and the exercise, the beginning and the promoter of all graces. A holy life is continual prayer. Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the stillness of our thoughts, the rest of our cares, the calm of our tempest."

But let me speak to every reader.

Christian Ministers! You should be men of prayer. "We will," says the Apostles, "give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word." Should not we then abound in prayer?

Christian Parents! We next address you. Pray for your children. "Whenever," says Bishop Hopkins, "thou comest to the throne of grace, bring these thy dear pledges upon thy heart with thee. Earnestly implore of God that he would own them, and provide for them as his own children: that he would adopt them into the family of heaven, make them heirs of glory, and coheirs with Jesus Christ: that he would give them a convenient portion of good things for this life, that they may serve him with the more cheerfulness and alacrity; and a large portion of spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus; and at length bring them to the heavenly inheritance. And know assuredly that the prayers of parents are very effectual, and have a kind of authority in them to obtain what they sue for. This is the blessing which holy fathers in Scripture have bestowed on their children. Thus Abraham asked, "O that Ishmael might live before thee." Thus Jacob prayed for and blessed his children and his grand-children. Thus Job remembered his children, and " offered burnt offer

ings according to the number of them all." Bring them up, also, in the practice of prayer. They cannot too early begin to seek their Saviour and to lisp his praise. No habit will be more profitable to them than that of daily prayer. Teach your children this, and they will then rise up and call you blessed. Store their young minds with the Scriptures, furnish them with short portions for all occasions. This will arm them with invincible strength against their enemies. They are about to journey through a dangerous wilderness; teach them to pray, morning and evening, and it will direct their way, "like that pillar which guided Israel through the wilderness, as a cloud by day to shadow them, and as a fire by night to comfort them."

Prayer is a duty at all times and in all seasons of life.

Are you in prosperity? Let prayer and praise sanctify all your enjoyments. Great is the snare of outward prosperity. How "hardly shall they that are rich enter into the kingdom of heaven." You have need to pray much, lest that which was designed as a talent for great usefulness, occasion your eternal ruin. Let nothing hinder you from giving regular and full time to devotion. The days of health and strength should be given to God, "while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."

Are you afflicted? That is the time for special prayer. "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me." In the absence of the sun, the mild and peaceful

radiance of the moon enlivens our path. Let devotion spread a cheering light over your darker hours. "The Queen of night," says Bowdler, “unveils its full beauty when the hours of joy and lustre have passed away, pouring as it were, a holy light through the damps and darkness of adversity." Thus will constant prayer cheer the darkest season of affliction.

Are you young? Let that rapid torrent of useful strength and vivacity, which, if left to itself, would only be wasted and dashed against rocks, from precipice to precipice, be turned into a profitable course. Let this stream be brought into the channel of devotion, and it will move the machine of the Christian life, and communicate innumerable blessings to man. "Those that seek me early shall find me." Nothing is more pleasing, nothing more profitable, than early devotion. Slight not him in your strength, who will be the only protector of your weakness.

Are you in middle life? In the midst of this world's engagements, how are you encompassed as in a maze of temptation! Let prayer be the secret thread which will lead you out of this laby-. rinth. How are you surrounded with duties of the first importance! What a happy influence, then, would devotion have in making you a general blessing to your family, your neighborhood, and your country! Like the regulator in the watch, though unseen outwardly, it would keep the spring of your actions in order; it would make all your movements certain and useful. Give the strength of your years to God, and you will leave "a good name better that precious ont

ment." Remember, "the prayer of faith," as Bishop Porteus says, 66 moves the hands of him that moveth all things."

Are you in declining years? and will you not hold converse with Him whom you are soon to meet and see face to face? Why should you enter the eternal world a stranger to the great King who rules there, when you have an opportunity of being adopted into his family, enjoying his presence here, and sharing the splendors of his crown and of his glories hereafter. "What," says one, 66 be more truly desirable than to attain to a measure of that light and peace, which in their full measure, belong to a higher condition? and what more excellent than that occupation which connects the service with the enjoyment of God, the duties of this life with the glories of the better?"

To every class of my readers I would say,
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

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BRIEF OBSERVATIONS ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. The Prayer which our Lord gave to his disciples is not only a perfect form of prayer, but also an admirable pattern and guide. It is in one place introduced to our notice, thus, "When pray, say," and in another, "After this manner pray ye." Its method is simple and clear. It consists of three parts: I. An Introduction, expressing the goodness and greatness of Him to whom we speak.

"Our Father, which art in heaven."

II. Six Petitions, three of which have a more immediate respect to the glory of God.

1. "Hallowed be thy name.

2. Thy kingdom come.

3. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

And the three remaining, more immediately respect our own personal wants; temporal and spiritual

1. "Give us this day our daily bread.

2. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.

3. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The four first of these petitions, are for the obtaining of good, and the two last for the averting of evil.

III. A Conclusion, not only acknowledging the perfections of God, but most powerfully pleading them as a reason why our prayers should be heard.

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."

Every part of prayer is comprehended in this pattern.

Confession is plainly implied in every request, for the requests suppose either our weakness or our sinfulness in the particulars desired.

Petition forms the main substance of this prayer.

Intercession is also involved in the whole; in the three first petitions more directly, and in the remaining petitions by their being in the plural number-give us,-forgive us,-lead us, &c. Thanksgiving is expressed in the conclusion, and there is in the petitions an implied acknowledgement of all the great perfections of God.

This prayer is too generally used as a vain repetition. It is worthy of remark, that at the very time our Lord gave it, he expressly warned his disciples against vain repetitions. Many things may be learned respecting prayer, from this pattern.

1. The filial confidence and reverence with which we ought to approach God.

2. The expediency of method and order in our prayers. 3. The necessity of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

4. The lawfulness of then asking for temporal blessings. 5. The importance of the temper in which we pray: an unforgiving temper obtains not God's forgiveness. 6. The duty of praying much for others.

7. The excellence of simplicity of expression.

8. The powerful pleas with which we may urge our petitions. In this prayer we are not taught to ask in the name of Christ; and the reason may be, that when it was given, Christ's atonement had not actually taken place, nor his intercession as a risen Saviour begun. Therefore our Lord says, "hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name--at that day ye shall ask in my name