that at length the veil may be removed from their eyes, and they may behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and look unto him whom they have pierced, and mourn.

Ask of me,

The GENTILES require our prayers. and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession, is the promise made to Christ, and in him to the church. While we pray, then, that all Israel may be saved, we should also pray that God would bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

The NATION to which we belong should have our prayers; that we may be a people fearing God and working righteousness. We are taught to pray for kings, and all in authority. 1 Tim. ii. 1. We should ask, also, that God would instruct our magistrates, and teach our senators wisdom: (Psalm cv. 22,) that judgment may run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream; (Amos v. 24,) that there may be peace on earth, and good will towards men. Our national sins, our national wants, and our national mercies, will furnish the best, the only true patriot, the Christian, with abundant matter for prayer.

The dear and interesting FAMILY CIRCLE of parents, brothers, sisters, wife, children, servants, Christian friends, brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh, · (Rom. ix. 3,) and your neighbours, and connections, will daily be gathered and assembled before the throne of grace, will be included in the comprehensive and affectionate embrace of Christian prayer. "Though there be no reason," says Mr. Fuller, why God should save our children, relations, or friends,

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before others, yet there is a reason why we should seek their salvation, because they are particularly put under our care, or stand in connection with us." David's prayer for his house is suitable for heads of families therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

The expansive benevolence of true intercession will also lead you to remember your ENEMIES, blessing them that curse and revile you, and doing the best good to those that hate you most. The duty of praying for any with whom we may unfortunately, from whatever cause, be at enmity, is very important. It prepares us to receive ill treatment in a right spirit; to be very slow to suspect others of designing an injury; and when their design is evident, it disposes us to return good for evil. O, if every Christian did but pray for others, instead of returning evil for evil, and coldness, suspicion, and jealousy, for fancied injuries, what a change it would produce in the state of the world!

The CIRCUMSTANCES of others should be considered. Are any afflicted in mind, body, or estate? we should weep with those that weep, and pray that the chastening, however grievous now, may yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby: (Heb. xii. 11,) that they may find God a present help in time of trouble; (Psalm xlvi. 1,) and that their affliction may work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Some may be dead in trespasses and sins; others just beginning to know the truth; others weak in the faith; others backsliding; and some happy few

strong in the Lord. You will find a blessing to your own soul, in spreading their several cases and circumstances before God in prayer and praise.

You may not be able every day to dwell on all these things, however desirable it may be not wholly to omit them. The example of an eminent servant of Christ, (the Rev. Mr. Romaine,) may here be recommended. "He devoted two hours every Friday to particular intercession with God for his friends. He had their names written down on paper, and used to walk about his room, mentioning them one by one, and specifying their wants as far as he knew them, with earnest supplication."

The duty of praying for friends is so important, that it calls for particular notice; especially when we consider, how little in general we lay to heart the state of our unconverted relatives and friends, and their tremendous exposure to the divine wrath. Let us remember how keen will be the anguish on the death of a relation for whom no prayer nor exertion has been made; and how it will grieve us that many precious opportunities have been lost. While on the other hand, by a constant practice of intercession, we may become emboldened to perform, in a Christian spirit, the difficult duties of solemn warning, reproof, and a full and free declaration of their danger. Remember, that Job's prayers for his friends were to be peculiarly prevalent. God declares, My servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept. Job xlii. 8.1

1 A practice of Col. Gardiner's, is worthy of our remembrance. Doddridge says, when he received a letter from any of his Christian friends which particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to give vent to those religious emotions of mind

The scriptures furnish us with many affecting examples of intercessory prayer, as Daniel, for his country; (Dan. ix.) St. Paul for the churches of Christ; and our Lord for his enemies, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Bishop Hall makes the following encouraging remarks on intercessory prayer: "Every Christian freely lays himself out by prayer for the benefit of his fellow-members. Each member of Christ's church sues for all. Neither can any one be shut out from partaking the benefit of the prayers of all God's saints upon earth. There is a certain spiritual traffic of piety betwixt all God's children; wherein they exchange prayers with each other, not regarding number so much as weight. Am I weak in spirit, and faint in my supplications? I have no less share in the most fervent prayers of the holiest suppliants, than in my own all the vigour that is in the most ardent hearts, supplies my defects: while there is life in their faithful devotions, I cannot go away unblessed."

The more religion advances in our hearts, the

which such a correspondence raised. How invaluable was such a friend! Mr. Shepherd, in his valuable "Thoughts on Private Devotion," after stating the importance of daily, though brief intercession, for those most near and dear, gives the following useful hint. "With respect to other friends, it seems most natural and expedient, that our prayers should be but occasional, in order that they may then be the more prolonged. There are few, even of our best friends, whom we can visit daily. How happy would some be if they could meet even yearly. But if we made it a rule of piety and kindness daily to offer up particular intercession for one individual, or one household, and thus successively for each, these secret visits of the heart would in many instances be far more frequent than our personal intercourse can be. Amidst the inclemency of winter, or in the chamber of sickness, we might still make the swift excursions, and offer the best, though unheard, salutations, of Christian affection." See pages 193, 194, Second Edition.

more time we shall be disposed to give to intercession; which as it is the most disinterested and benevolent part of Christian prayer, so it most likens us to our Divine Master. The Christian has sometimes found the presence of God, and enjoyed that communion with him, in this part of his devotions, which he in vain sought for in confession, petition, or praise.'

After confessing our sins, and praying for future blessings for ourselves and for others, and after expressing our confidence of obtaining our requests by our experience of former mercies, we ought to be naturally led to acknowledge those mercies and blessings which we have already received.

Prayer and praise have been compared to respiration. By prayer the Christian draws in a happy life from heaven; and by praise he breathes it back again to him who gave it. The first life is however wholly from God, and so is its maintenance.

When the heart is right with God, and he opens our lips to show forth his praise, thanksgiving is a truly delightful part of our devotion. And here what a boundless subject opens before us! That the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, should condescend to be mindful of man, and visit him, may well excite our adoring wonder and praise.

1 Prayers for the dead are plainly contrary to various statements in God's word, and to the express doctrines of the Church of England. See the Homily on Prayer.

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