Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-16
NO. 142.
THE OLD sCOTCHMAN'S PRAYER.

l was pleased the other day with story
which an aged Scotch minister told me
about an old Scotchman. who, many years
ago, was on his way to meeting Of the
people of God, held in tent, or some
such temporary structure.
The old pilgrim was poor and i'll clad,
and partly deaf, but he trusted in the Lord
whom he served, and rejoiced in his kind
providence. On his way to the meeting
he fell in with another Christian brother,
a younger man, bound on the same errand,
and they travelled on together.
When they had nearly reached the place
OF meeting it was proposed that they should
turn aside behind the hedge, and have
little praying before they entered the meet
ing. They did so. and the old man, who
had learned in everything to let his re-
quests be made known unto God, present
cd his case in language like the following:
Lord. ye know well enough that Pm
deaf, and | want seat on the first bench,
II ye can let me have it, so that can hear
thy word. And ye see that my toes are
sticking through my shoes, and don't
think it is much to your credit to have
your children's toes sticking through their
shoes, and therefore want ye to get me
pair OF new ones. And dye ken have nae
siller, and | want to stay there during the
meeting, and therefore | want you to get
me place to stay"
When the old man had finished his quaint
petition and they had started on, his
younger brother gently suggested to him
that he thought his prayer was rather
free in its form of expression, and
hardly as reverential as seemed proper to
n b;pn thn
But the cid man did not accept the impu-
tation of irreverence
Hes my Father" said he, "and Pm
acquainted with me, and take great lib
critics with him." So they went on to the
meeting together. The old man stood for
while in the rear of the congregation,
making an ear trumpet of his hand to
catch the words, till some one near the
pulpit noticed him. and beckoning him
forward gave him good seat upon the
front bench. During the PRAYER the old
man knelt down, and after he arose a lady
who had noticed his shoes, said to him,
Are those the best shoes you have?"
YES" said he, "but / expect my Faith
er will get me new pair very soon.'
Come with me after meeting" said the
anu w III yOu q new pdlF.
The services closed and he went with
her to her house.
"Shall you stay during the meeting?' ?''
said the good woman as they went along.
II would, but am stranger in the
place, and have nae siler."
"Well," said she, "you will be perfect
ly welcome to make it your home at our
house during the meeting.n
hn n1I ynI A. I a., l.
had given him all the three things he had
asked for, and, while his younger brothers
reverence for the Lord was right and
proper, it is possible that he might have
learned that there is a reverence that
reaches higher than the forms and conven-
tionalities of human taste, and which leads
the believer to come boldly to the throne
of grace to find all needed help in every
sprinkled a..d accepted worshipper of God
a boldncSs or liberty to enter the holiest,
which astonishes those who have only
known the power Of the spirit of bondage
unto fear.
And while we carefully avoid the irrev-
crent rashncss OF speaking vain and care
less words before the Lord, we may well
also avoid the long, precise, and studied
oratlOhS OF tne nNpOcflte, ana especially
the taithess insults of those who ask and
receive not because they ask amiss, and
who make God Il liar by not believing the
promises he has given.
1t is Il precious privilege to pray in hum
bic boldness and coniidiDg love; TO bring
every want and woe and lay them at the
Saviour's feet to put aside the stale and
utterances of formality, and
hold converse with the Lord from the deep
longings OF the inward heart. Let us seek
to prove this privilege in all its iullness. rs
the Lord may give lis grace and faith
I'VE would no longer lie
Like slaves beneath the throne;
Our faith shall Abba, Father, cry,
And thou the kindred own"