interposed on his behalf, would have overtaken and destroyed himm. Nehemiah, by a silent lifting up of his soul to God, obtained success to the petition which he was about to offer to his royal master". Thus we should blunt the edge of many temptations, and defeat innumerable machinations of Satan, if we habituated ourselves on all occasions to make known our requests to God. Nor would prayer be less successful, if offered for others. Who can behold Moses repeatedly arresting the hand of justice, and averting the wrath of God from the whole Jewish nation0; or contemplate Peter's deliverance from prison on the night preceding his intended execution, effected as it was in a way that appeared incredible even to the very people who had been praying for itp, and not confess the efficacy of intercession, whether of people for their minister, or of ministers for their people ? Indeed we need no other instance than that of Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrhaq, to convince us, that it is our most glo- rious privilege to "pray one for another1;" and that in neglecting this duty, we "sin against Gods," and against our brethren, and against our own souls.
Such then must be our prayers, if we would be " good soldiers of Jesus Christ," or exert ourselves with effect against our great adversary.
In the next place, our prayer must be spiritual. Were our devotions multiplied in ever so great a degree, they would be of no avail, unless they came from the heart, and were offered up " through the power of the Holy Ghost." God has warned us, that " they who draw nigh to him with their lips while their hearts are far from him, worship him in vain1." Indeed how can we imagine that God should regard a mere repetition of words, when we ourselves should reject with indignation a petition offered to ourselves in a similar manner11? Our " supplications must be
m 2 Chron. xviii. 31. n Neh. ii. 4 — 6.
0 Exod. xxxii. 10 — 14. i» Acts xii. 5 — 16.
<i Gen. xviii. 23 — 32. r Jam. v. 16.
s 1 Sam. xii. 23. » Matt. xv. 8, 9. " Mai. i. 8.