St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-03

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good. that our faith under such trial
may grow strong and victorious.
In the same Way patience Is nuItured
and made enduring. Every delay says
to our eager desire. wait" And wait
/ ing is IL difficult lesson to learn. Sub
mission grows under the same ministry
of trial. | asked an aged saint III a
pastoral visit to-day whether she had
ever becn troubled 10y the experience
| upon which we are dwelling now. sob.
YES" she said. land it used to stumble
ed that il is not yood for me ARRAYS to
hare my ray.'
3 Besides this culture of the Christian
graces it may he the object of delay to
put us upon searching our hearts to see
whether any element of self enteIs into
our asking. One may pray earnestly
/ solicitudc may he. not that the saliva
/ ton of the Gospel may he magnItied.
the name of jesus honoled. and the
kingdom of truth and light and holiness
! he advanced, but that his own children
may he saved. know Il good deacon
down in Maine. who had il absolute ana
PRAYER for that sou For ten Years he
kept up this agony ni intrrce>Sion and
the boy became even more desperate in
his wickcdmcss. Then one day the
father said. iii hcm t-hrokennrsS, to the
I priNer-hcaIcr, Lord, can do no more.
give the boy up to thee: do with him
us thou wilt" And the very next day
there came from the prodigal Il letter of
penitcmce. and presently. the father
could sing. This my son was dead. and
} is alive again: WIS lost. and is found"
When the element of self is cmpticd ont
of our prayers. then God will make
haste to send the gracious answer.
His delays are sometimes intended
only to bring lis nearer to him. As IL
father holds ont III his hand some Gift
iol his child. and withdraWS il as the
little one approaches. lifting it at last
above his head. until the eager seeker
climbs, fist upon his knees. then upon
his bosom. then up around his meek to
reach the prize.
Sometimes they may he meant only
to enhance the rrcciouSmeS> oi The bless
L.,
ing the conditions of prevailing prayer
Sometimes, To stimulate greater actiN i
~ and devotion of personal effort to
secure the good.
And often. NcIN often. the delay is
only apparent. not real. God does not
work by miracle. lie works 10y series
of prov idrmti,;i agencies. He starts his
productive forces iAl away from the
;,rrmc of action. Concurrent forces must
be brought together in happy comhina-
ton toI the ISSUE. tod may begin to
work as >"nn a> the PRAYER becomes
vocal. He may send forth his winged
messengers at the very time his child
So'~ libN u upon HIS kIItt> lbN Hll>ttU
avenues ana agencies the Blessing may
he coming nearer through all the silent
waiting. We knew it not. We won
der why God does not heed our cry.
And while We sorrow and doubt, the
whole power of his administration is in
harness to bring us the desire OF our
hearts.
There are three words that have
learned to speak to my Own soul. in ali
my petitions To God for blessings that
/ lingrr: g" IIOPE TLC>r, WAIT =
Hope" i"r he permits me- t." call upon
him: "IIu>t." Ion he viii in some way
make = ."d his pledges; Nv ait. for
the road on which the answer travels
may he long, aud the set time tor the
blessing may be distant. -Rcr. 4. l..
Stone. u. u.