on yield to continued fervent prayer. Prayer gains for that strength which enables us to surmount every diffilty, and removes every obstacle in our way to Sion. e our affections toward God and Christ becoming cold! ayer is as a fire to which we must approach, and doing we shall perceive a gentle warmth insensibly overspread and our benumbed powers will acquire fresh energy vigor.

It was the daily practice of the eminent physician Boer ave, through his whole life, as soon as he rose in th rning, which was generally very early, to retire for an ar to private prayer, and meditation on some part of the riptures. He often told his friends, when they asked n how it was possible for him to go through so much gue with such patience and quietness, that it was this ich gave him spirit and vigor in the business of the day. is he therefore recommended as the best rule which he ld give.

Private prayer is an engine of greater power than all nan means put together. The greatest of earthly archs, neglecting prayer, has not that power to glorify l, benefit man, and secure his own happiness, which the able and praying Christian has. The prayer of a poor, itute, and afflicted Christian, in the name of Christ, turn the hearts of kings and princes, save his counraise up pious ministers, secure a blessing to their rs, send the Gospel to the heathen, and advance the dom of Christ in the world. Prayer has an advanabove alms, and every other good work, which can benefit a few, while faithful prayer can help all. It so a resource, of which man cannot deprive you; he despoil, blind, and maim, imprison, or otherwise in you; but he cannot keep you from prayer. Observe Dower of prayer in the example of Elijah. He was "a subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnthat it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth e space of three years and six months. And he prayed 1, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought her fruit."

Admirable is the power of prayer. It calms the surges of a ed spirit-shuts lions' mouths-opens prison doors-beats the

arrests the imponding judgments of Cod"

A TREATISE ON PRAYER.

It makes us fruitful in every good work.-"I reckon t," says Bennett, "matter of common experience among Food men, that they find themselves more or less disposed, nd fit for their respective duties and service, according as heir diligence, constancy, and seriousness in secret prayer = more or less." The root that produces the beautiful and ourishing tree, with all its spreading branches, verdant aves, and refreshing fruit, that which gains for it sap, life, gor, and fruitfulness is all unseen; and the farther and e deeper the roots spread beneath, the more the tree exnds above. Christians, if you wish to prosper, if you ng to bring forth all the fruit of the Spirit, strike your Ots deep and wide in private prayer. That faith and rt, that strength and grace, which you seek of God in supcret, that it may be exercised in the hour of need, God l in that hour give it you before men.

Mr. Scott says, "Depend upon it, every thing will pros- in the event, in a very near proportion to our earnests and perseverance in prayer: but negligence here will followed by a declension perhaps almost unperceived in other respects, and will make way for temptations, falls, rections, darkness, and inward distresses: if like Jacob wrestle with God, and prevail, we shall eventually prein all our other conflicts."

will be rewarded openly.-Our Lord does not in these As promise the very thing which you request; but your er will reward you; he will give you a free, a full n, a gracious retribution, evidently, though not perhaps ically. How manifestly before all men Hannah was rded, when the name of her son Samuel (meaning ed of God") told all Israel, and tells the Church in every that God hears and answers prayer! How openly were 's secret prayers answered, when Esau publicly red him so graciously! Our heavenly Father will also, e men and angels, hereafter reward thy secret devoNow it is unknown to man, but it will all be known, nown by the greatness of its reward. Every tear of sorrow, shed in secret, will then be a brilliant gem crown of glory surrounding the brow of the ChrisThe Christian's reward comes from a Father of inpower, riches, wisdom, and love; and therefore cana small reward, or an unsatisfying portion. every reader then be encouraged to bogis

constantl However

ever wan

duty, nev To do so pray in th

you will of his S and raise One of of Luther critical tin not enoug hope of th constantly study of th he does no best hours. cious Lord pressions! if he was a firm a hope a friend. God, theref the persecu do this, thi be endange thy provide therefore, w Luther pray ed on fire w a friend, and also to hear the promises his petitions the Church such a blessi to the Church But why sp traordinary

San

nstantly to practise, and persevere in the sacred duty. 97 owever dull our spirits, however wearied our body, hower wandering our minds, let us never wholly omit this ty, never put it off with a vain excuse to another season. o do so is Satan's temptation. It is better to attempt to ay in the best way you can, than not to pray at all. And u will sometimes find the Lord assist you with the supply his Spirit, enliven your soul, fix your mind, and draw I raise your heart to himself.

One of Melancthon's correspondents gives this account Luther's private devotions, in one of the most trying and ical times in the course of the Reformation. "I canenough describe the cheerfulness, constancy, faith, and e of this man, in these trying and vexatious times. He stantly feeds these good affections by a very diligent ly of the word of God. Then, not a day passes in which does not employ in prayer, three, at least, of his very hours. Once I happened to hear him at prayer. Gras Lord! what spirit, and what faith there is in his exsions! He petitions God with as much reverence as e was actually in the divine presence, and yet with as a hope and confidence as he would address a father or end. I know,' said he, thou art our Father, and our therefore, I am sure that thou wilt bring to naught persecutors of thy children. For shouldst thou fail to his, thine own cause, being connected with ours, would ndangered. It is entirely thine own concern: we, by providence, have been compelled to take a part. Thou, efore, wilt be our defence. While I was listening to er praying in this manner at a distance, my soul seemnfire within me, to hear the man address God so like end, and yet with so much gravity and reverence; and to hear him, in the course of his prayer, insisting on romises contained in the Psalms, as if he were sure etitions would be granted." (See Milner's Hist. of Church of Christ, vol. 5.) No wonder that Luther was a blessing to the world. All men of great usefulness e Church have much abounded in prayer.

why speak we of others? let us notice only the exlinary spirit of devotion which adorned our blessed r. This part of his character has been well ded: when twelve years of age. he

ore the Lord our Maker."* worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." The direc"Come into his courts; O on is, "Praying always, with all prayer." It is plainly ointed out as a means to avert God's judgments; olemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congrega"call a on, assemble the elders. Let the priests, the ministers the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let em say, Spare thy people." These things, and the actice of all holy persons, from the time when "men ben to call on the name of the Lord," with the example our Lord and his disciples, give us sufficient scriptural thority for the practice of public worship. Nor should e forget the appointment of a particular day for the Lemn worship of God, and of a particular place for the wish nation, the various regulations, and directions reecting their public worship; all which things show that Is a divine ordinance pleasing and acceptable to God. Public worship is a suitable and proper expression of nage to our Creator. ve our being;" and it is just and right that we should "In him we live, and move, and olicly and unitedly "give unto the Lord the glory due o his name." We all depend on him, and it is right t we should join in acknowledging this, and praying to

We have in common sinned against him, and right
s that we should in common confess our sins before him.
e need the same supplies, we have received the same
-cies, and may therefore unite in the same prayers and
ses. Reasonable and immortal creatures are engaged
n object worthy of their nature and character, when
-unite together to "exalt the Lord our God, and wor-
at his footstool." The angels and spirits of just men
e perfect, unite in surrounding the throne of glory
hymns and praises. We are to do his will "on earth
is done in heaven." If we, then, expect to join the
ety above, we should obtain a meetness on earth for
blissful employment.

is also a public testimony and profession of our reli-
We hereby show "whose we are, and whom we
The religion of a nation is known by its worship.
people walk every one in the name of his God, and
Enh vi 19

.xcv. 6.

el ii. 15, 17.