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With views such as these, of God, and himself, and of spiritual objects, the christian cannot be formal and indifferent in his prayers. The best affections of his soul are enkindled, and his whole heart goes with him, while he approaches the throne of his all-merciful Father, and pleads before him his necessities and wants. In the earnestness of his desires, he will look up to him from the dust and say, "I am weak, but thou art strong, I have nothing, but thou hast all things. I come to thee, for there is no other God. If thou reject me, I have no other resource. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not for thine own sake, O my God." He will plead, as his Saviour once did," with strong crying and tears ;" and say, in the spirit as well as language of the determined Patriarch, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."-This, my brethren, is humble, fervent, prevalent prayer. "This is weakness laying hold of infinite strength. It is in supplications such as these, that real saints" have power with God and prevail." In this way they have more power, and can as instruments accomplish more, than in any other.

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In proof of this, I may properly adduce those wonders which have at different periods been wrought in answer to prayer. By these, saints have actually exhibited their superior power, while lying as humble suppliants before the throne of their heavenly Father. It was by prayer, that Abraham drew down the angels of heaven, and rescued his beloved Lot from the flames of Sodom. By prayer, Moses became clothed almost with omnipotence, and could ipflict judgments on the enemies of God, or procure mercies for his friends, apparently at pleasure. By prayer, Joshua arrested the course of the heavenly be

dies; and by the same powerful means, Isaiah and Hezekiah even turned their course backward. (See Is. xxxviii. 8.) "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are; and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

life, and all naThey They "stopped violence of flame,

By the faith and prayers of the ancient prophets and saints, fire was brought down to consume their enemies, the dead were restored to ture seemed obedient to their will. the mouths of lions, quenched the out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens.". And the same powerful effects have attended the prayers of saints under the present dispensation, as under the ancient. While Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to their God in the inner prison, and in the depth of night; suddenly the earth quakes, the foundations of the prison are shaken, bolts and bars at once leave their places, the doors open, and every one's bands are loosed. Peter also is impris oned; and under circumstances which, in the opinion of his enemies, forbid the possibility of escape. He is delivered to four quaternions of soldiers, and being bound with chains in a dungeon, is laid betwixt two of them, who constantly guard him. "But prayer is made without ceasing of the church unto God for him ;"-and what is the result? The same night in which he was to have been led forth to execution, an angel comes to him, looses his chains, brings him out in silent triumph, and delivers him to his praying friends.-Nor are we to suppose that with the age of miracles the power of prayer has

ceased. It is true still, that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It is true still, that saints have more power as instruments, and may accomplish more, in the attitude of humble fervent prayer, than in any other. Through the prayers of christians in modern times, temporal deliverances and blessings in great variety and multitude have been bestowed. And what is unspeakably more important, innumerable spiritual deliverances and blessings have been procured in the same way. The Holy Spirit has been poured out; revivals of religion have been multiplied; the means of grace have been extended and blessed; saints have been quickened; sinners converted; and precious immortal souls have been saved. No one can reasonably doubt that these events have been brought to pass by means of prayer; and certainly they are great `events-so great, that no christian, and no creature, can pretend to have accomplished them in any other way. We might as well attempt with Moses to divide the deep, or with Joshua to arrest the sun in his course, as attempt in our own strength producing a revival of religion, or the conversion of a single soul.

The superior power of the people of God, when in prayer, is farther evident, since by this means they enlist all the Divine perfections on their behalf. Weak in themselves, by prayer they go to an almighty Friend-go to him with penitence, confidence, affection, and trust-go to him with earnestness, as to their last resource, and with the tenderness of a Father, and the faithfulness of a God, he at once engages for them. He engages, agreeably to the assurances of his word, that nothing shall be wanting to them which he can with propriety bestow. He

engages to do all that, in compliance with their requests, which infinite wisdom, and infinite goodness, and almighty power, can consistently accomplish. This is the way in which prophets and Apostles were enabled to perform such wonders in ancient times. They carried their cause directly to God, and he undertook for them, and with him enlisted on their side, they were powerful indeed. The angels of heaven descend and ascend-the judgments of the Almighty are inflicted and removed-the sun goes backward or forward in its course-the living are struck dead, and the dead restored to life, almost at their word. It is by this means too, that Christians in modern times can accomplish so much in the spiritual world. Feeling and confessing their own weakness, they go affectionately but empty to God. They fall in humble prostration at his feet, spread out their desires and necessities before him, and implore his help. And with all the kindness of a Parent, he enlists on their behalf. He opens to them new resources, converts or confounds their enemies, encourages their trembling hearts, and strengthens their feeble hands. He pours out his Spirit in answer to their requests, and through them as weak but honored instruments, advances with irresistible power and progress the triumphs of his holy kingdom. Dry bones are shaken, blind eyes opened, hard hearts are changed, stubborn wills bowed, and the dead in trespasses and sins are raised at once to newness of life.

If it is indeed true, as is here shewn, that prayer enlists even the great Jehovah on the side of his saints; then it cannot be doubted that they have more power, and may accomplish more, by means of humble fervent prayer, than they can by any, or by all, other

methods. In every other attitude in which the children of God can be viewed; what are they? Feeble, ignorant, unworthy creatures, who know and can do comparatively nothing. But when we behold them in the attitude of prayer-humble, fervent, persevering prayer-prostrating themselves before the Almighty, and thus enlisting his infinite perfections on their behalf;-here they seem exalted-they are brought into a kind of unison with the Deity-he is theirs, and they are his-his power, and wisdom, and goodness, and faithfulness, are all pledged for themand great effects may be expected to result. Without their God, the saints can do nothing; but with him

with his perfections enlisted on their side, by means of holy, humble prayer; they can in a sense do all things. He will do all things for them, when inquired of in this way, which their highest interest and best good require.

REFLECTIONS.

1. From what has been said we learn, that the people of God have a resource, of which the world are ignorant. This is the power and perfection of Jehovah, which they may enlist on their behalf, by means of humble, prevalent prayer. In seasons of affliction and oppression, saints have often availed themselves of this unfailing resource, to the confusion and discomfiture of their persecuting foes. When Pharaoh had pursued the Israelites to the borders of the Red Sea; he supposed he had cut off from them all hope of escape, and had infallibly secured them as his prey. But the pious in Israel had a resource of which Pharaoh was ignorant They earnestly sought to God for help; and he opens a way of de

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