from us the anxious enquiry, "Are all these people going to destruction? Is it impossible for them, in their present state, to be admitted into heaven? Must they really become the associates of the devil and his angels ?" Reader! do you know that every child of God delights in prayer ?—that a truly pious man can no more live without prayer, than his body can be supported without food? These are true sayings; therefore, those that live without prayer are going to destruction, and it becomes you to take warning in time, and improve by these solemn considerations. But there is another class of persons in an equally dangerous predicament; that is, those who " say prayers," who utter excellent words, and words appropriate, but with which they have no corresponding feeling in their hearts. mortal can tell how great is the number of these self-deceivers. Ah! no "Their lifted eyes salute the skies, Where not the heart is found." Let us turn away, then, from these fearful sights, and behold a great multitude who, from their inmost souls, can say with Israel's king, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord!" These are worth looking at; these are happy men, whether they sit on a throne or dwell in a cottage. Here some may be ready to say, "But tell us the meaning of the king's resolution-explain it." Very well; I shall endeavour to do so; and I begin by observing, that acceptable prayer consists in three things: 1. It is the utterance of the heart. God is a Spirit, and cannot be pleased with beautiful phrases; he must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. There are two instances of this heart-prayer recorded in Scripture suitable to illustrate my meaning. The first is Nehemiah. He was an Israelite who had been carried captive into Persia, and, on account of his excellent conduct, was appointed cupbearer to the king. In this situation he had every thing which he could wish for himself; but his country was desolate, and his people were oppressed; and, like a true patriot, he was grieved. He relates it himself with peculiar simplicity. "The king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? And I said, Let the king live for ever!-why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed unto the God of heaven." This was the utterance of the heart. He was standing in the presence of the king, and occupied in official duties; yet holding communion with God! The other instance is Hannah, who spoke in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. This by no means implies that true prayer, heartprayer, is not uttered in the language of the lips. It is always so, when the heart and tongue agree. 2. Acceptable prayer is asking things agreeable to the will of God. The apostle James says of some in his day, "Ye ask, and have not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might consume it on your lusts." It is not enough for a man to ask, and to be very importunate in asking, for it may be to gratify his selfish wishes. God never answers such prayers -except it be in anger, as he did to Israel, when he gave them the desire of their hearts, but sent leanness into their souls. The man who would receive blessings from God, must ask for things which please him. Our hope must rest upon the promises, and God has given us very many, and great, and precious ones. These are suited to every exigency. They apply to every situation. These must be pleaded in prayer. For this purpose, make yourself well acquainted with the promises; and then go and say, "Lord, thou hast promised this, and thou art faithful; be it unto me according to thy word." We wonder not that some people's prayers are so limited; the reason is, they are not accustomed to travel over the length and breadth of the promised land. 3. Acceptable prayer is that which is offered up in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Mediator between God and man. No man can come unto the Father but by him. Be sure always to take Christ in the arms of your faith when you pray. If you forget this, you have nothing to recommend you-none to introduce you-none to plead for you. You stand alone, a guilty and condemned sinner, ready to be seized by divine justice, and cast into outer darkness. Oh, then, let the name of Jesus be your only plea; for, although you can obtain nothing without him, yet, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in his name, ye shall receive. These things constitute the essence of prayer; and I beseech you to examine yourself, and try your prayers by this standard. Now, the next thing in the king's resolution regards the time when his prayers should be made: in the morning. This is worthy of particular attention, for morning prayers are few. When I was a boy, it was usual with all in my father's house to say a prayer at night when going to bed, but I have no recollection of any morning prayers. Oh, no! it was arise and go-one to his farm, and another to his merchandize; but God was forgotten; and I am afraid that this plan, dreadful as it is, is too closely followed by thousands of moral and industrious people. King David adopted another plan, and we may safely follow it :-" In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee." Morning devotion has a peculiar propriety in it. Think what a preservation we have had! We have arisen from sleep, and sleep is the emblem of death. Have you ever seen a dead man? Do you recollect how much death resembled sleep? The living man, while sleeping, is as unconscious of all that is passing around him as the dead man; and yet our adorable Creator has so ordered it, that, in this unconscious state, a process is going on, whereby exhausted nature is invigorated, and we arise refreshed and fitted for the duties of a new day. Ought not God to be adored for this? We are about to enter on the busy scenes of an ensnaring world, and ought we not to cry, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?" Alas! the man who neglects this, is like a ship at sea without a rudder, the sport of every wind, and it is a miracle if it be not lost! Let us next consider what the king will do after he has prayed. Then, says he "I will look up." I have presented my petition: now let me look with holy expectation for an answer. And so it ought to be. God has established this connexion: 66 Ask, and ye shall receive." God is faithful-his promise has never failed; and we never honour him so much as when we give him full credit. Let us expect, because God has promised. Oh! could we but thus believe, then our faith would indeed be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Have you been praying for your own spiritual prosperity? Then expect it. Be very anxious after it. If you wish to see religion flourish around you, be sure to have it flourish within you. He who would do much for God, must enjoy much of God. All great revivals of religion commence with a few, perhaps very few, pious people. They feel the heavenly flame, and, by their holy ardour, they communicate its influence to others. Oh! could we see one in a family, and two or three in a congregation, like a live coal just taken from the altar, we should see many around them melt into contrition, and bring forth fruit unto God. But you have not been praying merely for yourselves. For what is yonder parent wrestling with God?-what is the subject which lies so heavy in his breast? Hearken! It seems to consist in a short, broken sentence: "Oh, my children, my children!-the children thou hast given me!" Yes, it is for the salvation of his children. And what has God promised to do for your children? "I will pour out my Spirit on thy seed, and my blessing on thine offspring ;" and the effect of it shall be," they shall grow up as willows by the water-courses: they shall become evergreens. One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord." Well, ye tender parents, have ye seen any thing like this in your children? Have some of them given themselves unto the Lord? Do you sigh, and say, "No!"—and have you complained of this before the mercyseat? Have you put God in remembrance of his engagement? Have you poured out your heart before the Lord? Have you used corresponding efforts with your children? Then now look up," and say, "Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord. I cannot give up my expectation, because God is faithful." 66 Have you been praying for a peculiar blessing to attend the appointed means of grace, that sinners may be converted unto God? To be sure you have; a praying soul yearns over perishing souls-a praying soul cannot take pleasure in the death of a sinner, but would rather that he should turn and live. For this end he beseeches God to make his word like a fire, and a hammer which breaketh the rock in piecesthat every sermon may be blessed both to saints and sinners. During one part of the ministry of Mr. Tanner, of Exeter, it is thought he never preached a sermon without one sinner being awakened; and cannot God favour you to see the same blessing? An American minister writes respecting the work of God in his congregation" I can compare it to nothing but the sound of a rushing, mighty wind, which fills the house where we are sitting, and every one is impressed with the con viction that God is there. Hence some are crying out, What shall I do to be saved?' while others are rejoicing in God their Saviour." Oh, this is what we need!—yes, all our congregations need it. There is a manifest want of the Spirit's influence; I feel it myself, and I see it in others. And where is this penetrating fervour to come from? Ah! we know; with God is the residue of the Spirit, and he will give his Holy Spirit unto them that ask him. Have you been praying for this, and do you expect it? Are you looking up" for it—are you anxiously looking up for it? Then "it will come, and will not tarry." 66 There are some among my readers whose hearts correspond with David's resolution-who are saying, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord: in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Hold fast, dear friends, hold fast this profession of your faith without wavering. Endeavour to live much in this happy frame. It will elevate your affections. You will mount up as on eagle's wings; you will run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. Sweet communion with God in the morning will be a fine preparation for the duties of the day; it will help you to shine as a light in the world, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Remember, God has done much for you. A praying heart is the choicest gift—it is a pledge of all future blessings. Let it be continually sending forth its aspirations, until prayer shall be exchanged for praise. But there are others of my readers whom King David's resolution condemns. It is possible that one at least who lives without prayer will exercise patience enough to read these pages. Oh, sinner! -poor sinner! thy case is very affecting! If thou wilt go with me a little further I think I could weep over thy condition; and I could tell thee something that ought to make thee weep also. At one period of my life, I was exactly as thou now art. Morning, noon, and night, rolled on, and found all my thoughts swallowed up about a present world; but I now see that, if I had died in that state, I could not have gone to heaven; I was wholly unprepared for that holy place. Yes, now I see that, if God had cut me off while I was thus slighting him, and rebelling against him, I should have sunk to the lowest hell; and I warn you-I charge you in the name of the Lord Jesus-to listen to my words. If you continue in your present state, you will be lost-you will perish! A change must take place-you must repent, and turn to God-you must be born againyou must become a new creature! And all this you can obtain if you seek it. God encourages you, he invites you, to come to him just as you are. Come, and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." "A new heart will I give thee, and a right spirit will I put within thee: and I will take away the stony heart out of thy flesh, and will give thee a heart of flesh.” Is not this encouraging? And when will you begin? Shall it be to-day ?-shall it be this hour?-shall it be now-in this accepted time, Now? 66 Remember that the serpent beguiled Eve. Oh! do not let him beguile you; but arise, and call upon thy God; and do it now! Let the transactions of this day form a page in thy history worth remembering. Yea, let the recording angel note in the book of God's remembrance concerning thee, "Behold, he prayeth!" Amen. LETTER TO AN OPULENT PROFESSOR ON THE APPLICATION OF PROPERTY. For the Evangelical Magazine. [All that we know of the following letter is, that it was written on a particular occasion, and addressed to a gentleman in the circumstances referred to. But who the writer was, to whom addressed, and what was its effect, we are not informed. Though originally quite confidential (as every such communication ought to be), we consider it no violation of that confidence to give it publicity, as there is no allusion either to the writer or to the person to whom it was sent; and, as the suggestions contained in it are, we believe, applicable to many wealthy professors of religion, we hope its publication may be useful.-EDITOR.] MY DEAR SIR, I have long thought that one of the most important services which one professing Christian can perform to another, is faithfully to point out to him whatever may appear in his habits or conduct at all inconsistent with the Christian character. This is a kind of fidelity which, I fear, is not often to be met with; but if it were more generally exercised, and received in a proper spirit, it would tend much to remove many of those inconsistencies which we find among professors, and which so often fortify worldly men in the neglect of the gospel, and cause them to speak reproachfully. You will at once, I dare say, apprehend that this is a preface to my exercising a little of that fidelity which I so much approve. It is; and be assured it is with no feeling but that of the most sincere Christian regard that I express my regret at the observations I have heard made, respecting the limited scale on which you appear to contribute to advance the cause of the gospel, when compared with your well-known ample fortune. Perhaps you say you gave privately. If you say so, I do not question it; and if it be in some fair proportion to your means, it is well. But I appeal to yourself, if, in this case, you do not mistake the path of duty. Many do not distinguish between ostentation and publicity when they quote that text, "Do not give your alms to be seen of men." It is the former, not the latter, our Lord here condemns. We are called to watch over our motives, to see that we do not give alms in order to be seen of men. On the other hand, publicity in acts of benevolence is inculcated in the precept, "Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father who is in heaven." Now, how are we to glorify God by others seeing our good works, unless they really do see them? An opulent Christian is expressly called to set an example of the way in which property ought to be used for the glory of God. Not that others are not called to do so likewise. But a wealthy Christian stands on vantage ground. In the good providence of God, he has it much more in his power than others, by being able to do things on a larger scale, to show how he considers property as a talent committed to his trust, and which he is called to employ, according to the measure in which it is bestowed, for the glory of the church, Now I hold that, with every Christian, it ought to be a matter of serious and conscientious enquiry, Am I, as in the sight of God, employing the property he has given me, to the extent to which I ought, in relieving the distresses of others, and in promoting the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom? No one will deny' that such a question every Christian ought to put; and the plain rule of Scripture is, to give as the Lord hath prospered us. There must evidently be a proportion between what we give and what we possess; and while no express measure of that proportion is mentioned, as the situation of individuals is very various, we should endeavour to discover, from the whole spirit of the gospel, what duty, in our particular circumstances, requires. I should tremble at the thought of being found, on a death-bed, or at the judgmentseat, to have retained any part of that which I ought to have given for the glory of God in the world. Were this kept in view by many who profess the religion of Christ, there would be no complaint of want of funds for promoting, far more extensively than is at present done, the interests of his kingdom. But where one who professes our orthodox creed, and is even perhaps strenuous in the defence of it, is never seen to contribute, except on a very limited scale (limited for him at least), for purposes of Christian benevolence, there is far more injury done than from the mere want of his pecuniary aid. It creates a prejudice in the minds of men against the very creed he holds. He is apt to be accounted not very sincere in his professed zeal for divine truth, while that zeal does not more effectually reach his pocket. I have often heard, with regret, those who made no particular profession declare they could not bear to hear such persons speak about religion, while it was manifest it had so little influence on their conduct, as they were plainly as much attached to the world as those who made no such pretensions. It is but the part of Christian fidelity to say, that I have heard these or similar remarks made in reference to yourself. I have heard them made by those who were connected with you in church-fellowship, and in closer habits of intimacy than I am. I have told such persons what their duty was in such a case. But it is from having reason to fear that what they so readily expressed to others, they had not the honesty to express to yourself, that I have felt it my duty to write you this letter. I have now performed, my dear sir, what from our long acquaintance I felt to be a duty, though far from a pleasant one. Believing that you and I are travelling together to the judgment-seat of Christ, should it be found, when we appear there, that you had been living in the neglect of an important part of the will of the Judge, and that, though I had reason to fear that this was the case, I had not pointed out to you the evil, I should certainly be found not to have treated you with that fidelity with which it becomes one professing Christian to act towards another; there can at least be no harm in bringing this subject under your notice. If you think I have judged severely, forgive me this wrong. If you knew the sincere Christian regard, and the earnest desire that you may appear at last accepted of God, by which I am influenced in writing you, I am confident you could not be offended at this communication. In conclusion, I would simply say I invite you to make reprisals. You may find in me as great inconsistencies, in some other things, as I have endeavoured to point out in you. If you do, I will cordially thank you to mention them. Whatever unhallowed feelings might at the moment spring up (feelings to which we are all too subject when any thing is presented to us in the form of reproof), I trust I shall ever consider it the highest favour that you or any one can do me, in the spirit of the gospel to guard me against evils into which, from the deceitfulness of the heart, I am apt to be betrayed. With the very best wishes for you and yours, and earnestly praying that we may be directed, in our different spheres, in all things to walk so as to please God, I am, my dear Sir, Yours, &c. FAITH'S ESTIMATE. POETRY. THICK is the gloom prevailing round, And hope is low, and fears abound; Desponding thoughts our bosom swellYet something whispers, "It is well!" Disease in awful form abroad, The funeral hearse we often meet; From whence is this?-what mortal spoke ? Worldling, thine earthly schemes were broke ; When thy beloved idol fell Thou couldst not say that "It is well!" Scorner! thy boastings oft were loud, I heard that lonely widow sigh: I marked the tear which gemmed her eye: "A bruised reed indeed you see; Those orphans, of their stay bereft, Yon parent, weeping o'er the bier Who could inspire this peaceful strain, 'Tis mighty faith allays their woes, And for themselves this thought imparts * 2 Sam. xiv. 7. |