prayer and fellowship with God, for active service. This is the most important chamber in the Household of Faith. In this secret holy chamber great and noble purposes are born and ripened into action, great plans are arranged according to the mind and will of God, and Divine power is obtained for overcoming difficulties, withstanding enemies, and pushing on real work for the Lord. Jesus tells us all about this sacred spot (Matt. vi. 1-13).

Prayer and work must always go together. Work without prayer is presumption, and prayer without work is hypocrisy.

The sympathy of Nehemiah was manifested in so many ways, but more especially in his Concern, Compassion, and Confession.

1. His Concern. "And I asked them concerning the Jews. . . . and concerning Jerusalem.”

True sympathy is fellow-feeling, compassion, and tenderness. Nehemiah's heart was full of this grace, and it manifested itself in his earnest enquiry, prayer, and practical help, beautifully exemplified in the life and service of Jesus (Matt. ix. 35 and 38; John xi. 35; and Luke xix. 41), and if we have this spirit we shall be ready to weep, pray, and work for the salvation of souls.

2. His Compassion. "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned," etc. Nehemiah's sorrow was no mere passing emotion, but a real, deep, soul compassion for Israel. Why? Because of the condition of Jerusalem, the revelation was far worse than he anticipated. There was great affliction and reproach, and the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. Sin always brings misery. "In great affliction." Sin always brings reproach. "And reproach" (Prov. xiv. 34). Sin always brings destruction. "Walls broken down." Nehemiah's was a sorrow which only found relief in God and prayer. This shows it was real godly sorrow.

3. His Confession. "And prayed before the God of Heaven." Nehemiah held up the whole matter before God

in prayer. This is the proper place to estimate and measure things. Sin and salvation, truth and grace, death and judgment in the very presence of God. Nehemiah knew the root of all the mischief was Israel's sin and disobedience, therefore, it must be confessed, brought to the light, and put away before any real reformation could take place; hence his earnest confession. The precious promise of God is true for all time (1 John i. 9). Let us try it, like Nehemiah.

3. The Worker's Prayer.

Nehemiah i. 4-10.

NEHEMIAH was emphatically a man of prayer. He believed in taking everything to God in prayer, and when he had ascertained God's mind and secured His power he was then prepared for His work.

Every worker knows, or should know, that prayer is the great secret of success.

Moses prayed and the enemy was defeated (Ex, xvii. 11). Joshua prayed and the sun stood still (Josh. x. 12). Elijah prayed and the rain was stayed (1 Kings xviii. 38).

Isaiah prayed and received his commission (Isa. vi. 11). Daniel prayed and was delivered from danger (Dan. vi. 10). Disciples prayed and the place was shaken (Acts iv. 31). Nehemiah prayed and the way was open to go to Jerusalem and build again the walls of the city (Neh. i. 4-10).

Yes, Nehemiah well understood this heavenly science in all its features of secret power and blessing.

Prayer is the Telephone of faith. Nehemiah kept it fixed upon God's throne (v. 6). Prayer is the Telegraph of love,

and Nehemiah used it well (chap. ii. 4). Prayer is the
Key of power which opens heaven's store-house of blessing.
Nehemiah kept it bright with everyday use.
And prayer

is the Saints' refuge in all times of trouble; Nehemiah knew its value and help by experience; and the Lord counsels every believer to "Pray without ceasing" (2 Thess. v. 17).

"And

1. Nehemiah's was the Prayer of Faith. prayed before the God of heaven." It was a wonderful prayer, and will serve as a guide to us. Short, Simple, Pointed, and Practical, as all prayer should be. It was based upon a correct knowledge of God, His Character, Love, and Power: "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible," etc. Great in power, terrible in judgment, faithful in covenant, and loving in mercy, and all this grace for the believer. It rested upon right relationship, too, "Them that love Him and observe His Commandments." This is the condition of blessing, loving obedience, those who have the inward affection and outward life which please God.

2. Nehemiah's was the Prayer of Earnest Sincerity. It was marked with earnestness, importunity, and confession of sin, a deep, heartfelt cry to the God of Heaven,

Earnestness is the soul of real prayer, and the earnest soul hangs upon God till the blessing comes. Nehemiah prayed "day and night" for four months. He confessed the sins of the nation, his own, and his father's house. The nearer Nehemiah came to God, the more clearly he discovered the evil of their sin; Forgetfulness, Unfaithfulness, and Folly had marked the path of Israel.

But the faithfulness and love of God encouraged Nehemiah to seek His favour; this is always our hope,

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins," etc. (1 John i. 9).

It was a

3. Nehemiah's was the Prayer of Hope. prayer full of hope in God, and full of the strongest arguments for His favour and help.

There is one very interesting word, Remember. The Lord loves to be reminded of His word, and Nehemiah was one of His remembrancers (Is. lxii. 6, and xliii. 26). He was one of the godly remnant who cried to God continually. He reminded God of His word, both threatening and promise. One had been fulfilled, why not the other? (Deut. iv. 27; Ps. ci. 1). He reminded God of Jerusalem-His chosen place of blessing for Israel, and glory for His Own Name.

He reminded God of their relationship to Him, His Servants, His People, and His Redeemed Ones. He is their Redeemer; they are His property. He is their God; they bear His Name.

4. The Worker's Trust.

Nehemiah ii. 1--8.

IN the first chapter we see Nehemiah before God for the people; in this second chapter we see him before the people for God. This is the right order-God first in service as well as in salvation. Nehemiah recognised God in everything. It was all of God, all from God, and all for God.

How quickly the Lord answered Nehemiah's prayer, how true to His promise! "While they are yet speaking I will answer," saith the Lord. God answers our prayers in various ways, sometimes by miracle, sometimes in the ordinary routine of duty, and sometimes by special providence, as in this case. A few leading thoughts will guide us to the lessons of these verses, the Providence of God, the Prayer of Nehemiah, the Pleasure of the King, and the Path of Blessing.

"Trust in the Lord with all In the good providence of

1. The Providence of God. To be in the family of God is to be ever under the special promise of God, and it is an immense comfort to know " our times are in His hands," and the command is, thy heart" (Prov. iii. 5, 6). God the opportunity arrived for Nehemiah to speak to the King, and the several links in this providential chain are interesting. The Time. "And it came to pass," etc. (v. 1). God puts His servants in the right places to be useful. It is possible to be pious in a palace. The Sadness of Nehemiah: his face revealed what his heart felt, and thus bore testimony for God. When the heart is right the face speaks. The Friendliness of the King. He was in a good mood, for "The Queen was sitting by his side" (v. 6). God can move the hearts of kings

2. The Prayer of Nehemiah (v. 4). "Then the King said unto me," etc. What a moment this was! And between the question and the answer Nehemiah sent up to God a telegraphic message, "So I prayed to the God of Heaven."

This prayer was short; only a thought, a desire, a look up to heaven. It was silent; no voice, no sound, was heard -but God heard. It was successful, all real prayer is; confidence in the Lord brings calmness, peace, and overcoming power. There are always occasions for these short, sharp prayers in every life.

In times of prosperity, "Lord, guide me" (Ex. xvi. 15). In times of danger, "Lord, save me" (Matt. xiv. 30). In times of deep need, "Lord, help me" (Matt. xv. 25). In times of temptation, "Lord, deliver me" (Isa. lxv. 24). In the time of sin, "Lord, forgive me" (Ps. xxv. 11). In the time of difficulty look up, and the Lord will open the way, as He did for Nehemiah.

3. The Pleasure of the King (v. 6). Now humanly speaking everything depended upon the King, but we know