Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-31

The young Christian sat Win ms
Bible before him, preparing his heart
for communion with his Heavenly Fa-
Their. As he turned the well-worn
leaves, he paused occasionally to medi-
tate upon q text, which in his regular
reading, he had marked for his oven
ing devotions. One arrested his atten-
ton, Whatsoever ye shall ask the
Father in my name, he will give it
you" Following the reference he read
again, If ye shall ask anv thing In
my name, l will do it." Let us lis
ten to his soliloqpy:
allow am l to understand these prom
Uses? The words, whatsoever" and
anything" are terms Of universally.
Am l to understand them as such, in
these passagesg I think not; for God
would then be binding himself to be-
stow upon man everything he might
want, though it might be injurious.
The true passage is doubtless expressed
by John in his epistle, +" If we ask any
thing according to His will, He shear
eth as: and if we know that BE hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of
Him." Here then is the privilege gran
ted nae, and the confidence | may have
in God. Whatsoever / ask accor-
ding to His will, he will give it to me-"
What then arc my requests What
assurance have l that they are accord
ing to my Fathers will This last is
the only question to be answered, in
order that faith may possess the things
asked fer"
"Let us follow his examination of his
heart and presentation of his wants to
God. He is going into the presence Of
his Great King, and his heart trem-
blcs with. reverential awe as be
approaches His throne. His first wish
is a gracious reception. Like Abra-
ham, he prays, 80 /! let not the Lord
be angry, and I will speak" God an
swered from his word, " Call upon me
and l will answer thee" for "the
Lord is rich in mercy to all that call
upon Him." "Bs careful for nothing;
but in everything by prayer and sup
p~lication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God" His
soul stands firmly fixed upon the word
of God, and be gladly approaches the
presence Of Him, whose mercy is over
all his works, and who would be in
CURED of, by the house of Israel"
In the presence Of God, his petitions
are presented, and first, he prays, 90,
Lord forgive !" What assurance has
he that his prayer will be answered 2
He remembers that certain conditions
are to be complied with before he can
expect forgiveness. eff l regard in
iquity in my heart, the Lord will not
hear me-" God will net forgive, unIes.
he not only bewail his sin, but turn a.
way from it. If he pray, 30 Lord for
give" and at the same time does not
in his heart resolve to /" sin no more
his petition is unanswered, he need not
cannot hope for an answer. He scar
ches his heart, and earnestly repents
this condition is complied with.
Another text arrests his attention
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses
your Heavenly Father will also forgive
you: but if we forgive not men thei
trespasses, neither will your Fathe
forgive your trespasses." "Have | al
enemy p is his enquiry at once
"Have /, from my heart, forgiven ths
trespass 2 If not, i vainly hopes fc
pardon. God had said," forgive an
be forgiven, or refuse it and be refuse
yourself" He cannot lie. His purpo'
cannot change. / must, l do forgive
Having performed these necessal
duties, he reads again, eff we COME
our sins, he is faithful and just to fol
give us our sins, and to cleanse US fro
all unrighteousness." eff my peop
shall humble themselves and pray ar
seek my face, and turn from theirwie
ed ways; then will | hear from Heave
and will forgive their sim" In since
earnestness, he cries, "If | have do
iniquity, l will do no more;" and
rests assured he has the gift he asks
his Father, he is forgiven, and the
. "Exults his rising soul
Disburdened of her load,