Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-13
The Prayer Meeting a Test.


Lord"
"Pm not so sure of that; there are other
duties to be attended to quite as impera-
tive as the prayer meeting"
81 won't gainsay that; but just now the
prayer meeting is the one thing wish to
speak of; and to make good my assertion:
1t is test, sure test. In the first place,
consider the objects of the meeting; for
there are several. First, to meet the Lord.
He set the example. He met with his dis
ciples He prayed, and taught them to
pray taught them to pray in his name;
and promised to be with them, though
there should be no more than two or three
at the meeting. Second. To praise the
Lord. %, that men would praise the Lord
for his goodness and for his wonderful
work to the children of men, exclaimed |
the sweet psalmiyt of Israel. Whose offer
eth praise, says the inspired Word, glori
tieth God If David had reason to praise |
how much more we If he was forced to |
exclaim, Many, o Lord my God, are Thy
wonderful works which Thou hast done,
and Thy thoughts to us-ward if would |
declare and speak, they are more than can
be numbered! how much more have we,
upon whom he has poured the full tide OF
gospel mercies. Third. To keep his word /,
IF a man love me he will keep my word"
"You surely don't mean to say that only
those who keep the words of Jesus who are
always running to prayer meetings."
81 mean to say that those who go to the
prayer meeting, saying inwardly, the law
of thy mouth is better unto me than thous-
ands Of gold and silver %, that my ways
were directed to keep thy statutes, will
get what they long for. When the disci-
pies come to this feast, the Master always
comes too; and he brings blessing. He
never fails. Is it not written, oh, how
great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid
up for them that fear thee; which thou
hast wrought for them that trust in thee
before the sons Of men, and has he not
said, According to your faith be it unto
you? So then it is sure that the man who
so loves his Lord as to value his blessing,
cannot stay away from the prayer meet
ing"
"Now, my dear sir, you are surely exag-
gerating; for, as I have already said, there
are other duties quite as imperative, ard
no man can be in two places at once"
"Tell me this is it, or not, your duty to
= be filled with the knowledge of his will in
all wisdom and spiritual understanding?
Are you, Or not bound to walk worthy of
the Lord unto all pleasing? To be faithful
in every good work."
80, of course, I'm bound to do these
things; but you haven't made it appear
that | can't do these without going to the
prayer meeting"
81 haven't made it appear, either, that
Jesus could not have instructed and
strengthened doubling Thomas in private
interview; but the record shows that he
> did do it in the prayer meeting, and Thorn
as might have had the lesson sooner but
/ AOA LIS oboGuNN. LEU llD udillt, luGI, as
the fourth object, that we go to pray and
: we are commanded not to forget the as
sembling Of ourselves together for this pur-
. pose. We are to pray for instruction. And
both the teaching of the bible and the COM
- mon experience of all faithful christians
conspire to show that it is our Lords pleas
, ure to bless the assemblies of his people
gathered for prayer, praise and instruction.
1t is when we bring into common store all
that the Lord has given us of religious
knowledge, we receive the highest advan-
tage. Said Jesus, 1t is more blessed to
:, give than to receive. Freely we have re-
ceived; freely give"
90, but couldn't give anything of in
terest, or of advantage to the meeting"
= GLOW do you know that? You could
y give what you received. The trouble with
you is that you do not put yourself in the
. way of receiving. Why should the LORD
give you anything to share with others, SC
long as you have no intention of becoming
one of his trustees or stewards? . thou o.
little faith The fact is you do not love
your Lord enough, and so do not prize his
- gifts enough to lay yourself out to get them
y Doubtless you think that had you lived il
old Jerusalem, You never would have miss
- ed meeting at wa,ch Jesus would b,
found. Ifyou think so, come to his meet
/. ing now. It's his meeting, and a test, anC
: tryst. Come he says, and 1 will NEE
y you there"
at is easy to say that the Lord is there
but after all you can't deny that many o
- our prayer meetings are very dull meet
> ings, and anything but meetings in whicl
one could really see Jesus present"
~ "True enough; to those who are not il
:. complete sympathy with him, they mus
needs seem so. 1t is only as we are lik
" him, that we see him as he is"
Gas far as l can judge, in some of thes
meetings, no one sees him."
- "But you can't judge. So long as yor
do not thoroughly love and greatly priz
. the prayer meeting, it is sealed book t
you; your eyes, like those of the disciple
on the way to Emmaus, are holden; yo
" do not, and you cannot, recognize the Lore
- My dear brother, you must be persuade
~ to consecrate yourself to the Master in
- punctual and persistent attendance on tn
prayer meeting, laying yourself on tha
- altar, living sacrifice, ready to do and t
Il be all you eau in that relation to your ow
" branch of the church of Christ, before yo
can form any just judgment of the wort
of the prayer meeting to yourself and t
NC Others Do you think our Lord ever OUT
no ried, Shall go to the prayer meeting tn
% evening? Is it likely it will be interesting
10 Do you think the apostle Paul ever deba
ed this question? Nay, the blessing of tt
II prayer meeting is not for those who as
ii such questions. 1t is for those who 10,
ur the place Of prayer; who love to rend
we grateful thanks to their Lord for all h
MS benefits; who delight to count up the
lgs mercies; and who find the place of pray
I'D eminently favorable to this arithmetic
Is, "Now, dear brother, how much owe
on thou thy Lord? Come and compute it
pit, the prayer meeting. If the worth of go
nd is the question, you 90 well to go to Sta
res street. The surroundings there are all
ust keeping with the question. But if durat
not riches, eternal life, and glory everlastir
'ur are to be considered, come to the pray
o." meeting The best informed concerni
rn- such riches are sure to be there. Con
ow my brother, come with us, and we'll do o