attempting to plead for them, I get strength

to pray for myself."

REV. JOHN NEWTON.

"Have you a friend? Go to the throne of grace and there exalt and refine your friendship; there enumerate all his wants; think over all the real blessings which your indulgent love would wish him to enjoy ; give full scope to the ardour of your feelings; consider all the snares to which he is exposed, all the failings which your anxious regard for him would wish to be corrected; spread before God these wishes of your soul; pray that he may be enriched by the God of all grace with all spiritual blessings; draw out your heart with love towards him; let this be at once the proof and the solace of your friendship. In your different addresses to God, let not one in the whole circle of your friends be forgotten; and surely this will expand the soul, and give the richest and the most delightful, because the most noble, enjoyment of true love and affection.

Have you a Pastor who watches over your souls? O return for him those prayers which he offers for you! How animating would it be for your Minister to consider his flock as remembering him before God! With what hope, what comfort, what joy, would he minister before you, could he believe that your prayers had already ascended for him to the throne of grace! What a sacred union would it produce! How just an image would it exhibit of that intimate and endearing connection which subsists between the different members of the Church of Christ! See in these instances the communion of saints. Thus have they fellowship with each other, and with their common Head. Thus is christian love produced and cherished in them. They learn to drop their animosities, and forgive as they hope to be forgiven. Their love is excited, preserved, and purified, They descend from the mount with their countenances glowing with the warmth of tenderness for those on whose behalf they have been interceding there. This is their

bond of union; the secret but powerful spring of affection unknown to the world, and producing an unfailing supply of encreasing benevolence,"

REV. J. Venn.

"The Rev. MR. ROMAINE was in the habit of devoting two hours every Friday to particular intercession with God for his friends. He had their names written down on paper, and used to walk about his room, mentioning them one by one, and specifying their wants, as far as he knew them, with earnest supplication."

The following extracts from the Diary of the Rev. DAVID BRAINERD, will shew the high importance which he attached to the duty of Intercession.

"In prayer my soul was enlarged, and my faith drawn into sensible exercise ; I was enabled to cry to God for my poor Indians; and though the work of their conversion ap

I

peared "impossible with man, yet with God, I saw all things were possible." My faith was much strengthened by observing the wonderful assistance God afforded his servants Nehemiah and Ezra, in reforming his people, and re-establishing his ancient church. was much assisted in prayer for dear christian friends, and for others that I apprehended to be christless; but was more especially concerned for the poor Heathen, and those of my own charge. I was enabled to be instant in prayer for them, and hoped that God would bow the heavens and come down for their salvation. It seemed to me, there could be no impediment sufficient to obstruct that glorious work, seeing the living God as I strongly hoped, was engaged for it.”— "My soul was much solemnized in reading God's word, especially the ninth chapter of Daniel. I saw how God had called out his servants to prayer, and made them wrestle with him, when he designed to bestow any great mercy on his church.”- "While I was riding, I had a deep sense of the greatness

and difficulty of my work; and my soul seemed to rely wholly on God for success, in the diligent and faithful use of the means. I saw, with the greatest certainty, that the arm of the Lord must be revealed, for the help of the poor Heathen, if ever they were delivered from the bondage of the powers of darkness."-" I spent an hour in prayer, with great intenseness and freedom, and with the most soft and tender affection towards mankind. I longed that those who bear me ill-will might be eternally happy: it seemed refreshing to think of meeting them in hea ven, how much soever they had injured me on earth: I had no disposition to insist upon any confession from them, in order to reconciliation, nor of the exercise of love and kindness from them. I could not have spoken a word of bitterness, or entertained a bitter thought against the vilest man living. Oh it is an emblem of heaven itself, to love all the world with a love of forgiveness and bene volence!"