Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/231

 cannot doubt but they always receive proportionable advantage from it. The Jews call stated public Prayers מעמדות [sic], Stations; and have a saying among them, "That without such Stations the world could not stand." Be sure no people have any ground to expect public peace and tranquillity, without praising and praying publicly unto Him, who alone can give it. But if all the people (suppose of this nation) should every day with one heart and mouth join together in our common supplications to, how happy should we then be? how free from danger? how safe and secure under His protection? This is the argument which Himself useth, why "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" in the Parable of the unjust Judge, who was at last prevailed with to grant a widow's request, merely by her importunity in asking it. "And shall not ," saith He, "avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." But then He adds, "Nevertheless, when the of  cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke xviii. 7, 8.) As if He had said, will most certainly avenge and protect those who cry day and night, morning and evening, to Him. But men will not believe this; and that is the reason why there are so few who believe that He will hear their prayers, according to His promise. But blessed be, though they be but few, there are some, who really believe Word, and accordingly pray every morning and evening, not only for themselves, but for the country where they live, for all their Governors both in Church and State, and for all sorts and conditions of men among us. To these the whole kingdom is beholden for its support and preservation. If they should once fail, I know not what would become of us. But so long as there are pious and devout persons crying day and night to for aid and defence against our enemies, we need not fear any hurt they can ever do us; at least according to  ordinary course of dealing in the world. I know that He is sometimes so highly incensed against a people, that He will hearken to no intercessions for them. As when he said of the idolatrous and factious Jews; "Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, yet My mind could not be towards this people." (Jer. xv. 1.) Moses had before diverted His wrath from them, (Exod. xxxii. 11, 12, 14.); and so had Samuel, (1 Sam. vii. 9.); but at this time He saith, Though