Abraham for Ishmael. “O, that Ishmael might live before thee," Gen. xvii. 18-20.

The intercession of Abraham for Sodom follows, Gen. xviii. 23-33. The prayer of Abraham's servant Eliezer, at Haran, is simple and direct, and is one of the most poetic in its nature and answer, of the earliest prayers, Gen. xxiv. 12–14. The prayer of Jacob for deliverance from Esau is recorded in Gen. xxxii. 9-12, and the experience of Jacob at Bethel in Gen. xxviii. 10-20.

The recorded prayers of Moses for Israel begin in Exodus xxxii. 9-14; they are continued in Exodus xxxii. 30–34; Exodus xxxiii. 12–15; Numbers x. 33-36; and in Numbers xii. 1-13, in which is given his laconic and passionate prayer for his sister Miriam, "Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee!" The record of Moses' petition for the removal of the fiery serpents is found in Numbers xxi. 5, 6.

The prayer of Joshua after the defeat at Ai carried forward the subject beyond the Pentateuch. In this prayer occurs the dramatic ejaculation-"O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?" Joshua vii. 6-10. The wonderful prayer of Joshua, in

which the sun and moon are commanded to stand still in the valley of Ajalon, is the last notable record before the period of the Judges.

Manoah prays for her child yet to be born, Judges xiii. 8, 9; Samson prays for a renewal of strength, Judges xvi. 28–30; Hannah prays for a man child to be devoted to the service of the Lord, I. Samuel i. 10, 11; Samuel prays in his childhood, I. Samuel iii., and for Israel at Mizpeh, I. Samuel vii. 5–10 ; and for rain, I. Samuel xii. 17-23.

This brings us to the miracle-working prayers of Elijah the Tishbite, and to the period of the Kings, I. Kings xvii. 21; I. Kings xviii. 36-40; I. Kings xviii. 41-46. The record of Elisha's prayer and its answer is found II. Kings iv.

32-37.

The second book of Kings gives us Hezekiah's prayer against Sennacherib, II. Kings xix. 16-36, and the prayer of the same king for the continuance of life, II. Kings xx. 1-3. etc. The books of Chronicles give us the prayer of Jabez, I. Chron. iv. 9, 10; the prayer of Asa, II. Chron. xiv. 11; Ezra and Nehemiah each have illustrations of the power of prayer, Ezra viii. 21-23, Nehemiah i. 4-11

The Psalms is largely a book of prayers, of which the li. and xc. have especial prominence.

The thanksgiving of Daniel is given, Daniel ii. 19-23, and the prayers of Jonah, Jonah vi. 1-3, etc.

The last chapter of Lamentations is a remarkable penitential prayer; and the prayer of Habakkuk abounds with the loftiest imagery that is to be found in the Old Testament Scriptures.

The Apocrypha contains the most sublime and inspiring prayers that are to be found outside of the sacred canon. The prayer of Tobit for death is wonderfully pathetic and beautiful, Tobit iii., and the thanksgiving of Tobit (Tobit xiii.) contains the highly poetic expression: "The streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir, and all her streets shall say, Alleluia." The prayer of Judith, for aid in her tragic purpose, is recorded in Judith ix., and the supposed prayer of Solomon for wisdom, in Wisdom of Solomon, ix. See also the prayer of Manasses.

The New Testament opens to us, almost at the beginning, the great model of prayer for all time, Matthew vi. 9-13. The prayer of the publican is given, Luke xviii. 9-13. Christ's