ber, what victories the old-teftament faints obtained over their enemies, when they fought with this their peculiar weapon. By it they flew kings, yea famous kings. One chafed a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. Let us now look into the newteftament, and fee if we cannot find fomething there to encourage Christians to be more abundant in prayer. No doubt, Herod that proud tyrant, who fought the life of the Babe of Bethlehem was overcome by prayer: Not by the prayers of thofe fuperftitious, hypoeritical Pharifees, who ftood at the corners of streets, that they might be heard of men; but by the prayers of fuch humble fupplicants, as Jofeph and Mary, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna. The prayers of Anna alone were enough to counteract the malice and wiles of Herod. St. Luke fays, " She was a widow of about fourfcore and four years; who departed not from the temple, but ferved God with faflings and prayers night and day." Simeon waited for the confolation of Ifrael. Prayer is one thing neceffarily implied in waiting upon God. Thefe praying few, who were, at that time, fcattered thro' the land of Ifrael, will no doubt be honored of God as the champions, who, by their prayers, refcued the infant Saviour from the hands of thofe, who fought his life. Jefus of Nazareth had many powerful and bitter enemies. They were continually feeking to get fomething, whereby they might accufe and condemn him. At laft, they came out against him with fwords and ftaves to take him. They employed carnal weapons against him; but during the whole of his life, he ufed no fuch weap ons. That paffage in the rooth Pfalm has a very particular reference to Chrift; "They fought against me without a caufc. For my love they are my adverfaries; but I give myself unto prayer." By this paffage we learn how it was that Chrift oppofed his ene mies; he gave himself to prayer. He was eminent for prayer. In this thing, he was the true antitype of David, whofe prayers and prai fes make a moft precious part of the holy fcriptures. We read of Chrift's fpending the whole night in prayer; and of his rifing up a great while before day to retire into a folitary place to pray. This, my brethren, is the man, who hath · left us an example, that we should fallow in his fleps. In that mem orable night, when his Father took off reftraint, and let his enemies loofe upon him, he gave himfelfunto prayer. He first prayed with his difciples, and then he poured out his foul to his Father in fecret. He prayed and he prevailed. They. came against him with fwords and ftaves he was given up into their hands to mock, to condemn and crucify. He fell; but when he fell, he conquered. "Who in the days of his feth, when he had offered up prayers and fupplica tions, with ftrong crying and tears, unto him that was able to fave him from death, and was heard in that he feared." The prayers and in terceffions of Chrift are very prev alent. In anfwer to them, God will beftow pardon and eternal life upon all the redeemed. It is the Father's appointed way, in beltow. ing bleffings upon our fallen world to have refpect to the interceffion of Chri; "Afk of me," my Son, "and I fhall give thee," &c. Compare this with John xv. 25† Heb. v. 7. In answer to the petition of Chrift, his incorrigible enemies will be made his foot-stool forever*. Juft before the bleffed Jefus was received up to his Father's right hand, he commanded his difciples to tarry in Jerufalem until they fhould be endued with power from on high. This command they obeyed, and we learn from Acts i. 14. how they filled up the time: Thefe all continued with one accord in prayer and fupplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jefus with his brethren. In this way they waxed valiant to fight. A few days after, they were not afraid to tell the crucifiers of Chrift, that they had killed the prince of life. They stood up against all the power of the Jews and were not afraid. They had committed .their caufe to God and they were confident. In anfwer to prayer the Spirit of God was poured out, and converts were multiplied. This increased the cloud of incenfe, which daily afcended to heaven.t Now the Chriftian army, though fmall, was ftrong. Their enemies had the greatest number of rulers, learned men and foldiers on their fide-they had the jails, dungeons and stocks on their fide: But the Chriftians had all the love, all the truth and all the prayer on their fide. Therefore the word of God grew, and multiplied againft all the threats and punishments, which were made ufe of by the enemies of the cross. Peter alfo. He confined him in prifon, and ferrousded him with a ftrong guard, with a defign after Eafter to bring him forth to execution. "Peter therefore was kept in prifon; but prayer was made without ceafing of the church unto God for him." This was all the church could do for that dear apoftle, for whofe fake many of them would, no doubt, gladly have laid down their own lives, if this could have refcued his more ufeful life. They would not have gone to break open the prifon, by force, if they could have done it, becaufe this would be walking diforderly. They probably could not have accefs to Herod if they could, their prayers would have had no influence upon a man fo void of principle. What then fhould they do? Should they fit down in defpair, and fay there was no hope? They knew that all things were poffible with God; and that he had faid, "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou fhalt glorify me." This was a day of trouble, and they did call upon God. The efficacy of prayer was now tried. The whole church at Jerufalem, which was now large, was deeply engaged in this duty They did not pray once and then give out they prayed without ceafing, like true fons of Ifrael. They were not difcouraged because they did not fee their petition immediately granted; they did not mean to leave the throne of grace, while there was any hope. God, in his wisdom, deferred to anfwer their request until the last extremity, not because he did not hear them before, but because he would bring them to the highest pitch of holy importunity; which was the beft way to promote his glory and their happiness. The moment had Kk There is an extraordinary inftance of the efficacy of prayer recorded in the 12th chapter of Acts. Herod killed James: And because he faw it pleafed the Jews, he proceeded further to take Pfalm xxxv. and Heb. x. 13. † Acts ii. 42, 46. Acts iv. 31. Acts vi. -4 VOL. II. No. 7. which they needed. Paul writes thus to the Corinthians; "Whe (i. e. God) delivered us from fo great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we truft that he will yet deliver us; you also helping, together by prayer for us." Had we a hiftory of all the victories, which prayer has gained; and of all the bleffings, which have been bestowed in answer to prayer," the world Pe-itfelf could not contain the books which fhould be written." But thefe are written, that we may believe that Jehovah hath never faid unto us, "Seek ye me in vain.” Peter now almost arrived, when wick ed Herod expected to embrue his bands in the blood of the apoftie. The very next morning he was to be brought forth to the people. It feems Peter was not greatly diftreffed about the event of the next day: "The fame night Peter was fleeping between two foldiers, bound with two chains." "So he giveth his beloved fleep." This was the Lord's helping time. ter was delivered from the prifon, by the miniftry of an holy angel. After the angel left him, he came to the house of Mary, where many were gathered together praying. How evidently this deliverance was in answer to prayer. had compofed himself to fleep; but it seems his friends had flept none that night. There were many, who had gathered together to pray. It appears, that, like Jacob on another extraordinary occafion, they had determined to devote the whole night to wrestle with God. How exceedingly did this prepare them to receive the favor, which they defired. O how fweet was this mercy! It was a Samuel, "afked of God." Whoever reads this important claufe, in the history of the apoftolic age, will be convinced, that prayer is a glorious privilege, and an important part of that ar-menting upon this paffage obferves mour, with which the Chriftian that "the Chriftian's armour muft army are to fight the good fight of all be buckled on with prayer." faith, and overthrow the holts of Prayer keeps it all tight, and keeps hell. It is a weapon, which the every thing in its place. A man more it is used, the brighter it will of prayer is a man of truth-a grow, and the more important it man of Chriftian fortitude-full of will appear to him, who knows its faith and hope, and one who worth. It appears from the epift- knows how to ufe the fword of olary writings of the apoftles; that the Spirit, which is the word of they were men of prayer, and that God. In the eleventh chapter of they recommended it in the ftron- Hebrews, the apostle fets forth a geft terms to their Christian breth-lift of worthies, diftinguished for ren. It also appears that they their ftrong faith. Strong faith made great dependance upon it, as always leads to fervent prayer ; a mean of procuring the bleffings, therefore thefe worthies must have Perhaps, fome may think, that this effay is calculated to trample down other Chriftian duties and gracious exercifes, by making every thing of prayer. This is our reply: Prayer we believe to be a pre-eminent duty; but by no means the only duty incumbent upon us. In writing to the Ephefians, the apostle exhorts them to take to themselves the whole armour of God; particularly, that they be girded with truth, fhod with the preparation of the gofpel of peace, taking the fhield of faith, the helmet of falvation and the fword of the Spirit. He then clofes by exhorting them to pray always with all prayer, &c. Mr. Henry, com prayed much as well as believed much. The apoftle's fubject then led him to diftinguish them by their faith, instead of their prayer. But let it always be remembered that he, who believes with all his heart, prays too. bleffingbefore he obtained it. Some may also think, that in this effay, prayer has been made to ufurp the place of the Almighty. Let nothing, which has been faid, 1. We learn why there are fuch be fo conftrued as to take away any preffing exhortations to the duty glory from God; or keep him out of prayer, fcattered all over the of fight, as the great All in All. bible. Pray for the peace of JeIt is to his honor, that he is a pray- | rufalem*-Ye that make mention er-hearing God. He does not do of the Lord, keep not filence and any thing, in aniwer to prayer, give him no rest-Men ought alwhich his wisdom and benevolence ways to pray and not to faintdo not lead him to choose to bring Pray without ceafing§-Continu, to pass: Yet he always anfwers ing inftant in prayer-Call upon the prayer of faith. Here let it me in the day of trouble-Pour be remembered, that it is God, out your heart before him**-Be who excites as well as anfwers pray- careful for nothing; but in every er. He pours out a fpirit of grace thing, by prayer and fupplication, and fupplication. The fpirit help-with thanksgiving, let your requests eth our infirmities; for we know be made known unto God.++ If not what we should pray for as we prayer be the Chriflian's weapon, if ought: but the Spirit maketh inter-it has been fo effectual as we have ceffion for the faints according to the recounted, it is no wonder that we will of God. It was the will of are fo preffingly urged to make a God to deliver Peter out of the conftant ufe of it. hand of Herod; therefore he sent his Holy Spirit remarkably to ftir up the minds of the church to pray for his deliverance. Does not God, evidently, appear more glorious, in bringing about his deliv. erance, in anfwer to the united cries of fo many of his dear children, than if he had brought it about without their interceding cries? The fame almighty Angel, who wrestled with Jacob, and faid to him, "Let me go," fecretly ftrengthened him to keep his hold, and encouraged him to fay, "I will not let thee go except thou blefs me." He defigned to blefs Jacob; but it was most for his own glory and for Jacob's good, that he fhould wrestle hard for the 2. In view of what has been brought forward to show the prevalency of prayer, we can see why the hopes of God's people, refpecting Zion are revived, when they difcover an increase of the spirit of prayer. The more they fee the Christian army ufing this allconquering weapon, the more they have reafon to hope, to see them foon gain fome glorious victory over the powers of darknefs. The powers of darkness flee before a little company of praying ones. "I" And Satan trembles when he fees The weakest faint upon his knees.” Luke xviii. 1. § 1 Thef. v. 17. * Pfalm cxxii. 6. † Ifaiah Ixii. 6, 7. Rom. xii. 12. ¶ Pfal. I. 15. ** Pfal. xii. 8. ++ Phil. iv. 6. When a minifter obtains evi-ed with a total deftruction, Mors dence that his church are favored decai and Efther and others of with an uncommon degree of hum-their nation, who dwelt at Shufhan, ble, and perfevering prayer, he is devoted three days, at once, to apt to conclude, that he is about fafting and prayer. When Peter to fee fome fuccefs of his ministry, was in prifon, the church had ex in the converfion of finners: And traordinary prayer, on his behalf. if prayer be fo prevalent, as we Is there not a call for extraordinahave feen it to be, he has fome- ry prayer at this time? Is not inthing from which to draw this fa- fidelity exerting every nerve to vorable conclufion. He ought crush the caufe of Chrift? And not on this account to be viewed as has it not made the moft alarming an enthufiaft. The holy one of progrefs? Infidels are combining Ifrael has faid, "As foon as Zion together to spread their poifon travailed fhe brought forth her chil-around the world. And fhall not dren." Is not fervent prayer an important part of the travailing pangs of Zion? Chriftians unite in defence of the truth? It is not enough that we publish books in defence of Chriftianity. We must let them fee this holy religion in our very exemplary lives. We must walk even as Chrift walked. We muft alfo be abundant in prayer. Here is the way that Chriftians muft overcome infidels. Infidels, fome of them have no God; these therefore cannot pray. Others have a God, whom they own, but in works they deny him; for, there is not one of them, that will pray to him. Prayer makes no part of their religion. Here, then, is their weak place. Here, Chrif tians, you must make the attack. They defpife this peculiar piece of armour, with which the Captain of your falvation has furnished you; they think it of no ufe to you; therefore they will make no preparation to refift it. This gives the difciples of Chrift great advantage over the followers of Vol 3. We are taught by this fubject, that it is altogether fuitable, that in times of extraordinary difficulty and danger, the people of God fhould have recourfe to extraordinary prayer, It is their peculiar weapon; and fhould they not make a peculiar ufe of it, in times of imminent danger? Should we not think that a very stupid nation, who made no extraordinary prepations for defence, when their enemies were making the most extraordinary preparations for an attack? So it betokens great stupidity in the people of God if they are not peculiarly roufed up to pray, when Zion is in trouble. The language of every true Ifraelite at fuch a time fhould be," For Zion's fake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerufalem's fake I will not reft, until the righteoufnefs thereof go forth as brightnefs, and the falvation thereof as a lamp that burn-taire. While thefe meet together eth" When Efau was coming to to concert measures to "crush the meet Jacob with 400 men, the wretch," (to use their own blafgood patriarch thought there was phemous watch-word) let Chrifa call for extraordinary prayer. tians form Concerts of prayer to The night which is commonly de- befeech the God and Father of voted to fleep, he devoted to pray- our Lord Jefus Chrift to pull down er. When the Jews throughout the kingdom of fatan, and build the Perfian empire were threaten- up the kingdom of his dear Son, |