we fhall implore the fame mercies, and with the fame earneftnefs, for them that we do for ourselves. If we have any love for our country, we shall not fail to give it a place in our devotions, and to pray most ardently for the prosperity and stability of our Jerufalem. In what manner our prayers can be granted, or by what means God can avert calamity from those we recommend to his protection, without doing violence to what is called the ordinary course of nature, it is no concern of ours to enquire. If God has commanded us to pray for others, it is our business not to philofophize, but to obey. Let us give ourselves no trouble about the course of nature. It is perfectly safe in the hands of its divine Author. There may be no difficulties to Omnipotence, where we fee nothing but impoffibilities. Let us leave God to manage his own world, and perform his promises, as he certainly will, in his' own way. All we have to do is, to make a faithful use of that valuable privilege of INTERCESSION, which he has graciously allowed us for the benefit of our fellow-creatures. most indigent man may fay to his neighbour, as St. Peter did to the cripple at the gate The of the the temple," filver and gold have I none; "but fuch as I have, give I thee*." My wishes, my interceffions, my prayers you shall have. On earth, indeed, I can do nothing; but I will try to move HEAVEN in your favour. This puts it into the power of the meanest member of fociety, if he is but religious and devout, to be as effentially ufeful, both to individuals and to the community, as those that fill the highest and most active stations of life. From the deepest folitude, and from the humblest cell, his prayers may reach the throne of God; may there touch one of thofe celeftial fprings that fet the world in motion; may be among the reasons that induce the Almighty to give a new turn to the great wheels of the universe, and to rescue individuals, families, and empires, from deftruction. Improbable, and even ridiculous, as this may feem to the profound reafoners of this world, the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Teftament, are full of the powerful prevalence and astonishing effects of prayer; and unless we abfolutely renounce all faith in the Gospel, and all confidence in the promises of Chrift, we must admit the truth of this doctrine; we must acknowledge, that * Aets, iii. 6, "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous "man," either for himfelf, or for others, "availeth much *. Let, then, every fincere Chriftian, unmoved by the cavils of the fophift, or the infults of the fcorner, fteadily and refolutely perfevere in that moft benevolent office of INTERCEDING for all mankind. Let him be seech the great Sovereign of the Universe to enlighten the ignorant, to strengthen the weak, to confirm the doubtful, to convert the infidel, to reclaim the profligate, to foften the unmerciful, to restrain the violent and vindictive, to redress the injured and oppreffed, to protect the innocent; to reconcile the interests and calm the paffions of contending individuals and hoftile nations; to avert from this hitherto favoured land those bitter evils with which other countries are now fo cruelly defolated and overwhelmed; to direct the councils and prosper the just designs of those whom Providence has fet over us; to unite the hearts of those they govern, as the heart of one man, in fentiments of Chriftian charity, and constitutional obedience. Let him implore, in fine, * James, v. 16. (as (as he naturally will) the peculiar bleffing of the Almighty on those he holds moft dear; that, as our Liturgy very fublimely expreffes it," through his most mighty protection, both here and ever, they may be preferved both in body and foul; and that he being their ruler and guide, they may so pass through things temporal as finally to lose not the things that are eternal." THE END. A |