Previous to a brief sketch of the sick-bed and dying scene of these dear youths, a circumstance may be adverted to, beautifully and strongly illustrative of the value and efficacy of the prayer of faith.  Rev. Dr. Scudder, in his appeals, has frequently and ardently pressed upon parents the importance of the duty of seeking the early conversion of their children, and their consecration to the service of the Savior.  With his heart intent upon this duty in the spirit of continued believing intercession, God has signally blessed him in his own large family of children in their early conversion to Christ, and in the training of his sons for the foreign missionary service in which he is himself engaged.  Two of his sons are now engaged in that service; one training for it some time since entered into the heavenly rest, and others are now in preparation for it.  On the 12th of November last, 1851, Dr. S. addressed a letter from Madura, in India, to his nephew, De Witt Hunt.  So remarkable is this letter, not only in the matter it contains, and spirit it breathes, but also in the fulfillment of the prayers it refers to, as the end of the two months stipulated found De Witt brought into the hope and liberty of the Gospel, on the very verge of his removal to heaven, that we make the following copious extracts from it: 

“My dear Nephew,—­My daughter Harriet received your letter by the last steamer.  I have not the least evidence from the letter that you love the Savior, for you do not even refer to him.  On this account I may perhaps be warranted in coming to the conclusion that he is not much in your thoughts.  Be this, however, as it may, I have become so much alarmed about your spiritual condition as to make it a special subject of prayer, or to set you apart for this purpose; and I design, God willing, to pray for you in a special manner until about the time when this shall reach you, that is, about two months.  After that I can make no promise that I shall pray for you any further than I may pray for my friends in general.  I have now set apart a little season to pray for you and to write to you.  Do you wonder at this?  Has it never occurred to you as a very strange thing that others should be so much concerned in you, while you are unconcerned for yourself?  I can explain the mystery.  Your friends have seen you, and your uncle, among the rest, has seen you walking on the pit of destruction, on a rotten covering, as it were, liable at every moment to fall through it, and drop into everlasting burnings. This you have not seen, and therefore you have remained careless and indifferent.  Whether this carelessness and indifference will continue I know not.  All that I can say is, that I am greatly alarmed for you.  It is no small thing for you to trample under foot the blood of Christ for eighteen years.  Justly might the Savior say of you, as he said of his people of old, ’Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.’  Your treatment of the blessed Savior