believe not the great things, which will assuredly come, and and may come soon on the earth: many give no heed to an event so stupendous in its consequences, so exciting in its nature; others regard it with vague uncertainty and doubt, because the precise or definite time cannot be given. God's will and purpose being hidden from all, "No man knoweth but the Father, that day or that hour;" but it will nevertheless come at the appointed moment, come as a thief in the night, when there shall be marrying, and giving in marriage. That the children of this world should give no heed to what must be only a forboding to themselves, can be no matter of wonder or surprise, but that those who love their Saviour, feel his preciousness, desire communion and fellowship with him on earth, should remain apathetic and uninfluenced, is extraordinary; Was it so in the days of the apostles? did they not in their inspired epistles, recommend this truth to the christians then living, that they should then be looking forward, and obtain such a realizing anticipation of the glory to be realized, as should actuate forcibly and permanently, their thoughts, conduct, and conversation and enable them increasingly to live above, and beyond this world sustained amid afflictions, persecutions, and trials, by a hope at once animating and consoling. We find this even in the expectation of an earthly friend, whom we love and cherish in fond memory; how encouraging and soothing when the meeting draws nigh; shall the Christian not indulge and keep alive in his own heart those fervent desires, those heavenly affections, this hope of all others inspires? To see him whom their souls love; to behold the King in his beauty; no longer the man of sorrows, but the triumphant Conqueror. How cheering, how blessed the thought? The adored one, the chief among ten thousand, the altogether lovely; who has revealed himself hitherto by his spirit in the hearts of his children, to come among them;

to be seen by them, eye to eye, face to face. This is a theme beyond expression glorious. We cannot now speak more of it or of the brightness of this coming. But let our spirits rise at the future, and casting away doubt, fear, and trembling, let us go on our way rejoicing. Soon shall the words be addressed to each poor fainting, yet humble and sincere, soul, "Come thou blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you." Precious Saviour! we will look up in faith, waiting for thee, day by day. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and reign upon this earth; and prepare thy people to receive thee with a joyful welcome. Blessed is that servant who shall be found ready waiting for his Lord when he appeareth in that great day.

ON PRAYER.

PART I.

"Pray without ceasing."-1 Thess. v. 17.

WHAT is prayer? "The breath of new born saints." An evidence of spiritual life, and as such, as essential to its existence as the air we breathe is essential to natural life. It is, moreover, the means, and the only means, available to the believer, of communication between heaven and earth; between all the persons of the Deity and the soul of the Christian. Prayer is the channel through which the desires, and feelings, and hopes, and affections of the renewed heart go out after Christ; and through which the sweet accents of a Redeemer's love, and the manifestations of his presence, are realized in the soul. Prayer is the ladder which Jacob saw in vision, on which the angels of God ascended and descended; bearing the devout and earnest desires of the soul

up to the throne of God, and returning with gracious answers of peace. Its use is beautifully described in the words,

"Prayer was appointed to convey,

The blessings God designs to give;

And while they live should Christian's pray,
For only while they pray they live."

God has made in his word "exceeding great and precious promises" to his people, but he was determined that their fulfilment shall be received through the medium of prayer. "Yet," says he, "for all these things will I be enquired of by the house of Israel to do them."

But what is prayer? In attempting to give a still more particular answer to this question, I am anxious to come down to the state and condition of the weak and trembling saintto the babes in Christ. Many there are of this class who often think that they have never as yet prayed at all. What shall be said to such ? how shall we describe the holy exercise of prayer so as to meet their case? Can we possibly do it better than in the language of the poet, when he sang,

"Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near ?"

When Christ takes possession of a sinner's heart by his spirit, and brings him to see, and to feel, that he is wholly undone, exposed to the eternal wrath of an offended God, and that nothing he can do will avert the destruction that seems ready every moment to overwhelm him; and when in connection with this he hears the proclamation of pardon through the blood of the Lamb, with what intense desire will he seek to learn something of the Saviour, that he may experience his pardoning love, and be saved from the wrath to come. How many a sigh will then ascend to heaven; how many a tear

will then fall; what an anxious uplifting of the eye towards the throne of God, if but a faint ray of light and hope may irradiate the dark horizon of his soul. His feelings may be too big for utterance; but a longing and panting after mercy and forgiveness will be the burden of them all. O! this will be real prayer, and such as will come up with acceptance before the Majesty on High; and with respect to which, angels will exult and say, "Behold! he prayeth."

And not only at these seasons of first awakening will this be the case, but through the whole course of the Christian's warfare, when he is assailed by the fiery darts of the tempter, in their varied and diversified forms; or when under the load of fresh contracted guilt, brought on the conscience by departures from God, either in heart or in life, or under the pressure of heavy trials, with what ardent longings will the truly living soul seek unto God in such seasons, in its fervent desires and groanings after help, and deliverance from the hand of the mighty God of Jacob. Indeed, there is often a much greater amount of real prayer in these outburstings of soul; these thirstings after God, in the various aspects of love and mercy, in which he has revealed himself to his saints, than when words readily, and, alas, sometimes thoughtlessly, flow in a smooth and even current from the lips. O! for the spirit of a wrestling Jacob, and the success of a prevailing Israel.

Surely, the healthful and thriving state of the soul, in spiritual things, can only be experienced in earnest, secret, outgoings of the soul after God. In being under the pervading influence of the feeling which filled David's soul, when he said, "As the heart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul longeth for God-for the living God." And in proportion, as God confers on his children a deep, abiding, and feeling sense of their own utter weakness, helplessness, and want, will the frame of mind be kept alive, which will make it our habitual and most

delightful exercise to be "instant in prayer." And how blessed is it to know and feel by happy experience, that the throne of grace is accessible at all times, and from all places -at home or abroad-in sickness or in health-in prosperity or adversity-and that,

The "

"Where there is a heart to pray,

There is a God to hear."

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords," has revealed himself as a Father in Christ Jesus, to whom, in this endearing character, we are privileged with access, under all circumstances, through our glorious elder Brother, who is also our Advocate and Intercessor before the throne.

(Part II. in April.)

BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS" VERSIFIED,
BY THE LATE GEORGE BURDER.

(Continued from page 32.)
BOOK XI.

Christian and Hopeful reach the Enchanted Ground, which they pass over safely-Hopeful relates his conversion and experience-They arrive at the charming country of Beulah; whence they have delightful prospects of the celestial City.

With hopes of glory now their songs abound,

When presently they reach th' Enchanted Ground:
The narrow way with caution due they keep,
But Hopeful found himself inclined to sleep,
Some drowsy property the air possess'd,
Which strangely prompted men to wish for rest.
"Christian," said he," your company I prize,
But find I cannot open keep my eyes.

Let us lie down and rest while here we can,
For sleep is pleasant to a lab'ring man.'

(a.)

(a.) By the Enchanted Ground, the Author seems such a state of pros perity and ease, as may incline the Christian to slumber and neglect the