invisible world. Isaiah and Hezekiah pray, and a hundred and
eighty-five thousand Assyrian soldiers are slain in one night by the
unseen sword of the angel. These are Bible illustrations of the help
God gives to his people in answer to prayer. And the Bible rule for
prayer, as given by our Saviour, is, "that men ought _always_ to
pray," Luke xviii: 1. St. Paul's way of stating it is--"Praying
always, with all prayer," Ephes. vi: 18. In another place he
says--"Pray without ceasing," I. Thess. v: 17. And even the heathen
teach the same rule about prayer. Among the rules of Nineveh, an
inscription on a tablet has been found, which, on being translated,
proved to contain directions about prayer. It may be entitled:

"An Assyrian Call to Prayer." These are the words of the call:

"Pray thou! pray thou!
Before the couch, pray!
Before the throne, pray!
Before the canopy, pray!
Before the building of the lofty head, pray!
Before the rising of the dawn, pray!
Before the fire, pray!
By the tablets and papyri, pray!
By the side of the river, pray!
By the side of a ship, or riding in a ship, or leaving the ship, pray!
At the rising of the sun, or the setting of the sun, pray!
On coming out of the city, on entering the city, pray!
On coming out of the great gate, on entering the great gate, pray!
On coming out of the house, pray! on entering the house, pray!
In the place of judgment, pray!
In the temple, pray!"