f. The Lord sent his angel,
opened the prison doors, and restored him to the agonizing band of
brethren. And when Paul and Silas were thrown into the dungeon, with
their feet fast in the stocks, they prayed, and there was a great
earthquake, which shook the foundations of the prison, so that all the
doors were opened.

But the faithfulness of God to his promises is not confined to Scripture
times. Although the time of miracles has passed, yet every age of the
church has furnished examples of the faithfulness of God in hearing the
prayers of his children. But these are so numerous that it is difficult
to make selections from them. However, I will mention a few. When the
Arians, who denied the divinity of Christ, were about to triumph, the
Bishop of Constantinople, and one of his ministers, spent a whole night
in prayer. The next day, Arius, the leader of his party, was suddenly
cut off, by a violent and distressing disease. This prevented the
threatened danger. Augustine was a wild youth, sunk in vice, and a
violent opposer of religion. His mother persevered in prayer for him
nine years, when he was converted, and became the most eminent minister
of his age. The life of Francke exhibits the most striking and signal
answers to prayer. His orphan house was literally built up and sustained
by prayer. If you have not already read this work, I would advise you to
obtain it. It is a great help to weak faith. Mr. West (afterwards Dr.
West) became pastor of the Congregational church in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, while destitute of vital piety. Two pious females often
lamented to each other that they got no spiritual food from his
preaching. At length, they agreed to meet once a week, to pray for his
conversion. They continued this for some time, under much
discouragement. But, although the Lord tried their faith, yet he never
suffered them both to be discouraged at the same time. At length, their
prayers were heard. There was a sudden and remarkable change in his
preaching. "What is this?" said one of them. "God is the hearer of
prayer," replied the other. The Spirit of God had led Mr. West to see
that he was a blind leader of the blind. He was converted, and changed
his cold morality for the cross of Christ, as the basis of his sermons.
A pious slave in Newport, Rhode Island, was allowed by his master to
labor for his own profit whatever time he could gain by extra diligence.
He laid up all the money he earned in this way, for