own name, those whom thou hast given me. .....

I pray

that thou wouldst keep them from the evil. John, xvii. 11, 15. Behold I come quickly. Rev. xxii. 12. Even so,

come, Lord Jesus.

Rev. xxii. 20.

XVII. PRAYER IN CONNEXION WITH THE

PRECEPTS.

We make all our addresses to the promises, hug and caress them, and in the interim let the commands stand by neglected.

DECAY OF PIETY.

THOUGH We must not be satisfied with prayer alone, when God has enjoined other practical duties, it is well to remember that scripture precepts generally relate to subjects on which prayer has been offered by "holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

It is as great a privilege to be enabled to perform a duty as to enjoy a comfort. The advantages resulting from obedience are, in some cases, even greater than those which accrue from enjoyment; while in others "to enjoy is to obey."

We should obtain strength for the performance of Christian duty, if we prayed earnestly for the grace which is essential to its performIn this, as in other respects, we "have not because we ask not."

ance.

Saints in glory may wonder at the anxieties they have wasted on some of the inferior topics of supplication while on earth. There never can arrive an era - even in eternity - when prayer for ability to accomplish the enjoined will of God, shall appear to have been unimportant.

"It is better to obey," said LUTHER, "than to work miracles;"-the former is not therefore a less important subject of prayer than those kinds of service which even in the days of Christ" went forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Grace to enable the believer to fulfil the injunctions of the written word, is included in the "many, great, and precious promises, whereby he is made a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through the lust." Here we are at once reminded of the connexion between prayer, the promises, and the precepts.

Our Lord taught his disciples to pray, "Thy will be done on earth even as it is done in heaven;"-but there is no more obvious revelation of the Divine mind than that "this is the will of God, even your sanctification."

Το pray for holiness is to pray for the fulfilment of God's design in all his purposes of grace.

His salvation is a holy salvation-His Son a holy Saviour His Gospel a holy Gospel-The election of grace an election to holiness-Regeneration a holy birth-God's calling a holy calling His people a holy people Their ministering spirits holy angels-His Spirit the Holy Spirit-His heaven a holy abode-Its services holy duty-and its pleasures holy plea

sures.

Paul prayed that others might be practically holy; but the gospel does not require us to love others better than ourselves. Therefore we should pray that we may be holy.

To turn to God is a duty-but Israel prayed for restoring grace.

Repentance is a duty, but Christ is exalted a prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins.

Faith is a duty, but Christ is the author and finisher of faith, and the apostles said unto the Lord," increase our faith."

Love to God is a duty, but Paul prayed that it might increase among the churches.

Hope is a duty, which inspired men have been taught to enjoin upon their own souls; yet the same class of men would cry "let me not be ashamed of my hope."

Christians are commanded to be enlarged, yet

they may say, "I will run the way of thy commandments when thou hast enlarged my heart."

The righteous are bidden to rejoice, but they are also allowed to cry, "Rejoice the soul of thy servant."

While fulfilling the command to "search the Scriptures," we read " open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

We ought to "love the brethren," but we may pray that our "love may abound yet more and more."

Believers must be "patient till the coming of the Lord," and they are encouraged to approach the "God of patience," as a means of fulfilling this duty.

They must "bear one another's burdens," while they "cast their burdens on the Lord."

They should "watch," but in their vigils they may cry, "The shepherd of Israel! he never sleeps; the shepherd of Israel! he never slumbers."

They should produce the fruits of piety, but the apostle prays (2 Cor. ix. 10) "that God may increase the fruits of your righteousness."

"We count those happy which endure;" but they most effectually persevere, while in prayer they "endure as seeing Him who is invisible."

"NOAH walked with God, and FOUND grace in the eyes of the Lord, before he built an ark to the saving of his house."

ABRAHAM, "the father of the faithful," was ever, on his different removals, "building an altar unto the Lord."

JACOB in an early stage of his obedience cried, "If the Lord will be with me," and he became qualified to meet his brother by "wrestling with God." ·

MOSES, the active servant of God and leader of Israel, was a man of prayer, and succeeded more readily against AMALEK, and on some other occasions, by prayer than by any other means.

Before Joshua would lead the people over Jordan, he said, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."

SAMUEL "ministered before the Lord being a child," and therefore before any of his mighty enterprises in the service of God, and of Israel.

DAVID met GOLIATH "in the name of the living God."

The wisdom of SOLOMON was given in answer to prayer.

ELIJAH Conquered the idolatrous priests by looking to heaven for fire.

HEZEKIAH vanquished the army of SENNA