half their population involved. And then again, there is the cause of education, in all its branches, the abolition of war and slavery, and despotism, and superstition; together with the abrogation of struggling sects and parties, in the one church of God. Human governments the best of them, must be made over again; and legislation regenerated. In short we have but begun to tell the things, which have to be gained by prayer and labor, before this world can be converted to Christ.

Now while we should still hold fast our attachment to the wholesome proverb, "one thing at a time," we ought to know, that all these things are in their turn, to be made the subjects of brief remark and special prayer. How then can there be any want of employment for the concert hour? And how can the right observance of this hour, fail of furnishing matter of prayer for every day, till the month shall again come round? It was in view of scenes like these, that the Psalmist uttered that most wonderful prayer, with which I close this article, as you find it in the 72d Psalm. "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory, Amen, and Amen. The Prayers of David the son of Jesse can grasp no more," are ended, or have their limit.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Frequency of Prayer-meetings.

The benefits of Prayer-meetings are vitally affected by a consideration not yet attended to.

It is a matter of some delicacy and some difficulty, to decide, how often it is advisable for the members of a church to meet for social prayer. Some in their zeal may say, it is impossible to meet too often; for as prayer is the most important business of life, there is no danger of praying to much. This is indeed, in a qualified sense true, and yet in such a way, as in no manner to decide the question proposed.

It is not to determine, how much prayer is desirable, but how many meetings for the purpose. It is a point not difficult of proof, that the frequeney of meetings, may diminish the amount of prayer.

We are interested to know, how frequently at what times, and for what length of time, Christians generally can leave their regular business and their family arrangements, and assemble for social prayer.

4

If prayermee tings and seasons of brotherly conference be holden too seldom, the members will lose the spirit, and remembrance of them, and their habits will become so entirely worldly, that they will either neglect attendance, or come without preparation, for profiting others, or being profited by them. This, however, will depend very much on pains taken to keep up attention to the subject, on the part of the pastor and others..

But if too frequent, these meetings become inconvenient to many, interfering with their necessary concerns, or leaving them no time for any other social intercourse; so that they will be neglected by many, and attended by others with reluctance, as a matter of duty.

These extremes should be avoided, so that the remembrance of one meeting, may be retained till another arrives; and yet, that the recurrence should not only be welcome but waited for. Something less than half the members of a church, it is believed, ordinarily attend the occasional meetings of the week, and those who do attend, are generally the same individuals. It is worthy of enquiry now, whether in some cases, one meeting in a week, instead of more, would not secure a better attendance; and whether the gain to those who now absent themselves, would not be greater than the loss,

if any loss there would be; to those who are now constant in their places. This point has been introduced, not with a view of finding some uniform rule; but rather for the purpose of inducing inquiry, on the subject, and efforts every where, to give to prayer-meetings, their largest and best influences; as well by regulating their frequency, as their management. It is sometimes an excellent plan, to have a weekly lecture, introduced by a short prayermeeting. As to the length of time a prayermeeting should continue, a word is enough. In all ordinary cases, if such a meeting has not answered its end, by continning an hour, it is in vain to prolong it. If it has produced its end, then it is time to stop.

It is worthy of remembrance also, that in some instances, if stated public weekly meetings were less frequent, there might be more, private neighborhood and family prayer-meetings, some of the best meetings in the world. Probably these interviews, have a greater influence, in causing brotherly love and spiritual acquaintanceship, to abound, than any other means, that have been employed. They seem to render religion an every day, home concern. We are greatly mistaken, if the seeds of revival, are not often sown and nourished here unseen by the world, till they make their ap

pearance on some more public arena. For in regard to revivals, it is to be noticed, that many who figure in them largely after their developments were not found among those who mourned and wept, and labored and prayed in Zion's days of darkness.

It will be well for us also with unprejudiced minds, to look at another fact, viz: That meetings are likely to be much neglected, in a time of religious declension, and too much multiplied, when the public mind becomes awakened to spiritual things. By looking at such a fact before hand, we may learn to exercise proper caution in the avoidance of these extremes.

Feeling will and must have much to do in these matters, but Judgment should always hold the reins.