was most affected with the difference which I found in my prayers. I had never thought of doing any thing more than outwardly repeating a form; but I was surprised to find how God enabled me in my private devotions, earnestly to ask, in the name of his Son, those mercies which I needed, and really to desire those things which I had before only formally expressed."

Many arguments might be urged to shew THE DUTY OF PRAYER; but we will confine ourselves to some plain ones.

HUMAN BEINGS.

Prayer is A NATURAL AND REASONABLE ACT FOR The first feeling of the mind, and the natural expression of that feeling in any sudden and alarming emergency and distress, is an act of prayer to God. Jonah i. 5, 6. It is natural and reasonable, for man is not an independent being; he is created by another, and he is altogether dependant on his Creator. It is our truest wisdom to know, and our best interest to act upon, this truth. It is our highest happiness to delight in him, by whose skill, power, and love we have every faculty given, and continued to us. Prayer is the simplest and plainest expression of dependance, and the most obvious way of obtaining help from God our Creator. Hence men in all ages and in all nations have in one way or other offered up prayer.

Prayer is AN ACT OF HOMAGE JUSTLY DUE FROM US, TO THE GREAT GOVERNOR OF ALL. We thereby adore him, who only has a right to our adoration. It is a special part of that honour and service to which he has every possible claim. He ought to be acknowledged as the Author and Giver of every good gift. Thereby we glorify his wisdom as knowing all

things, his power as able to extricate us from every difficulty, his goodness as willing to assist us, his all-sufficiency to meet every want, his mercy as pitying our misery, and his forbearance in pardoning all our sins. In short, what attribute of God does not prayer acknowledge and honour? and how manifestly does it tend to maintain a constant, and lively, and general impression of his supreme excellence and glory!

GOD HAS EXPRESSLY COMMANDED US TO PRAY TO HIM.-Our Lord says, Ask, and it shall be given you: Matt. vii. 7. He declares, Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke xviii. 1. St. Paul exhorts, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands. 1 Tim. ii. 8. Testimonies to this effect might be multiplied. See Eph. vi. 18; Phil. iv. 6; Rom. xii 12; Col. iv. 2; Matt. vi. 9, &c. &c. The great God, then, that made heaven and earth, and before whom you will stand in judgment, plainly requires you to worship him.

THE RELATIONS BY WHICH GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US SHEW THIS DUTY. He is a Father, and gives us the Spirit of adoption, to cry, Abba, Father! Children should go to their father to ask of him a supply of their wants, and to tell him all that they feel and enjoy. Jesus Christ is the way of access to God; a Mediator to interpose in our behalf, and a High Priest and Intercessor to offer up our supplications; the Holy Spirit also assists our prayers, making intercession for us. These relations are specially revealed for our use, and are mainly important with reference to prayer. A peculiar title therefore given to God is, O thou that hearest prayer! Psalm lxv. 2.

THERE ARE SEVERE THREATENINGS AGAINST THOSE WHO NEGLECT THIS DUTY. The Psalmist says, Pour out thy wrath upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name, Psalm lxxix. 6. Daniel (ix. 13, 14.) ascribes the evil that came on the Jews to their

neglect of prayer. Those were to be cut off who turned back from the Lord, and those that have not sought the Lord. Zeph. i. 6. It is the character given of the wicked, that they are far from God, (Ps. Ixxiii. 27.) that they call not upon the Lord; (Ps. xiv. 4.) and of the hypocrite, that he will not always call upon God. Job xxvii. 10. He may, perhaps, in a time of trouble seek God's help; but he neglects it as his daily duty. The duty of prayer may be farther proved from

THE PRACTICE OF HOLY PERSONS.

I need not do more than enumerate those of old. Abraham, (Gen. xviii. 23—32; xxi. 33;) Isaac, (Gen. xxiv. 63;) Jacob, (Gen. xxxii. 24, 28; Hosea, xii. 3, 4;) Moses, (Exod. xxxiv. 28;) Jabez, (1 Chron. iv. 10;) David, (Psalm lv. 16, 17;) Elijah, (James v. 17;) Daniel, (chapter vi. 10;) Paul, (Acts ix. 11; Rom. i. 9; Eph. i. 15, 16; Phil. i. 4. 2 Tim. i. 3;) Peter, (Acts x. 9 ;) with many others: or those holy women, Rebecca, (Gen. xxv. 22;) Hannah, (1 Sam. i. 13, 15;) Anna, (Luke ii. 38;) and others, to show that they lived in prayer. And why is their devotion recorded? not for their glory, but as examples for us. The man of much prayer resembles those Patriarchs of old, who walked with God; and has something of their privileges, to whom God manifested himself in the flesh, and with whom he conversed on earth. Not to dwell on these, let us look to our Lord himself, whose example is especially set before us to be followed. Few parts of his character are more plainly exhi

bited, than his constant regard of this duty. The reader is referred to the following passages: Matt. xiv. 23; Mark i. 35; vi. 46; Luke v. 16; vi. 12; xxii. 39-45; Hebrews v. 7; vii. 25.

Prayer is also AN INDISPENSABLE MEANS TO BE USED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

The good things of this life are given indeed indiscriminately to good or bad men; God thus shewing how little value we ought to set on those things which the wicked often abundantly possess. But grace and pardon, mercy and salvation, are promised expressly to those who pray. If thou shalt pray unto God, he shall be favourable untothee. Job xxxiii. 26. Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon thee. Psalm 1xxxvi. 5. No excellences can compensate for the want of prayer. In fact, it lies at the root of the real benefit of all the other gifts of God to man.

But religion is in a low state in the heart of that man on whom prayer must be urged as a duty. It ought ever to be considered as the greatest of all mercies, that we are permitted to pray to God, and assured that every one that asketh receiveth. We shall, therefore, in the following chapter, consider prayer rather as a privilege than as a duty.

CHAPTER II.

THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER.

"THE true happiness of every Christian," says Bishop Wilkins, "does properly consist in his spiritual communion with God." Prayer is, then, a necessary part of the Christian's happiness; for it brings him into the presence of God, and is the most direct act of communion with him.

Every one that prays aright can adopt David's expression, It is good for me to draw near to God. It is pleasant, it is honourable, it is advantageous. If I have riches, they may or may not be good for me. If I have human knowledge, power, eloquence, talent, and earthly glory, or any of the good things of this life, they may or may not be good for me: but if I have the grace of prayer, the heart to draw near to God, it is unmixed, unqualified good. It is cer

tainly and unquestionably good for me.

Consider some of THE ADVANTAGES of prayer. Prayer is THE MEANS WHICH GOD HAS APPOINTED FOR YOU TO OBTAIN EVERY GOOD, AND TO ESCAPE

EVERY EVIL.-It has pleased him to appoint this means for various wise and holy purposes; and espe