his servant our king and governor, that in all his thoughts, words, and works, he may ever seek God's honour and glory. The apostle, however teaches us to pray, not only for kings, but for "all that are in authority." We are too apt to look upon those who are in authority, with sentiments of suspicion and illwill. They are men, and have their faults. But this simple truth has been perverted for the purpose of persuading us, that they have every fault; nay, that they are the blind or wilful cause of every existing evil, even of those which we have brought upon ourselves by our national sins. And even the best informed, even the most reasonable, even the most devout amongst us are too apt to give way to such delusions. Now in the midst of all these excited and angry feelings, about the imperfections of those who are set in authority over us, one question presents itself. Do we pray for them? If we do not, we unquestionably omit that which is our duty to do; and their fault is in a certain measure our own. There may be men, and men who call themselves religious, who have gone on, all their lives, murmuring against their rulers, but have never yet offered up so much as one hearty prayer on their behalf. At length then let us begin. Let us pray that the God who heareth prayer, will extend the riches of his grace to all who are set in authority over us, whether in church or state; that he will endue our princes, prelates, nobility, and magistrates, with grace, wisdom, and understanding; that he will bless them in all their labours, determinations, and public measures; and that, as sovereign Disposer of the affairs of men, he will keep them under the shadow of his wing, giving them grace to execute justice and maintain truth. But we are also to pray for mankind in general: even, as the apostle here expresses it, "for all men." With this end in view, let us learn to regard the whole human race, under two classes; that is, either as members of the church of Christ, or as those who may hereafter become so. First, then, let us pray for Christ's members. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee. Pray for the church's internal prosperity; pray for its enlargement throughout the world. Pray, with feelings of affectionate preference and partiality, for that pure and reformed part of it, whereof you are members. That peculiar communion to which we belong, has especial claims on our intercession, and on our love. Yet let us not forget, that all who worship the Father in spirit and in truth have a common interest, and are united in one head, even Christ, in whom the whole body, fitly joined together, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love, and groweth into an holy temple in the Lord. Let us pray then, for the stability and increase of this holy temple. Let us say, peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." Nor let us forget, while we pray for one portion of our brethren as already members of the church of Christ, that all the rest are capable of becoming so. Let us pray for them, therefore, with this end in view. In praying that men may be daily joined to the Lord, we have the strongest encouragements; because we are asking that, which it is fixed in the eternal purposes of the Father to accomplish. Here it may indeed be said, ask, and it shall be given you think what the Almighty has done already, think what he is now doing, think what he will do hereafter. Think of the redemption of the world by the Son of God. Think of the means of grace, and of the hope of glory. And then reflect what a boundless field for prayer, what an unspeakable and eternal weight of glory to be granted to our intercessions, what an endless fund of mercies to be asked for and received, are laid open, like an inexhaustible treasury, to the supplications of the faithful. Let us ask then; but let us know this, that we may go on asking to eternity, yet nothing that we could ask would equal what will be actually granted to our asking. Borne upward by the Spirit of God, let prayer ascend upon the wings of faith, to the very altar that stands before the throne; yet never in the soul's loftiest flight and widest range, can she compass the breadth and length, the depth and height, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge; or ask or even conceive, all that he has purposed from eternity to grant. With all our prayer and with all our faith, we realize only a transient glimpse of the stupendous scheme of mercy; and then our souls sink down again to the level of things temporal and seen. O! then let us strive in the Spirit to rise in supplication to the gates of heaven, that God may be merciful to us and bless us, and that his way may be known among all nations. Be not narrow, be not doubtful. Be large in your petitions. Let your requests extend to the measure of the universe. Utter a prayer that shall include all countries, all nations, kindreds, and languages, the present and every future generation. Let your petition be for all spiritual blessings in Christ; for infinite grace; for all joy and happiness and peace and consolation; for a full manifestation of the power of God. Nay bind not your thoughts to time, but launch into eternity. Confine them not to creation, but send them forth into the infinite of space. Ask for all you can conceive, and for all which you feel that your conceptions can never reach. And then know when your prayer is ended, that after all, your eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into your heart, the things which God hath pre ared in answer to your prayers for them that love him. And know this besides: that he has done something greater than all you have asked already; inasmuch as Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for all men, and the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. MEMORIAL, WRITTEN BY WILLIAM HEY, ESQ. ON THE DAY OF HIS SON Leeds, Monday, May 17, 1802. O most holy and glorious Lord God, who hast declared thyself gracious and merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, permit thy guilty creature to approach thee, through the mediation of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ! When I consider myself, I can draw near unto thee with no other language than that of the publican, God, be merciful to me, a sinner;' and with no other plea, than that Jesus hath died for my sins, and is risen again for my justification. Yet, thou hast graciously encouraged and commanded me to draw near to the throne of grace with humble boldness, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Thou hast permitted me to enter into covenant with thee by the endearing name of Father. I thank thee, O Lord, for thy rich grace; and bless thy name for thine unspeakable condescension. I desire to renew again my baptismal covenant with thee, which I have so I humbly pray often renewed in private, and at the holy table. that thou wouldest seal me for thine own, and give me to rejoice in the well-founded hope, that I am thy child, ransomed by the blood of my Redeemer, and renewed by the gracious influence of thy Holy Spirit. Suffer me not to deceive myself; but shew me if there be any allowed wickedness in me, and deliver me from the power of every evil. I look back with astonishment and gratitude at the abundant mercies, which thou hast shewn towards me. Thou didst call me in my youth to the knowledge of thyself, and hast delivered me from numberless snares, into which I might have fallen. Thou hast given me a help meet for me, and hast favoured me with a numerous offspring. Blessings, more than I can reckon up, have crowded upon me in quick succession. I desire to praise thee for them all. But, at this time, I would offer my most hearty and solemn thanksgiving for the mercies shewn to my dear children. Four of them thou wast pleased to call out of this dangerous and sinful world during the state of infancy. I surrendered them unto thee in thy holy ordinance of baptism, and committed them to thy disposal. Thou didst remove them, ere the pollutions of this world had led their corrupt hearts astray; and, I humbly hope, thou didst receive them to thy glory. Concerning other four whom thou hast called hence in adult age, thou hast graciously given me the most solid hopes.Though by nature children of wrath, even as others, thou wast pleased to awaken them to a sense of the odious nature of sin, and to grant them true repentance. They were early taught by thy grace to flee for refuge to the Friend of sinners: and thou didst prolong their lives till they had given clear proofs of a sound conversion. Though prepared, as I hoped, to glorify thee on earth, thou didst dispense with their services, and didst remove them hence in the beginning of their usefulness. But thy grace was with them. In their sickness, and at the approach of death, they were enabled to rejoice in thy salvation. The last of them I am this day about to commit to the silent grave, but in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection to eternal life. What shall I render to thee for all thy mercies; O that my future life might more abundantly shew forth thy praise! I commit those of my children, who yet remain, to thy fatherly care. O Lord, watch over them, and preserve them from the evil that is in the world. Enable them to glorify thee in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. And whenever they shall be called hence, may they join their deceased brothers and sisters in the world of holiness and bliss, there to magnify the wonders of redeeming love for ever. O Lord, accept graciously the renewed offering of myself to thee! Protect me in all the trials and temptations that are yet before me. Increase my love to thee and all mankind. Quicken my zeal; and enable me to look forward with holy and earnest expectation of that bliss, which thou hast prepared for thine elect. And, whenever I am called to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, look then with pity on thy languishing and dying child; support me with the consolation of thy Holy Spirit and receive me to thine eternal glory, through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ my Redeemer. Amen. WILLIAM HEY. A THUNDERSTORM. Last night the Lord visited us with a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning: in the morning I went into several houses in our little village, to try if I could discover any good it had been the means of doing amongst our poor neighbours; alas, alas! what will many do in the day of judgment when the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. O! how did the account of their various feelings as the thunder rolled, and the lightning flashed on their sight, remind me of that day of wonders, when two shall be in one bed, the one shall be taken and the other left; especially in one case, where two old women were in bed in the same house, and in the same room. One was so terrified with a guilty conscience, convinced that she was utterly unprepared to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, that in the greatest distress of mind she rose out of her bed, and (forgetting that man is as a broken reed to lean upon, that the Lord alone is a sure refuge to flee to, and a present help in time of trouble,) she fled to a neighbour for |