self, . . . no dangers intimidated Him. He divested Himself of glory, took our debased nature. . . . . In that nature, as you and I are, sin only excepted, He suffered. . . In that nature He

What scared Him from His work, or labour of love?

What deterred Him from . . . .? Nothing.

Shame,

Sorrow,

The power of Satan,

The frowns of men,

The curse of (the) law,

The hidings of God's face,

All, all, had no power to overcome (the) constancy of (His) purpose, the fixedness of His love..

His TEARS were the least that He gave;

He gave HIMSELF.

very

But what, brethren, have we done?-what have you and I given? Say not.

ACTS I. 14.

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, aud Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

1. WHO they were that met together?

2. For what?

3. What their occupation?

4. Effects.

1. Who were they? A few disciples, the greater part of whom were fishermen; the mother of our Lord; the brethren of our Lord; and a few women, in an upper room. Where were

the nobles, the learned, the mighty of the land, the lawyers, the scribes, the doctors, the pharisees ?-not one here.

To speak after the manner of this world, what a poor show was here!-How little glory! The cause of the Gospel seemed to human appearance hopeless.

But mark the footsteps of the only wise God. Trace Him whose ways are not as our ways, whose thoughts are not as our thoughts. How often the case of Israel of old seemed hopeless, desperate. Look at the tomb of Jesus; with His death, hope seemed dead, but "by death He overcame him that had the power of death." Heb. ii. 14.

As great rivers spring from some insignificant fountain, as the majestic oak from the acorn, so it is God's way in grace to work great effects by what appear inadequate causes, to write a sentence of death upon hopes, that we may trace His hand more distinctly and exclusively, in ultimate accomplishment. 2 Cor.

i. 9.

He tries us, that we may try Him.

Tries our faith, then fulfils the promise.
Leads us to prayer, then gives deliverance.

Stirs us to diligence, then graciously rewards.

His people, and secures His own glory.

Thus benefits

2. For what? Not for political objects.

But for a larger,

Not for exemption from persecution.
Not even for strength to bear up under
trials; not this merely,

more copious effusion of the Holy Ghost. They desired the fulfilment of the prophecy, Joel ii. 28, 29, the accomplishment of the promise, Luke xxiv. 48, 49. They who have any grace long for more. They who have most, have but little, but they who have any long for more. Life, light, seem to desire their own increase. If a man born blind, be partially restored, he desires perfect vision. (If a) deaf

(man, he wishes to hear perfectly). If we have a partial view of a fine landscape, we naturally desire to see the whole. Much more is it so in grace, the noblest product of God. John iv. 14.

We want to know more of Jesus, if we know Him at all, more clearly, personally, experimentally, holily. We want more faith, more hope, more love, more holiness.

3. Not merely desires. I do not think Prov. xiii. 4, applicable to a believer, yet there is far too much of the principle. It was not so here.

They prayed.

They prayed earnestly.
They prayed hopefully.
They prayed patiently.

They prayed perseveringly.

They prayed till they received the blessing. Moreover, they prayed in concert, together; all prayer has great blessings, private, family, public. Here social prayer. All to be used, none to be rested in. Matt. xviii. 19.

4. The attention (is generally) too exclusively fixed upon the extraordinary results. The whole result was wonderful. Tongues, Acts ii. 11, this the least. They received power from on high. Ministry clothed with it.

(There was power in the) law, (for they that heard were) "pricked in their heart."

(There was power in the) Gospel, (for "about) three thousand souls were added to them."

What a sight when this multitude thronged the streets as (they) went to the temple.

There was the effect on the souls of the apostles themselves. (The) timid lamb became (the) bold and daring lion, (the) scared and fearful dove the soaring eagle.

What increase of faith and love, meekness and courage.

What accession of light and life,

self-knowledge,
humility,

fear of God, rising above the fear of man.

Is this that Peter, who so lately ran from imaginary dangers, denied and blasphemed the Lord? No, it is another Peter. Peter is unlike himself. What cannot the grace of God accomplish?

I have sometimes thought that the disciples before the day of Pentecost were to show the feeblest exhibitions of grace, to encourage the feeble-minded, to display the tender heart of Jesus towards the feeblest. But also to show what grace can do for the feeblest, and how they ought to besiege the throne of grace that it may be so. Here we see men full of the Holy Ghost and power.

The love of Christ pervaded them.

The love of God was shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given to them. Here was the ardent love of perishing souls, Acts ii. 14-40, and fervent love to one another. Vers. 44-46. They were clothed with power from on high, power with God, in prayer, over the souls of others, over their own. This is what we want.

Not mere pardon, but larger communications of the Holy Spirit. More for the unconverted, (for) backsliders, (for the) Church of Christ, (for) ourselves; to subdue sin,

to walk with God,

in the world,

with saints,

to believe promises,

to live in Jesus,

to run, fight, yea, to conquer, Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, not only finally, but day by day.

For this we need the sealing of the Spirit of God. Then, and only then, we conquer sin, Satan, the world; conquer though often conquered, though every wound be in itself mortal, (though our) strength be weakness, (though the) weapons (be) in themselves powerless, (our) enemies mighty, (yet we) conquer by faith,

(by) prayer,

(the) Word of God,

(the) blood of the Lamb. Rev. xii. 11.

1. Great mercy deeply to feel need; all do (feel it, but) not all deeply.

2. Seek really, heartily,

day by day,

with others,

till you obtain. Acts i. 14.

3. Seek it holily, in the path of waiting obedience. Is. lxiv. 5.

4. Seek it expectingly. Remember Jesus (is) at the right hand, God (is) a covenant God, (this is) the very desire, the fruit of the Spirit.

5. Expect it in God's own way. It may come in a moment, or gradually; a still small voice, or earthquake; not very sensibly, but very really;

But seek,

till it does come.