object of prayer upon the ear of a prayer-hearing God.

3. Another feature of these historic extracts: Wherever prayer-meetings prevail in congregations, there will vigorous Sabbath schools be sustained, and earnest attention given to the religious training of the youth. There will be town missions, or some such benevolent enterprises for the benefit of the masses. There will be effort and interest in every good cause in which the spirit of revived religion enlists every one under its life-inspiring influence. These references very distinctly show that just in proportion as any people take an interest in the prayer-meeting, so are they found active in every other Christian and benevolent enterprise. So, on the other hand, these show that where there is no interest manifested in the prayer-meeting, little well-directed public spirit will appear in the cause of religion and the church.

4. These extracts demonstrate the efficiency of the prayer-meeting as an instrument of moral reform. Drunkenness and the liquor traffic fall before its influence as Dagon before the Ark of the God of Israel. Here is a reforming agency more potent in reclaiming the drunkard than either pledge or Good Templar Lodge. Four public houses close in one parish. One publican remaining in the trade, finds the profits of his occupation almost gone, and curses the prayer-meeting because "they had done him up." Instead of packs of cards being carried by the poor turf-diggers, the Bible is made the pocket companion in toil, and placed under the pillow, at night, where rests the toil-wearied head. The angry passions of party spirit and political excitement, are alike allayed by the Christlike spirit of social prayer.

5. These prayer-meetings were correctives of the grossest Arianism, and of kindred heresies which had long pros

trated the strength of the church and the power of vital godliness. Too many popular revivals have been productive of the grossest errors and corruptions, as also divisions and disintegrations of churches. Such were many of the revivals in our western country, about the close of last century and the beginning of this, as in Kentucky and some other of the Western States. Out of Kentucky revival sprung New-Light Arianism and a large growth of Shakers-disciples of Anna Leeheaded by Barton Stone, Houston, McNamar, and others.

These revivals and revived prayer-meetings of Ireland were productive of very different fruits. They were characterized by very different sowings. Instead of the tares of the enemy, the seed of Scotland's Reformation, under the banner of Scotland's Covenant, was liberally sown, broad-cast over the fields, by these revival prayermeetings; and the result was, that where," for eighty long years, the church lay under the incubus of Arianism-the frozen zone of a nominal Christianity, these souls have been brought from under that Christless system into the communion of the church." In these revival prayermeetings were explained and sung "the songs of Zion, the Psalms of David, those glorious Psalms, never so much. prized as now, ascending from almost every house." Under such popular influence how could heresy thrive? How could pure religion decline? But where Sectarian songs, imbued with Arianism and other Sectarian heresy, were made the sources of the inspiration of revival and of the prayer-meetings, how could it be otherwise than the reaping of a luxuriant harvest of heresy?

6. The salutary effects of these revival prayer-meetings, as here presented, in arresting the current of waywardness among the youth, and of training them for exemplary

usefulness in the church, are brought out to view so as to throw around them more than ordinary interest. "Scarcely a young man above the age of fourteen, either in town or country, will refuse to pray publicly in any meeting; and sometimes little boys, of nine or ten years old, astonish their grandfathers by the beauty and fervor of their devotions." Here we have the practical demonstration of the truth already assumed, that the prayer-meeting is the normal school of the church. Out of these prayer-meetings flow-as from the river of God-streams gladdening the church. Not only do such fellowship-trained youths, like living waters, exert a healing influence among surrounding youth; but, especially, they go forth from the normal school, well trained educators, fitted for all the extensive variety of labors devolving upon the laity in the church, in all the relations they may be called to sustain. Nine-tenths of the young men who lead in the prayer-meetings, it will be found, give promise to become fit material for the ruling eldership, and for other leading posts with their important work. Out of this class must the Sabbath school find its conductors and teachers. Out of this class must every Christian enterprise find its most substantial defenders and active supporters.

7. These prayer-meeting revivals excite in their subjects an earnest desire for knowledge. Says one from whom we quote: "A few Sabbaths ago, I made an appeal to my people for some money to procure a congregational library, that knowledge might be increased among our youth, and I was met in a way I did not expect; all were inclined to give. Had the subject been mooted among us some years ago, not one in twenty would have responded to the call." Revival and Christian conference inspire thirst for knowledge. This begets a taste for reading; and this

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again a desire for books; and these, all together, foster a spirit of Christian liberality.

The justness of the remarks just made, suggested by the statements contained in the preceding extracts, will be further confirmed by the subsequent references:

"From the first I had classes for inquirers and converts, which were greatly needed and much blessed. At the close of every prayer-meeting, (and they were held in the church five evenings each week during the months of July and August,) persons anxious about their souls were invited to remain, and warning, instruction, and encouragement were given, as might be required. Many meetings for prayer, conducted by members of the church, were at the same time held throughout the country. These still continue, to the number of about twenty each week. They are well attended, and have helped greatly to confirm the souls of the disciples."

This example suggests the propriety, First: Of general prayer-meetings in every congregation, held in the church, with the minister presiding, either for the whole congregation, or for "classes," as the circumstances may require; and also, Second: Of particular meetings in the several districts, to be conducted by the members of the church, and for their special benefit. This arrangement, if wisely made, will bring the prayer-meeting to the door of every member, and will be more likely to secure its benefits to a larger portion of the masses of the whole people.

The following reference, taken from a statement of Rev. Andrew Long, of Monreagh, confirms greatly the correctness, as well as the importance, of these views of the prayer-meeting:

"Since the beginning of the great awakening, we have had congregations on week-days, during the autumn, varying from five hundred to one thousand; whereas, about

twelve months ago, it would have been very difficult to collect two hundred persons even, on any occasion. Formerly, I was under the necessity of giving up a monthly congregational prayer-meeting, the attendance was so miserable; and the only way in which I could maintain the semblance of it was by holding district meetings, and thus itinerating through our bounds; and even then very few of them came together. But no sooner did the Holy Spirit breathe on the dead bones than eight weekly and two bi-weekly district meetings sprung up spontaneously. And in addition to these, we have one week-day and two Lord's day union prayer-meetings, which are numerously attended.

"A short time ago I was visiting from house to house in a distant district of the congregation, and in the evening called upon a respectable family to pay my last visit that day. In a little while after I entered, the voice of Psalms in the distance fell upon my ear. On inquiring 'what meaneth this?' I was informed that it was a little prayermeeting in the other end of the house; attended by five young men who are members of the district meeting, and assemble weekly, besides, to pray specially for a more abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the land; I at once joined the little band in the small 'upper room.' One of the young men, whose duty it was to engage in prayer, modestly declined doing so in my presence, saying he was 'but a babe, and weak.' I encouraged him, and at length he poured forth a sweet, simple prayer, in which I was not forgotten."

In this item of history we have very distinctly marked:

1. In revival of religion the Holy Spirit, breathing upon the dry bones, breathes into them the life of prayer, re