vastly greater army still. And these too, with myriads more that will come on in the same track, unless some patriot band interpose and rally the nation, are nearly all destined for slaughter, and for the world of wo.

Were one half the amount of liquid fire, that is swallowed annually by that army of drunkards, collected in one great lake, it would be more than large enough for all of them to swim in. And yet a vastly greater quantity is swallowed by the more numerous and more dangerous army of moderate drinkers. Were those thirty thousand victims that annually descend to the drunkard's grave, cast out at once into an open field, they would cover five acres of ground with their putrifying carcasses. And yet far greater numbers are slain by the insidious practice of moderate drinking.

Were the thousands of distilleries and manufactories of the poison, that are now at work day and night in our land, placed in one county, they would blacken all the surrounding heavens with their smoke; and render that blackness still more terrific by the gleaming of their midnight fires.*

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Could all the oaths, obscenities, and blasphemies, which ardent spirit occasions every hour, be uttered in one voice, it would be loud as seven thunders."

And, my young friends, are those armies of drunkards, and that lake of fire, and those rotting carcasses of the slain, and those ever-burning manufactories, and those oaths and blasphemies in the ear of God, less appalling to humanity-less stirring to patriotism-because they appear every where throughout the land? Shall there be no general burst of indignation against this monster of despotism, and cruelty, and wickedness, because he has insidiously got possession of the country, instead of coming in by one bold invasion? Shall he now with his legions march openly through the land, and plant his engines, and forge his chains, and insult the Heavens, and strew the earth with desolation? Or shall he not rather, by universal consent, be arrested-when it can be done without cost, and with infinite gain ?

It must not be forgotten here, that in nearly all the States, every male drunkard, of proper age, is a voter; and has equal power in the elective franchise with the most elevated citizen. Nor can it be concealed, that thousands of votes are every year purchased by this poison. Nor must it be forgotten, that, should intemperance increase for fifty years to come, in the same ratio that it did for twenty years previous to eighteen hundred and twenty-six, about one-third of our voters would be drunkards; and probably half the remainder somewhat intemperate. What then would be the character of our beloved Republic? What a spectacle would she present to surrounding nations! and how would she appear in the pure eye of Heaven!

But should the tide of intemperance still roll on, and, with the population, increase in the same ratio for eighty years, a majority of our voters would be drunkards; and our population then amount to A HUNDRED MILLIONS. Who then could rally the nation, and turn back the burning tide? Or who could govern the maddening multitudes, and save our ship amid the raging of such a sea of fire?

It is not a vain thing, then, that patriots and philanthropists have waked up to this subject. Their trumpet should thrill in thunders through the land; and in tones of redeeming mercy, should urge all the young to save themselves and their children. These can, if they will, cause the river of abominations to be dried up; and the pure river of God to flow in its place.

It is obvious, that if this great evil were wholly done away, the Gospel would have far mightier sway, and human nature generally would assume a much

*As early as 1815, according to the Hon. Timothy Pitkin's Statisties, there were in the United States, thirty-eight thousand five hundred and thirty distilleries!!

higher character. Pure intellectual and moral stimulus would take the place of that which is low, sensual, and devilish. Better health, better temper, loftier intellect, and more expanded benevolence would every where appear. Men, instead of sinking below brutality itself, would be rising in knowledge and purity, and striving to "be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect."

It is obvious, likewise, that Providence has great and happy events to be accomplished by the younger portions of this and our parent nation. Unto them, especially, are revealed those oracles which declare, "Instead of the fathers shall be the children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth." And already do I see, in the silent kindling and expanding of unnumbered minds, the presage of a moral earthquake, that will prostrate every despotic throne, and " every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God." Millions, trained in Sabbath-schools and kindred institutions, will soon be "sanctified through the truth;" and then "great will be the company of those that publish it." Sound in body and mind, and quickened by the Spirit of Heaven, they will be "mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds." The best talent in every department of life will then be put in requisition for the highest interests of man.

Who then, of the rising race, is so dull, so dead to generous feeling, so deaf to the voice of Providence, so blind to the beauty of moral excellence, that he will not now aspire to some course of worthy action? And what parent that loves his child, will not exult to see him aiming at the highest usefulness, honor, and blessedness of which he is capable? Let this motto, then, be inscribed on every dwelling; HE THAT STRIVETH FOR THE MASTERY IS TEMPE

RATE IN ALL THINGS.

Can any father or mother still encourage the young to drink in the poison? Such a mother there cannot be. And if there be a father, whose "breath is corrupt," and who, to keep himself in countenance, insidiously poisons his children also, God will most assuredly curse him; a reformed community will despise him; and his own dear offspring may yet turn upon him, in agony, and curse him for ever. "Wo to that man, by whom the offence

cometh."

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Nor let any parent rest satisfied with merely exerting no bad influence upon his child. He is bound by the authority of Heaven to exert directly a good influence. When it is said by the Most High, "that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him," it is immediately added, " For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.” And when again by his servant Moses, God recounts his great mercies, and portrays his coming vengeance on the violators of his law, in the most glowing language ever addressed to any nation; he solemnly adds: "Which ye shall command your children to observe, to do all the words of this law; for it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life."

Let every parent, then, who would redeem this nation from intemperance, and make her great and happy, "the joy of the whole earth," not only "abstain from all appearance of evil," but, like "the father of many nations, command his children and his household after him."

One word in relation to signing a united pledge for abstinence. As it respects yourself, it will be deciding the question, once for all, and thus supersede the necessity of deciding it a thousand times, when the temptation is offered, and when you may not be in circumstances so favorable to a correct decision. It will moreover supersede the pain of a perpetual warfare with appetite and temptation. And, as it respects others, of feebler minds and stronger appetites, your explicit example and influence may be immeasurably important. Multitudes may thus be secured to a life of entire abstinence, and

some reclaimed from drunkenness, who, but for this pledge, would never have had the requisite courage and firmness. Your influence may thus extend indefinitely, on the right hand and on the left, and down to future ages. And by such united efforts, great multitudes which no man can number, will be saved from a life of wretchedness, a death of infamy, and an eternity of blasphemy and wo.

Does any youth now say, he will unite in no pledge, because he is in no danger. Ah! you may be in imminent danger, which you do not see. But suppose you are safe; have you then no benevolence? Think how many a bosom must this very night be wrung with agony, over a drunken husband, or father, or brother! And have you no pity? Is your heart made of iron? Think how many millions of hopes for both worlds are suspended on the issue of the Temperance Cause. And will you do nothing to aid its speedy triumph? Do you say, your influence is of no account, because you are small, or young, or poor? It was one poor man that saved "a little city," when "a great king besieged it." Another poor man saved a great city," when the of Jehovah was kindled against it. Small as you may think yourself to be, you are accountable to God and your country; and your finger may touch some string that will vibrate through the nation; your prayer may "move the hand that moves the world."

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But are you conscious of possessing some influence? and have you a tongue to speak? Then rally the circle of your acquaintance, and enlist them in the sacred cause. And do you gain a little by abstinence? Then give a little to extend the saving influence. What youth cannot spare six cents, to procure as many Tracts; and perhaps to reclaim as many families? And who can estimate the endless influence of those families?

But do you inherit wealth? Then speak by ten thousand tongues-send winged messengers through the city, the country, the town, the village, the harbor and hope for your reward in that world, where, saith the Scripture, "neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, nor any thing that defileth, or worketh abomination, shall ever enter."

I cannot close without just alluding to results, which must quickly follow, should the reformation, now in progress, be triumphant through the land. O, could the men, who first conceived the enterprise of freeing this great nation from intemperance, behold the object accomplished, as it were in a day, they would then feel, and the nation would feel, that nothing desirable is too hard to be undertaken. They would at once inquire, what other great evil needs to be removed, and speak the word, and with God's blessing it would be done. Reformation would thus follow reformation, till this whole land should become "a mountain of holiness," blooming all over with "trees of righteousness.'

Meanwhile, other portions of the human family, beholding what Christian freemen can do, would emulate our bright example, and nation after "nation be born in a day."

Rise, then, ye young hope of your country and the world; exhibit one general combination of moral courage, intelligence, and purity; and, with corresponding effort, say to the whole earth, that the hour of her redemption is come.

Happy! thrice happy ye! who may thus have the honor of dashing away for ever the cup of drunkenness, and washing this foul stain from our country's glory. Happy the generation! who may rise up instead of the fathers, and, like the rainbow above the retiring cloud, reflect from one end of the earth to the other, the glories of a millennial Sun.

THE

THE PRAYER OF FAITH.

LUKE, XI. 5-13.

:

Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me and I have nothing to set before him and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?" or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

CHRIST was praying in a certain place, and when he had ceased one of his disciples entreated him to teach them to pray; upon which he gave them the form commonly called the Lord's prayer, and then subjoined the words of our text. The promise not only is direct and explicit, but is repeated no less than eight times, and is illustrated and confirmed in a variety of ways. There is first the successful importunity of the borrower then there are twice three direct assertions: "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Then follows the affecting appeal to the parental heart: "If a son shall ask bread of any of you

that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion ?" The passage is thus subjected to the infallible annotation which is found in the parent's breast. I appeal to every father before me. If your little son who is dutiful to you, and who has had nothing to eat for three days, should come and kneel down before you, and put up his little hands, and say, Will papa please to give me a piece of bread? would you give him a stone? Where is the Cain or Judas that would give him a stone? The meaning being thus settled beyond the possibility of doubt, it is added with a surprising emphasis, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.” There is no explaining it away. The promise is unqualified and direct. It cannot be misunderstood; it cannot deceive. It will be fulfilled as sure as there is a God in heaven. It never will fail in a single instance to the end of the world. It is however consistent with some delay. Indeed the case of the borrower plainly implies that the blessing is to be drawn forth by importunity. Thus it was in the case of Jacob

thus it was in the case of the Canaanitish woman. What promises of temporal blessings may be made to prayer, I shall not at present inquire. I confine my view to the gift of the Holy Spirit, the only thing expressly named in the text. This gift may, in answer to our prayers, be bestowed on ourselves or others. But because the answer is more obvious when it works a great revolution in the character of others, I shall confine myself to this case. There is nothing in the promise to limit it to either; and other texts sufficiently sustain the connexion between the prayer of faith and the conversion of sinners. "I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." "When the Lord shall build up Zion-he will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer." "Give him no rest till he establish, till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.' "As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children." But without looking further, we see the truth of the promise as relates to an influence upon others, in every revival of religion. We see, at the commencement, a part of the church brought to those peculiar feelings in prayer which indicate the approaching conversion of sinners,-which awaken confident expectations of such an event,—and which never were and never will be disappointed. There is the fact before your eyes. There is indeed sometimes an excitement which proves transient and unavailing; but those who have had both sets of feelings, will tell you that it wants the most essential characteristics of the prayer of faith.

To the humble mind it appears almost incredible that God should be influenced by the prayers of such wretched worms, until it discovers that it is the Holy Ghost which prays. Believers are called the temple of