How would he pray? "I will cry unto Thee." Crying is a substitute for speech; and also the expression of earnestness. A child can cry, long before it can articulate; and its cries as much move the parent as any eloquence of words. A person in great danger, or want, or pain, not only utters himself, but cries out, and often aloud, according to the pressure of his feelings. Let me pray as I can. I may not be able to express my desires as some do; but, if I am deeply affected by them, and they spring from a broken heart and a contrite spirit, they shall not be despised.

"From the ends of

Thus

Where would he pray ? the earth will I cry unto Thee." He means any condition, however desolate, or distant-distance of place being put for greatness of extremity. Sometimes we may be thrown into situations the most trying, and remote from human aid. But wherever we are, God is there, to hear and succour us. Joseph found him, when sold into Egypt; and John, when he was exiled in Patmos; and Paul, when tossed far off upon the sea. We are as near the Throne of Grace in one place as another. Prayer can reach Him, wherever we are, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. "While they speak I will answer; and before they speak I will hear."

When would he pray? "When my heart is overwhelmed." Not that he would restrain prayer at other times: we are to pray without ceasing. It is the character of a hypocrite, that he will not always call upon God. There are birds who only make a noise at the approach of bad weather; and there are persons who only pour out a prayer when God's chastening hand is upon them. But what

should we think of a neighbour, or friend, who never called upon us, but when he wanted to borrow, or beg?--Yet, what is always proper, may be sometimes peculiarly seasonable, natural, and necessary. And this is the case when we are in trouble, and afflic

tion. Therefore says God, Call upon me in the day of trouble. The answer will, in due time, relieve, and deliver. The exercise will immediately soothe and sanctify. Is any afflicted? Let him pray.

For what would he pray?

"Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." What means he by this Rock, but something which could afford him support, when he was ready to be swallowed up? The perfections of Jehovah; the everlasting Covenant; the doctrine of Providence; the Lord Jesus, who is our hope-This is the rest, and this is the refreshing. And yet, when the relief is provided, and when we see it too, we cannot reach it of ourselves. We need a divine agency to conduct us to it. We live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit.

-Whence does he derive his encouragement to pray? "For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Nothing can be more confirming, and exciting, than the review of God's former interpositions on our behalf and to reason from what he has been, to what he will be; and from what he has done, to what he will do. For He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And they that know his Name will put their trust

in him.

"His love, in time past,

"Forbids me to think

"He'll leave me, at last,
"In trouble to sink.
"Each sweet Ebenezer

"I have in review,

"Confirms his good pleasure

"To guide me quite through."

APRIL 24.-" But now they are hid from thine eyes. Luke xix. 42.

WHEN Pharaoh saw there was respite, he hardened his heart. Solomon tells us, Because sentence

against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil.-But God's keeping silence is not approbation. His long-suffering is not even connivance. Cannot he be merciful, unless he allows us to trifle, and insult him, for ever? His patience has its rules, and its bounds. And Jerusalem

knew this.

Much has been said on what is termed, a day of grace; and much which we neither admire, or believe. We are not authorised to say any one is beyond hope, while he is yet in life. Manasseh would have seemed very likely to be such a desperate character; but he obtained mercy.

"And while the lamp holds out to burn,
"The vilest sinner may return."

If we cannot view any of our fellow-creatures as beyond the possibility of salvation, so we have no rule by which we can absolutely determine against ourselves-Yet there are several things of fearful import, to which we do well to attend.

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First. The language of the Word of God is fearful. Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone." "Israel would none of me; so I gave them up to their own hearts' lust." "In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee." "If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; but a certain fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." "Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded: but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." "Behold, now is

the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salva tion." We offer no commentary on these passagesbut, surely, their language is fearful.

Secondly. We know that final impenitency is irrecoverably hopelesss; and with life all our opportunities end-and this is fearful. It would not be kindness, but cruelty, to flatter men with a contrary expectation. Search the Scripture, and you will always find a difference between the present, and the future. One is a state of trial, the other of decision. The one is sowing, the other reaping: and whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Is not this sufficient to induce us to seek the Lord, while he may be found; and to call upon him, while he is near?

Thirdly. This life, This life, upon which every thing depends, is very brief-this is fearful. Look at the images of Scripture: a flower of the field; a flood; a watch in the night; a dream; a vapour. Consider the deaths that come under your own observation. Observe the frailty of your frame. Remember the numberless diseases, and accidents, to which you are exposed. Think of your pulse, where the question is asked sixty times every minute, whether you shall live or die-and then you may well exclaim

"Great God! on what a slender thread

Fourthly. Our continuance here, is as uncertain as it is short-this is fearful. "I have not had," said a good man, "a to-morrow for years." It would be well if we had not. "Indeed, we have not in reality, whatever we may have in imagination. "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

Fifthly. Before this short, and uncertain period terminates, many opportunities and advantages may

Many

elapse, to return no more-this is fearful. convictions may die away, no more to be renewed again unto repentance. We may be deprived of reason; and religion can only operate through the medium of thought. Old age helps on insensibility; and before we are aware, though unpardoned, and unrenewed, we may become incapable of a moral change. The Gospel may be removed from us. We may be placed where it is not in our power to attend it. We may become deaf, or blind. Sickness may confine us to a room of pain, or a bed of languishing. The influences necessary to render the means of grace effectual, may be withholden. Though Paul plants, and Apollos waters, God alone gives the increase: and though we can do nothing to deserve his grace, we may provoke his anger; and he may judicially give us up. The heart is hardened through the deceitfulness of sin-and no less so by familiarity with divine things. And is not this the case with many? Once their consciences smote them. They dropped a tear upon their Bible. When walking alone, among the works of God, they prayed, "Lord, I am thine; save me." But Felix no more trembles; and neglects to send for Paul. And the Gadarenes have besought the healer of their neighbours, and the reprover of their sin, to depart out of their coasts.

APRIL 25.-"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark i. 35.

AND yet he had been greatly occupied the whole of the day preceding this. We think little of time; but he never passed an idle hour. The whole of his life said, I must work the works of Him that 2 P

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