a just view of the subject in hand. Let us but carry the same rules and measures of judgment from the low and narrow sphere of domestic life, to a much higher sphere, and the duty of prayer is demonstrated. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a Father, where is my honour? if a Master, where is my fear? saith the Lord. Yet how many, who would think themselves justified in uttering the heaviest complaints, were their children to treat them with marked indifference and disrespect, live themselves in the constant neglect of every religious duty! Is then the second table of the Law to be set aside, or make void the first? Are we not as much bound to worship God, as to honour our parents? By what rule or reason are we warranted to conclude, that a father in the flesh has stronger claims of service than the great Father of Spirits? It is surely inverting all order, to argue that the higher relation deserves only a lower degree of attention and regard. Whoever reflects that Jehovah has endued us with understanding, enriched us with various gifts and talents, for the use of which we are accountable, and placed us here, in a state of probation,, must allow that we are bound to present ourselves to God, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him, which is our reasonable service. 2. Another reason, which proves that prayer is our duty, may be taken from the express commands of God. God should be the Alpha and Omega of all our actions. From the frequent use of the maxim, "A Deo optimo maximo," it is evident that many of the heathen thought it needful, on entering upon any great and difficult undertaking, to ask the direction and assistance of their deities.* This was one of the last and best remnants received from the ancient patriarchs. But a few broken fragments of truth were soon buried and lost under the gathering heaps of error and superstition. Men need a revelation from heaven, to shew them what God requires and approves, as well as what he forbids and abhors. Had we not been favoured with the Bible, our condition would have been like that of travellers in a trackless desert, without guide, or that of mariners on a vast tempestuous ocean, without chart or compass. But God has given us his word, and in that word plain precepts, which mark out the path of duty. Prayer is a matter of such solemnity and importance, that we are not left to gather it from hints, allusions, and obscure passages. God Pythagoras and Plato were said to abound in prayer and invocation; and one of the ancients has asserted, "that the life of Socrates was a life of prayer." Max. Tyr. has made known to us our fallen, guilty, ruined state; yet, instead of driving us away into endless perdition, as we deserved, he has invited us to return to him, to confess our sins, and plead with him that we may be pardoned, accepted, and justified. "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool! For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live." What condescension and loving kindness are here discovered! What high and awful authority is here displayed! How suitable these invitations! How forcible these commands! And when God is pleased to say, Seek ye my face, should not our hearts reply, Thy face, Lord, we will seek? He who well knows our weakness, and the many excuses we are disposed to make for neglecting the duty of prayer, has mercifully deigned to put petitions into our lips, such as are fit to be addressed to him. Hos. xiv. 1-3. "O Israel, retura unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy." The ceremonies of the old law are done away, and God no longer commands us to offer sheep, and goats, and bullocks; but he requires us to offer to him the sacrifice of praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks' to his name." On a point of such moment as prayer, we have line upon line, and precept upon precept, mixed with gracious promises; that when we are ready to hesitate or halt, our doubtful steps may be directed, and our feeble, lingering souls supported, and urged forward to the throne of grace. On this duty, Jesus Christ uses a variety of expressions, clothing his meaning in many different, and yet striking forms of language. He commands us to ask, that we may receive; to seek, that we may find; and to knock, that it may be opened. Paul, who speaks by the Spirit of inspiration, exhorts us "to be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to let our requests be made known unto God." Now it should be remembered, that the Divine authority lays the basis and ground of duty, and forms the bond of obligation to it. As heaven's court of requests is ever open, heaven's call to enter that court, and present our suit, is a solemn, impressive, and oft-repeated call. Prayer, as may be seen in the above scripture, is clearly enjoined, and strongly enforced. The commands of God bear a royal, authentic stamp, not to be mistaken or overlooked, except by those who wilfully shut their eyes; and they carry a weight not to be resisted, unless any will venture to rush upon certain destruction. 3. The duty of prayer may be inferred from the practice of those distinguished servants of God, whose steps we are exhorted to follow. It is a trite, but just observation, that examples have a greater influence over us than precepts. Whether it is that truth in the abstract is less easily apprehended, and more easily forgotten; or whether it is, that being early accustomed to imitate, we acquire the habit of looking up to human characters, rather than learning from doctrines and divine commands; whatever be the cause, the fact is undeniable. Precepts give us the bare outline, or at best the lovely picture of religion; examples present it embodied, alive, and in motion. We are exhorted to pray, and the simple testimony of the Word is sufficient to set the duty before us and make it evident; but when we see the saints of God engaged in ardent devotion, we feel persuaded that it is not only plainly required, but also practicable. While we hear Moses cry to Jehovah, I beseech thee shew me thy glory; while we behold Jacob wrestling with God to obtain the blessing; while we view Daniel shutting himself up in solitude, to intercede for Israel, and draw down the Divine favour on a revolting and ungrateful people; let us remember it is |