- Personal Religion.

FIRST CHRISTIAN PRAYER-MEETING.

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren."-ACTS. i. 11. WELL is it at times to look back and see how the first Christians. acted. Such retrospective views are often the means of doing us much good. The above passage of Holy Writ brings under our notice a prayer-meeting of the apostles and followers of the Lord Jesus.

It was a primitive prayer-meeting.-Some say it was the first Christian prayer-meeting that was held in any place. No doubt it was the first after our Lord's ascension. Most probably it was the very first conducted in His name. The apostles and believers were met together in Christ's great name for prayer and supplication. These terms are frequently used synonymously. Sometimes, however, prayer expresses petitions for needed blessings, and supplication entreaty against pending evils. They were, therefore, gathered around the throne of grace to entreat God for the sake of His Son, to grant them earthly and heavenly benefits, and to shield them from temporal and spiritual dangers. Doubtless they chiefly asked for the Spirit promised and for protection from the persecuting Jews. Like them we should meet to pray in the all-prevalent name of Jesus for requisite mercies, especially for the enlightening, quickening, sanctifying, and cheering influences of the Holy Ghost, and to supplicate in that precious name, defence from seen and unseen ills.

It was a secret-prayer-meeting.—The disciples were convened for devotion in an upper room at Jerusalem, and in private, it is thought, through fear of the Jews. What an unspeakable privilege we can meet for social prayer and for public worship without dread of interruptions or penalties! It was not always so in this country. Not a few of the oldest chapels in our land stand in byeplaces, and appear very much like private dwellings; there our worthy forefathers used to meet for united prayer and for stated worship with closed doors. At times they were broken in upon, seized, condemned, and imprisoned. Still they, like the disciples of old, continued to hold their devotional services. Under God

we owe our religions, and most, if not all, of our civil liberty to their self-denying and painful sacrifices. May we have wisdom to use aright the sacred privileges and golden opportunities which we enjoy, and which have been secured to us by the patient sufferings of our pious ancestors!

It was a large prayer meeting.—About one hundred and twenty persons were present. This, considering the infancy of the cause, cannot be deemed a small number. Some churches, much larger than that at Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost, have not so many attending their week-evening prayer-meetings. A thin attendance at such seasons betokens a low state of piety among the people in church fellowship. Hindrances there doubtless are to frequenting the Monday-night meetings for social prayer; but would not those hindrances soon be set aside if religion were flourishing in the soul? It is astonishing how obstacles diminish or increase as we feel inclined or disinclined to attend to any religious duty. Often is the blame of the smallness of the company thrown on the leaders of the people's devotions. Just, however, as the minister preaches better to a full than to a thin congregation, so the devout man prays with more fervency in a large than in a small meeting. Empty seats chill the preacher and the petitioner, and, consequently, render the preaching and the praying comparatively lifeless. Christians, encourage your beloved pastors and praying men by your constant presence, and you shall be encouraged in return by being favoured with sermons and prayers pervaded with far greater unction.

It was a united prayer-meeting." With one accord" they prayed. There was no kind of dissension among them. Peter, though he addressed the meeting, gave not the slightest indication that he assumed the authority which the Church of Rome has endeavoured to invest him with. Mary the mother of Jesus, although at the prayer-meeting, did not attempt even to direct the apostles, much less pretend that she ought to be prayed to, or that she had any weight with our Lord. Her name is here mentioned for the last time in the New Testament, and in a most incidental manner. All were of one heart and of one soul-their views and feelings and aspirations were alike-the same heavenly things they perceived, loved, and desired. Hence as to what and how they should ask of God they were all agreed. With them there were no clashing sentiments, emotions, or wishes; and, therefore, there was no disagreement concerning that which ought

to be sought, or about the mode in which it should be sought. Thus acting, they kept the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, followed Christ's suggestion in agreeing together, especially to pray in His name for Divine protection and for the Holy Ghost, and went the very way to obtain their requests. Nor may we act otherwise. In regard to the things which make for our peace there ought not to be the slightest difference among us. When we meet for prayer we should agree in our object and method of petitioning the Almighty-of course the prayers may be different in matter and in expression—and yet beg the several blessings all wish, and denote a sincere, earnest, believing, and evangelical tone which all can approve; but, if we disagree with our brethren respecting the mercies they implore, or feel disposed to listen for the purpose of criticising any praying brother, we are not likely to succeed at the throne of grace, or to have the fires of devotion increased on the altar of our hearts.

It was a continuous prayer-meeting." These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." To this duty they constantly attended. For a time many go to the prayer-meeting, and then one and another stay away till the meeting becomes depressively and discouragingly small. Not so acted the disciples; they did not begin to meet together for devotional purposes, and then after a while withdraw, but persevered in thus assembling, until they realized the fulfilment of the Father's gracious promise. Some think they met daily for the ten days till the Holy Ghost was poured out upon them from on high. Let us be like them, constant at the social prayer-meeting, and we shall surely prevail in our united application to Jehovah for His promised grace.

It was an expectant prayer meeting.-Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, he said to the eleven, "Depart not from Jerusalem; but wait for the promise of the Father." In compliance with Christ's command they stayed in the city and waited in the most becoming manner, by meeting together in a devout and expecting frame of mind, and by unitedly expressing to God their desire for the promised boon, and their expectation of receiving that boon. They did not say as some do, "Oh! the Lord has assured us that He will send the Holy Ghost; and, therefore, we need not assemble to entreat Him to verify His word," but they met and unfeignedly and hopefully prayed for the descent of the Spirit, and were thus in a condition to receive the Spirit's indispensable influence. All God's promises are conditional. If we do not wish

and expect their fulfilment we are in an unfit state to have them fulfilled in our experience; but if we really long and look for their accomplishment, we shall naturally express our longings and expectations in appropriate devotions, and God, who answers prayer, will assuredly hear our cry and fulfil them all in due time to the joy and the rejoicing of our hearts. After the Highest had promised to sprinkle clean water upon the Israelites and to cleanse them from all their filthiness, and to multiply the produce of their land, He adds, "I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." Wherefore, would we have the mercies the Almighty promises, we must pray for them through the Mediator, and pray for them too in unwavering faith.

It was a prevailing prayer-meeting. -While the immediate followers of Jesus were persevering in prayer and supplication, the Holy Ghost descended with marvellously enlightening and quickening power. Their united, continuous, and Christian petitions prevailed with the Most High. True, the Messiah had said the Spirit should be sent not many days hence; but He thus spoke with the understanding that they would obey His voice and tarry at Jerusalem. Had they not, therefore, acted as they did, it is very questionable whether the Holy Ghost would have descended on the Day of Pentecost. As, however, they sought the promised Spirit in unfeigned and believing prayer, the promised Spirit appeared in their midst and miraculously fitted the apostles for their glorious mission, and strikingly succeeded them in that mission, Ministers and congregations require the Spirit's influence; but would they have it they must act like the disciples of old. Only let them meet and pray for His aid without ceasing and in firm faith, and they shall prevail with God through Christ Jesus.

Finally, perhaps, reader, you pray not at any time. — If so, remember you are going the very way to perish. It is not likely Jesus will save you should you refuse to implore His mercy. While it is more than once said, that "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved," it is not so much as hinted that any who neglect to seek the Saviour will, nevertheless, receive Salvation. Yea, the prophet says, "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name." Consequently would you be delivered from the guilt, thraldrom, and doom of your sins, you must apply to Christ in sincere, believing prayer.

Witheridge.

I. S.

THE UNIMPROVED SEASON OF SALVATION.

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."— Jeremiah viii. 20.

THE enemies of the Jewish people | befitting occasion for procuring