be in the spirit of prayer. But we are speaking now of stated seasons for retired prayer and of this we say, that at the least you ought regularly to pray twice every day. David says, It is a good thing to give thanks. unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High; to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.' Ps. xcii, 1, 2. 'In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.' Ps. v, 3. And again, 'let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps. cxli, 2. Morning and evening devotions, then, every day, should never be omitted; and, speaking generally, unless you are prevented by circumstances out of your control, they cannot be neglected without much damage to your soul. Prayer has been compared to a key, that in the morning opens the treasury of God's mercies; and in the evening shuts us up under his protection and safeguard. The habit of early rising is of great importance to the due discharge of morning prayer. O how many precious hours do indolent Christians lose; while those who are more self-denying and diligent, are gaining the favour of God and enjoying communion with him.* Our first waking thoughts should be directed towards * Col. Gardiner set an admirable example. "He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to spend his time till six, in secret exercise of devotion, reading, meditation, and prayer; in which last he contracted such a fervency of spirit, as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverend animating sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and which carried him through the trials and services of life with such steadiness and such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, God; copying David's example, who says, When I awake I am still with thee. Ps. cxxxix, 15. I would advise you to be longest in your morning devotions, when your spirits are lively and vigorous, and undis- · turbed by the events of the day; in the evening,hen you are tired and spent with its labours, be shorter, and endeavour to attend to this duty sometime before you retire to rest. If your evening devotions are deferred till every thing else is done, there is great danger of their being often imperfectly performed, if not altogether omitted. The Rev. Mr. Simeon remarks, "It is too generally found, that many, instead of transacting their business with God while their faculties are alive, stay till exhausted nature is become incapable of any energetic exertion, and then hurry over some form of prayer, as a school boy, does his task, without feeling one word they utter. Even this is too favourable a representation of the prayers of some others, who stay till they have lien down upon their bed, and then fall asleep in the midst of their devotions. As for praying in the morning, they have no time for that; the concerns of the past or present day have pre-occupied their minds; and if they offer two or three cold petitions while they are dressing, or before they leave their room, they think this quite sufficient." he would be at his devotions at farthest by two. He likewise secured time for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as the better able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten: and during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper, but a mouthful of bread with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had formed, he required less sleep than most persons [ have known: and I doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing to these resolute habits of self-denial.-See Doddridge's Life of Col. Gardiner. Regular devotional exercises, twice every day, in secret, are insisted on as a plain duty. More than this is strongly recommended. Christians in general would find, what many do find in their own practice, a great advantage in obtaining a few leisure moments for retired and stated prayer in the middle of the day. The word of God gives us encouraging examples of those who have done so. Evening, morning, and at noon day will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.Ps. lv, 17. Daniel, in a time of great danger, his windows being opened in his chamber, kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he aforetime did. Dan. vi, 10. Here was the secret spring of the eminency of these holy men. They were much in prayer. Besides, men's thoughts and affections will necessarily be most vigorous and lively about those things in which they are incessantly employed, and they are able to do that best which they do most frequently. This is very evident in the common affairs of life. Indeed, we see this to be the case, as in prayer itself our thoughts so continually run out after our daily and more constant occupations. Many objections are ever ready to start up in the natural heart, when we are called on to form a determined resolution to attend to any holy duty. But let us say as one said, "If the house were about to fall down, I must pray;" meaning, that the salvation of his immortal soul was a matter of such infinitely superior magnitude to every earthly concern, that, whatever were the consequence, he must attend to that. Respecting the time to be allotted to prayer, no general rule can be given. Many have the command of their whole time, and from them more is reasonably expected. Surely an hour or two in twenty-four is not too much for them. A real love to God, and a due sense of the value of his favor, will make a cheerrful and a liberal giver. Others, as servants, who have hardly any time that they can call their own, are yet bound to redeem some for God. Dr. Doddridge remarks, "that there are few who, with proper care, might not have half or three quarters of an hour at command for reading the Scriptures and prayer, morning and evening.Let there be a willing mind, and a way will be found. "Let those," says Bishop Horne, "who retire in the middle of the day to adorn their persons, take the opportunity of putting on the ornaments of grace, and renewing the spirit of their minds." In many cases and situations it will be impossible to retire to your private chamber for a mid-day prayer; but in a walk, in your house, or in your business, your heart may statedly retire at a particular season for a few leisure moments from the world, and hold communion with its God. Only try. Some of the last words which an African youth (very dear to the writer, and now, he doubts not, in heaven) told one of those about him were, I used to pray three times every day, and I now find that it was good-do you mind to do the same." The importance of this regular and frequent devotion will be evident from the consideration of the great concerns which we then have to transact with God. have," says Baxter, "more and greater business to do with God in one day, than with all the world in all my life. My business with God is so great, that, if I had not a Mediator to encourage and assist me to do my work, and procure my acceptance, the thoughts of it would * See Memoir of Simeon Wilhelm. overwhelm my soul. Therefore let man stand by; I have to do with the great and eternal God, and with him I am to transact in this little time the business of my endless life. I am to seek of God, through Christ, the pardon, of all my great and grievous sins: and if I speed not, woe unto me that ever I was born! I have some hopes of pardon, but intermixed with many perplexing fears. I have evidences of grace, but they are exceedingly blotted; I want assurances that God is my reconciled Father, and that he will receive me to himself when the world forsakes me. I have many languishing graces to be strengthened; and, alas! what rooted, inveterate, vexatious corruptions to be cured! Can I look into my heart, into such an unbelieving and earthly heart, into such a proud and peevish heart, into such a perplexing and trembling heart, and not discern how great my business is with God? Can I survey my sins, feel my wants, and sink under my weaknesses? Can I look forward, and see how near my time is to an end? Can I think of the malice and diligence of Satan; the number, power, and policy of my enemies; the many dangerous snares and temptations that are around me, and my own ignorance, and weakness, and unwatchfulness and not know that my greatest business is with God?'* Surely such views should lead us to frequent prayer. SECT. IX.-The Reward of Private Prayer. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. While this holds out to us the certain reward of secret devotion, it also discovers to us a delightful view of the glory and perfections of God, Heathen nations fancy that the God of heaven and earth is too * See Baxter's Converse with God, L |