Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-04-19

God, in thyself? Thou art, most surely thou
art. Well then, learn that by prayer all thy
sulficiency is Of God. There are two things
| wish to notice from the text especially
| ChriSt'S direction, Ask" and Christ's promise
q" II shall be giren yO@. And my dear friends
let the words spoken sink down into your
hearts. First "Ask" | should like to speak
to you about what to pray for, how to pray
when to pray, and where to pray First, what
are we we to pray for Why, surely, those
things that are the most needful Let me
speak to you for few moments as individuals
Thou art, perhaps, sinner, far from God
would thou become q child of his ? Then
thou must pray-and dost thou ask what must
pray for? Pray, my friend, as the Publican
prayed, "God be mercful to me slnner"-
WouId'st thou be forgiven-pray for forgive
ness, pray for pardon through the blood of the
| Lamb. There arc some here who are back
sliders-pray as David prayed, Have mercy
upon me, 0 God" (5Ist Psalm, pray thus,
and the Lord will answer.
All christian, a word with thee We hard
| ly know how to direct thee what to pray for,
thou has so many things to ask. When you
come to great God, you ought to ask great
things. Ask little things of a Great God if
you will, because, you are told Gin everything by
prayer and supplication, to make your requests
known unto Him" | do not like the way
some people have Of bearing all their little
weights, and carrying all their little burdens
themselves it is best to " cast your burdens
on the Lord" He will bear them Do you say
what shall | pray for? Pray for more faith.
Remember the words of the disciple, Lord
increase our faith"
Second-IIow are we to pray? Pray earn
estly. We say still further, pray per@reringy-
do not give up. Now, you recolIect the wO-
man who applied to the unjust Judge But
what says Christ ? Does he say take care
do not come to God with your prayers over
and over again No. How much more"
He says And shall not God avenge His
own elect which cry day and night unto Him
though He bear long with them" Men
ought ai,rayS to pray" says Christ, and be-
cause they are wont to decline, He adds, "and
not faint Parent, hast thOu an unbelicving
son, who is going Oh the way to ruin ? All !!
| think my memory can tell OF a mother who
had reckless son, who was treading the path to
hell but her prayers went up to Heaven for
that child the tears often fell from her eyes,
for she prayed in intense earnestnesS aad per-
severance, and that child was by the help of
God, rescued ! All that child can remember
when he stood on the water-waShed deck of
the vessel, staggering beneath the load of wa
Ter on her deck, we'll nigh sunk, when her very
yards were dipped in the waves, he can re-
member the time when the vessel trembied be-
meath the mighty shock, when the hemsman
lOoScd the wheel, and all despared, and he can
think of the time when God, 10y his own pow
| Il ci,, orI ~,
for his mercy's sake That child stands before
you tonight God answers mothers prayers,
they are music in His ears Oh mother hast
thou an ungodly son, then pray for him pray
and don't faint, and God lcU aaS1ccf tire -
| My friends, we mus pray 6ciicrjagly says the
| Book of God Whatsoever things ye desire,
when yc pray, Jcijere that yc receive them, and
! ye shall have them" Goa must pray in the
name of Jesus. His name is sweet to the sin
ner and sweet 10 God by it we meet with ac
ccptance, and though thou vast guilty as
Paul, whose hands were stepped in the blood
of the martyr phcn-though thou vast a
traitor like Judas-we tell thee if thou doSt
come in the name of Jesus and ask for saliva
ton, that prayer Of thine will meet with ac-
ceptaace, for there is one "who livcth to make
intercession for US"
Third-When to pray-pray in the early
morning. In the morning the dew is lying up
on the grass-by and by it is brushed off, and
the hot sun makes it look withered. So in
the morning, when the sweet dew of the spirit,
rests calmly, peacefully and swcctIy upon the
soul, then is the time to pray. The Lord Je-
Sns prayed continualy-onc writing OF Him,
says, and says with truth
| Cold mountuias and the midnight air
| Witnessed the feryOr of His prayer"
Would'st thou pray like him, pray oftcn'tE
you need often, you rest often, you breathe Of
ten, you labor often, you sin often, and you
are tempted oftea, it is your duty to pray Of
ten pray without ceasing.
Fourth-When are We to pray? Pray in
! the ChG,cn feel more and more, that there
is very little prayer in the house Of God com
pared with what people believe. 1t is hard to
restrain wandering thoughts, it is hard to curb
a wandering spirit but it must be curbcd, you
must stir up your tagging soul, and keep its
affections upon the object of your petitions
pray in the house of God as well as in the
closet ASK" says, Christ, that is his drec
ton, "and it shall be given You" That is
his promise-you may expect to receive be
cause God sees you-mark that Let me tel
thee for thy comfort there never did roll from
those eyes of thine Que tear that was not seer
by the eye of Him who is infinite, and caught
in the bottle of God. Saith David "Thor
doSt put my tears in bottle" There never
was prayer that came Il will not say from
thy lpS) from thy heart, that did not ascent
on high winged Of God, and enter His very
bosom. And oftentimeS has God answered
them, when thou didst not know it. Prayer
can do anything. What was it divided the
waters of the Red Sea? Prayer Wha
was it brought mama from heaven Prayer
What was it opened the llinty rock and caused