produces those powerful minds which, wherever they appear, immediately make their silent but triumphant influence felt upon the soul. Such men of God are capable of reproducing for us the angel-appearances of former times. Their deep energetic serenity sinks into our hearts and attends us in action. Their presence gives us courage, calms us, and raises us with them to their more elevated paths. Words, phrases, and gesticulations do not effect this. Pretend to be bold and joyful in faith as you please it still has no effect. The wonder-working power lies alone in the inward truth. Without this, we remain in the richest spiritual preparation, as "clouds without water." Be really bold in God, and though silent you will stand for thousands as a desired watch-tower!

H

74

III.

ISRAEL AND THE HEATHEN.

"THE Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him," sings the royal Psalmist, "to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and will save them."1 Comforting words and rich promises! You speak of praying as a duty. Away with the faint and unworthy term! In the New Testament, that which you call "duty," is termed privilege, favour. It is not only our duty, but our noble privilege to serve God; we have the high permission to participate in the furtherance of his cause—not merely the obligation, and the sweet privilege to pray-not the duty alone. O, how intolerable sounds the language echoed here and there among us! "I have no need to pray more, because Christ accomplished all for me!" "I need no more!" O, the unworthy misconception betrayed in such words! Wretched position, abandoned by God and God's Spirit, which here comes forth to the light of day, under the appearance of gospel liberty! They are rejoiced that they need not pray more! Prayer, the delight of the children of God, a burden! This bliss a yoke! This royal prerogative a charge to have got rid of what is esteemed a happiness! Ye poor people doubtless never learnt what

1 Ps. cxlv. 18, 19.

praying means, and it may be only know the unwilling and laboured service imposed upon you in your morning and evening worship. These petitions, put up in the spirit of slavery, are distinguished in the Scriptures by a different title from that of prayer. These are not the offerings that are acceptable to God. stand what it is to pray.

Hear and under

Upon the seat of majesty sits enthroned the Lord of heaven and earth. I throw myself, with an “Abba, Father!" upon his love, and pour out to him my whole heart-that is prayer. He bends down his ear to me; I feel it, and speak out unto him as an oppressed or joyfully moved child; that is praying. "What ails you?" enquires the Lord. "To Thee," I reply, "I must bring all, all my complaints; upon Thee alone I am thrown; Thou art my refuge for ever and ever!" That is praying. And behold, I become relieved already, as I reveal myself before him, and with my burden sink down at his feet. Already the oppression of my heart is removed away from me; I am already blessed as I hang upon his neck; that is praying. Now say, therefore, if to pray is not a privilege? O, it is the greatest, the sweetest, the most royal one that exists. With prayer I enter into the communion of saints and wander along starry paths. Praying, I have seraphs' wings to soar aloft with, when here below it is too confined, too narrow. Praying, I mix among the blessed who always behold the countenance of their Father in heaven. Praying, I place myself next to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the table of heaven, and am already, on this side of eternity a domestic associate of God, and go, whether begging with my basket, whether doing homage with my poor wreath of flowers, confidently in and out

of his high dwelling, and stammer out my words to the Eternal Majesty above, like an artless and unconstrained child to its father. True prayer is the work of the holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, prayers may be recited and

pretended but not prayed. Prayer is the breath of the new man, the unfolding blossom of the divine life. This life must exist, at least in its commencement, before genuine prayer springs in the heart. Before harp tones can resound, harp strings must exist. But where the Spirit of the Lord is, there follows prayer of itself, like the shooting forth of vegetable life upon the moistened field-like the buds and verdure upon a tree full of sap. Then is prayer without ceasing." Prayer is the delight, impulse, inward strength, and pulsation of the soul. Assuredly there are moments when we cannot pray freely. Then we sigh forth within us, "O Lord, how is it within me?" But then this lamenting "O Lord!" is prayer. Days arrive when again we scourge ourselves to prayer by law. Then the extorted form deserves not the name of a prayer; but, if we watch more closely, there sounds under the forced address, many a mournful and troubled "Alas!" and "Oh!" and therein breathes prayer again. Yes, prayer, whether it consists only in detached or involuntary sighs, is always present in God's children. This little bell rings through all dissonance; this flower grows even in the most barren heaths; this bird sings its lay even in the coldest winter days, and it soars on high through the roaring noise of the most violent storms. We can no longer leave our God. "Lord, whither? Thou hast the words of eternal life!" We must tell him all, and complain to him of all. The soul is the poor helpless

child, cast away in a foreign, savage clime; he is father, mother, and all besides.

Prayer, whilst it reveals our heart unto the Lord, also reveals the heart of the Lord unto us. We throw it like a golden band around his neck, and how willingly does he bend himself unto us, and does what we demand. What the fruit of the tree of Life is in Paradise, such is the experienced reception of prayer in the Kingdom of Grace. It nourishes internal life, refreshes the feeling of adoption, and renews the consciousness of communion with God. It spreads heavenly radiance over the barrenness of our existence, and pours into the heart joys of which the world has no knowledge.

2 KINGS, VI. 18-23.

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, "Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness." And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek." But he led them to Samaria. Aud it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, "My Father, shall smite them? shall I smite them?" And he answered, "Thou shalt not smite them: wouldst thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive, with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them that they may eat and drink, and go to their master." And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.