hears you, if it is but a sigh, or a groan: He counts all the steps you take to a throne of grace: There is not a more lovely sight, nor one that is more pleasing to God, than to see a little child on its knees in prayer to God.

I am now going to relate some of the most remarkable prayers. Susan's prayer-Then they all kneeled down, and were all very attentive to hear the little girl pray for her father in this way-"O God, my heavenly Father, I love thee, because thou art always good; and I hope my other father will be good too; and then my heavenly Father will love him, and make him. happy: O make him good, and we shall all be happy." The effect of this prayer on her father was very great.

Joseph's prayer-a little boy used the following words- Now, O Lord, save me, a sinful child, and a vile sinner: I know I have sinned against thee many times: O Lord, I would not have sinned against thee if I could have helped it: O Lord, I wish I had not; do hear, O Lord save me, a poor sinful child: Christ was crucified, dear Lord, save me for his sake: O this soul of mine, that must be in Heaven or hell forever: Keep me this day, and month, and year; and if I should live twenty, or forty years, help me to live to thy glory."

Elizabeth's prayer-A little girl of this name, said to her teacher, a little before she died, "Farewell my friend, my ever dear teach

K

er; the last prayer I make to God shall be for you; and whenever your Saviour calls you home, I will (if he permits me) with pleasure come out of the golden gates to meet you, when your soul leaves the body, and join the angels in conducting you to our Immanuel."

John's prayer-A little boy who was bitten. by a mad dog; when informed, the doctor was sent for, but he closing his eyes and folding his hands, said, "O my God, thou canst do more for me than the doctors can; thou hast washed me in the blood of the Lamb, take me to thyself; I shall not stay long now, I must die and go to the bosom of my Jesus."

"To Heaven can reach the softest words,
A child's repenting prayer;

For tears are seen, and sighs are heard,
And thoughts regarded there."

But what shall I say to those who never pray; who rise in the morning and lie down in the evening, and never utter one single word to God at all? My dear children, where do you sit? what are your names? what, not pray to God! I do not know how to pray. Have you parents? Yes. Well, do they not teach you to pray? No. Do they ever pray? I never heard them. Ah, my dear children, I pity you. O ye praying children, hear this-here are children who never prayed to God in their lives! O, pray for them, that the Lord would teach them to pray their minds are ignorant of

Christ, and religion, and heavenly things. Is it not a pleasing thing to think, that God has promised to give his own Holy Spirit, to instruct and teach you how to pray? Do you not read in the Bible, if fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? You, my dear children, who never yet prayed to God, have only to use the words of the text as a prayer; and to put up the prayer the publican, saying "Lord be merciful to me a sinner." You have need to say, with Mary Turner, Lord give me a new heart. What whisper is that I hear? "Lord teach us to pray."

"Lord teach a little child to pray,
Thy grace betimes impart;
And grant thy Holy Spirit may
Renew my infant heart.

"A sinful creature I was born,
And from the birth I stray'd;
I must be wretched and forlorn
Without thy mercy's aid.

"But Christ can all my sins forgive,
And wash away their stain;
And fit my soul with him to live,
And in his kingdom reign.

"To him let little children come,
For he hath said they may;
His bosom then shall be their home,
Their tears he'll wipe away.

of

"For all who early seek his face,
Shall surely taste his love;
Jesus shall guide them by his grace,
To dwell with him above. "

LECT. VII.-The Way to be Wise.

JOHN v. 39.-Search the Scriptures.

My dear young friends,

THE Bible is the best book in the world: It is the only book that can make you truly wise and truly good. It may well be compared to a river, whose waters, in some places, are so shallow that a lamb may walk through it, and in other places, so deep that an elephant may swim. It is not to be compared with any other book, not only because it speaks the truth alone, but because it changes the heart, and raises the thoughts from earth to Heaven. It has no trifling stories, as many other books have; even those parts which relate the histories of good and bad men, are full of excellent lessons of instruction. Here are lessons for the young, as well as for their parents lessons which teach us God's love to early piety: this we see in the calling of Samuel, while yet a child; and his hatred to young sinners in sending his judgments upon the sons of Eli. A

martyr who was condemned to die for his love to God and his regard for the Bible, when he was come to the stake, took his final leave of all things here below in these affecting words"Farewell, sun and moon: farewell all the beauties of creation, and all the comforts of life farewell my dear friends: farewell my beloved relations: and farewell thou precious' Book of God."

David the king of Israel, made this public' declaration-that the word of God was more to him than thousands of gold and silver; sweeter to him than honey or the honey comb. How precious the Bible must be: It is the book from God? Yes, it is certain that God has giv en you the Bible; and what the Bible says you are to regard as the Word of God; as his voice speaking to you: you are told and taught to believe this, because in 2 Tim. iii. 16. it is thus written, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righte ousness." Wicked men say, and pretend to believe the Bible is not true, only because they wish it so; and when it reproves them for sin, they curse the book, and would, if they dare, throw it in the fire. A party of young men, who were exceedingly wicked, met together one evening, and in the midst of their wickedness, madness and folly, they came to an awful resolution to burn the Bible accordingly a large