A threefold cord is not easily broken- let not my text be neglected by you. Yet still I do so, because the Master does it by a triple exhortation. Need I commend the mercy-seat to you who wait before it? Surely prayer must have become such a joy to you, such a necessity of your being, such an element of your life, that I hardly need press it upon you as a duty, or invite you to it as a privilege. Depend upon it that failure in prayer will undermine the foundation of our peace and sap the strength of our confidence but if we abound in pleading with God we shall grow strong in the Lord, and we shall be happy in his love, we shall become a blessing to those around us. Thou hast bidden us not to give that which is holy unto dogs but holiness is rather a thing we seek after than possess.” “Well,” saith the Lord, “you have only to ask and have ye have not because ye ask not you have only to seek and you will be sure to find, for holy things, like rare pearls, are to be discovered if you look for them: you have only to knock and spiritual secrets shall open to you, even the innermost truth of God.” In each exhortation our Lord bids us pray. It was to his disciples that the Lord said, “Cast not your pearls before swine ” and perhaps certain of them who were poor in spirit might turn round and say, “Lord, we have few pearls we are too poor to have the treasures of thy grace so plentifully. I HAVE no doubt that, taken very strictly, the three exhortations of this verse- which, indeed, are but one- were first of all intended for God’s believing people. “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”- Matthew vii.
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