believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.' Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

"Likewise also was not Rahab justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

"Hereby we do know that we know Christ, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, 'I know him,' and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 12 Cor. xiii, 5. 2 Jas. ii, 14-26. 31 John ii, 3-5. 4 Matt. v, 16.

Chapter Thirty-seventh.

PRAYER.

The duty and privilege of prayer.

"THE Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 2 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. 3And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

5"I exhort therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceble life in all godliness and honesty. Pray one for another; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

8

"I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need; 12 giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Ps. cxlv, 18. 21 Pet. iii, 12. 31 John v, 14, 15. 4 Rom. viii, 26,27. 51 Tim. ii, 1, 2. 6 Jas. v, 16. 71 Tim. ii, 3, 4, 8. 8 1 Thess. v, 17, 18. 9 Jas. v, 13. 10 Phil. iv, 6. 11 Heb. iv, 15, 16. 12 Eph. v, 20.

The duty of faith in coming to God.

2

1"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And all things, whatsoever 'you that believe on the name of the Son of God, shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive. "Verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.-The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.-Have faith

in God; for I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 8 But he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." 1 Heb. xi, 6. 2 Matt. xxi, 22. 31 John v, 13. 4 Matt. xxi, 22. 5 Mark xi, 23. 6 Jas. v, 15. 7 Mark xi, 22, 24.

8 Jas. i, 6, 7.

ILLUSTRATION. King Asa's faith in prayer to God. "Asa king of Judah had an army of men that were mighty men of valour. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, 'Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.'-So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and they fled, and were overthrown, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host: and Judah carried away very much spoil."

12 Chron. xiv, 8-13.

Exhortation to earnestness in supplications. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint; for the effectual fervent prayer of a

righteous man availeth much.-Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.-3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving: for when ye shall search for God with all your heart, he will be found of you. As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice."

1 Luke xviii, 1.

2 Jas. v, 16-18. 3 Jas. iv, 3. 5 Jer. xxix, 13, 14. 6 Ps. lv, 16, 17.

4 Col. iv, 2.

ILLUSTRATION. Abraham's intercession for Sodom. "Abraham stood before the Lord and said, 'Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city of Sodom: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' And the Lord said, 'If I find in Sodom, fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.' And Abraham answered, 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty