God. Though, in comparison with be pleaded as an argument in the holiness and happiness of De- prayer, without the fear of being ity, the interests of all creatures disregarded by our Heavenly Fa-have but very little importance; ther. God regards, with impartial yet they have some real importance. affection, all the interests of both God has a tender regard for all his r tional and irrational creatures.→ rational and immortal offsp ing, and Though temporal interests, simply "desires their holiness and happi- considered, bear but a small proness, while he depricates their sin portion to the interests of immortaland misery. He perfectly knows ity; and the interests of creatures how much holiness and happiness to those of the great Creator; yet every one that is saved will expe- every object that has real impor*rience and enjoy; and how much tnce, simply considered, should be misery every one that i lost will properly regarded. Every such exercise and suffer. And he has object will certainly have its proper expre sed his desires for the holi- influence, when pleaded as an ar ness and happiness, and pity in gument in prayer, to an impartial view of the sin and misery, of men- and disinterested Being. But the kind, in very pathetic language in native importance of some objects, his word. "How shall I give thee bears but a small proportion to their up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver relative importance. The tempothee, Israel? Me heart is turned ral prosperity of Zion is connected within me, my repentings are kin- with her eternal interests. And dled together. Oh that there were the salvation of the elect, is essensuch an heart in them, that they tial to the glory and blessedness of would fear me, and keep all my God. In this light, these objects commandment- always, that it might have unspeakably more importance. be well with them. and with their This relation, or connexion, gives children forever. Oh that they great weight to many objects, which, were wise, that they understood simply considered, are trivial. this, that they would consider their The continuance of the life and fatter end" From these and many health of Gen. Washington' was arother similar passages of scripture, dently prayed for by the American as well as from plain facts in divine people. Though his life, simply Providence, it is evident, that God considered, was of small impor greatly desires the salvation of ev- tance in comparison with other ery one of his rational creatures, objects; yet they conceived it to Simply considered. And those, be connected with and necessary who know the worth of an immor- to the deliverance of three millions tal soul, and urge this consider of people from oppression and ser tion with proper motives as an ar- vitude, and the establishment of gument in prayer to God, plead free inquiry and investigation on with an argument that will not be religious subjects, in these United disregarded. It will have its due States. And these blessings they influence in moving God to hear viewed as intimately connected and answer in mercy. with the prosperity of the cause of truth and righteousness. This relation gave such weight to their arguments, that they prevailed with the God of armies, who protected

The present prosperity of the church and world, both temporal and spiritual, simply considered, is a proper subject of desire, and may

and guarded the object of their de- temporal or spiritual blessings, that sires, in safety, through the most is made with such a desire, he has imminent dangars. made explicit and abundant promises. But every person, who "turneth away his ear from hearing the law" which requires a constant and supreme regard to the glory of God, even his prayer shall be abomination."

"1

this proposition accords with fact. tion and feelings of the idolatrous -a We have a noble example of this, world. The nations of the earth, in the case of Moses, whose prayer and the Egyptians in particular, saved the whole congreg: tion of would be likely to seek for oppor Israel from instant de truction, at tunities to reproach the Being, who the time of their worshipping the had caused them to see and feel his ‹golden calf. "And the Lord said sovereignty and just displeasure.→→ unto Moses, I have seen this peo- This Moses saw and felt. And ple, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked still further to evince the disinterpeople: Now therefore let me estedness of his motives, he said to alone, that my wrath may wax hot God, on his return from the peoagainst them, and that I may con- ple, "Oh, this people have sinned sume them and I will make of a great sin, and have made them thee a great nation. And Moses gods of gold; yet now if thou wilt besought the Lord his God, and forgive their sin, and if not, blot me said, Lord, why doth thy wrath I pray thee out of the book which wax hot against thy people, which thou hast written." We have the thou hast brought forth out of the testimony of Moses himself, that land of Egypt with great power, "the Lord hearkened unto him" and with a mighty hand. Where in his request. Such power with fore should the Egyptians speak God had a single man, when, with and say, for mischief did he bring truly disinterested motives, he zeals. them out, to slay them in the moun- ously urged such weighty argue tains, and to consume them from ments in prayer. the face of the earth. Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remem ber Abraham, Isaac and Israel thy servants, to whom thou swearest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spokon of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."Though God had expressed a disposition to cut off instantly from earth and from heaven, a multitude of people,among whom were all his own kindred; yet, from his prayer it appears, that the chief burden upon the mind of Moses, was the reproaches against God, which such an event would be likely to occa sion among the heathen nations. — God had just made a peculiar display of his vengeance, in destroy ing the Egyptians. This event had very much excited the atten

Another prominent example of successful prayer, is that of Elijah's, when fire came down at his request and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the stones of the altar, with an a abundance of water in the trench.t of it. "And it came to pass at the in time of the offering of the evening o sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, letv it be known this day that thou art God in Israel. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." The chief argument in this prayer, was, that God would hear and answer to vindicate his name, and take away the reproach which had been cast upon it by an idolatrous people.

These are a true specimen of the successful prayers of saints, which are recorded by the pen of inspiration. And they prove, ins controvertibly, that the moral pows er of Christians to prevail with God in prayer, lies in the proper and faithful use of the most disinterest-i ed and weighty arguments at the throne of grace,

[To be concluded.]

Another memorable example of pleasing to God, that he immediate pleasing and successful prayer to ly sent Gabriel to inform Daniel, God, may be seen in the history of that he was greatly beloved, and to Hezekiah. When Sennacherib, reveal the divine purposes to him, with a very numerous army, had respecting the deliverance of Is invaded and threatened Jerusalem, rael. "Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwelleth between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O Lord and hear; open thine eyes, O Lord and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib which he hath sent to reprooch the living God. Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone :^ therefore they have destroyed them. Now, therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only." Immediately after this prayer, God sent his prophet Isaiah to inform Hezekiah, that it was heard, and would be answered ac cording to his request.

To these examples may be added the fervent and weighty prayer of Daniel, for the people of God, who were in captivity at Babylon. "Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary, that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord kearken and do; defer not for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." This prayer was so

For the Hopkinsian Magazine. QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MINIS

TRY.

A Fragment.

There was a time when the dis pensers of Christianity needed not the efficiency of human wisdom to produce upon those they addressed a deep and irresistible impression; when, poor in every thing but faith, and ignorant of all but the truth which makes free, they could; stand up before the gazing multitude, and melt them into love and obedience to their Master, by the spontaneous effusions of a simple, unpremeditated eloquence; and when, too, with the utmost facility they could proclaim to the differ ent tribes of the earth, the wonder ful works of God, without previous ly toiling through the long and difer ficult process of acquiring their res spective languages. But the age of miracles has gone by; and "with" it, that daring spirit of persecution, which pointed the sword at the în- » fant Saviour, and endeavoured to A extinguish his religion by the blood of its propagators. A dispensation has succeeded, accompanied with far different privileges and reqdisi-TM tions. He who once went forth