Yes; Moses seemed almost to stand between God and the children of Israel, while they were in the wilderness. A great many times, the Lord threatened to destroy them for their wickedness; but then Moses would pray for them, and the Lord would forgive their sin. After the Lord had given them the ten commandments, while Moses was up in the mountain with God, the people made a calf of gold, and called it their god, and worshipped it. And the Lord said to Moses, 'I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiffnecked people. Now, therefore, let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.' But Moses prayed for them, and said, 'Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of, will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.'

999

"And did the Lord hear his prayer, mother?"

"Yes; he heard his prayer, and did not destroy the people. And many times after this, when the people provoked the Lord, in the wilderness, Moses prayed for them, and they were saved. There is one class of persons, my dear, that the

Bible says you must pray for, which I have not mentioned."

"Who are they, mother?"

"Your enemies, my dear; those who hate and abuse you."

"But how can I pray for those who treat me so, mother?"

"If you feel right, you can do it. Our Saviour says you must ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.' And he has set us the example. He died for those who were his enemies; and while he hung on the cross, he prayed even for his murderers, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And the first man that was put to death for being a follower of Jesus, imitated his example. Stephen prayed for his murderers, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.'"

"Well, mother, when the disciples. asked Jesus to teach them to pray,

he gave them the Lord's prayer Must I always say the Lord's prayer, and nothing else, when I pray?"

"Jesus told them to pray‘after this manner.' But he did not mean that they should always say just the same words. If he had meant this, his disciples would have done so; but, very soon after he left them, we find them using other words, to express their particular desires. Before choosing a man to fill the place of Judas, as one of the apostles, they prayed, and said, 'Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.' And the prayer of the disciples, after Peter and John had been threatened, is in their own words."

"But what did Christ mean by giving us this form of prayer, if it

was not that we should

say

the same

words?"

"I suppose he meant to give it to us as a kind of pattern, to show us how to pray, and what things to pray for; and if you consider every part of it carefully, you will find it takes in almost every thing.'

"Well, mother, do tell me all about it. What may I learn from the beginning of it, 'Our Father, who art in heaven?" "

"This teaches you to come to God, as a little child comes to its father. How do you go to your father, when you want him to give you any thing?"

"I first think whether he will be willing to give me what I want. Then I am afraid of displeasing him, so I am careful to come in such a way as to show that I reverence him. And I know my father loves me, and that he will always give me what I want, if he thinks it best. So I go to him with confidence, and tell him