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By prayer Elias stayed the rain for three years and six months; and by the same means opened the clouds of heaven, that the earth brought forth her fruit. By prayer he brought down fire, which consumed the two captains and their fifties that came to take him.

By prayer, Joshua commanded the sun, and it stood still in Gibeon, and the moon in the Valley of Aijalon; for the Lord hearkened to the voice of a man, and fought for Israel.

By prayer, Daniel stopped the mouths of lions, and came untouched out of the den; and by prayer, Peter and Paul and Silas were delivered out of prison; shackles and iron gates being but weak things to the power of supplications.

And what shall I more say? for time would fail me, as the apostle speaks, if I should tell of Samuel, of Samson, Jehoshaphat, and of the prophets and apostles, who by prayer procured thunder to destroy their enemies; out of weakness were made strong; turned to flight the mighty hosts of adversaries; the dead they raised to life again; made the lame from the womb to walk and leap; healed diseases beyond the skill of art to cure.

Behold prayer's efficacy, though performed by men of like passions with ourselves! this should persuade us to the love and practice of the duty.

3. Who is it that would hinder you from prayer!-Who stands at your right hand to resist you? Certainly it is an enemy, who is unwilling you should draw nigh to God, because he knows it is so good for you, Psalm 1xxiii. Your own hearts also are ready to draw back, but this argues their egregious folly and desperate wickedness.

4. What has followed upon the omission of prayer?-Has not this omission ushered in sins of commission? Have you not, when you have neglected to cry for strength in your souls, found yourselves, like Reuben, unstable as water? Have you not easily been induced to do that which has filled the face of God with frowns, and the mouth of conscience with reproaches? On the other side, has not prayer been with success sometimes? have you not found encouragement and grace at the mercy-seat? Oh do that which both bitter and sweet experience prompts you to.

5. Prayer is an honourable employ

ment. In this duty you have admittance to the ear of the King of Heaven; how high is your company? your "fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ," 1 John i. 3. Though the Lord be high, yet he hath respect unto the lowly; he will regard the prayer of the most destitute, and not despise it; he allows you a freedom to pour out your complaints, and to make known before him your troubles. And what honour is this, to have to do immediately with God, "to have him so nigh to you in all that you call upon him for?" Deut. iv. 7.

6. Frequency and fervency in prayer will be a great evidence of your regeneration and adoption. The child when born cries, and the sinner when born again prays. Of Paul it was said as soon as he was converted, "Behold he prayeth," Acts ix. 11. It is the spirit of adoption that makes us cry," Abba, Father." If we cannot be satisfied unless we approach unto God, and value his favor and fellowship above all earthly things; and are chiefly desirous of those blessings which he never gives in wrath; and having given, never takes away again; we may conclude from our spiritual breath

ing, our spiritual life. Now a good evidence of regeneration, what will it be worth in a day of trouble, in a dying hour?

The last use shall be of encouragement to believers.

1. Their prayers are God's delight "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight," Prov. xv. 8. “0 my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is comely," Cant. ii. 14. We are pleased with the talk and requests of our children, though their language be lisped and broken; and God is infinitely more indulgent than earthly parents are or can be, and much more willing to give good things than they, Matt. vii. 11.

2. There are many reasons why the God whom believers pray to, should answer hem.

Fist. They are his chosen ones.—God pitched his love on them before the foundation of the world was laid.

Secondly. They are his Son's purchase.
He has bought them with a price, shed

his blood for the remission of their sins, and given his life for their ransom.

Thirdly. They are in covenant with God. He has engaged to be their God, and surely he will be their guard also. Fourthly. They are vessels of mercy, in whom he deigns to glorify his grace and love for ever.

Surely then he will heed these when they pray; he will give them the good they need, and save them from the evil which makes them fly to him for shelter. I have done with the first doctrine, That a Christian's security lies very much in praying always.

ALL PRAYER.

All prayer is of concernment to be used "praying always with all prayer," says the text.-Prayer is a duty of very great extent, and the parts of it are admirably suited to the piesent state and condition of a Christian, and the divers kinds of prayer very well agree with the various circumstances wherein we are. All the ways of seeking God shall be to purpose,

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