PROVERBS.

PRAYER OF THE WICKED.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.-Proverbs xv. 8.

SUPPOSE a wicked or impenitent man puts the question to me" Sir, is it my duty to pray ?”

Now, as a minister of Jesus Christ, authorized and required to point out his duty, according to the Scriptures, I should reply, "Most certainly. It is your duty, and the duty of all other men, to pray. It is a service enjoined, both by the light of nature and the voice of revelation."

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man.

But," says he, "I am considered to be an impenitent Can it be the duty of such a man to pray? 7?" "Yes," I reply, "as truly his duty, as the duty of the Christian. Why not?"

He objects: "The Scriptures declare that 'the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord.' The Lord is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.'— He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.' Do not these passages forbid me to pray ?"

“And, if so, my friend, are you not forbid to plow? Another scripture says: The plowing of the wicked is sin.' Prov. 21: 4. Will you, therefore, consider yourself as forbid to plow ?"

"That I must do," he replies; "the necessities of myself and family require it. Besides, it is enjoined upon a man to provide for his family."

"And yet, every furrow you turn, as a wicked man, you sin. And every prayer you offer, as a wicked man, you sin. Yet you must plow, and you must pray." "Then I must sin."

"By no means.

You are not shut up to any such necessity. Suppose you pray, and suppose you plow with a right heart-with a penitent heart?"

"But I have no such heart," he replies.

"No, you have none now. But is it not your imperative duty to possess such a heart? to make yourself such a heart? 'Cast away from you all your transgressions,' says the Word of Inspiration, whereby ye have transgressed: and make you a new heart, and a new spirit.' Ez. 18: 31. Do this, and your prayers will be acceptable. Do this, and your plowing, your reaping, your eating-whatsoever you do will be done to the glory of God, and, therefore, be acceptable to Him. You will then be a 'righteous man ;' and 'the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'" But, perhaps, he replies, "I have no such heart as you describe; and no disposition to make myself such a heart as you aver it is my duty to make. What, then, shall I do?"

I answer: 66 You are a subject of God's moral government; and, under that government, you are able to choose, or refuse to do your duty. Prayer is your duty; and, when offered, should proceed from an humble, penitent, and obedient heart. If it proceed from any other heart, prayer will be, and must be, an abomination to God. You can thus pray, if you please; but then you must expect the displeasure of God. If you neglect prayer-and this you can do-you will be condemned for neglecting a known and positive duty. You are shut up, then, if you would meet the approbation of God, to one course; and that is, to pray with a right heart."

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ISAIAH.

DUTY OF WATCHMEN IN RESPECT TO PRAYER.

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence; and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah lxii. 6, 7.

THE speaker here is Jehovah; and by watchmen are meant those whom he has appointed to be instructors of his people-prophets-ministers of religion. These should be ever vigilant in the high and holy duties of their calling; instructing and warning the people; directing them to the appointed ark of safety, and pressing them to enter while entrance is possible. The watches in the East are, to this day, performed by a loud cry, as the watchmen go their rounds. So ministers should lift up their voices, crying day and night: "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." "The day is far spent; the night is at hand." "Escape for thy life."

"And give him no rest.” The idea is, keep not silence yourselves; nor let him rest in silence. Pray without ceasing; do not intermit your efforts while a soul under your charge lingers in the tents of wickedness; while there is a spot or wrinkle in the garments of any child of God. The truth taught here is, that it is the duty and privilege of ministers to pray unceasingly for the welfare of Zion.

The trials of ministers, in one respect, are, however, but little known. Like other Christians, they are tempted to relax their efforts. A chilling influence comes up from the world, and they are in danger of feeling it; but in greater danger are they, when the church itself has become cold and insensible. A minister pray then? How difficult! and yet how mightily has the importance of prayer-ardent, humble,

holy prayer-increased! Look, at such times, into the minister's closet-you will find him there, if he be one of God's faithful watchmen-and he will pray. O how would it relieve his heart could he weep! He does say: "Oh that

my heart were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears !" But, often, while he longs for such melting tendencies-a breaking up, perhaps, of a long and dreary winter-a warm and generous gush of feeling, as he has sometimes seen a fountain pour forth its liberated waters-he finds all chill and cold, as if his heart had never known any thing of the warm and impulsive love of Jesus.

And, perhaps, at this very time, he is called to follow to the grave some one of his flock, who has departed for another world without hope. Perhaps, his appointed prayer-meeting has arrived; or, the Sabbath has come, and his people are sanctuary, waiting his arrival; and, though dull and formal, they are expecting him, by his fervid eloquence and ardent supplications, to rouse them to appropriate life and animation.

already within the

What minister cannot relate experience like this? And, often, while, as to other trials and troubles, he can claim the sympathy and support of his friends, here he seems alone. He feels alone. It is difficult for him to unbosom himself to his people, as they can one to another.

Well, so it has been. But, need it be so? Would not ministers have less occasion to mourn over a cold and formal state, if they prayed more? This is the grand, spiritual panacea; the sovereign antidote against that depression which so disheartens; and which, too often, diminishes the usefulness of the watchmen in Zion. Let the ministers of Jesus then pray more; and, as sure as "praying-breath was never spent in vain," they will find themselves animated, when all around them are dull and formal; and joyful, when others are sad and dispirited.

JEREMIAH.

GOOD MEN SOMETIMES FORBID TO PRAY.

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee.-Jer. vii. 16. (See also xi. 14, and xv. 1.)

WHEN Abraham stood before the Lord, pleading for Sodom, he received the gracious assurance that, if ten righteous persons could be found in the city, it should be spared for their sake. Signal as God's condescension was, in respect to that city, the cry of whose sin had gone up to heaven, an instance of similar favor is recorded in the history of his covenant people.

For a series of years, anterior to the reign of Zedekiah— during which, the Jews were carried captive to Babylonthey had provoked God by their sins. In consequence of which, he had, on several occasions, inflicted severe judgments, and threatened those which were still more signal; especially a captivity, which would take them from their father's sepulchres, and leave their beautiful city a desolation. Yet, such was his reluctance to cause "the daughter of Zion" to be despoiled of her beauty, that if they could find one righteous man in Jerusalem-meaning, probably, a righteous magistrate-he would spare them all. "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it." Jer. v. 1. "This," says Dr. Scott, "probably referred to the time immediately succeeding Josiah's death, when their wickedness burst forth, the more impetuously, for the temporary restraints which, by that prince's regard for the divine honor, had been imposed upon them." Then occurred that tragical scene of stoning to death Zach