examples of these in the primitive church. The disciples met for
prayer _ten days_ in succession before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
on the day of Pentecost. When the apostles returned from before the
council, they held a prayer-meeting, and the place was shaken where they
were assembled. When Peter was imprisoned, the church assembled for
prayer _in the night_; and an angel delivered him out of the prison. We
read of a place by the river side, where prayer was "wont to be made."
And at Miletus, Paul attended a precious prayer-meeting with the elders
of the church of Ephesus. These meetings have been maintained among
evangelical Christians in every age. They are the life of the church.
They are the mainspring of human agency in all revivals of religion.
Without a spirit of prayer, sufficient to bring God's people together in
this way, I see not how vital piety can exist in a church. The feelings
of a lively Christian will lead him to the place where prayer is "wont
to be made." But it will not do to follow our feelings at all times,
because they are variable. Be governed in everything by religious
principle. If there are prayer-meetings in the place where you reside,
make it a matter of conscience to attend them. Let no slight excuse keep
you from the house of prayer. Especially, never let company prevent your
attendance upon these meetings. There is a time for visiting; but to
prefer the company of mortals to that of the living God is most unwise;
and if but two or three are really met for the purpose of holding
communion with Christ, they have his promise that he will be with them.
In relation to punctuality, preparation, watchfulness, &c., the remarks
already made in relation to public worship apply with equal force to
social prayer-meetings.

But, in addition to the ordinary prayer-meetings, I would recommend to
you always to attend a praying circle of females. Female prayer-meetings
have often been blessed to the reviving of God's work; and if, by the
grace of God, you are enabled to offer up the prayer of faith, your
influence may thus be felt to the remotest parts of the earth.

In relation to the duties of that portion of the holy Sabbath not
employed in public worship, it naturally divides itself into two parts:
I. _The duty we owe to the souls of others._ We are bound to follow the
example of Christ, so far as it is applicable to the station we hold in
his kingdom. If we examine his life, we shall find t