The circumftances which call for this kind of prayer are too many and various to be enumerated-our perfonal circumftances, thofe of our connections and friends, of our people, of the church and world. Daily occurrences afford occafion through the day to look up to heaven. We know not what a day, an hour or moment may bring forth. Our circumftances, or those of others, may be greatly changed in an instant. Will you wait for the return of the hour of prayer, before you ftir up any devout emotions fuited to fuch change of circumftances? Rather lift up your fouls to God, in prayer or praise, according to the occafion. If there is time or opportunity only for the shortest ejaculation; or if even this cannot be expreffed in words, yet the fentiments and defires of the foul may afcend to God.

There are circumftances in which the special interpofition of God can alone extricate-circumftances which leave us no human refource. While we are wholly at ease, and think that no evil or danger is nigh, we may, in an inftant, be exercised with torturing pain: Or a fignal misfortune may befal us: Or an esteemed friend or relative may be removed inftantly. We may be preffed by fome ftrong temptation; or may be in a fituation, wherein the measures we immediately adopt may be followed with important and lafting effects. These are circumstances which cannot be foreseen or provided for. We are in a manner impelled to fly to God for direction, fupport and relief. Has excruciating bodily pain fuddenly attacked us, while we were wholly at ease? Are we fallen, in a moment, from eafy circumftances to indigence? Does our enemy triumph in our wrong? Is our heart, from a full tide of joy, overwhelmed with forrow? Is our way hedged up, fo that we fee not what courfe to fteer? Or are we in imminent danger? It is a privilege, in fituations like to the above mentioned, that the heart may be poured out to him who is a very present help in trouble.

Societies, families, individuals, may, at an unthought of hour, be involved in the deepeft diftrefs. In fuch cafe, a juft concern for perfonal fafety, or the fafety of our dependents or people, will be expreffed by our prayer, without delay, to the Difpofer of events. If rael, on leaving Egypt, were purfued by the strength of that kingdom. Deftruction ftared them in the face, what way foever they looked. No other than the immediate hand of God could deliver. Mofes, full of faith, faid, "Fear not. Stand ftill, and ye fhall fee "falvation of the Lord this day." Then God arose, divided the sea for his people to pass through, and brought it back upon their purfuers.

They who jeopard their lives on the high places of the field, may, in the time of action, address the God of armies to fhield them. A foldier may be devout as well as brave. Piety is the fureft bafis of valour. The mariner in a tempeft may pray to him whom winds and feas obey, as Peter beginning to fink, "Lord, fave us, we perish." He has much occafion for pious ejaculation, while "mounting up to the heavens, and go

ing down to the depths, and at his wits end." The peftilence walketh in darknefs, unknown in its rife and progrefs. Does this rage? Are the flain of the Lord multiplied? Do all faces gather palenefs? And fhall not all give themselves to prayer?

Are you at any time on the borders of fin, from the enticement of vicious companions, or the luft of your own heart, or the fudden affault of a great temptation? Pray immediately for a way to escape.

Do fuch embarrafiments attend you, that you are perplexed to determine on the courfe of prudence and duty? A mind toffed with doubts and folicitude may pour out tears unto God. Looking to him it is lightened.

Are you in a fituation to do effential fervice to your friends or people? At the fame time, muft your exertions, in the present situation of their affairs, fubject

you to great felf-denial and hazard? No courfe can be fo proper as prayer, that God would give you wisdom, ftrength and fortitude to fulfil the good offices which they need from you.

Beside special mercies or afflictions, which call for the duty we speak of, events of common and daily occurrence call for it. The good man attends to the univerfal course of providence. Pious thoughts and wishes poffefs his mind in the house and by the way, in whatever business he is employed, whether he is in company or alone, His treasure, converfation and heart are in heaven. In every thing he makes known his requests unto God.

Even those who object to external worship, yet admit, in a sense, the duty of ejaculatory prayer. They admit that dependent creatures fhould cherish the fpirit of devotion. It is incumbent upon us then to cultivate inward fenfations of piety. If we do fo, we worfhip God in the fpirit. Shall we not then do his will? Internal devotion is kept alive by explicit acts of worship. The latter will degenerate into empty form, if the heart does not often afcend in pious ejaculations. On the maintenance of this kind of prayer, the improvement, if not the existence, of the Chriftian life may much depend,

A practical belief of the moral perfections and fuperintendency of God, and of the truth of the Chriftian religion, is of the highest moment. His unlimited and unintermitting government in the natural and moral world claims the attention, reverence and joy of heaven and earth. "A fparrow does not fall to the "ground without" him. "There is no wisdom, un"derstanding or counsel againft" him. He hath the hearts of all in his hand. His "eyes run to and fro "through the whole earth, that he may fhew himself "ftrong in behalf of them whofe heart is upright." To them there arifeth light in the darknefs. Joy fprings up from forrow. The things which may feem

to be against them are all meant for good. God is their refuge in affliction. "His ears are open to their prayer. He will hide them in his pavilion. They "abide under the fhadow of the Almighty. He will give grace and glory: No good thing will he with"hold from them." Such a view of God and providence, and the affections which these sentiments are adapted to excite, are awakened and strengthened by pious ejaculations, as events in our state, in that of others, or of our nation, or of the church, or of mankind may fuggeft. A ferious fenfe of God and religion will languifh, unless frequent occasion is taken, in the way we recommend, to fupply fuel to it.

If there is fuch occafion for prayer as we have remarked, let every opportunity for it be improved. Vifible objects unite with native depravity and the devices of Satan to call off the mind from fpiritual, eternal concerns. Prayer is part of the armour with which we are to withstand the wiles of the devil," our inward corruption, and the corruptions of the world. A fenfe of our infufficiency of ourselves to think, to will or to do, fhould lead us, in every thing, to apply to him of whom is all our fufficiency.

It is a mighty encouragement to pray always, that "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift "the righteous, who is the propitiation for the fin of "the whole world."

We may hope, by attention to the duty of prayer, that any special circumstances in our lives, every common event in them, every common business and action, may bring glory to God, and turn to our own best account. The acknowledgment of God in all our ways, while it is a principal mean of improvement in vital piety, will greatly contribute to the true enjoyment of life. His bleffing with the comforts of life enhances their value. Thus we enjoy God and ourselves-the confolations, fupports and hopes of religion, and our portion in this world, be it more or lefs.

Our young people will fuffer the exhortation to begin life and spend it by addreffing humble prayer to the God of their life and mercies from day to day-In the morning give yourselves up to his direction and influence through the bufinefs and temptations of the day. At evening commit yourselves to His keeping who never flumbers, who alone maketh you to dwell in fafety. Wait on him all the day. Let all your expectations be from him. Ever eye his footsteps, and follow where he leads. Be thankful for mercies, and fubmiffive under frowns. In affliction pray to him who giveth fongs in the night, who feeth your tears, and will hear your prayer-if not in the things for which you make requeft, yet in better. Give thanks to him for all things; and he will command his loving kindnefs on your profperous days. Prepare for future events; not by a folicitude to know what shall befal you in the world-whether you shall be rich or poor; or fhall take an higher or lower room-or fhall be healthy or fick. Refer these things to the Arbiter of events. Prepare then for future events, by committing your pursuits, your fouls, your all to God. Be in his fear all your life long. "For of him, and through "him, and to him are all things; to whom be glory for ever and ever." AMEN.

A..AN