ery 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.

Simplicity in our prayers is a great attainment. Beware of setting more value on ingenious and original thoughts, than on devout affections, fixedness of mind, and devotedness of heart.

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 ministry, rightly dividing the word of truth," (2 Tim. ii, 15.) in all things shewing a pattern of good works. As hearers and people, that we may esteem "those that labour among us, and are over us in the Lord, very highly in love for their work's sake;" (1 Thess. 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." 1 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.

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," (1 Tim. 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 the course of Petition, in private, morning and evening. There are, however, oc

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casional 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 us. 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.

In short, new and peculiar circumstances require us, if we would escape temptation, danger, and sin, to be then more instant in seeking aid of God. And we may appeal to the experience of Christians, that when they have done so, all has gone on well; difficulties have been removed, or they have been carried comfortably

through them; the grace of God has been magnified in their weakness.

Our petitions should be enforced by such arguments. as we can use. Of this part of prayer, called PLEADING, we have perpetual examples in the word of God. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer exemplifies its importance, and shews that the most powerful pleas we can urge, are to be drawn from the attributes and perfections of God. Humble, holy, and earnest pleading with our God, tends to make the desire more fervent, and to strengthen our faith. Observe how Moses pleads, (Exod. xxxii, 11-13;) how Joshua entreats, (Josh. vii, 8, 9.) how Jehosaphat lays the whole case before God. 2 Chron. xx, 6-12.

But let not our prayers be selfish, or confined to our own wants: Christians are fellow members of one body, all the members of which should ever care for each other. Christians are the salt of the earth, and should by their intercessions procure its safety and happiness. We proceed, then, to consider another part of our prayers.

III. INTERCESSION.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, in general, throughout the world, should have the first place in our intercessions. We should "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," (Ps. cxxii, 6.) that grace may "be with all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity," (Eph. vi, 24.) that all that believe in him, may "stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel." Phil. ii, 27.

We should also especially pray for the blessing of God, on that particular branch of the Church of Christ

to which we individually belong. As members of the Church of England, let us ask "that it may please God to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of his word, and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly." The ministers under whom you are instructed have a particular claim to your prayers, that they may be able ministers of the New Testament. Dr. Owen remarks on this subject, "The prayers of the meanest saints may be useful to the greatest apostle, both with respect to their persons and the discharge of their office. Hence it was usual with the apostle to desire the prayers of the churches to whom he wrote. Heb. xiii, 18. 2 Cor. i, 11. Ephes. vi, 19. Col. iv, 3. 2 Thess. iii, 1. For in mutual prayer for each other consists one principal part of the communion of saints, wherein they are helpful to one another in all times, places, and conditions. It is the especial duty of the churches to pray for them who are eminently useful in the work of the ministry."

The increase of faithful ministers generally should be constantly insisted on; "pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his vineyard," that he would give the word, and great may be the company of preachers. Ps. lxviii, 11.

The ENLARGEMENT OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST should be another topic to be much brought forward.-We should pray for the conversion of THE JEWS, 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. The GENTILES require our prayers. "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession," is.

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