ness may never more be eclipsed by the miserable and dying illusions of evil; that the intrinsic loathsomeness and malignity of sin may never more be cloaked or veiled from my spiritual sight, amidst the fading allurements or specious deceits with which it can here invest itself; that I may never more yield to that wilful infatuation, which refuses to anticipate the dismal retrospects of a wounded conscience, and its yet more dismal presages; never more may become insensible to this momentous truth, that Christian uprightness, and purity, and spirituality, can alone arm the soul against inevitable trials,—or prepare it for the region where a holy Saviour dwells.

XIX.

ON THE DUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER FOR OUR FELLOW-CHRISTIANS.

EVEN if I possessed no other part of revealed truth than the historical books of the Old Testament, yet, giving credence and attention to these, I should find various encouragement to offer up intercession for the servants of God. The condescension of Jehovah to Abraham's repeated plea for the righteous in Sodom was an early and impressive sanction of this practice. The many prevailing prayers of Moses for the chosen people, by which, at one time, the "wrath" of the Almighty was averted,* at another, "the fire which

*Exodus xxxii, 11-14.

burnt among them quenched,"* and, after a signal instance of murmuring and revolt, "their iniquity pardoned according to his word,"† evince its great occasional efficacy. The intense perseverance of that man of God, when, as it appears, on several occasions, he "fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights,"‡ on their behalf, shews how deep a conviction he had of the importance of earnest and continued intercession to their welfare; and the remarkable words of Samuel in a like case, "As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you,"§ imply that this was deemed by him a regular and imperative obligation of piety.

But should I suspect (which indeed would be a mere assumption) that the office belonged, chiefly or exclusively, to the prophetic or judicial character, and that private worshippers could infer no duty or expectation from the practice or success of these eminent individuals, I cannot examine the New Testament, without finding the general duty and efficacy of such prayers distinctly established. The duty may be strongly inferred from our Saviour's command, that his

*Numbers xi. 1, 2.

+ Numbers xii. 20.

Deuteronomy ix. 18, 19, 25 ; x. 10. See also Job xlii. 8-10.

§ 1 Samuel xii. 23.

disciples should pray even for their enemies and persecutors,* (which is enjoined as a mode of doing them good,") particularly when we view this command in connexion with his own wonderful intercession on the cross. The precept is strengthened and urged by that Divine example; and since the part of our Lord's intercessions, which is incomparably most difficult to our corrupt nature, was thus designed to be imitated by his followers, and was so, in a very striking manner, by the martyr Stephen, we cannot doubt that other parts of them, which are far more easily imitable, were also intended to guide the practice of Christians. Such is the prayer for the support of Peter's faith, mentioned to him by his gracious Master; and such the large and tender intercessions for his disciples, and for those who should believe on him through their word.§ It was in reference to an office of kindness, that our Saviour said, "I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you:"|| nor can it be conceived, that so natural a resource of friendship and sympathy would be neglected, with their heavenly Teacher's pattern in their remembrance,

*Matthew v. 44. Luke vi. 28.

† Luke xxiii. 34.

Luke xxii. 32.

John xiii. 15.

§ John xvii.

and with those and his other words on record, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you."

The efficacy of individual intercession is also pointedly declared in the epistle of James; "Pray one for another,—the inwrought prayer of a righteous man availeth much:"* and the Apostle John directs Christians to pray for a brother who hath committed sin. But should either or both of these injunctions be thought to relate only to the prayer of those endowed with spiritual gifts for miraculous healing, there remains, in the writings of St. Paul, a store of scriptural proof, as to the general duty and efficacy of intercession for our fellow-Christians, so abundant and explicit, that, if his apostolical claims be acknowledged, this conclusion cannot be evaded. Not only does he exhort to "intercessions for all men," but especially to "the greatest perseverance in prayer for all the saints."§ He also declares, in various forms, the constancy and earnestness of his own prayers, both for Christian communities and individuals. Thus to the Roman and Ephesian churches he writes;-" Without ceasing, I make

* James v. 16. Macknight's translation.

‡ 1 Timothy ii. 1.

† 1 John v. 16.

Ephesians vi. 18. Macknight's Commentary.