Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-14

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tablished the course OF the universe, and ar
ranged all the events that must come to pas:
in it, prayer was an element which wa:
then taken into account and for which an
answer was provided. as the result of ma
tural laws, employed for this expressly and
by the omniscient foreknowledge and wis
dam Of God. When, therefore, we address
God in prayer, both the prayer and the an
swer to it will be part of fixed system,
foreknOwn TO infinite wisdom, foreordained
in the established order of the universe.
These considerations show the negative
side. But cannot close without indicat-
ing, in a few sentences, the positive side.
Prayer is an impulse, an Instinct, ne
cessity CT our nature. Men every where
and the ages through, have developed a
tendency to prayer. Go where you please
this tendency is visible reality. Not only
in the name of Christ have prayers been
offered, but in the names Of heather deities
of unknown gods. In peril and distress,
the human heart leaps, as by an ins inct, to
clasp the outstretched arm Of the God OF
succour. When the dismantled ship is
heayirg and straining amid the breakers,
voices are heard calling on God with a
fervor and an intensity hitherto unknown.
at the sick bedside, when skill had done
its utmost, and hope is almost gone, affec-
ton finds that it has no other outlet save
in prayer. God who has implanted this in
stinct in us Himself, must surely know
the way TO answer it: otherwise it were a
mockery and an unreality. And is il not
far more difficult to conceive Of the Creator
implantiug deceitful and mocking distinct
in the nature of man, than TO harmonic
the absolute perfection of the Will of God,
and His Divine viii which gives real an
swers TO prayer?
This instinct of prayer, whilst it implies
an intuitiye belief in the being. personality,
constant presence, AID entreatibility Of
of God, scatters to the wind all the scepticai
objections that are urged against the doc
trine of prayer. Thank God, there is some
thing mightier than intellect and truer than
logic. There is the conviction that the
heart of God is open topersuasion, and that
an influence can be thrown upon it from
mans heart. What, am permitted, with
my thought, and with my heart, TO reach
up and persuade the heart of God? Then
God is not cold abstraction. He is not a
force. He is not a stone. He is a Being
with heart. He is love. He feels as well
as thinks. He has a fathers feeling
Like as a father pitch his children, and
loves to be persuaded to give things which
He wants to give before the child thinks Of
them, so God declares that He likes to be
inquired Of concerning such things, and
that He permits Himself to be persuaded
by the impetus cf holy mans heart.
That kind of prayer in which man takes
his very being and beats upon the soul of
God, as it were, and will not take denial
that kind Of impoftunate earnest prayer
/ believe God loves TO answer.
That prayer, sooner or later, is answered
to all who have prayed earnestly and con-
stantly is, in different degrees, matter Of
personal experience.
What wonderful examples Of the power
of prayer are furnished usfin the history of
the world! Abraham's servant prays-Re-
becca appears. Moses prays-Amalek is
discomitted. Joshua prsys -Achan is dis
covered. Hannah prays-Samuel is born.
Asa prays-a victory is gained. JehOsa-
plat cries to God-God turns away his foes.
Isaiah and Hezekiah pray-1S5, 900 Assyrians
are dead in twelve hours. Daniel prays-
the lions are muZzled. Daniel prays-the
seventy weeks are revealed. Nehemiah
prays-the kings heart is softened imme-
diately. Elijah prsys-a drought Of three
years succeed. Elijah prays-rain descends
apace. Elisha prays-JOrdan is divided.
Elisha prays-a ch:ld's soul comes back. l
refer all the great epochs which have found
fountains of blessing to the world to prayer.
| refer the remarkable change that has
taken place over the whole face Of the world
to the prayers Of twelve men eighteen cen
turtles ago. l refer the blessings that de-
scended ON the day of Pentecost to the
prayers that rose from the upper room at
Jerusalem. l refer the Reformation in
Germany TO the prayers of Luther, concern
ing whom Melancthon said, "Often have l
found him on his knees bathed in tears of
prayer before God" | refer the Reforma-
ton in Scotland to the prayers Of John
Knox, concerning which the Queen of Eng
land said: Il dread them more than all the
armies of Europe" l refer all the general
that has marked the history Of
the world to Christianity, and to the pray
ers of her devotees.
1t is a mistake to suppose that each
prayer and petition to be effectual, must
have recognizable answer; that God i'm
parts an evidential character to every ans
Wer to prayer. Distinct and separate ut
terances of prayer are seldom so answered.
The christian lives in the midst of his ans
wered prayers. His life is consecrated; his
hopes are high and firm; his faith strong;
his love sincere, and what he is, is the best
evidence Of answered prayer. What he is,
he is, by grace through prayer. And so,
though we may not be able to single out
our prayers and point to the particular
answers, we can do much better, we can
say, that like the sweet balmy air, they
pervade our whole being, they gladden. all
our days and crown the last with victory.
How or when TO pray need no hints
where the heart is right. 1t would be 10
tell love, however, when to express itself.
Ii is the act not the manner, the spirit not
the form which is regarded. The form
of devotion suffices; and alias or sigh, are
uplifted look, or tender thought is noted.
Whatever love does is prayer. "a kind act
for his sake is as true prayer as any other.
Work is prayer. Praise is prayer. AdOra-
ton is prayer. In this larger sense, prayer
is a state rather than an act. 1t is in the
course with God, of whatever kind. 1t can
be used in all places, at all times, and I'M
der all circumstances.
We are too apt to associate prayer exclu-
sively with the house of God or with the
knees Bonded in the silence Of the night;
and to separate il from the trials and bust
ness of every day life. 1t is not every one
that can afford time for long and continued
in secret with God; but every
one can lead a praying life. This is what
is meant by the the biblical exhertations:
continue in prayer continue in secret in
prayer pray without ceGSing;' 'men ought
dl,Cdys to pray Such exhortatiOns con-
template a state, not insulated acts Of
prayer. Fixed seasons are necessary and
advisable; but the heart may be rising to
God when there seems least opportunity.
He prays without ceasing' not indeed who
is always on his knees, or always
engaged with specific acts of devotion,
for this were impossible, and if possible,
inconsistent with our every day duties of
life; but it is to have prayeTful mind,
mind at all times apt to prayer. 1t is to
carry prayerful heart about with us into
every scene and every occupation Of life;
not only when God is catecising US, but
when he is crowning us with loving kind
ness; not only in adversely, but in prosperi-
ty. And inasmuch as God is always ready
and able to hear prayer, the sudden utter
ance of the heart, when there is no place
for the bending of the knee, and no time
even for the motion of the lips, may detain
instanneous response. The heart has but
to breathe its desire, and God is acquainted
with it as soon as formed, and may grant
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