acknowledged the reasonableness and utility of prayer.*

* During the deliberation of the American Convention, relative to the constitution of the United States, Dr. Franklin introduced a motion for prayers, with the following important observations :-"The small progress we have made after four or five weeks' close attendance, and our different sentiments on almost every question, is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We, indeed, seem to feel our own want. of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history, for models of government; and examined the different forms of those republics, which, having been originally formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist; and we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation, groping, as it were, in the dark, to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights, to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers were heard-and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favour. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace, on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men: and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that, without his

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A celebrated historian has declared, "that the merit of our great Alfred, both in private and public life, may, with advantage, be set in opposition to that of any monarch or citizen, which the annals of any age or nation present to us. He seems, indeed, to be the model of that perfect character, which, under the denomination of a sage or wise man, philosophers have been fond of delineating, rather as a fiction of their imagination, than in hopes of ever seeing it really existing: so happily were all his virtues tempered together; so justly were they blended; and so powerfully did each prevent the other from exceeding its proper boundaries!" It is impossible to read the accounts which have been transmitted to us of this prince, without feeling amazed at the variety of affairs, military, civil, commercial, judicial, and literary, which his comprehensive genius embraced and transacted. The secret of his prodigious exertions seems to have been given by one of his biographers, who was in habits of familiar intercourse with him; and the

concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a bye-word down to future ages; and, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom; and leave it to chance, war, and conquest."Memoirs of Franklin, vol. ii. p. 194.

following extract from the eloquent pen of Mr. Burke is equally spirited and just:-" Religion, which in Alfred's father was so prejudicial to his affairs, without being in him at all inferior in its zeal and fervour, was of a more enlarged and noble kind. Far from being prejudicial to his government, it seems to have been the principle which supported him in so many fatigues, and fed, like an abundant source, his civil and military virtues. To his religious exercises and studies he devoted a full third part of his time." The manner in which that illustrious hero, Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, devoutly sought in all his conflicts, and acknowledged in all his triumphs, the merciful interposition and aid of the God of heaven, is sufficiently well known, though too rarely imitated. The following animated prayer was offered up by Henry the Fourth, of France, at the head of a great army just before battle:

"O Lord of Hosts! who can see through the thickest veil and closest disguise; who viewest the bottom of my heart, and the deepest designs of my enemies; who hast in thy hands, as well as before thine eyes, all events which concern human life; if thou knowest that my reign will promote thy glory, and the safety of thy people; if thou knowest that I have no other ambition in my soul, but to advance the honour of thy holy name, and the good of this

state; favour, O great God, the justice of my arms, and reduce all the rebels to acknowledge him, whom thy sacred decrees, and the order of lawful succession, have made their sovereign: but if thy good providence has ordered it otherwise; and thou seest that I shall prove one of those kings whom thou gavest in thine anger, take, O merciful God, my life and my crown; make me this day a sacrifice to thy will; let my death end the calamities of France; and let my blood be the last that shall be spilt in this quarrel." The king uttered this generous prayer with a voice and a countenance that inspired all who heard and beheld him with similar magnanimity; and they obtained a complete victory.

Without multiplying examples, which might be drawn from Christians of every rank and every age, the instances above given may suffice. Whether we seek for temporal or spiritual blessings, we must remember the original Author and Bestower of them; and not suffer the intervention of instruments and subordinate agents to hide from us the hand of the Almighty. Whatever be the number, or intricate and inexplicable connexion of links in the great chain of causes and effects, the first Mover, the final Cause, must not be forgotten. Nature, of which many have spoken in such pompous terms, abstracted from God, is a word

without meaning. The way in which secondary causes work in the compact system of Providence, and the events of Providence subserve. the purposes of sovereign grace, uniting the prayers of God's people with the accomplishment of his promises, is beautifully illustrated by a passage in the prophecies of Hosea: “And I will betroth thee to me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will ever betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord. And it shall come to pass, in that day I will hear, saith the Lord; I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel." (Hosea ii. 19-22.) The call of want, which is thus carried up by successive voices to the universal Parent of Nature, and the God of Grace, is sure to be answered in due season.

There is nothing to which we are more liable, than to grow weary of the exercises of devotion; the Apostle therefore commands us to

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pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." "The success of prayer, though promised to all who offer it in perfect sincerity, is not so frequently promised to the cry of distress,