Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-19

why persocutest thou me And he, treMb-
ling and astontshcd, said, Lord, Whist witt
ami 20 Into the city and Z shalt be told thee
what thou must do.n Darkened aud sor.
rowfuI he went on his way 10 Damascus.
For three days and nights the world, with
all Its cares and troubles, was shut out from
his agitatsd mind, and the dsrk storm Of
soul humbled him to the very dust. To at.
tempt to fathom the precise operations Of his
mind during that period would perhaps
prove alike Improbable and Intellectual.
One fact, however, we know, Tor 1t ~ plain.
~ said OF him. ''Behoil, he prayeth:"
Pause for u moment, and mark the con.
irast between his present and former state
OF mind. A few days sificc. proud, naughty
and self-rightcous, his formal prayer par.
took much of the nature OF the prayer of
that other Pharlsee who went up to the
tempIe-..Lord, | thank thee that l am not
Ms other men; l fast much. j! pray oft, | OBJ
servo. rigidly all the requirements Of the
law-anay, more! I perseIutc 70 the death 4
those Who forsaking thy temple, follow after
the deluslons OF the Sazarine." |
sense Of his exceeding siniulness, he does
not so much rs lit up his eyes to heaven,
but with hts hand on his mouth, and his
mouth In the dust, he utters the prayer OF
the penitent p~ublican-"God be merciful TO |
me, a sinner.' Great indeed the change. |
JeHON uts Us u ustOHtSuCu, tti ~ cActu- |
nation. "Behoki, he prayeth.' From this
declaration that be now Prayed. We may |
fairly INFER that previous to this lie had
never done SO, although he had frequently |
offered up its language. Hence, we learn |
that tho min'i of the sinner is averse to
may be used, skill, true prayer does not nor
cannot flow from u heart filled with envy
and selfish passion. 1t issues from tho lips.
but 1t flows only from the tongue; the heart
has no part In the matter, and instead OF en-.
term. into the cara OF the Lord of Hosts, IL
is dlssipated by the breath that makes it
audible. Prayer, to be acceptable and OBJ
tain q blessing, must proceed not only from
u broken and contrite heart. but from on
burning with desire TO be rs pure and sim
cerc and holy anu devoted rs God requires
of His children; a heart thirsting for pardon,
or whatever may be the burden OF its supple
cation. Observation teaches us that the mind
of the sinner is averse not only TO prayer,
but also 10 the act. Regardless of the com.
mands of God, lie feels that q show Vt consist.
ency must lead him to despise the act sup
plicating ono whose authority he does not
acknowledge. He does not hesitate to ask
aid and favors Of men, for he perceives its
necessity in order to his welfare and happi-
ness. But to become u petitioner ut the
throne OF grace, he will not; his pride re-
volts ut the idea; 1t would detract from his
W merits by thus acknowledging his de-
pendence. lie would wish also to have the
appearance of having All untroublcd and ap-
prorln. conscience, which in appearance, he
could not havo if he must Iall upon his
knees before an exacting GOd and suppli-
cate pardon for sins daily committed. This
last remark, however, docs not apply 10 the
case under cOnsideration-Suui had bowed
the knee and offered up tho language, but
till this hour, had never truly prayed /; but
now. blind and cut of from all external cir.
cumstanccs. his whole soul was supplication.
! Knit one thOIt,Slf nhsorhel nlI fha ,,,y.r. rf
his mind, and that was forgiveness for his
past lie Of error and cruelty. Hence. Is
dcduced q fact cOinciding with observation
and cXperience-tlat there arc Two ways of
Offering prayer; the one bowling the knee
and uttering the language; The other, re-
mcmbering that God /, u spirit, and that
those who would worship Him must wor-
ship Him in spirit and in truth. The one
wOrshippcr Is sensible Of his works, the other
Of his exceeding sinfulness. or this last
only can it be truly said. ''Behold. he
praycth." Though the language be rude
and broken, yet will it nevertheless be
heard and his prayer will come up grateful
incense to the Lord of Hosts. 1t is not the
sacrifices of bulls and goats, but the sacrifices
OF u broken and Il cOn:rite heart. ..rhus
ssaIth the high and lofty one that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is holy, l dwell In
the high and holy place, with him that is Of
i contrite and humble spiri, TO revive the
spirit of the humble and to revive the heart
of the cOntrite ones.'
OF the prayer which arises from 4 contritc
and humble spirit, God Is by no means I'M
mindful. lie watches with anxious solicit
tude for the sinners awakening. and when,
like Paul's, his heart is lifted up In earnest
supplicatiou, earth offers its maker no
scene more interesting, and uttcrs no voice
more pleasing to Ills eur. When Paul was
upon his knees, the eye of Jehovah was upon
him and had all the nations of the earth
been engaged ut that hour in one dreadful
conflict, legion rushing upon legion, and
host destroy ing host, till earth ran rivers of
blood. yet would not His eye have been Iii
Nertcd from that little chamber OF Damascus,
nor one thought or desire OF its penitcnt oc.
cupant have been UNDECIDED. Strange though
it may. seem To the human understanding,
which measures only by all earthly standard,
yet the gfateiulvoice of prayer, though it rise
from the !owly shed of penury and want, OBJ
taiis the attention OF u merciful God more
than the overthrow of nations or the fall of
empires. Beautifully set forth In the parable
OF the LOST sheep, is this great sOiicitude of
God for the sal, alton OF sinners, and the JOY
that reisns in the courts of neaven when
the wicked man turneth away from the
Wlckedntss that he hath committed, and
doeth that which is lawful and right"
No matter how dissolute and vicious NAV
have been his past life, still there L, hone,
True there is danger OF grle,ing AWAY the
Holy Spirit from our hearts; but there is al
ways hope. If the sinner but fall down
in humble and sincere supplicution for par
don, We have the promise Of u Saviour that
his rayer will be heard; '.if any man thirst
let him come unto me and drink" Every
one that ;sketh receiycth, and he that seek
eth tindeth, and to him that knocketh it Shall
be opened" There is therefore hope for
all. and over the sinner that rcpentetil there
is greater Joy in heaven than over the ninety
and nine just persons who need no repent
ance. Ii with these plain teachings before us,
any of us perish it will be not because we are
ignorant OF the means of salvation, but SIM
ply because we have no deep desire to i'll
!lcrit eternal life. Again. We learn from the
context that God Is no: only the hearer but
aIiswcrer Of prayer. When Paul was OH his
knees praying for forgiveness and consola-
lion, Christ was sending to him Ananias his
servant who should assure him OF the one
and impart to him the other. before they
call 1 VIII answer, and while they are yet
speaking, i will hear, saycth The Lord:
"whosoerer shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall DC delivered; ale that asketh,
reccifcih.' Because our prayers are not
answered Immediately, OF because they are
answered lii Il different manner from what
We expected. or are not answered ut all, is
no reason why w0 should he discouraged, or
cease from the performance OF our duty i'll
t'ttt RESPECT. II they he not answered. im-
mcdtaieiy, God sees how our good will be
promoted more by Withholding an answer.
sometimes onrprayefs are answered without
ohi hHoNt-uSC,b tCauSc answered. uluclcnl-
ly from what VIC anticipated. Wemay pray
Tor those things, the possession OF which
will, we think, promote our happiness. The
answer may come in the form Of atfiicti0n,
since TO God it is evident that in this way
our happiness will be hes: promoted. II we
but love God and keep his commandments.
our prayers, though we cannot see how they
are cfectual, will not ne in vain IAN things
shall work together Tor good TO those WHO
love God" This scripture also teaches the
duty OF christian sympathy. The first words
which AnanIas spake seemed to sweep across
the soul VI Saul like some sweet strain OF
recollccted music. The darkness of despon-
dency which brouded o'er his soul Was dis
sipatcd. Despair flew before the angel OF
kindness that dwelt i'll that one affectionate
word, Brother" rs il tell from tho lips oi
this servant OF God. Words Of comfort and
conso. alton arc just Us necdiul now. rs then
and will impart the same cheerful influence
to the heart Of the penltent sinner AS 1t did
TO Paurs. Go then to the p%enitent where
ever he may be found, pouI into his wound.
ed spirit Il healing balm by placing before
him in uufcisned Kindness the consoling
promises of the gospel. Terror has dis.
charged its Office; iet love to II merciIuI
Saviour take its place that God HAY be
worshipped, not from fear, but from thai
perfect love which casteth out fear"