his heart to them, although they are informed of his circumstances, although they love him, and would assist him even if he did not ask it-so does he address himself in silent, faithful, childlike prayer to God. He offers up one thought, full of reverence to the Ruler of the universe, one low sigh to the Giver of all good and perfect things. This is prayer.

The Omniscient knows these thoughts, hears these sighs; for what is it that can be hidden from the infinite all-perfect God, who fills the whole universe with his Spirit, who gives motion to the dust in the sunbeam, and to the most distant stars! What is concealed from Him?

But reflection on the divine greatness, which is never more active in us than during the time of prayer, inspires us with more lively confidence. Prayer opens to us, as it were, the gates of the world of spirits, of which we are already half inhabitants. We approach nearer to the Divinity, and feel as if we belonged to Him. We raise ourselves, through prayer, above vain and transitory things; and become greater and even more godly. conviction that we can never be annihilated, gains strength within us. We discriminate more clearly the temporal from the eternal-the appearance from the reality-we see the whole world in another light. The great globe appears under our

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feet, only as a little step in the immeasurable field of creation-we see through the endless distance of the starry heavens only a small portion of the Temple of the Most Holy; and glow with transport at being considered, through the grace of God, worthy to be called inhabitants of those heavenly dominions.

Cheerful hope trembles through our nerves. A celestial joy pervades our frame. This is the power of prayer. This is the effect of approach to God. No one holds communion with God, without enlightening and improving his own mind.

When a grateful child kisses the hand of its father or its mother, it expresses the finest feelings in the most natural manner. God created me, and assigned me the common lot of mortalitywhy should I soar above the nature which He has given me, and not worship Him in a purely human mode, full of child-like affection? Should His mercy vouchsafe me at some future time to attain to a greater perfection, then shall I be able to adore Him, like an angel, like a seraph, like the inmate of a brighter world, in a different, a more noble, a more worthy manner. But I am a man,I am in His eyes only a stammering child-O ye mockers, let me honour my Creator, my Father, like a child, with infantine simplicity. He hears this prattle, and knows the meaning of the devout

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tear which escapes from my eager eyes, when they are raised towards Him. Thus the loving, tender mother understands even the first smile of her unconscious babe.

When I give myself up entirely to God in prayer, I feel myself as it were a child resting on the bosom of his father. I fear no longer any reverse of fortune for I am with Him. I fear no enemy, for He loves me. I walk through the world with stedfast confidence. This is the power of prayer.

And when, full of pious fervour, I would draw nigh to the Most Holy, who permits only the just, the sinless, to approach His glorious presence, then all my past faults, all my rashness, all my sensual propensities, seem to crowd between me and my God. Ah! I wish to address Him, and I am not worthy even to look up to heaven. The sinner mourns at the feet of his compassionate Judge, and supplicates for pardon. He offers fervent vows of a more pious life. They give me new power, new courage, new alacrity. The Lord is not angryfor how can the human passion which we call anger, exist in Divine perfection? No; my sins have been my punishment-it is I who am angry with myself. I bewail myself that I was sinful, unholy, and estranged from God. I seek to regain what was lost. My Saviour has taught me that the All-merciful rejects not the repentant sinner.

And God hears my vows, and the Omniscient is witness that I seriously desire to please Him by the putting away of my iniquities. Loving Him better, I love my brethren more. Prayer has worked out my amendment and sanctification. I become a more pious and virtuous man than I was before. This is the power of prayer.

Whoever lives in dissension with his household, relatives, and acquaintance ;-whoever maliciously sets forth the failings of his fellow-men, and enviously detracts from their virtues;-whoever uses falsehood instead of truth, dishonesty instead of integrity, persecution instead of beneficence, deceit instead of honourable dealing-he has not prayed to any purpose. To pray is to be in and with God; -but whosoever is in God, walks not in sin. You pray, my Christian brother, you entreat; but your entreaties are not always answered. And it is late, often after the lapse of years, before you know how disadvantageous the listening to your wishes would have been. God is more kind towards us than we to ourselves, because He is wiser than we. But shall we for this reason ask no more of God-shall we, therefore, cease to address our wishes to our Divine Father? No; let not this disturb your filial relation to the Deity.

You still believe in a Divine Providence who from eternity foresaw your fate. Well-He knew

your actions,-He foresaw also your necessities at the moment of your prayer, and the disposition of your mind. And He heard your prayers even before you uttered them. You prayed; and to him who prays wisely, the blessing of prayer is granted.

Remember the hours you stood before God with an anxious heart, and cried: 'Save me, most merciful Father!' Remember the hours when all your prospects were dark-and when even on the brink of despair you turned to the one true God in the fulness of Christian faith, and cried: Never again will my way be clear, if Thou sheddest not Thy light upon the future.' And behold, circumstances which you did not expect,-occurrences often apparently trifling, things which men call accidents or misfortunes, saved you, and improved your lot. You are again become happy and prosperous. But in the Divine Creator there is no accident or chance. There is a God eternally merciful and mighty. You have been made sensible of His existence. This is the power of prayer.

I was sensible of Thee, my God, my Father, when my soul was much troubled. I felt Thee when the whole world seemed to be dead around me, like a barren waste. I felt Thee when I had no other friend. I perceived Thee when I tottered on the threshold of death.

Thou wast present,