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EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

[We have been specially requested to insert the following invitation to prayer, published by the British Organization of the Evangelical Alliance. We do so with real pleasure, knowing that many who do not approve the Alliance, will cordially sympathise with this invitation.]

'The God of peace and love has disposed many Christians to unite, for the purpose of promoting brotherly love among all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, in order to advance Evangelical Protestantism, to withstand infidelity, Romanism, and profaneness, to discountenance all things contrary to brotherly love, and to foster a spirit of prayer for these ends.

'Those who have been engaged in this effort feel and acknowledge their own weakness and insufficiency. They fully accord with those who most depreciate their ability, as far as it regards themselves, to accomplish this work. Looking at all the mighty enemies to Evangelical Protestantism in this day, they would adopt the words of Jehoshaphat,—“ O our God, we have no might against this great company, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee."

In this spirit the Alliance passed the following resolution: "That as the Christian union which this Alliance desires to promote can only be attained through

the blessed energy of the Holy Spirit, it be recommended to the members present, and absent brethren, to make this matter the subject of simultaneous weekly petitions at the throne of grace, in their closets and families; and the forenoon of Monday is suggested as the time for that purpose. And that it be farther recommended, that THE WEEK BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST LORD'S DAY IN JANUARY, BE OBSERVED BY THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE ALLIANCE, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AS A SEASON FOR CONCERT IN PRAYER, ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT OBJECTS CONTEMPLATED IN THE ALLIANCE."

'The design of this address is to call the attention of Christians to this duty. We hope that we may gain many prayers from beloved brethren who have as much at heart as we have, the objects for which we unite : but who do not yet feel at liberty to join us. And we desire to stir up, by way of remembrance, our brethren in the Alliance, to give especially the first week in next January to much prayer. The reasons for prayer are

many.

'The peaceful and happy effects which have already resulted from this effort have all been connected with much prayer. All its future success rests wholly with the Lord. Without his favour it must come to nothing. With his favour it will increase in blessings to every part of the Church of Christ.

'Prayer will strengthen Christians to withstand the mighty foes which are now gathering against them on every side. It will help them to attain the great character of Christians as the salt of the earth, and to fulfil the great work of Christians, overcoming evil with good.

'Precious promises are given to us in the word of

God to show that He will, in the last days, pour out of his Spirit on all flesh, which may greatly encourage us to pray. God will be inquired of by his people to do this for them. And how blessed is the fruit of that Spirit, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance!" How full the heavenly joy of gaining, through prayer, the large increase of this fruit!

'Prayer assuredly obtains these blessings. Nothing in heaven or earth is more certain than the answer of faithful prayer. Our Lord's words cannot be broken: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

"Confessions of our sinfulness in times past, and deep humiliation before God for our own personal offences against the law of love, are most of all important for perfected union. We all need more of the work of the Spirit to convince us of sin. As this is given in answer to prayer, and as the same Spirit takes of the things of Christ and shows them to us, we shall be brought near to each other with a reality and closeness of union far beyond what we have yet realized.

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'Nor let us forget to add much thanksgiving. Many prayers have already been heard; many blessings have been already bestowed. We have had a more successful course hitherto than we could have anticipated. Let us abound in praise.

'It is a mighty conflict in which we are engaged and "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints," is our real strength for the conflict. The Roman Catholics feel this as well as ourselves. They have, under the sanction of the Arch

bishop of Paris, formed a Roman Catholic concert for prayer, for the conversion of England to their religion. They not only supplicate God for our conversion, but ask the virgin and Apostles, and other saints, to pray for England. All who do so may gain Roman indulgences. We would give many of them credit for kind intentions in such prayers, while firm in our own convictions of the apostacy of the Roman Church, and that a fearful curse and the judgments of God on our country would follow the results which they are seeking for. Balaam of old sought by his prayers and sacrifices to overthrow Israel, and the Lord turned what was intended as a curse into a blessing. May He graciously now also turn the prayers made to him for the overthrow of the Protestant faith, into its fuller establishment!

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'But surely this example may well rouse Protestant Christians to more fervent prayer for Evangelical Churches as well as for Roman Catholics. lemn appeal made again to the Most High. When the priests of Baal met Elijah, and each joined in sacrifices and prayer, God then openly manifested himself in behalf of his true servant. Let us, like Elijah, with lively faith and earnest zeal, call upon our God, and he will also appear for us and send showers of blessing on the true Israel of God.

'Christians are, then, earnestly entreated to intercede for the union of real Christians before the throne of grace in private, family, and social prayer. If ministers, also, judge it good for their people, let them bring this duty of family prayer before their flocks, and offer up united prayers for the manifested and increased union of true Christians.

'Fellow Christians, God will bless our effort of love far beyond our largest thoughts, if “

you also help together by prayer for us ;" and then, "for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf."

'London, Dec. 31st, 1846.'

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