prayer. It signifies, that we should not only avail ourselves of every proper and appointed season for the performance of this duty, but also that we should embrace every occasion that may present itself, if not positively to go through the form of devotion, yet, for a time at least, to elevate the soul to heaven; and thus, as it were, to imbibe a kind of spirituality of thought, which the grace of God can alone impart, and which a too constant and fixed attention to earthly objects is so much calculated to deaden and impair. In this sense, then, we may be expected to "pray without ceasing ;" and also, as we are elsewhere enjoined by the same apostle, though in language differently expressed, to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit'."

And here, my brethren, I would take occasion to notice the extremely indecent and irreverent manner, in which many persons are accustomed to offer up their petitions in the house of God. When engaged in private devotion, whether in the closet or with the assembled family, I believe that due attention is for the most part paid to

1 Ephes. vi. 18.

the observance of a decorous and pious demeanour; indeed, I should much doubt, if the most ignorant and uninstructed of God's creatures ever sought the favour of his Maker by the act of prayer, when retiring to rest at night, or when rising in the morning, without humbling his person in the most lowly attitude, and bending the knee in token of the unfeigned submission of his soul. But, extraordinary as it may appear, it is otherwise in the public sanctuary of God. Why, or wherefore, there should be less regard paid to decency and decorum in this sacred place, than in your own private dwellings, I am at a loss to conjecture: but I lament to say, that the manner in which by far the greater proportion of this, and every other congregation perform their devotional exercises, is most unbecoming of rational beings, and altogether at variance with the spirit of our holy religion.

From the deductions of common sense, from the general tenor of Scripture, and from the positive directions of our Church, we conclude that, when occupied in the act of praying to the Almighty, the posture of kneeling is most befitting the sacred character of the Christian worshipper, and most acceptable to the great and holy Being

we address. But, instead of this, we behold a crowd of sinful mortals assembled together, for the avowed purpose of confessing their sins, of paying adoration to their Maker, and of asking pardon for the past, either standing or sitting, or in some other negligent and equally irreverent posture, as though they were employed in some matter of inferior moment, and not in the most solemn of all engagements. There are some few, I am thankful to say, who do observe this essential mark of respect and reverence, due from a creature to his Creator: but the remainder, with fearful unconcern and apparent absence of all true feeling of devotion, deem it of little, or no importance.

We should not hesitate, to fall low on our bended knees before an earthly prince or governor, when we have occasion to ask some favour, or to be exempted from the penalty due to some heinous offence :-shall we then, through pride or indifference to the sanctity of the occasion, neglect to do the same, when we are about to implore the favour and protection of Him, who is 'King of kings, and Lord of lords,"-whom we have so grievously offended, and without whose free pardon, we can never hope to be spared the

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punktment due to our sins, much less so inbert the remaria of chedience!

My fellow Christians, let me suce more urge upon you, in conclusion, the paramount importance of, and the incalculable benefit to be dentel from, constant and earnest prayer. We are told in Scripture that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avalleth much; and if you should be ever at a loss as to the direction of your thoughts or the choice of your language, remember that the same Scripture assures us, that “the Spirit helpeth our infirmities;"-that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but that the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered 2." Think how very weak and helpless you are by nature; and that not only your present peace of mind, but your future and eternal happiness, depends on the grace of God; which grace, believe me, will never be imparted to you, unless you seek it. But "the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him-to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and will save them "."

James v. 16. 2 Rom. viii. 26. 3 Psalm cxlv. 18, 19.

Still it is only through his Son Jesus Christ, that your prayers must be offered up, and that your complaints will be wafted to the regions above. He is our appointed Mediator and Advocate with the Father: his office, is to present our petitions at the throne of grace, and to make them acceptable with the Lord Jehovah. “Having, therefore, brethren, boldness," as the Apostle says, "to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near, in full assurance of faith 1.” And doubt not, that a compassionate God, who "is not extreme to mark what is done amiss,” and whose door of mercy is ever open to him that knocketh, "will hear you from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand3."

1 Heb. x. 19-22.

2 Psalm xx. 6.

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