Christians, may be led into the way of truth." And again, in the litany we pray "that it would please God to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived." When we consider how many such persons there are among us, some of whom are deceived by unscriptural views and by false confidence, and some by the ensnaring pleasures of the world, how earnestly ought real Christians to offer these petitions in behalf of their relations, friends, and connexions, and indeed for the whole nominal church of Christ!

But we are led to extend our prayers even much beyond the confines of the external church: our faithful and earnest supplications are to ascend to heaven on behalf of all the benighted regions of the world; we are taught to pray that the cloud of heathen superstition and Jewish blindness may be removed, and that the light of Christ may shine into every heart. The frequent

repetition of the Lord's Prayer in the church service confirms this idea, for there we pray continually "that God's name may be hallowed, his kingdom come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We pray that God “would have mercy upon all men!" that he would establish his kingdom on earth. And for "all sorts and conditions of men, we pray, "that God would make his ways known unto them, his saving health unto all nations." And lastly, on that solemn occasion when we commemorate the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus, we pray thus: "have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold, under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord!" How any person calling himself a churchman, and offer

ing such prayers as these continually, can withhold his aid from missionary exertions, either for Jews or Gentiles, is very extraordinary and inconsistent. We pray for their conversion, but make no effort towards promoting it. Can we expect that God will hear our prayers if we neglect the ordinary means which are put in our power? Do we act thus with regard to our own souls? Dare we hope that God will answer our petitions and save us, if we shut up our Bibles, neglect our church, and despise all those means of securing our everlasting peace which he has put in our hands? Assuredly not! And as God has always hitherto brought about his designs by human agency; and as it is by "the foolishness of preaching" that he is pleased to save them that believe, we may justly esteem it the very height of enthusiasm to continue praying for an event, to promote which we refuse to take a single step! Well may we ask with respect to the Heathen and

Jewish people, in the words of St. Paul, "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent ? As it is written (by Esaias) how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

IV. LASTLY, WE MUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE PRAYERS WHICH THE CHURCH OFFERS FOR THE RELIEF OF ALL TEMPORAL AND PHYSICAL MALADIES OF MEN.

They whose hearts are most alive to the spiritual wants of their fellow-creatures, will uniformly be found most diligent in stretching out the hand of benevolence to assist in relieving their temporal necessities also. And thus the church, which regards with so much concern the mental and spiritual maladies of the world, is not sparing in her supplications in behalf of all the sons and daugh

ters of sorrow. Thus she prays for them in the Litany: "We beseech thee that it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation: to preserve all that travel by land or by water; all women labouring of child, all sick persons, and young children, and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives! And that it may please thee to defend and provide for, the fatherless children and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed!" There is something very simple and touching in this affectionate remembrance of every variety of human woe and they who are themselves in affliction, or have friends and kindred exposed to any of these adversities, must offer their supplications with peculiar feeling. The suitableness of our

church service to all the situations in life in which we can be placed, has already been alluded to in this course of sermons, and these passages afford a beautiful exemplification of the fact..