is kept chained in prison, his enemies many, his friend's few his enemies have all earthly power in their hands to destroy him-his friends have only God to apply to for his deliverance, and to him they go. His enemies plot-his friends pray. Their plot against Peter's life, humanly speaking, could not be defeated-to-morrow he must die; but prayer brought down God to his assistance. The prison doors were safely shut, but prayer opened the doors of heaven: and God, to let us see the power of prayer, sent him to his friends while they were praying: as if God had said-There (since you will take no denial) there he is; thus plainly pointing out the means of his deliverance. The prayer of Elijah had the same success. He could open and shut heaven. And if the prayer of one righteous man could avail so much, what could not the joint prayer of many righteous men do? It will bear down all before it, and prevail in heaven and earth. It would reach up to God, and lie before the throne of his grace, and never depart without its answer; and when answered, it would come down with authority, and force all human power to submit. The scripture every where speaks of the efficacy of prayer. The promise of God to it is very encouraging. "Call upon me in "the time of trouble, so will I hear thee, and thou "shalt praise me." I will give thee reason to praise me, by delivering thee from thy trouble. And God has ever fulfilled this promise. There is not an instance in scripture of the church's joining in a common petition to God, but he always heard and answered it. And indeed how should it fail of success, being indited by the holy Spirit, and presented by Jesus Christ, and perfumed with the sweet incense of his merits? It then becomes the prayer of Jesus Christ himself. He presents it as his own, and how can God the Father reject the prayer of his beloved Son? So far from rejecting it, he represents it to be as delightful to him as the most fragrant odours are to us. For thus St. John, speaking of our Lord under the character of the angel

of the covenant says, Rev. viii." There was given "unto him much incense, that he should offer it with "the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar, which "was before the throne, and the smoke of the incense "which came with the prayers of the saints ascended "up (with acceptance) before God out of the angel's "hand." Let your prayers ascend up with the sweetsmelling savour of his merits, and you have his word of promise, that whatever you shall ask the Father in his name, you shall receive.

Now my Christian friends and brethren (for to such only I am now speaking) since you are convinced of these truths, are you careful to practise them? Let us look back, and each of us examine our own consciences. How much time have we spent of this day in prayer for the distresses of our fellow-creatures? Many are in prison, have we prayed for them? Several Christians are in distress, our reformed brethren persecuted in France, our brethren in blood as well as in faith, suffering in America, the Christian world in war and confusion, and the protestant interest nearly destroyed; have we been earnest with God this day in prayer, that he would put an end to all these calamities? How justly may God leave us destitute of his help, if we have not been pleading with him for help for others? And if there be any one of us whose conscience now informs him that he has not sympathized and suffered this day with all the suffering members of Christ, let such a man now humble himself and say, O Lord, do not excommunicate me out of the hearts of thine, for my coldness towards them: how shall I expect help from others' prayers, who have been wanting in my prayers for them? Where was my fervent brotherly love, that I would not do that for a brother, which I owe to an enemy, viz.. to pray for him. O Lord forgive the offence of thy servant, and pour down upon me the spirit of prayer and supplication. resolve not to close your eyes this night, have improved your interest in God.

This done, until you You have a

key that will open any lock, let no Christians lie in chains by you, either in bodily or spiritual chains. If he be sick, pray him into health. If poor, pray him rich. If troubled in mind pray him into comfort. It is for want of our prayers that men lie so long under their burdens. If we would jointly commend them unto God, he would either deliver them, or what is the same, he would sanctify and sweeten the affliction, and make it as great a blessing as a deliverance. If you can do nothing else, pray for your brethren.

You

may not have other means of helping them, but the poorest Christian has an interest with God, and if he use it in prayer, it will do them and him a real service: for prayer in this case for others, is a clearer evidence of grace, than prayer for ourselves.

Since the times then so loudly call upon us, let us join in prayer for all those that are troubled in mind, body, or estate; and that we may appear as the members of one body, actuated by the same spirit under one head, let us all agree, at whatever distance we may happen to be, at one and the same hour to meet together at the throne of grace. And what hour can we pitch upon more proper for this sacred employment, and more free from worldly avocations, than from eight o'clock to nine on the Lord's-Day evening? The attendance upon the public offices of the day is then over. The mind is collected and serious. By what more likely means can we hope to keep it in the same sweet frame, than to close the day with an act of devotion? If God's people would enter into an holy league, and oblige themselves to spend this part of the day in their several closets during these troublesome times, they would infallibly succeed in their petitions. Tell me, whenever the church's joint prayers did miscarry, in what place, in what case, or for what people? There is not an instance wherein they failed. Prayers have been made for men in the church (good men and bad) and for men out of the church-and they have succeeded. Prayers have been made by land and upon

the sea, and with success-they have prevailed aboveground, under-ground, in dens, and caves, and dungeons. Prayers have relieved dying men, poor men, prisoners, and captives; they have been made for men against temptations and sorrows, against the rage of persecutors and devils, and they have prevailed; and why should not prayer be as omnipotent now, as it has been formerly? Suppose our rational sins cry aloud for vengeance, let our prayers cry louder for mercy. When one Elijah stood up for stiff-necked Israel, and one Amos for rebellious Judah, God shewed mercy; and Elijah and Amos were men of like passions with us: encouraged by their success, let us be importunate at the throne of grace, while God allows us an hour for prayer. And let none of us be discouraged as if it was too late; our danger indeed is great, but while God calls in his word, it is not too late to call to him in prayer. He often sees men sinking, before he comes to their help. Our extremity is his opportunity. When Peter is within a few hours of death, then is God's time to deliver him.

So

But perhaps some of you may say, I have been: praying and waiting long, and yet see no success. did the church. They pray for Peter week after week, without ceasing night or day, and still the prison is shut and his chains are on. And now they have but one night more to wait, and they wait and pray, until Peter comes in among them. If then we have but one day, or one hour more to spend, let us spend it in prayer, not doubting but the God that heareth prayer will answer. Deliverance will come, be it at the last hour, if the prayer of faith wait for it. Experience, and the word of God, prove it ever was so, and it ever shall. Dispute not then, only believe. Go and open thy wants to God as thy reconciled Father, ask a supply of Christ God-man, thy Saviour and Mediator, through God the Holy Ghost as the inditer of thy prayers. Set thy faith to work. Before thou begin, say with the prophet, I will call, and the Lord will

answer; and when thou hast finished, believe that in due time and manner thou shalt be answered. Thus pray, let faith enter into thy suit, and end, and subscribe it, and God will as soon deny himself, as deny thee thy heart's desire.

sons.

But this point deserves farther consideration. Many serious, well-meaning persons are very apt to be dis couraged at God's delay in granting their requests. Let us go to the history before us for light into this particular, and let this be the third practical use to be made of the text. The church had been long at prayers, but God did not answer till the last hour. That was his time, which is always the best. If he does not answer immediately, he delays for wise and good reaHe would remind us of our former behaviour to him. How often did he call by mercies, by judgments, and by his word, but we would not hear. He prayed us again and again to leave our sins, and come to him, but we would not answer, therefore it is a just reproof, that we should call, and not be heard. God seems not to hear, to spur us on to pray the more earnestly. He seems deaf, that we might speak out, and slow, that we might be earnest. Thus Daniel interprets it in the ninth chapter. God defers and delays, says he, but it is only to try me, therefore he prays with more warmth and fervour, "O Lord hear, Q "Lord forgive, O Lord hearken and do, defer not for "thine own sake, O my God." And he goes on praying with so much vehemence, that while he was yet speaking the angel Gabriel is sent unto him with an answer. Though God delay, yet he will answer. And if his delays begin to discourage us, let us study the course of his providence, and be comforted to wait on.. Behold how the husbandman waits. He does not think of sowing and reaping the same day. But his corn lies buried for some time, and dies, yea it grows downward, before it shoots upward; and when it is up, it receives many a check, yet still he waits, because he hath. experience. So must we. When we