OR,

INSTRUCTIONS AND PRAYERS:

DESIGNED TO HELP CHRISTIANS FORWARD ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN.

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY,

GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;

4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; 16, HANOVER STREET, HANOVER SQUARE; AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

BY

4510 AI

567

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

PREFACE.

IN putting forth this little book, the Author would express his hope, that it may prove serviceable to his poorer brethren in the all-important work of their salvation. It was more particularly designed for the use of the Sick and Aged-to supply them with suitable instructions and prayers in their hours of retirement; but it may be found a useful companion to the Poor generally, both from the universal importance of the subjects it speaks of, and from the shortness of its several portions. May God be pleased to give his blessing to it, and make Christian truth and holiness and peace to abound more and more.

R. M.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. The Blessedness of Eternal Rest..

II. Holiness necessary to Salvation

III. Man's Sinfulness .....

IV. God's desire that the Sinner should be saved

9

11

V. Man reconciled to God through the Sufferings of Christ.. 13

VI. The Joy springing from the knowledge of Christ ...... 15

VII. The gracious Help of the Spirit......

18

VIII. The need of Watchfulness and Prayer......

20

IX. The comfort of casting our Burdens upon the Lord...... 22

XIII. Diligence in doing the Work of our Salvation .......... 32

XIV. The delay of Judgment arises not from slackness, but from

the long-suffering of God

..... 34

&c.

I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF ETERNAL REST.

Rev. xiv. 13.—I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours.

How welcome is rest to him that is wearied with labour! They that have toiled and vexed themselves with worldly cares, often desire death, as hoping to find in it a rest from the feverish excitements and eager pursuits, from the disappointments and sorrows of this present life. Alas, for them; theirs is a vain hope. What have they to do with rest? They have worked indeed, but not the "work" which God gave them to do; for they have not "believed in Him whom He sent.' 99 1 They have not lived under His holy guidance, nor walked in the way of His commandments. And God has declared, yea, He has " sworn in His wrath that they shall not enter into His rest.' And there is no other rest for men or angels. Death to such persons, so far from ending their troubles, is but the beginning of infinitely greater and endless woes. It delivers them

"2

over to the worm that dieth not, and to the fire that is not quenched. But a voice from heaven has said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." And the Spirit confirms the word, and adds, "that they may rest from their labours." Their labours have been in the Lord." They have been followers of Christ. Their trust has been in Him, and they have loved and served Him. They have counted

1 John vi. 29.

2 Ps. xcv. 11.