he was afterwards imprisoned by Herod, he was miraculously delivered by an Angel, thro' the prayers of the Church unto God for him.-Saint James

affures us that the prayer of faith shall save the fick ; and the Lord fhall raife him up, and if he have committed fins, they fhall be forgiven him.-And John faith, If any man fee his brother fin a fin that is not unto death, he shall afk of God, and he shall give him life for them that fin not unto death. Yea, fo acceptable and efficacious is the prayer of faith in the fight of God, that our LORD affures us, whatfoever we fhall afk the Father in his name, be will do it.

But if the effectual fervent prayer of one righteous man availeth much, how much more available are the prayers of many ? That the prayers of Chrif tians, affembled together for that purpose, are exceeding prevalent in the fight of GOD, is evident: Wherefore he faith; If any two of you fhall agree together on earth, touching any thing they fball afk, it fhall be done for them of my Father which is in beaven. But when ye pray forgive, if ye bave ought against any; for if ye forgive not your brother his trefpaffes, neither will your heavenly Father forgive yours: Thus love to our neighbour must be joined with faith in all our prayers.— Hence faith the Apostle, I will that men pray every

every where, lifting up boly bands, without wrath and doubting.

4. Neglect not, O Christian! to pray in private with all earnestnefs; for as thou art in fecret, fo it is likely thou wilt be in public: Follow therefore the commandment of the Lord Jesus, which he speaks to every one of his difciples in particular; but thou, faith he, when thou prayeft, enter into thy clofet, and when thou haft fout the door, pray to thy Father which is in fecret; and thy Father which feeth in fecret, bimself shall reward thee openly.

-And

whether thou prayeft in thine heart only, or with a loud voice, it matters not, if thy prayer be in the uprightness of thy heart, with fervency and understanding: But this rule is neceffary to be observed, that thou prayeft, or endeavoureft to pray, in fuch a manner as to prevent inattention and diftraction of mind.— Therefore,

5. Strive in prayer against the deadness or weaknefs of the flesh, and Satan's fuggeftions.-The Spirit is often willing when the Aefb is weak; as it was with the difciples in the garden: Therefore ftir up thyself and endeavour to get the better of the flesh; and if it return ever so often, refift and ftrive against it, calling upon GOD, for he will help thee. For if ye being evil, faith our LORD,

know

know how to give good things unto your children; how much more fhall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that afk him.

6. Go on in this duty with the utmost vigilance and conftancy, watching thereunto with all perfeverance. -If any one duty fhould be more especially attended to more than another, it is diligent and fervent prayer, with thanksgiving: The Apostle exhorts us to continue inftant in prayer; even our ordinary food which we eat from day to day is fandlified to us by the word of God and prayer.

Some are conftant in public ordinances, they hear often, and read much, and yet perhaps are very negligent of this duty; they pray but little: And therefore they are unfettled, apt to waver, and are toffed about and perplexed with every wind of doctrine, or blaft of Satan's temptation; for the A. postle teaches us to pray, that GOD would strengthen us with might by his Spirit in the inner man.-He that prayeth not at all is an atheift; he lives without GOD in the world: A prayerlefs perfon, tho' he profels to believe there is a GOD with his lips, by his works he denies him. He that makes many and long prayers, feeking applaufe from man; when he understands not what he faith, or fincerely and fervently in his heart is not crying to God, and feeking to live to his glory; is a Pharifee and a hypocrite: He alfo that begins well, and conti

nueth

nueth not in prayer, watching thereunto with thankf giving; will loofe that which he feemed to have. GOD will be fought unto, and called upon for those benefits which he hath promised and intends to beftow on us: Wherefore he faith, Thou wilt prepare their hearts, and thou wilt cause thine ears to bear. Therefore, O believer! (not neglecting public ordinances) be thou diligent and conftant in private meditation and prayer. Watch and pray always, that in times of trial thou mayft know readily how to call upon thy God with freedom and confidence in CHRIST JESUS thy Lord. Morning and evening at leaft, commune fecretly with thine own heart, and wait upon thy GOD; and before thou prayeft, if it be poffible, read and meditate on the precious word of God; it will be a means of encouraging and preparing thee for folemn and fervent prayer, wherein it is thy intereft and privilege by Jefus Chrift to have communion and fellowship with GOD thro' the Spirit; whereby the foul is ftrengthened and refreshed from day to day: And this thou fhouldft much more regard than the bare language or manner of thy prayers. Be not fatisfied without feeling thy wants, and alfo the mercy and love of GOD towards thee thro' CHRIST JESUS: The foul hath fenfes, as well as the body.-Finally, my brethren, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the LORD is, walk in the fear of God continually

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continually Endure all things as feeing him whe is invifible: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and fupplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.-And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds thro' CHRIST JESUS: To whom be glory and dominion for ever. Amen.

SERMON