their genuine import? And do we seek the fulfilment of them in the due order and manner?

Again: Do our supplications and requests accord to the precepts of the holy law of our God, and to the spirit of the blessed gospel? And are they dictated by that love to God and man, which the whole Scripture inculcates? The prayers which are presented under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are uniformly of this kind; for "his fruit is in all goodness, and righteous"ness, and truth.”

This consideration ought particularly to be attended to, in our intercession for the church and nation: for we cannot expect to prevail in these prayers, except we cultivate a compassionate, forgiving, and loving spirit towards our enemies, which no crimes or injuries can overcome or weary out; as well as an expansive benevolence for the whole human race. We should be peculiarly desirous of being preserved, if it be the will of God, in the manner which is most conducive to the general good of mankind, and in particular to that of the nation with which we are now at war. In this respect we have need, very diligently and jealously, to watch over our own hearts; lest any leaven of resentment, or desire of aggrandizement, wealth, or prospe rity, should pollute our prayers, and defeat the end of them. For these things must certainly come from our own spirit, and not from the Spirit of truth and love.

A due regard to Providence is another mark, by which acceptable prayer may be distinguished. We should enquire therefore, whether we desire to acknowledge the hand of God, to submit to and adore VOL. II. 3.Q

his justice, and to thank him for his mercies, in all the events and changes which we witness and experience? Whether we expect protection and success from him alone, whatever instruments or means are employed? And whether we are prepared to give him all the glory?-The subordination likewise of all temporal concerns to the good of our immortal souls, and the best interests of mankind; and the desire of being protected, and assisted, in order that we may usefully fill up our stations in the church and in the community with a contented mind, and without "seeking great things "for ourselves," are implied in this regard to Providence. The prayers, which spring from this happy frame of mind, are doubtless dictated by "the Spirit "of grace and supplication." Thus Solomon prayed for wisdom, that he might be qualified to govern in a suitable manner the kingdom to which God had advanced him; but he offered no petition for "long life, "riches, or the life of his enemies:" and if his lot had been cast in a humbler station, the same views and desires would have influenced him to request grace sufficient to enable him to discharge the duties of it, in a manner honourable to God and profitable to his brethren; and not to have sought advancement to a higher rank in life. But if discontent, impatience, ambition, or avarice dictate our supplications, the Lord may graciously pardon them, but he will by no means accept or answer them.

The prayers, offered under the influence of the divine Spirit, will also be accompanied with correspondent exertions in the use of all proper means, in order

to obtain the blessings we desire. For instance; he, who prays aright for the conversion and salvation of his children, is sedulous in giving them pious instructions; careful in setting them a good example, punctual in bringing them under the means of grace, and watchful in keeping them out of the way of temptation. Like Abraham "he commands his children and his "household after him, that they may keep the way of "the LORD:" and worldly motives do not induce him to place them at a distance from the ordinances of God, or in the midst of bad examples and ensnaring allure

ments.

Thus our prayers, if spiritual, will influence our conduct in every particular; and the same fervent desire, which dictates the petition, will stimulate the endeavour. That effectual fervent prayer especially, which we are now called on to present in behalf of the church and nation, should be connected with a steady exertion, in our several places, to accomplish the general and particular objects of our supplications.

The holy Scriptures further teach us, that all those, who in former ages prayed with the greatest acceptance and success, had an especial regard to the glory of God in their requests, and were ready to subordinate every other interest to this grand concern; requesting personal and national deliverance and protection, in order that God might be honoured in the open view of mankind, by his interpositions in behalf of his worshippers. And this, in every possible case, furnished them with a never-failing plea. Thus Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, Nehemiah, and many others,

supplicated the Lord for Israel, beseeching him to deliver them "for his name's sake, that it should not be "polluted among the heathen:" and that "all the na❝tions of the earth might know, that he was the LORD "God, even he only." Our Lord also most emphatically teaches us the same, by beginning the prayer, which he gave his disciples, with these words, "Our "Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come; thy will be done as it is in heaટ્રેડ ven, so on earth." It may therefore be of use to us, in determining how far our prayers are presented in a right spirit, seriously to ask ourselves, whether the glory of God, the success of the gospel, and the peace, purity, and enlargement of the church, be habitually, and at those seasons especially, the leading desires of our hearts.

Finally, the acceptable prayer, of which we speak, is that of a man, who approaches, as a guilty, pollut. ed, helpless sinner, to a God of infinite majesty and holiness, pleading for every blessing, not "for his own "righteousness," or for that of the "or for that of the persons for whom he supplicates, but "for the LORD's great mercies;" and presenting his requests, in deep humility and lively faith, through the alone meritorious intercession of our great High Priest and Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Let us briefly recapitulate these particulars.. When our prayers are indeed the fervent desires of our heart; when we request the fulfilment of the Lord's express promises; when the spirit of them accords to that of the law of love, and to that of the blessed gospel; when

we present them with a due regard to the providence of God, in submission, dependence, and expectation; when we accompany them with a diligent attention to other duties, and especially to the proper means of obtaining the blessings for which we pray; when our leading desire is that God may be glorified, and the cause of true religion promoted: and when we offer such petitions through the mediation of Christ, by faith in his name and his atoning blood, with a deep consciousness of unworthiness, and an entire reliance on the free mercy of God, to pardon our sins and accept our services: then we may be fully assured, that ours is "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man "which availeth much."

It may, however, be useful to consider briefly the special objects of those supplications, which accord to the present circumstances of the nation and of the church. Amidst the perils of these critical times, there are persons of different descriptions who seem to think, that they who pray for their country, must of course desire the destruction of their enemies, and the gratification of national ambition, rapacity, or resentment, by bloody victories. But indeed to be preserved from invasions, civil wars, and persecutions; and to have the invaluable blessings of religious light and liberty continued to us and to our posterity, and extended to all around us, ought to form the substance of our united requests in this respect. We should rejoice to hear that the rulers of France had formed plans so beneficial to that country, and safe to their neighbours; that we could cordially beseech the Lord to prosper them: