John to the seven churches; he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And here one general observation meets us on the subject of the whole, namely, that though according to the order of holy scripture, the ministry of the trumpets are not noticed until that of the seals had been completely related; neither this of the vials, until the prophecy of the trumpets had been rehearsed in order; yet certain it is, that neither hath the seal dispensation or the trumpet been fully accomplished to the present hour, no more than the pouring out the whole of the seven vials. True it is indeed that the vials are called the last plagues, and in a way of judgment upon the enemies of our most glorious Christ, will be among the last events to be accomplished before the final consummation of all things: but it is equally clear, that among the last, perhaps the very last, will be the sounding of the seventh trumpet, from the events which are then said to follow.

And let me add another observation, for in my view it is not only most important, but very sweet and interesting; namely, the spiritual church of Christ in the present day by a comparative statement, with the generations gone before, can plainly discover that the ministry of the whole of seals, and trumpets, and vials, are sometimes so blended and combined together, that in the one we see the illustration of the other; and the whole unitedly corresponding to shew, Christ the wisdom of God, and Christ the power of God (in every dispensation) to every one that believeth.

And those observations if correct, (and I can see no possibility of their being otherwise) will serve to throw such a light upon the whole, in the dispensations of all the remaining to be fulfilled, of seals, and trumpets, and vials, as under the unction of the Spirit, will act as a clue to lead to the discovery of the events, which in the present hour are probably drawing nigh, and to be expected in due order in their accomplishment. More than these are unlikely to be developed, but as in their arrival will explain themselves. To every question concerning time and manner, if we would ask with Daniel, O my Lord! when and what shall be the end of these things? We may well conclude, the answer he had will be ours, go thy way, for the words are closed up and sealed, till the time of the end. Dan. xii. 8, 9. Upon the whole then, whether we consider the mystery of the seals, of the trumpets, or of the vials, all are as so many beacons designed for light to the Lord's church and people. All are preludes and harbingers of the great day of God. And as the church now in the present hour is arrived at that period upon whom the ends of the world are come, our wisdom will be to wait the Lord's coming by those signs which will usher in his approach. Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The mystery of God shall be finished. And then will be heard fully the burst of praise, when it will be said, great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!

ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

XIV.

ON PRAYER.

Or the treasures of grace in the eternal covenant, provided for the redeemed family, and conferred on each member when quickened into spiritual life, prayer has the pre-eminence.-No covenant favour of a spiritual kind can be brought out into exercise, and convey the peace and joy they are designed to afford, previously to the exercise of this gift of the Lord the Spirit. Behold he prayeth! said the Lord to Ananias concerning Saul of Tarsus, when by the sovereignty of grace he was arrested on his journey to Damascus. And, behold, he prayeth! may be said with the same truth, of every one whose career of unregeneracy is stayed, and who receives of the grace of God in truth.

It

Faith, and hope, and love, are incipient blessings of the regenerate soul; but prayer is the medium of conveyance-the expression of those graces. Prayer is the voice of the renewed soul; by which an utterance is given to its manifold desires, fears, and necessities. is the mode of communication established with the soul, by means of which, spiritual commerce is transacted-the soul hereby having intercourse with heaven, and the God of all grace divulging the secrets of his will. It is the visible evidence of everlasting security to the soul; which, though seldom acknowledged by its possessor, amounts to most certain and satisfactory proof to the church, and establishes the faithfulness and loving-kindness of Jehovah.

The

prayer of the saint ever has access to the ear of the Lord God of Sabaoth, and is never offered in vain : consequently, whether he obtain an immediate answer of peace, or from the knowledge of being heard the believer is strengthened in faith, each blissful circumstance claims alike his present gratitude and eternal admiration.

That is not spiritual prayer, which the unrenewed soul, however pious or morally excellent, is capable of offering. That is not effectual, fervent prayer, which arises only from religious affections, induced by education or example, however well arranged, or eloquently delivered. That is not worthy the name of prayer, which teachers of religion command and exhort all men without distinction to exercise. That is not prayer, which those who fall down to the worship of men and creeds are found to adopt, however worthy and excellent the objects of their idolatry.

How deeply important then, that the wide distinction made in the holy scriptures should be, both in its blessed and baneful effects, clearly demonstrated; and that each view of the subject should be generally known. VOL. II-No. 20.

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An admirable specimen of true prayer is presented in the history of the mother of one of the prophets, 1 Sam. i. of whom it is said, and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore ! As with Hannah, the trouble of mind she endured led her to the Lord, so is it with the Lord's people in their first awakenings to a knowledge of themselves and their afflictions: the burden of sin lies heavy on them, making them groan with the extreme pressure. They all have occasion to smart under the wound it inflicts; some of them for a long season; so that they learn what it is to endure bitterness of soul, and frequently to weep sore. But it is their mercy to be instructed to do as Hannah did, under the weight of their sorrow, and it is the privilege of all, though all are not afflicted to the same degree, to pray unto the Lord. After some of the terms in which the mother of Samuel poured forth her soul are expressed, it is stated, that she still continued praying before the Lord; and it follows, -now Hannah she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard! This expression, she spake in her heart, conveys more on the subject in hand, both as respects its nature and evidence, than an uninspired pen can possibly detail. When the Lord reveals his grace to the heart, and in great mercy is pleased to commune with the heart, he vouchsafes to abide in the heart though the natural voice be not heard, and the lips move not, such spiritual correspondence is maintained, when he manifests himself to the soul as he doth not unto the world, that the absence of external evidence is abundantly made up by internal communications of light, and knowledge, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The gracious words that proceed out of his mouth, spoken home to the heart, constitute the believer's bliss,-his salvation and all his desire,-joy unspeakable and full of glory. She spake in her heart. Oh! it is a sweet and comprehensive expression. Who shall be able to tell the interesting story of the numberless hopes, and fears, and longings, and anticipations of the soul, whose experience answers to this representation ?-the subject thereof cannot find a door of utterance,' and a stranger intermeddleth neither with his sorrow nor his joy.

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When the God of Israel graciously conveyed an answer to the petition of Hannah, through Eli the priest, the happy effects were instantly visible, and are given in these most impressive terms: so the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And the rapturous expression of her gratitude and joy is made in that divine song with which the second chapter commences, and in which, for the bestowment of spiritual mercies, the notes of praise are swelled into extatic harmony. So the countenance of the prayerful believer, whatever be the source of his sorrow and the extent of his desire, is no more sad, when answers of peace follow on the aspiration of the heart, and the burden which caused him to mourn is taken away. And yet be it never forgotten, that the exchange of the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and the oil of joy for mourning, was not the first gracious reply to Hannah's

petition; for she had before found grace in the sight of the Lord, or it would never have been recorded of her, that she CONTINUED praying before the Lord.

What rich encouragement has the praying soul, to be found constantly at the mercy-seat; and what strong consolations are given on his approach-when he is there and after he has returned thence. The book of God abounds with information and instruction on this head. The experiences of the saints, both in the old and new testaments, testify to the fact, and supply such a faithful source of intelligence and consolation, that it is difficult to select any portion which can truly be said to excel.

Many of the Lord's family distress themselves because they are unable to arrange their petitions according to the order in which others do. Many complain that they cannot give expression to the various exercises of their minds, nor say with the Psalmist, come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul! Some dislike the use of forms of prayer, while the prejudice of others is so great, that they neglect them, and even the voice of prayer according to the ability they do possess. Amidst the multifarious contentions that pervade, and the ten thousand questions that agitate the mind, blessed be God! the believer can be at no loss respecting the object of his supreme affections-his need of wisdom' and understanding-or of his total unworthiness of his Lord's favour; and when pregnant of these, -the earnest cries and longings of the soul prove the period of relief to be hastening, and make more joyous the consummation of promised deliverance.

In the exercise of prayer, there are no means of grace more productive of spiritual advantage than those enjoyed at the FAMILY ALTAR. Secluded from the world, and the observation of persons and things which in public worship may offend, the Lord's people removed here from the sight and fear of men, unbosom their souls before the Lord; and, in a most interesting sense under their own vine and under their own fig-tree, speak freely of the mercies of the Lord, and plead for, and covet earnestly the best gifts. Be it their honour continually to have in mind the apostolic admonition :continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

(To the Editor of the Spiritual Magazine.)

ON THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.

DEAR SIR,

:

I Am induced to offer to the church of Christ a few words on this subject, which though presented in much weakness, yet if the eternal Spirit, the divine testifier of Jesus, should be pleased to bless to the lifting-up of some beloved, though east down and much perplexed,

member of Christ's mystical body, then will the most gracious promise of the God-man Mediator be fulfilled, He shall take of the things of Christ, and shall shew them unto you; and not only so, but Jesus will be glorified.

The certain and final perseverance of every and each elect vessel of mercy to eternal glory, is a most blessed consolation; nay, it is, and has been, the sure foundation of the hope of the saints of God in all ages of the world. If this be denied, and it is denied by the majority of what is improperly called the religious world in the present day; I say, if this most glorious doctrinal truth is denied, it is making the great I Am a fickle and changeable being. My soul recoils with horror at the blasphemy; for I conceive it to be nothing more nor less. "Yea, let God be true, and every man a liar." cannot understand how these advocates for conditional salvation will explain those most blessed words of our Lord, when he tells his disciples at the time he tabernacled in this lower world, "I give unto my sheep eternal life." What then, upon certain conditions? upon some necessary preparation or qualification I may find in them? O no! and the dear Immanuel goes on to say, "and they shall never perish!" Blessed Redeemer! what, never perish? No. What, if they do not keep thy commandments, and walk in the same all the days of their life? No, notwithstanding all their backslidings, all their rebellions; and some of them, yea, all of them more or less, are a stiff-necked people; yet "they shall never, perish!" And, what is more, 66 neither shall any one pluck them out of his hands," Here then is a truth, an eternal, an unalterable truth, that all the malice of the rage of devils, and the insinuations of the enemies of the cross can never refute, can never overturn.

hell,

I confess my soul has been refreshed, when contemplating the great love of the adorable Jesus; and when the Holy Spirit has been pleased, in some measure, to give me to realize a blessed interest in those most precious words, "they shall never perish!”?

What are we to think of such puerile notions as are taught in the present day, of falling from grace? &c.. I would ask, can the body be complete, if a single member is wanting? Therefore if it were possible for one elect vessel to be lost, or one member of Christ's body to perish, then would the triumph of hell be complete; then would the happiness of heaven be marred; then would the blood of Jesus for the first time be ineffectual, and the covenant of grace would be broken, would be null and void. But it cannot be. Sooner than our adorable Jesus would lose one, for whom he suffered, bled, and died, he would again become "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Sooner than one of his little ones should perish, would again submit to suffer an ignominious death. Blessed be God! those who know the truth, as it is in Jesus, are satisfied upon this point, though it may be sometimes they have not the enjoyment of it themselves. Faith is not always in exercise; but the safety of their state is unalterably secure in the covenant of grace.