Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-02
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Sunday Readings.


"Ther prayer came up to His holy dwelling
ploce oven unto observation-disclosures
No one will pretend that the necessities
of his heart or tho aspirations of his intel
lect fud on earth ample food to satisfy their
cravings. Home and its priceless treasures
cannot absorb all ones capacities for loving;
and the unfolding mind has constantly in
creased powers of visor and desires to
grasp all that may q its comparatively
humble acquirer .,s. Life becomes a
prayer, an aspiration, thanksgiving, when,
this great fact acknowledged, the whole
soul tends towards the Infuitc and gradu-
ally becomes pure in the presence of Him
who is purity itself.
When men truly feel their dependence
they truly pray, In the flush of vigorous
health, in the full tide of success, when
loves bright chain misses no precious link,
they are prone to forget Him in whose pow
crful hand are hidden human destinies J;
and it is only when one by one the earthly
strongholds arc removed and the soul be-
gins to feel its isolation, that the hitherto
trailing tendrils seek an abiding support.
How humiliuting the thought that not
in the sunshine, the melody and the Joy,
man seeks his Maker; but only when the
storm lays low his proudcst possessions,
when the Angel of Death summons his be-
loced away. Then with crushed hopes and
shattered strength, with laceratcd heart,
he acknowledges power mightier chan his
own, and need of something beyond his
lately cherished supports.
No one who has prayed with the whole
heart, will doubt the efficacy of prayer; !;
its contemners are among those who never
threw the whole soul into the bcseeching
cry, "Lord, be merciful to me sinner !"
But the day comes to all when the moth
ingness of earth stands out in living char
actcrs peforc the awakened vision, and cast
back upon itself, the heart recoils at it's
own loneliness, and would fain recall even
the humble petition lisped at the mother
knee
The son goes forth from the haven of
home to commit his bark to the untried
seaof life New duties, cares, temptations,
flock around his path, and the old restraints
andsupports are withdrawn From whence
shall come the prudence, self control and
wisdom necessary to guide that bark into
the heavenly haven? From whence but
from the throne of God, in answer to the
souls sincere petition? And if no guild
ance or strength be sought, who shall won
der if that bark be stranded with all its
precious freight The daughter turns from
the thornless ways of her girlhood from the
changeess and measurcless love of her mo-
ther, and carries the sunshine of her pres.
ence into stranger home. Perhaps her
bright dreams will all there be realized
pcrchancc there awaits her in that promis.
nCJ l,o Al. n.
fruit. In either lot, how imperious the
call for prayer that in the brightness and
the JOY tho Givcr of all may stand first in
the hearts affections, or in the darkness
and sorrow His arm may lead the stricken
one safely into the shelter of His presence.
1.-Two resolve to live without our heavenly
Father, VIC throw behind us amid the wastes
of life what we shall one day understand
TO have been cur only real good. What
we grasp when we put him aside is only a
seeming substance. 1t is his love and ap-
probation that gives value to the world y
applause, that hallows our wealth, that sane
tifies our affection. With his blessing all
is ours, without it there is nothing to com
pensate for life's hard struggle.
The sincere prayer finds access to His
ear; no other can or should, since to adj
dress Him with the lips while the heart
beats no response, is as foolish as it is sim
full If it be prayer, lie reads its burden
before it forms itself in words; and like
heavenly dew, the sweet Influences of His
spirit descends to refresh him who hungers
and thirsts after righteousness.
Prayer must never be offered in the form
of dictatiou. mos as I will but as Thou
wilt" is the childlike submission that avails
with God; and how often His will appoints
the gloomy and rugged lot when we have
besought Him that every bitter portion
might be spared Us. His answer, though
we knew il not, was indicative of the great
love wherewith he loves us.
Ifthe right spirit dictates our petitions,
we shall never doubt that an answer will be
vouchsafcd us. Hewho obsys Christ shall
Know of his doctrine whether IL be true ;
and bewho feels himself Strengthened COM
, forted, supported, willnced no other cvi-
donce that his ALTERING prayer asccnds to
Gods holy dwellingplqce, even unto
Heayon,