if they go to him in humble, fervent prayer, they believe he will.

In every light except this, in which the children of God can be viewed, they are feeble, ignorant, unworthy creatures, who know and can do comparatively nothing. But when we behold them in the attitude of prayer-humble, earnest, persevering prayer-prostrating themselves before the Almighty, and enlisting his perfections on their behalf;-here they seem exalted; they come into a sort of union with the Deity; he is theirs, and they are his; his power, wisdom, goodness and faithfulness are all pledged for them, and nothing is too great for him to accomplish. Without God on their side, his people are weak as other men; but with his Divine perfections enlisted for them, by means of holy prevalent prayer, they are in a sense omnipotent; they can do all things; because God will do all things for them, when inquired of in this way, which their best interest requires. The great adversary of souls has little to fear from anything and everything which the people of God can do, so long as they can be kept from prayer; but,

Satan trembles, when he sees

The weakest saint-upon his knees.'

That which is most most needed at the present moment, for the success of the gospel at home and abroad, is obviously an increase of fervent, effectual prayer. The experience of a thousand ages unites with the voice of inspiration, in bearing witness, that without the accompanying influences of the Spirit, the means of grace will be used in vain. In all places, and under all circumstances, they will be as water spilt on the ground, or as seed sown upon the barren rock. None will be awakened, none converted, and no fruit will be gathered unto life eternal. Indeed, to the success of the gospel, the Spirit should be regarded as all in all. But these needed influences of the Spirit are not bestowed ordinarily, except in answer to fervent prayer. It is prayer, then--humble, prevalent prayer-which the present interests of religion most urgently require. It is the want of such prayer, which clothes the churches at home with sackcloth, and spreads dearth and barrenness round the land. And it is the want of such prayer, more than anything which we can bestow, which damps the energies and limits the successes of our brethren who are laboring in foreign lands.

The call to prayer is loud and imperious from all parts of the field of spiritual labor. The barren wastes everywhere need showers of blessing. The heritage of the Lord thirsts for rain. The churches of Christ cry out for a time of refreshing and of renewed fertility. The families of the people of God; schools for religious education; missionary labors, at home and abroad; the institutions of the gospel, in all their diversified operations; every plan of usefulness; every attempt of the friends of truth to extend its dominion ;-ali cry out together for those spiritual influences, without which the reign of desolation must be perpetual; and all send us to prayer, as our last and only resource.'

Everything, therefore, which ought to have weight with a rational mind, should be regarded as urging the peo le of God to prayer. Their duty, their honor, their interest, their happiness; the commands, and promises, and providence of God; the cause of truth, the example of the Saviour, their own necessities, and ⚫ the necessities of a world to be converted;---all are unitedly urging them to prayer. Let them, then, awake at once, and engage with renewed earnestness in

this most important service. In all their emptiness and weakness, let them go to Him with whom is infinite fulness and strength, and implore his help. Let then plead his love; plead his faithfulness; plead the everlasting covenant and the sure mercies of David, on which he has caused his people to hope. He will not turn away his ear, or break his promise, or deny his blessing. He will open to his people new resources; convert or confound their enemies; encourage their fainting hearts, and strengthen their feeble hands. He will pour out his Spirit in answer to their supplications, and through them, as weak but honored instruments, will carry forward, with resistless power and progress, the triumphs of his holy kingdom.---Again, then, I say, let the people of God awake to this subject, and endeavor to feel, more than they have ever done, the importance of the duty which has been urged.

In

prayer, they have a resource of which the world are ignorant. In prayer, they possess and can exert a far greater power than would be possible in any other way. It is here, emphatically, that their great strength lies. 'PRAYER MOVES

THE HAND THAT MOVES THE WORLD.'

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

THE Apostle looking upon the Ephesians as militant saints, and fighting, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and the powers of darkness; instructs them, towards the latter end of this chapter, how they might become more than conquerors. To this end he tells them, first of all, where their strength lay; they must "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,"