The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-08-26
SullAay Rrn0jllll.
AIDS OF PRAYER.

We have always been affected bv the
petition O! the disciples to the Saviour,
Lord teach us how to pray! How many
yet would tegn address the same request !
with simplicity and conscious want. Io
Christ 1t is not our purpose to say any.
thing to those christians who have hv
long experience learned the way of pray.
er, and made its language as familiar to
them as their mother tongue but to them
only who are veXcd with the troubles in.
cident to beginning.
III Tie first moments in the morning.
the very first thoughts of the day are riy
en- to prayer, it will be found, at least in
many cases, TO give direction to the feel.
Jugs Of the whole day. The KEYNOTE OF
the day is struck. And simple as i,
may seem, we have forced few moments
in the morning to hold the dav to its
course, as the rudder does the ship. Some
persons, we suspect fail Of mtcrcs, in pray
er, by attempting to pray 10y the Clock
They have been taught that regular
time ahd an appointed place are beneficial
They have tried the time with so many
failures. that thcplacc ly association and
memory OF Ill success, becomes disgus,ful.
We are not about 10 say tha, pnnctuali,y
anu regularity are not good but only
That they are not alike good t,r all; aud
that when experience shows that they hin
der and do not help, Christians are under
no law TO the clock. Persons Of rennla
ted feelings of methodical habits, and of
uniform occupations, find great advantage
IN stated hours Of PRAYER. People oimur-
curial dispositions who live without spe
clal arrangement and system, vii! find on
the contrary, that such attempts at pune
tualty will not help them.
II Il man should insist upon wallowinr
IN the sand when the tide was out, be.
cause he had made up his mind to battle
IN one place, and at one hour. he would
not be much unlike him who prays when
his watch, and not when his heart tells
him the time. Christians are TO rcmen
Der that they are the chiIArea Of liberty
They are not bound up, rs the Jews were
TO times and seasons, 10 places and meth.
ods. Prayer may become yoke OF su.
perstition, instead OF wings.
it may be briefly said, take notice Of
the times when prayer is refreshing
Learn from your own experience how and
wnen prayer is best for YOU. You are
under bonds ton man, be he minister or
layman.
We think that one may very mach aid
himself. by taking a few moments for 81.
lent prayer. The Jews were taught to
present their best fruits for offerings. We
should not choose refuse hours, good for
nothing else to pray in. No matter where
you are, nor what you are doing, send
glance Godward from the top of every ex.
alted hoar. In this manner, after a little,
the soul would lay up remembrances Of
many sweet and noble experiences and
would fight discouragemeuts bv hone
drawn from past success.
we suspect many persons mar this en-.
Joyment by very erroneous ideas Of quan
uty. They read Of eminent Christians
who pray by the hour; they bear sermons
upon the wrestling OF Jacob with the an.
gel, and above all hey are told ,ha,
Christ prayed all night. They therefore
attempt immense prayer. OF course they
fail. y man might as we'll attempt 10
initiate the old prophets who ate in prep.
aratou OF forty days fast. II a man is
moved to pray only fye minutes, il is bis
duty to stop there. II be is moved to
pray an hour, he is at liberty to do So
Buy IN every case PRAYER is TO be regula-
ted by your own inward move, and not
from the outside by somebody's example.
Indeed, we meet every day with persuus
who would be injured by long prayidg.-
IL Is not true 10 their state or nature:
they have but little to say. II Christ
were on earth and they were disciples ;hey
would listen rather than speak. THERE'S
communion by thinking as well rs speak !
Jng. There is unuttered PRAYER as well
as vocal. Thoughts that roll silently are
more significant, often, than those which
can clothe themselves IN words. IL is
possible TO pray too much. That is al. |
ways to much which is beyond your real
want or desire.
Christians bring themselves into tYoub.
le by very false ideas OF prayer. They |
select impassioned prayers as models, aud |
Judge themselves 10 be praying in proper.
ton as they approach these examples. !
But What II your wants are few, your
feelings tranquil, your thoughts simple,
aud your whole mind and experience form
ed upon different basisi Is PRAYER
some objective exercise to be copied, or
is il the presenting before God Of Just
what you arei
One single sentence is n sufficient pray
or. Thsre is no one who cannot command
bis thoughts long enough for that. II