The Communicant's Companion
thou shalt find hereafter, that thy path has been like the shining light, which shines more and more.
We find there is much lacking in our faith, in our love, and every grace; here, therefore, we must desire and hope, and prepare to receive from Christ such gifts of the Holy Ghost as will be mighty, through God, to increase our faith, that its discoveries of divine things may be more clear and distinct, and its assurances of the truth of them more certain and confident; that its consent to the covenant may be more free and resolved, and its complacency in the covenant more sweet and delightful. And that which thus increases our faith will be effectual to inflame our love, and make that strong as death, in its desires towards God, and resolutions for him. We must here wait to be strengthened with all might, by his Spirit in the inner man, unto all patience in suffering for him, and diligence in doing for him, and both with joyfulness. We here put ourselves under the happy influence of that great and glorious power, which works mightily in them that believe.
2. Let us here receive grace for the quickening of gracious acts, that they may be more strongly exerted; we come to this throne of grace, this mercyseat, this table of our God, that here we may not only obtain mercy to pardon, but may find "grace to help in every time of need," grace to excite us to, to direct us in, and thoroughly furnish us for every good word and work, according as the duty of every day requires. It was a very encouraging word which Christ said to Paul, when he prayed for the removal of that messenger of Satan which was sent to buffet him: "My grace is sufficient for thee;" and all true believers may take the comfort of it: what was said to him is said to every person, whatever the exigence of the case is; they that commit themselves to the grace of God, with a sincere