The Fifth of May.

ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE . . . --- John 16:23, 24.

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." --- Mark 11:24.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, and he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." --- John 16:23, 24.

"But ask in faith, not wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." --- James 1:6, 7.

Herod promised with an oath to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she would ask, even to the half of his kingdom. How advantageous was his promise! but how much more so that of the Lord!

"By myself have I sworn," says he, "that in blessing I will bless thee," Genesis 22:16, 17.

When he bids us ask, he does not lay us under a restriction of not asking above half a kingdom. No: we may ask a whole kingdom, even the kingdom of heaven, consisting both of grace and glory. Both are purchased for us by the blood of the Lamb; both promised to believers in the word of the gospel, and both actually bestowed; grace upon praying souls in the church militant -- glory upon praising souls in the church triumphant.

If now we do not enjoy the kingdom of grace, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, it is merely because we have not asked, or have asked amiss; this is, without faith, without patience, or in our own name, and not in the all-prevailing name of Jesus.