Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1855-05-26
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From prgf. TylE,s P-enias Essay on Prayer.
THEP0WER OF PRAYER.

further and demonstrate, that. It IS,
great spiritual free in tie 1corld, and
mighty controlling pouer iu he Divin
government. And in SO saying we. re
fer not toits, incillen,al effects in quick
/; ening, purifying and eleyating the sou
Of man, Such an Influence it doe, in
decd exert in many ways; and it is a,
influence, whose power and Importance
can hardly be oyer:estimaled. Praye
in its very nature, directs the .houghls
toward The highest, greatest andpures
objects, and thus tends to elevate, EN-
large and purify The soul. Prayer fixe.
the affections and desires on the noblesl
and best ends, and the very act of ex;
pressing those desires (accordinglto 0
well.knownlaw oflhe mind) increases
them. 1t fastens the eye of the ,mindin
as,eadfast gaze on the image and glory
ofGod, tillthat imageis daguerreotyP.
ed, as it were, on the soul; nay, till the
soulitselfis "changed into thesame i'm
age. from glory to Iglory,as bytheiSpir.
itof The! Lord" Prayer brings the
mind Into astate ofdesire and yet of
dependence, ofpatient wailing and YET
Of esrnest longing, as prepares i to
prize, enjoy and, profit by The blessing,
when, in answer 10 prayer, tits beslow-r
ed. Unnecessary prayer for our Chris.
tian brethren aud fellow.meh, strength.
ems our love iorsthem, cultivates charity
aud patience in our feelings towards
,hsio, and prepares US to relieve their
wants, and acknowledgements. Most
ofall, prayer brings man in 10 the felt
presense OH Maker, and in that pre-
sence, if any where. the Christian will
cleanse hilnseIffrom all filthiness ofthe
aesh and the spirit. perlecting holiness
;nth 9 fear oflhe Lord.
But these incidental effects presup-
pose a direct efficacy asitho basis on
which they Test. Remove this and the
entire superstructuro fallsto the ground.
Without sincere and heartfelt faith in
the efficacy ofprayertplProcure actual
blessings from God-.wiihout deep con-
yiction that G Cd hears US whenlwe pray
and reallyerauts usthe good things we
need because zoe ask for them-prayer
does not bring us into the presence Of
God-does not take hold of his out
stretched hand, and therefore does not
liftsus up to his lhrone-does not bring
down his promised Spirit, and Il ore;
fore does not halow our bodies as his
temple, or purify our hearts as his inner
sanctuary-does not fasten the desires
on all ,hatis brightest and best in heav.
on as a proper object Interpretation and
desire, which we can secure by asking,
,ad therefore does not either add inten-
.iy to such expectation and desire, or
opsn any practicable way for their reali-
zatAn. Just so far as our faith fails!to
layspid on The promised blessings as
rail 10 be obtained by asking, just.so
arplger. will fail ,oprepare our hearts
tore. 10 them; and just in proportion
we discrelitS tue direct efficacy of
prayer,jus in The same proportion we
i;moair it's incidental benefits. s,
Indeed prayer without any expecta-
lion or beiiefthat God will hear or an.
swer it, is not prayer; it wants the es-
sential element ofprsger, and deserves
not the name. 1t may be called med
itation; ii may be considered in some
sense communion with God; lit may even
be regarded as species ofworship; but
il resembles more the dreamy, misty
transcenden,al contemplation of the
Boodhist, than the real PERSONAL access
t,f The Christian with his petition asi
we're in hand, and his mouth full Of ar
eumen,s) into the presence of a heaven
II Father, aud sympathizing, incar-
nate Redeemer. Prayer without a pc.
titiop addressed to some one who is &C.
customed to hear aud grant such petit
lions, and that with some expectation or
hope that it may be granted. lis an abb
surdity, a observation-disclosures. Nay,
is nottbe very name and form and at
,itude Of prayera mockery, ifitneither
has, nor can have, nor is expected to
have, any f,eal and proper influence i,
Obtaining blessings atithe hand of Godi
Imsgins If the idea is not ton pre-
MYSTERIOUS even forthe Imagination 10
frame conception ofiD Abrahamplea
ding for Sndom, not with any expeciai
lion ofsssing the devoted city. not with
any hope of exer,iog The slightestipau-
encs on the mind and will of Jehovah,
hut simply forthe sake fsthe reflex in.
flaence of the Interview on his own!
cbaracier, or the personal pleasure and
prof Of talking with the King Of kings!|
Cdaceiys (ifitis possible TO conceive off
a,hing SO absurd and ridiculous) of q
man Ceiling up a petition to some fell,
low mana sovereign or some other
ciyilruler-npt with any expectation
that it will be granted, not witty any be.
lief that such petitions ever are grant
cd, or have any influence with tho ru-
lsr. but simply for the sake Of the puri.
flying and sleyating eifec, which thepro.
cess Of getting upthe petition will OK
ert onthe mind Of the petitioner, or as
a mere continuance fnrewakening dis.
,inct thoughts andlively emo.ionstnuch-
ing the sovereign, and cheatipg~himself