according to this book, cry, "Amen; Alleluia!" Thus will they share the triumph of their Lord in putting down His enemies; and thus, in and through Him, exercise dominion and have power over the nations.

Now, although this promise belongs to all that overcome, whatever be their station in the church, yet it would appear from the general bearing of these epistles to have a special application to the "angels," or Pastors, of the churches. To you, my brethren in the ministry, is this promise specially given: and, if the soldiers under the command of Hannibal were impatient to rush and meet the foe, when at the foot of the Alps he harangued them, and pointed to the rewards which victory would place in their possession; will not you be excited to the most vigorous efforts in your struggle for truth and righteousness, that you may conquer every spiritual adversary, and finally realize a reward much more to be desired than that which inspired the soldiers of Carthage, to which you are pointed by a greater than Hannibal? The Captain of your salvation addresses you, and not only calls you to arms, but tells you of honour, and glory, and blessing, to follow this matchless warfare.

Be faithful to your principles, and, in the strength of Him who arms you for the battle, resolutely assail every form of sin. With Divine aid, you may surmount any difficulty, sustain any cross, endure any hardship, storm any stronghold, and vanquish any foe. In the language of this Book, you may "run through a troop," "leap over a wall,” and “turn to flight the armies of the aliens." Courage, then, my brethren! Your conflict will soon be past. A few more struggles, and the shout of victory will be heard. Your reward is

near.

"See there the starry crown,

That glitters through the skies!
Satan, the world, and sin tread down,

And take the glorious prize."

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." May God seal instruction upon every heart; and to His name be the glory ascribed !

THE POWER OF PRAYER.*

PRAYER is the distinctive mark of the Lord's mighty servants. With considerable differences, they all have this common feature-they are men who pray much, and who pray fervently. Consider the prayers of Jacob :

* From the French of Adolphe Monod.

he wrestled with the Lord a whole night, till he had prevailed over the Lord Himself, who allowed him thus to triumph in order to exercise the faith of His servant. Consider the prayers of Moses and Samuel: of Moses, the lawgiver of Israel-of Samuel, the reformer in Israel: of whom Jeremiah says in the beginning of the fifteenth chapter, to show that God has resolved not to grant a certain grace, "Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, yet My mind could not be toward this people." And now, let us try to substitute our own name for that of Moses or Samuel. Though such or such a one amongst us should have prayed, the petition would not be granted......... What a fall! What a humiliation! What a contradiction!-Consider the prayers of David,—the Psalms,— those prayers which were able to support himself, and which, moreover, are like the hundred and fifty pillars that have sustained generation after generation, and that will sustain all the generations of the people of God to the end of the world. Consider the prayers of King Jehoshaphat, who overthrew by prayer alone the combined armies of the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir; and of King Hezekiah, his great grandson and follower, who by prayer alone called down the exterminating vengeance of God upon an army of a hundred and eightyfive thousand men, who were only waiting for a good opportunity utterly to destroy Jerusalem. Consider the prayers of Nehemiah and Ezra, to raise and reform the people-like Moses and Samuel, the one reviving the spiritual state and restoring the observance of the law, the other rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and re-establishing its civil constitution. Consider the prayers of Jesus, the "Author and Finisher of our faith," who, though He was Jesus, though He was the Son of God, nevertheless prayed-spent whole nights in prayer, and did nothing but by prayer. By prayer He appoints the apostolic body; by prayer He supports His Apostles; by prayer He triumphs over the devil in the desert, in Gethsemane, and at Golgotha; by prayer He accomplishes the whole work of our redemption, having been rendered capable of suffering inconceivable pain, of which our sufferings, even the most excruciating, are scarcely able to give us the faintest image. And, after Jesus, consider a new succession of men of prayer. Paul-what a giant in prayer! Prayer is the soul and spring of all his labour. Paul is Paul above all by means of prayer. Consider the prayers of St. Augustine; the prayers of Calvin; of Luther, who, when he appeared before the Diet of Worms, passed three hours, taken from the best part of the day, in crying aloud to God, not knowing that his faithful friend, Dietrich, was listening at his door, to gather for the good of the church those burning prayers. Consider the prayers of Pascal, who, though suffering when still young the most cruel and unremitting pains, is enabled to overcome them with a fortitude and a piety which we find deeply impressed in those beautiful and fervent prayers of his that have been handed down to us. Consider prayer in all the saints of every age: it is their faith, their life, the mainspring of all their actions-their work.

FACTS RELATING TO THE CONVERSION OF CHILDREN. THE conversion of children is, confessedly, a subject of the highest importance. Isolated facts concerning individuals now living, who experienced this great change at about ten or eleven years of age, some even earlier, might be ascertained to a gratifying extent. The writer of this article could name several, now Ministers of the Gospel, who were thus early brought to Christ, and who gratefully acknowledge that from the time of that sweet dawning of grace they never lost the evidence of being the children of God. The Wesleyan-Methodist family, doubtless, includes a very considerable number of young converts, who stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set them free, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. Probably there may be some found, who have been recognised as members, in connexion with every Methodist chapel in the kingdom. Would it not be extremely interesting to institute an inquiry respecting the number of these, their age when converted, and the term of their church-membership? Statistical information of this class would be most cheering, as demonstrating, beyond all doubt, that children at a very tender age may become the subjects of saving grace, and that, by God's blessing, they may retain the evidence of adoption. These early conversions would be generally found connected with family-training or Sunday-schools, the fruits of the labour bestowed by devout parents and teachers.

How may these instances be largely multiplied? and by what instrumentality may the young be nurtured and established in the great truths of our most holy religion?—I would suggest that a general invitation be given to Ministers, Superintendents of schools, Teachers, and Managers, to communicate their views on this most important subject;

page or two being reserved in the Magazine for brief reports of successful efforts.* It is high time this inquiry be instituted, and some definite mode of action devised, and promptly and prayerfully put into execution. There is abundant material in the schools to act upon; material, however, which is fast slipping out of our hands. There may be found in some places good men who entertain strong prejudice against the adoption of new measures. This is anti-progressive, and therefore against the law of our nature. Prejudice is the great curse of the human race. It is folly made manifest. It is the rider on horseback, but the horse standing still. They who are unprepared to assist in a good cause should not hinder others. Let them stand aside with the best grace they may be able, and help by their prayers, if not otherwise. t

* Of such communications, if brief, stirring, and quite to the point, we shall be most happy to make use, either in this publication or in the Sunday-School Magazine.-EDITORS.

+ It is right, however, to stipulate that the "new measures" be good ones; safe in principle, wise in application. Better that "the horse" stand still, than carry his "rider" off on a wrong road. Let us be convinced in our judgment, and we shall all be for progress.-EDITORS.

Ten years ago a number of girls, in the school best known to the writer, were evidently labouring under conviction. The school opened at nine; and at a quarter to ten all who felt disposed were invited into the vestry for special religious instruction. Thus was instituted a service for half the time of school-hours, which has always been called "the little class." The writer was appointed to conduct this little class. A hymn is sung, and prayer made; then a verse or two sung, an address given, and a concluding prayer. The children are not asked to relate their experience. Interesting questions are sometimes raised, when one or more will give the answers. When any fresh scholar attends, after singing and prayer the new comer is immediately addressed by the conductor, observations being made to the effect that all have sinned, and are guilty; that heaven is a pure and holy place; that we cannot enter it unless our sins are pardoned and we are renewed by grace; that without holiness no man shall see the Lord; that Jesus died for our sins, suffered in our room and stead, and thus became our Saviour; that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree; that by His stripes we are healed, and Divine justice satisfied: the whole being applied in a few interrogations, such as may seem most fitting. After a few words on the faith of a penitent heart, short and simple,* all the little girls are directed to kneel down, and the new comer-in is requested to repeat a prayer after the conductor. The prayer is something like what follows:

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Almighty God, Father of all, Thou art good, and kind, and merciful to all. Thou hast said, that, if we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I come unto Thee, my heavenly Father, confessing that I have sinned against Thee, broken Thy holy laws, grieved Thy Spirit, done those things I ought not to have done, and left undone those things I ought to have done. I pray to be forgiven for Jesus's sake. I could believe my earthly father's promise of forgiveness: how much more ought I to believe Thee, my kind, heavenly Father! I can, I do believe. Jesus loves me. He was nailed to the cross for me. He died for my sins-bore them in His own body on the tree. He satisfied Thy broken law for me-paid its full penalty for me-redeemed me from eternal death. It is for Jesus's sake I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins. He suffered, that I might not suffer; died, that I might live. He is my Saviour; and O what a Saviour! how loving, and how lovely! To save me from suffering and weeping and wailing for ever, my compassionate Saviour hung on the cross. His hands, feet, side, were pierced for me. He bore all that I ought to have borne myself. O Lord, pardon all my sins; blot them out of Thy book of remembrance,

* Such faith, be it observed, is simply a trust in Christ for salvation now; not, as some erroneously put it, a belief that we are saved. The seeking soul has no warrant to believe himself pardoned. And, indeed, it does not accord with the language of Scripture to speak of the adopted children of God as believing that they are pardoned. That pure and perfect word exhibits rather, as their privilege, the "knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins."-EDITORS.

and remember them no more for ever. Shed Thy love abroad in my heart for Jesus's sake. Give me a Divine assurance that I am Thy forgiven child. Thou hast promised to forgive me, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thou art faithful to Thy promise; I cannot doubt a faithful God. Thou wilt not-canst not-cast me out. I am assured in Thy Book that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. May its cleansing efficacy be applied to my soul! For Jesus's sake apply it now. Jesus is my Saviour: my prayers cannot save me; my friends cannot save me; my parents cannot save me; my faith cannot save me. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is my Saviour. On Him alone I rely; in Him alone I put my trust. I cast myself on His mercy, for He loveth me. Give me a never-dying love to Jesus. He loved me even unto death: may I love Him in return, glorify Him, serve and obey Him all the days of my life; and at last be counted worthy, for His sake, to reign with Thee in Thy kingdom above for ever."

If a young girl, of ten, twelve, or fourteen, should attend a class, and the Leader should say to her, "Well, my dear, I hope you are sincerely desirous of seeking salvation. You must shun all bad company, forsake your sins, read your Bible, pray to God to forgive you for Christ's sake: He is your Saviour, put your trust in Him," &c., &c. :—all would be very proper; yet the little girl might be weeks, perhaps months, before she obtained salvation. This does not seem exactly to meet the case. I prefer the short, straightforward method above stated; nor does there appear to me any impropriety in requesting a young inquirer after salvation to " say after me" in such terms as the above, whatever may be thought of this mode in case of adults. On the other hand, there appears a fitness, a propriety, in furnishing such a one with petitions for the occasion. To the best of my recollection and judgment, during the years I have adopted this mode, not one single girl has attended this little class but has quickly obtained the assurance of the Divine favour. Several of them have been subjected to a somewhat severe examination.-The following are among the expressions to which many of them gave utterance at the moment when the only true fountain of real happiness welled up in their joyous hearts : "I am sure God has pardoned all my sins." "I never knew what it was to be happy before." "I shall remember this day as long as I live." "Ah! it is simple-I have often thought on faith, but could not understand it; it looked so dark. Now I see nothing is so easy." One little girl, only eight years and five months old, said, on the Sunday following her first attendance, she had been so happy all the week, that she could not help continually praising God in the factory. On the Sunday evening when she gave her heart to God and was filled with joy, (I never saw anyone, young or old, who was so happy,)-after repeating the Lord's Prayer, as usual, she began to say, "O Lord, convert my soul for Christ's sake;" then she suddenly paused, and exclaimed, "Stop! I have done wrong. I should not say so now :"-and, after a moment's silence, she changed her old prayer for conversion into thanksgiving that she was converted. On

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