ver. 1-8. Here He appears in the midst of the throne as a Lamb, as it had been slain, as being in the very act of pouring out His blood; and before Him are the elders, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints, and which are thus connected with His atonement and intercession. Let us look at the prayers represented, and for what purpose.

I. The prayers represented.

"Let

1. The prayers of saints, compared to incense. my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of mine hands as the evening sacrifice." But of what saints? We are told, chap. viii, 3, 4:—“ And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne; and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." But who are the saints? Holy ones, who belong to God, for they are the saints of the Most High, beloved of Him, and called to be His saints, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, who show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light, that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being faithful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience, and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Col. i, 10; for some of them have gone into the world of eternal light, having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lord. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Others of them are still upon the earth, and they are a very social people; they bless the Lord, and speak of the glory of His kingdom, and talk of His power, and make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Yes, they often

speak one to another, and the Lord hearkens; and a book of remembrance is written of them that fear the Lord, and that think upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day, when I make up my jewels. They are found here and there throughout the earth; in the apostle Peter's day, they were scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; and now they are to be found in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and other places in the world, in cities, towns, and villages, a few here; and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten them again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, watching unto prayer.

2. The prayers of all these saints from the four quarters of the globe, and from the sea and its islands. Sometimes they meet in large numbers in places where prayer is wont to be made; sometimes, like Cornelius, they call together their kinsmen and near friends, and call upon the name of the Lord; and at other times they enter into their closets, and pray to their Father who seeth in secret. From oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, prayers are continually ascending into the golden vials. From many a mountain, field, and forest, arise the sweet incense of prayer and praise; while many who are busy underground send up from the dark, damp mine the voice of supplication, with strong cries and tears; and these come up for a memorial before the Lord. That poor man kneels down and prays in his cellar, and yon indigent woman sends her cry to heaven from her garret. The voice of supplication ascends also from factories, workshops, stores, and warehouses; and pri soners and captives raise their plaintive moans to the skies; and the faint sigh ascends to the throne from the couch of the dying; and all these, that are the prayers of saints, find their way to the golden vials. Sometimes the saints pray for grace for themselves, whereby they may be able to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; at other times the saint brings his house

hold before the Lord; then he prays for the whole state of Christ's church militant here upon earth; and lastly, his large heart grasps the world, and he prays for the whole race of the children of disobedience, and his intercession ascends up before God out of the angel's hand who holds the censer.

II. The purpose for which these prayers are represented, namely, that they may be disposed of.

1. And as they are thus connected with the intercession of Christ, they must be answered. God has various ways of answering prayer. First, by secret and mysterious influence upon the mind, as in the case of Jacob's hostile brother; Gen. xxxii. Jacob left his father's roof under very peculiar circumstances—it was to avoid the fury of his only brother. He had a remarkable night at Bethel, and then he went to his uncle Laban, to Haran, where he staid above twenty years, and then set out to his own country, the land of Canaan. And he sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, into the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And on their return, they reported his hostile approach with four hundred men. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he prayed to the God of his fathers. He then sent his brother a present, and arranged his flocks and his family; then wrestled with the angel of the covenant, and prevailed, and then waited the event; and he lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, Esau came with his four hundred men. The mountain chief looked very furious; his eyes flashed vengeance. Jacob looked to God; he again held up his prayer by strong faith; he trusted in God. The face of the ferocious chief grew a little calmer. Jacob believes; Esau looks to the earth; the tears fall; his sword drops; and his men, taking it as a token, instantly drop theirs; and now there are four hundred and one swords as harmless as reeds by Jabbock's brook! And now, see! the brawny arms of the mountaineer are round the neck of his brother, and he weeps like a child! It is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes, and it is a grand comment upon that text :-"When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."

And the Lord can answer prayer by frustrating the evil designs of men, as in the case of Asa, king of Judah; 2 Chron. xiv. King Asa was at one time in a very great strait. He was a good man, and in his reign, the land was quiet ten years, in which time he built cities, and improved his kingdom. Although at peace, he had a large army, amounting in all to five hundred and eighty thousand valiant men; but there came out against him, Zerah, the Ethiopian, with a host of a million, and three hundred chariots. And Asa set the battle in array; he used the means, and then cried unto the Lord his God; ver. 11. And the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and they took exceeding much spoil. His son Jehoshaphat was in a similar dilemma; 2 Chron. xx. There came against him immense hoards of Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites; and Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and prayed unto the God of his fathers; ver. 5-13. And the Lord confounded the allies; Ammon and Moab stood up against Edom; and then they slew one another, so that none escaped; and when the men of Judah came to take away the spoil, it was so rich and so much that it took them three days to gather it; and this according to the promise-One of you shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.

The Lord can answer prayer also by the ministry of angels. King Hezekiah was threatened with an invasion by the king of Assyria, who sent him a most infamous and blasphemous letter, defying both him and his God. This letter Hezekiah read, and took it into the sanctuary of God, and spread it before the Lord, and prayed over it; 2 Kings, xix, 14-20. And the Lord heard, and sent the prophet Isaiah to the king to say," He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord; for I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred, four-score and five thousand; and when

they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword; and because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also. And he put him in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him; and the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison, and the chains fell from Peter's hands; and the angel brought him out right into the street, and then left him; and Peter made his way to the prayer-meeting; Acts, xii. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation?

And the Lord can answer prayer by dreams or visions, as in the case of Daniel; chap. ii. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, dreamed a dream, and forgot it; and yet it had made such a deep impression upon his mind, that he insisted upon knowing both the dream and its interpretation from the wise men of Babylon. Daniel and his companions were reckoned amongst those wise men, and they desired mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, and it was revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.

The Lord can answer prayer by the power of the Holy Ghost. Peter and John had been in prison and before the council, and then, being let go, they went to their own company; and they lifted up their voice to God with one accord in praise and prayer, and the place was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Prayer has often been thus answered.

2. Sometimes answers have been delayed for the trial of faith and patience; Luke, xviii, 1-9; Matt. XV, 21 -29. It has sometimes been so with the prayers of parents for children, and saints for the church and the world.

3. And some prayers have been answered, but in a manner different from the petition; 2 Cor. xii, 8, 9. The thorn did not depart, but sufficient grace was given.