Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-04-19
" ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. -
A 8 f r M O N
By Rev. II. Grattan Guinness.

Ask and it shall be given to you.'-MATH. viii.
Prayer says one moves the arm, that moves
the world What is this praycrr
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancng Of the eye,
When none but God is nigh.
Prayer is the human heart outpOuring itself
into the heart OF God. Prayer is the sinner
speaking to the Saviour, the creature speak
inc with the Creator. the finite cOmmuung
with the infinite without prayer We should
know nothing personally. My dear friends,
have a solemn subject to speak to you upon
this evening feel my own weakness We
trust that when we are speaking, your hearts
will be lifted up in prayer to God, that the
spirit may be poured upon rs, from on high
then indeed if our dependence is upon God,
Ills strength will be made perfect in our weak
ness. This have said is a solemn subject,
for Oh how tmportaat is prayer. Without
prayer we cannot be saved. prayer is the door
that leadcth from earth 10 heayen-prayer i,
the ladder of light that Stretcheth from the
place where we sleep, as it were, here below
beneath the shades of night, up to the very
throne of God in glory, and angclmcssengers
ascend from us to God, and descend from GOd
to us, bearing the blessings of our Heavenly
Fathers love. Prayer-is the key that unlock
eth the darkest dungeon, prayer Is the hand
that Iayeth hold of the everlasting covenant
and the arm of Jehovah'S strength and saith
will not let thee go except thou bless me-"
Prayer is the first accent the sinner uttereth
in the ear of God. Saul Of TarsuS had saul
many and many prayer before he was con-
verted. he used to stand sometimes at the
corners of the streets praying, and men said,
sure there is very excellent man." but when
be was struck down by light from Heaven,
when in the loneliness of his chamber, he pour
cd out his heart into the heart Of the Infinite,
then God said Behold he praycth." Sin
ner thou canSt not be saved without prayer
Are thine eyes shut, and art thou blind by ma
ture? Well, there was blind man literally,
who came to Jesus, his eyes were never opened
until he cried, "Jesus of Nazareth, have
mercy upon me-" We do not wonder at
thine eyes being closed, because thou hast nev
er said have mercy upon me-" we cannot
be- Saveu without prayer, we may be saved
without much else, but not without thls-l
have heard Of those being saved who never
Joined themselves to christian churches or did
any of those things which distinguish chris
tians at the present day-but their souls have
been humbIed in the presence of the Infinite.
Prayer is an important thing-you cannot live
without it, christian. A plant may live with
out light but not without ar. So the soul OF
man may live without light, without under
standing a vast amount of what the scriptures
contain he may live without great deal oil
spiritual light. but not without air. If be
lives without light, he will be pale, sickIy, fee
bic, blighted, and not good for much, but he
cannot live without prayer, which is the air oil
the christian. Prayer is an important thing
because you cannot be happy without it. Yes!
We thank God for it men cannot tie and bind
these souls of ours they have got wings un-
seen, they can take spiritual fight beyond the
ken of mortals While the body is bound with
chains, the soul, winged by faith, and strength
ened by the spirit of God, can leave the dull
prison. pass through the rusty bars, cleave its
way into the blue Infinite above, leave earth
and all its narrow things of darkness and mist
belOw,
Prayer makes the darkened doubt withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw.
And Satan trcmblcs when he secs
The weakest saint upon his knees
Thou cauSt not overcome without prayer