purified by faith in Jesus. Acts xv, 9. You are in an ensnaring WORLD, pray that you may not be conformed to it, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom. xii, 2. The DEVIL goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; ask then that the God of peace would bruise Sutan under your feet shortly. Rom. xvi, 20.

You have deserved various punishments, and have therefore reason to pray that no evil may befal you, neither any plague come nigh your dwelling; (Ps. ix, 1.) you have reason to ask with David, cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Ps. li, 11:

To these prayers for the averting of evil, add Petitions for those good things which we need.

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS are the things of first and main importance. The direction is to seek these things first. It is not inaptly observed, "the petition for heavenly things is the only key that must open the door to our petition for temporals," The first spiritual blessing is a new heart and a new spirit. Ezek. xxxvi, 26. Pray, then, that you may put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. iv, 24. With what sins does your conscience charge you? go through all the particulars, and pray for the opposite graces. Are you proud? pray for humility. Are you worldly? for heavenly-mindedness. Is there any grace which you specially need? pray for it. Is there any sin into which you are more apt to fall? pray to be delivered from it. Is there any duty or trial before you? ask for wisdom, grace, and strength, in that particular circumstance. Keep minutes of these things for your own use.

Your heart, in short, is not in a right state, till it be your fixed purpose to devote yourself entirely to God: and you long to have all the powers of your mind, the affections of your soul, and the members of your body wholly given up to his service. St. Paul prays for the Thessalonians, (v, 23,) the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He beseeches the Romans to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God. He reminds the Corinthians, ye are not your own, but bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your. spirit, which are God's. The love of God must excite and animate you to this. Pray, then, that the love of God may be shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost. Rom. v, 6.

"Love is the fulfilling of the law, the most excellent gift. 1 Cor. xiii. Desire, then, that you may be taught of God to love others; (1 Thess. iv, 9.) to be kindly affectionate one to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. Rom. xii,

Christians who feel that the precious deposit of Christ's glory is in a peculiar way entrusted to them, will especially pray that they may be enabled in all things to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour: that they may be holy in all manner of conversation; walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing; that they may give all diligence, and add to their faith, virtue*-knowledge-temperance-patience--godliness— brotherly kindness-and charity. 2 Pet. i, 5-7.

apeτns, strength or courage, in the work of Christ.

The Christian need not confine himself to petitions for spiritual blessings. TEMPORAL BLESSINGS are promised, and may be sought of God. Whatever good thing you may want, relative to your earthly comfort; whatever direction, provision, or protection, you need concerning your body, your calling, your name, your estate, or your friends; whatever your desires be, in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God. Yet, in asking for temporal blessings, it will ever become us not to seek great things for ourselves; (Jer..xlv, 25.) and to say with our Saviour, Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. The prayer of Agur is a suitable prayer for us, (Prov. xxx, 7-9.) Remove from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and. take the name of my God in vain.

Do we not deprive ourselves of many temporal comforts by not bringing our necessities of this kind before God? Many of the examples of prayer which we have in the Scriptures, are for temporal blessings. Only remember to ask for them in submission to the will of God, and the better to enable you to serve him.

RELATIVE DUTIES should ever occupy a place in our prayers. As ministers, that we may be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, (1 Cor. iv, 1.) by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God, (2 Cor. iv, 2.) making full proof of our word of truth, (2 Tim. ii, pattern of good works.

ministry, rightly dividing the 15.) and in all things shewing a As hearers and people, that

among us, and are love for their work's

we may esteem those that labour over us in the Lord, very highly in sake; (1 Thes. v, 12, 13.) that we may receive the truth in the love of it, and be saved.

As husbands, that you may love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church; (Eph. v, 25.) giving honour unto them as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life. 1 Pet. iii, 7.

As wives, that you may submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord, (Eph. v, 22.) having the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. I Pet. iii, 1, 4.

As parents, to bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, (Eph. vi, 4.) teaching the word of God diligently unto them; (Deut. vi, 7,) chastening thy son while there is hope. Prov. xix, 18.

As children, to honour your father and mother,' (Exod. xx, 12.) obeying your parents well in all things.' Col. iii, 20.

6

As masters, giving unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.' Col. iv, 1.

As servants, that we may be obedient to them that are our masters according to the flesh, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.' Eph. vi, 5, 6.

As magistrates, remembering, 'He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.' 2 Sam. xxiii, 3. As subjects, praying for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,' (1Tim. ii, 1, 3.) rendering to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due. (Rom.

xiii, 7.) being subject to principalities and powers, obeying magistrates, and being ready to every good work. Titus iii, 1.

This may be considered as comprehending the general course of Petition, in private, morning and evening. There are, however, occasional and special seasons when we need the help of God, and should obtain it by more than ordinary diligence in prayer.

Have you by any sermon you have heard, or in any other way, been led to feel that you are yet unconverted?-give a stated time to pray for conversion. Have you backslidden from God?--give more time than ordinary to ask of God to heal and restore you remember from whence thou art fallen; repent, and do the first works. Are all your Christian graces drooping, languishing, and ready to die?--seek, in a special season of prayer, that grace of God, which can alone quicken and restore them to primitive vigour and beauty. Are you about to receive the Lord's supper? prepare for it by retirement, meditation, self-examination, and much prayer. Are you in any respect changing your circumstances or situation, or about to undertake any important work? here is a call on you to seek wisdom of God. Remember the example which our Lord has left Before he chose his twelve apostles, he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke vi, 12. Should you be in great distress either of body or mind, imitate also his example, retire from the world as he did to the garden of Gethsemane, to pour out the heart in secret prayer. Express your wants to God in the same simple manner that Jacob did in his distress. Gen. xxxii, 9, 12.

us.

In short, new and peculiar circumstances require us, if