^es,^ihe noise and bustle of life is despicable and insipid, when once we have experienced the real sweeis and delights of a home fireside. thus ry intellectual powers were absorb- eff in thought, while my attention was attract- ed, and cay mind diverted by the youthful sports ef ' the smiling children who appeared equally c&mucafasci&ated in their diversions as I was in beholding and thus meditating : the time was oace.wjujft'l was a child, and I hope in one sense of tte Word I am one yet; but temporally speak- iqg.1 0oc, acted as a child, but cow J have be- come a, man, and childish things are put away,.prayer, while-' prostrate the cold .ground, did not hesitate to lift his ej'es to his reader, "your unworthy Writer knows what sore temptations 'mean; he has been placed in situ- atiqns the -most trying; his crossed. vvre cpntinuajly found in the fight use of the means, as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, Abednego, .
breathing' out their fe'rveht and zealous petitions at a\|| throne Of grace ; and shall the afflicted, persei "?
c Uted and .tempted followers of a despised Re-^ ^ x deemer, neglect the use of t'hose mea'hs emr; ; ployed by those children of the Most Hiffhvtcr- ^ t,' ' \^ v ^y , 7- , './: . Jife S^ Danieljthou canst testify to the answe^of pray- efj.
for thou wast delivered from the lions' detf, and at one time while praying'^pnfessing ffry ,.
sins, and Israel's, one of the shinniirig hosts ''.;%$ Heaven, angel Gabriel, descended^ communed , arid blessed thee with skill ari^ understanding, and informed thee that his express commission: * fronr the bright mansions of bliss, was account, and of the high estimation in thou wast held by the .
- Yes, m'y Saviour, thy arm is no' shorter; i fry supplies.
are no less abundant; thy loving^fcin^ rress 'is no less diminished than it was$;^^^;- tfrae of a Daniel, Shadrach, ! Was not those, holy men deliv- ered fro'm the destruction irttended by theft*' enemies, -by trusting 1 in their God?Yes, Shadrac'hf Meshack^A- "bedn.e,go, thou canst too testify of the efficacy of prayer; in the midst of conflagration in a fur- -nace thou didst harm, nor was the -smell of lire to be found upon thy garments.- Yes, the gloi-y of thy God. thee in the .midst of danger, and lie who didst create and eapstrfpestroy, deprived the scorching element.- ^f that destructive'caloric or matter df heat, so "i hat thy bodies could not feel its painful eilects.Yes, good old Jacob, thou canst likewise testify the efficacy of prayer; -thou didst wrestle with-, thy God, and would not let him go until thou.was nptleompelleic^l^God to stand, but rather' chose so Ho do, and^for his^firm reliance and ;m- te^rity to the end, tne Lpnl rewarded him twb 'fold as much as; he had in v the beginning. O may I always pray and not faint, and be continually watching, lest I enter into temptation ; ask and receive, seek and find, knock and it shallbe opened*unto me-;- for every One that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth May I glory in the cross' of Christ, rejoice in him ever more, trust in him- as the only medium through which I can be sa*- Ved ; pray without.d Q' may this be an example to every Christian "itf affliction ! ceasing, for it is only through prayer I can be saved ; pray without ceasing, for it is only through the use of this glorious^ means that I can ever expect to conquer the world, ( the flesh and tlie devil, and come off more thaiv conqueror; but is there nothing, Q my soul, that would act as a farther stimuldus to urge r thy passage on.was n^t wick- _ed, for he saith : Lord^lhou k^west that I am 'iap^w^kedl and there is none^hat can deliver l^eib Wof thy.hand, and although thou dost^|pct \liie, yet I am resolved thpjigh thou slaj