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for an opportunity of pouring out his soul in secret prayer before the Lord.

It has been not unfrequently acknowledged by those who minister in holy things, and not without the deepest regret, that the attention which must necessarily be paid in public to external forms and ceremonies, has an unhappy tendency to diminish that sweet sense of fellowship with God, which is the highest privilege of every spiritual worshipper. And hence, on withdrawing from the great congregation, they are generally accustomed to return to their beloved retirement with increased desire. In speaking to their brethren in the name of the Lord, they fulfil an imperative duty: but, on retiring back to their secret chamber, they return to the converse of angels and the meditation of God. Mount Carmel had been that day made the scene of Elijah's triumph over the enemies of his Lord; and now, on reascending the mountain, he seems to have felt a strong desire that the scene of his public honours should also become that of his private devotions. The whole interval of the prophet's retirement appears

to have been dedicated to the exercise of prayer and what I have further. at this time to offer, will consist of a few observations on the probable character of that prayer.

First-The prayer of Elijah was the prayer of deep humility and reverence.

This seems to be signified by the posture in which he presented his petition: he cast himself upon the earth before the sovereign Majesty of heaven. When we approach God in prayer, we enter the presence chamber of the Great King, where every thing tends to remind us of our weakness and insufficiency, the guilt we have contracted, and the condemnation we have incurred. If ever a humble and lowly demeanour becomes the servant of God, it must be on such an occasion as this, when he presents himself before the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, surrounded with wants and oppressed with a sense of his own innumerable imperfections. Our reconciled God and Father does indeed discover himself to

us seated upon a throne of grace, and extending towards us the golden sceptre of his

love: but these condescending appearances have a tendency rather to melt and subdue the heart than to generate in it an intemperate boldness, or to encourage it to an unbecoming familiarity. A sacred consciousness of the divine presence can hardly fail to pull down every high thought, and fill the mind with such an awful sense of Jehovah's power and glory, as Jacob felt, when he cried out on his awaking from his dream at BethelSurely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. How dreadful is this place! surely this is none other than the house of God, the gate of heaven! It was thus with Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. When the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, proclaimed himself from the burning bush, Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. A like appearance was presented by those indescribable Seraphim, which Isaiah saw in the temple engaged in an act of high and holy worship-they covered their faces with their wings. It is thus likewise with those children of the kingdom, who have already obtained the promised inheritance-They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to

receive glory and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created. And with these accord the whole manner and deportment of Elijah on presenting his importunate petition to the God of Israel—he cast himself down upon the earth.

Let us learn then, my brethren, from these instances, as often as we appear before God in this house of prayer, to adopt such positions and attitudes as may serve to manifest the unfeigned reverence we entertain for the Father of Spirits, in connexion with the deepest conviction of our own vanity and nothingness.

Secondly-I proceed to notice the subject of Elijah's prayer.

Subjects of prayer are as endless as our cares, our wants, and our afflictions. There is not a pain we feel, nor a loss we endure, nor a trial we undergo, but we may come and cast them all at his feet, whose ears are not heavy that they cannot hear, nor his hand shortened that it cannot save. Our personal feelings, our family concerns, our professional undertakings, and our secret

desires, may all be disclosed to him without hesitation or reserve. He will condescend to all our weaknesses, and listen to all our complaints; yea, he will minutely record all our petitions, whether they relate to the soul or the body, to time or eternity, in that book of remembrance which is ever before him. There is nothing too inconsiderable to claim his notice, there is nothing too difficult for his power to accomplish. Whether our requests are of a public or private nature, they find equal acceptance with him: though it may be reasonably supposed, that he who has commanded us to love as brethren, and to bear one another's burthens, would have us often to bring before him the difficulties and distresses of the land in which we sojourn, and the people whom we dwell.

among

The language employed by the prophet on this occasion is not recorded, but the subject of his prayer may be easily conceived; it was doubtless the unparalleled public distress of the times. The drought predicted by Elijah had now continued three years and six months, without the least apparent abatement, and unaccom

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