prayer for his disciples and for the church, the longest of New Testament prayers, is recorded in John xvii. His prayer of agony in Gethsemane, in Luke xxii. 39-46, and the prayer for the forgiveness of his enemies, on the cross, Luke xxiii. 34. See also Matthew xi. 25, 26, John xi. 41, 42, John xii. 27, 28.

The prayer of the penitent thief on the cross, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom," Luke xxiii. 42, is the first prayer to Christ for the redemption of the soul. The dying prayer of Stephen, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," Acts vii. 59, 60, has been the last prayer of almost innumerable minds in all ages, and will be the last utterance of multitudes of the devout through all time.

II.

The most notable examples of the conversion of prayer into power, are:

Abraham prays, and Isaac is promised as the fruit of a womb that is barren.

Jacob prays, and the revengeful heart of Esau is changed to brotherly affection.

Moses prays, and Miriam is healed of an incurable leprosy; armies, that seemed irresistible, were overcome, and Israel was miraculously fed, protected and saved from besetments of danger.

Joshua prays, and а celestial phenomenon follows, and Israel triumphs over her enemies.

Job looks to God, and his losses are changed to a seven-fold increase of all that he formerly possessed.

David prays; his piety lifts him to the throne of God's people, and and overcomes his

foes.

The prayers of Asa are the protection of the armies of Israel, the power that wins a victory over a seemingly invincible host.

The prayers of Elijah shut up and open the heavens, and call down fire from the sky; and the prayers of Elisha divide the Jordan and revive the dead.

Isaiah prays, and the Assyrian army dies. Hezekiah prays in a mortal sickness, and his life is prolonged fifteen years.

Mordecai's prayer overcomes his enemy, and makes Israel free.

Nehemiah prays, and the heart of a king is instantly changed.

At the intercession of friends with Christ, the demoniac is healed; Jarius' daughter is raised from the dead. The leper comes to Christ, and his petition is answered by healing; the blind Bartimeus calls to Christ, and the call is answered by restoration to sight.

The Church prays, the Holy Ghost descends; Peter is delivered from prison by an angel; Paul and Silas pray, and their dungeon walls totter about them, and they go out of the prison, through paralyzed guards and and open doors.

III.

Among the most sublime prayers in the Old Testament are Psalm xc. and the petitions of Hezekiah and Habakkuk.

PRAYER OF HEZEKIAH.

The king prayed in the temple on receiving the boastful letter of Sennacherib, King of Assyria :