Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-11-19
Beechcr ON the Praycr-Mceting.

ought TO develop church life, 1t Is the gath
ering together Of the whole body of the
brotherhood, the men and the women in the
church. for mutual ediGcation Do you not
believe that there is a constant communica.
tion Of the Holy Ghost with every heart
that is striving God.ward; yea, and every
one that is not2 DO you not believe that
every heart that has been made willing in
the day Of Gods power, that is in a recipi.
cut state, is receiving from day to day
realization Of the Divine presence, an in
spration in dutics2 Is there not life 20.
ing on in the hearts Of Gods own people,
under all the varied conditions in which
they are living, that is worth some record,
some Interpretation And is it possible
that one man. no matter how studious, no
mntter how giocd-is it conlormable to our
ideas Of the constitution Of the church, that
one man, standing in the pulpit, shall be
able, simply because he deyotes himself to
instruction, 20 pour out upon a congregation
such knowledge Of experimental truth as
nhcres iu ihc iic of the congregation itself2
/ n there were auy process by which we
could look inside of mems lives their uu-
conscious as well as their conscious religious
/ life; If we could follow the mother in all
| her moods and musings and prayers aud
anxietes, and all the methods By which she
is lifted out of aud over, and carried VIC
torious through, any discouragements and
trials in the rearing Of her little church the
household; il we could 20 with those that
are discouraged aud down-hearted and not
naturally hopeful, whom all the world seem.
to beat against and to crush, and see how
their feebeness and weakness is from day
to day helped and sustained if we could
gather out all which the young feel in then
weary moments if We could see how mer
strive under temptations against pride; how
men that are borne in upon in the business o.
life strive against ayarce; what battle il
going on in the shop, in the street, ant
wherever men are; what the whole round
Of real, practical godliness is, in its weak
ness, its overthrow and defeat in its matched
battles or in its victories--if we could gathel
out all these things, aud bring them int,
some form and lay them open, do you be
- lieve there is single man on earth, thougi
be were a prophet, or an apostle, or both
that could equal the lives and history Of al
= the members Of the church? The grea
and wonderful work going on in the loves
: and the least is more stupendous in its re
latious to the Godhead and the eterna
estate Of the blest than the external great
! ness Of any kingdom in the world. And
. is all the time stimulated and developed
Here is the growth Of passions here is tn
growth ofmoral emotions here is the dawl
Of love, waxing stronger and stronger unit
the perfect day; here are the Joys and sor
rows, the upiitings, the downcastings-al
the ten thousand things which not onl
. teach US to pray, but which pray in US an
through us with groanings which canno
be uttered Is there any voice for thes
, things, except as we gather up here an
/ there a scrap from the congregation an
{ make it known Now, the ideal prayer
' this voice of the church, telling what it ha
learned Of God in its daily conflict, bring
ing out the whole Of that great range c
o Christian work that is going on in any con
J, muuity where there is true church {
,r Christ. For, as the apostles were called
testify that they had seen Jesus, and thi
be was raised from the dead, so the churc
D should testify that Christ Is raised in thel
from the dead, and tell what he is doing b
:, N his work in them.
'e Upon this foregoing principle as foundation VI
v neecher builds hs IDEAL hus'l
The ideal OF the prayer'meetlng' then
- family meeting housenold coming .
,r rDthpr and tCllNr. all OF them, from TN