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nor strive to make ourselves too familiar with the ways of the Almighty. After what we have said, and with the principles. unfolded and illustrated in this book, we shall leave it to the reader to decide for himself. Surely such a thing can be done; we understand sufficiently even the ways and means. "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (Psalm, 37: 3, 5.) And greater wonders than these shall He do, if only we will be childlike and pure. I have not adduced the above instances because they are the most important; by no means; for the concerns of the soul are of far more consequence than the wants of these perishing bodies; but because, from their material nature, they are so palpable and visible; we cannot see so plainly what is done for the soul; it never will be seen till the book of life is all unrolled in eternity, and the Lord is manifest in his judgments. But that similar things are done, and that by prayer, is known very well. Perhaps, when we stand upon the eminences of the immortal country, and look back to see how wonderfully we have been led, we may recognize some of these very means. Indeed, if there is any truth in the Word, any efficacy at all in the divine instrumentalities so numerously employed, we may rationally expect that some of the most efficient will be those which have operated in the deepest secrecy ; -the very sacredness of which, concealed in the inmost of the human soul, and in many unobserved experiences, have kept them from the common gaze

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of man.

To return to the generalities and principles of our subject, we have now an answer to that frivolous objection which is sometimes put, that prayer is nothing without work. Who does not perceive from the premises, that prayer itself is a work a labor of the spirit, and that the body's working is nothing but an effect and correspondent of this working of the spirit? Thus, that the body is stimulated by influx flowing into it from the spirit, by which the hands are made to labor,

and the whole man to be active in the cause of the soul. To be sure, prayer is comparatively nothing without work, but we have abundant evidence to prove that by this work of the spirit alone, the most surprising effects have resulted from prayer, by that strong influx flowing in from the heavens, by which many a man is not only refreshed and strengthened, his feet set agoing in the right direction, and his hands too, but by which also, without stirring a single step, others have been blessed by his prayers, and even at a distance, without the distant one knowing any thing about it. Cannot a swift angel go, and by as simple an operation as that by which we ask a man to go, to our friend or enemy at a distance, (for the heavens are all-communicative,) and implant his blessing on the desired head? Therefore there is a benefit in praying for one another, both near and at a distance. It was in a similar connection that Peter was influenced, while he was at Joppa, and Cornelius who prayed was at Cesarea, and the men who came with Peter had not yet come to the house. (Acts, 10.)

Let us never despise or disparage this privilege and necessity of labor, but let us ever remember that there are circumstances of such extreme difficulty and embarrassment, and perhaps many ordinary occasions in human experience, where the soul is so hedged in by the divine providence, that it can do nothing but be still and pray, and see the salvation of God! It is a most omnipotent instrument in the hand of every sincere believer.

Again, prayers for the sick and afflicted may also prove greatly instrumental. And it cannot be doubted that were men purer and more believing than they are, more surprising effects would follow. There is no doubt that some of the cases called miraculous, reported in the Catholic Church, were truly and worthily operated. And the gift was also with the early Christians. What is it, in fact, but a certain transfer of the divine magnetic properties, by which the currents of disease are arrested, and life sent flowing through its healthy channels?

Or more specifically, perhaps, by the expulsion of those evil. spirits who infest the sick person, and who cannot endure the sphere of the Lord from the man who thus looks to Him in behalf of the afflicted? That diseases generally furnish points of attraction for evil spirits, even if not immediately caused by them, is thus evidenced in the case of some with whom Paul had to do. "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts, 19: 11, 12.) When, therefore, it is written "Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up," (James, 5: 14, 15,) there is no reason for disbelieving it. But the people of those days had a church that was a church, and such works of the spirit had not departed from it. It may come to us again. Yea, there is every reason to think so. These are not miracles, but the appropriate powers of a church, particularly of the New Church that is to be, when it shall become more spiritual, in the exercise of powers from the sphere of the Divine Humanity.

I know of a man who is accustomed to private, secret prayer, when he goes about to effect any object, and when he is conversing with others in regard to it, and who has assured himself that he has stood and watched the influence, and seen the countenance change upon the person he was in conference with, as by thoughts and feelings flowing in from above.

But in conclusion we would remark of this whole subject, that notwithstanding the prayer or desire is so essential, and so crowned with success, the primary essential of all prayer is a good life. The desires of the heart are indeed always according to the quality of the life. We can only truly pray for that which we most truly live, heart's secret, its delight and love.

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seen, that if we do not ultimate into actual life, or striving, what we pray for, we do not most sincerely and deeply pray. The life therefore is the prayer, most thoroughly of all; for when it is true, the man is continually in the desire and endeavor to receive of the Divine influx, and does receive it, and is directed most faithfully in the paths of providence, although unconscious of the means. His whole life, therefore, may be a continual prayer, and more full of true worship than the most unfeigned devotions of the closet or the temple.

Finally, we need not wonder at the effects which have been ascribed to prayer, in all ages of the church. If we have become more rational and intellectual, let us beware that we quench not the spirit in the cold waters of truth. We need it, humbly, patiently, perseveringly. Nothing is more dangerous than to become so philosophical as to be impractical. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." And if we

have succeeded in presenting this matter so as to encourage any one to a more prayerful spirit, our labor will have been not in vain. Confident we are, it is a great secret of success in many an adventure, many a danger, many a trial, many a complete life. God cannot do for us without it, any more than we can do for ourselves.

But the grand prayer of all is, next to a good life, “Thy will be done." If we are in this state, then, even though we may not have answered to us all the prayers of the heart, we may be more thoroughly assured of the answer of so much; and that is all that man really needs. And frequently, when we have long and earnestly sought, and ardently desired of God to bless us in this or that particular manner, it is not granted according to our requests, because it would not be good for us; but in another way, and when we are not thinking of it. Thus it is that we have power with God by our prayers. Nothing is plainer, nothing simpler. Here is philosophy, and here is faith; and it is high time they were put at one. And to say

nothing here of mere forms, which may be left to every individual to settle for himself, a praying spirit is a mighty spirit - a spirit at one with the deep secrets of the universe, and at one with God: and man, so feeble and so sinful, yea, and even a little child, is gifted with a power in the heaven of heavens, to array Omnipotence on the side of its interests, and live like an angel defended from on high.

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