Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-29
PRAYER AND WORK.

1t has not unfrequently, of late, been the
case that the secular press has appeared to
suppose that there is something of conflict
between the thought of prayer and work
This has been very apparent in the way the
recent proclamation Of the Governor of Mis-
souri,, recommending fast, was treated by the
secular press of the State. The inevitable re.
suit of the laws of nature have been held out
as safeguard and the energy of certain per.
sous presented as an illustration, why prayer
was uncalled for. Every intelligent Christian
is ready to recognize the laws of nature, and
the efficacy of the energetic use Of means, yet
will not permit these to supersede the necessi-
ty of prayer.
The duty of prayer does not in any way
warrant incidence The Bible teaches US to
pray and then to work-showing US that while
God is the sovereign disposer of events, yet
cy or action of his creatures, and must be &C.
knowledged in prayer as the bestower of ben
efts Prayer, then, instead of fostering indo.
lence, or leading Christians to expect mira.
Gle, only energises them for efficient action.
There is no antagonism between prayer and
work. Facts show that praying men are
working men. While our Saviour was such
man Of prayer as to spend the whole night
in prayer, yet as working man he went
about continually doing good. We never
heard any one charge the apostles or prophets
as being lazy men, yet their souls were con-
stant in supplications before God. Martin
Luther, a fit representative of all the Reform
ers, ever ready for and efficient in work or
conflict, daily devoted number of hours to
prayer. Look at the prayers, and then the
work accomplished by such men as Bunyan,
Wesley, Payson, and Spurgeon, and know
that those who have been noted as men Of
PRAYER have also been noted for the work they
have done.
PRAYER fits US for work. 1t is not impossi.
BILE for US to pray without Christian intelli.
gence We must have knowledge both of
the character of God and his mode of action.
We must have knowledge both of ourselves
and the truth that God has revealed. A true
principle must be exercised-confdenc both
in the ability and willingness of God to grant
that for which we ask. The natural conse-
quence of this if to give courage, determina-
ton, and hope. Fear is dispelled because con-
fdence is reposed in God determination is
uAeu OeCtuSe Oou SlVeo teSuiIS Hoeoiuiu6 w
action, and hope is firm because God does not
disappoint the expectations of faith. Earnest
prayer nerves the soul and fits it for effective
action.
Not only does prayer fit us for work, but it
also causes US to work. As superabundance
of electricity necessitates action, so a soul
stirred by prayer cannot remain idle. When
Joshua had with Israel earnestly prayed after
the defeat of Al, he, instead of being careless
or remiss, was more energetic and exercised
greater skill than before. The prayers OF
Gideon, and the assurance of success that he
received, did not cause him to relax his ener'
gy nor despise strategy. The prayers of Crom-
we'll and his army made them keep their pow
der dry, and fight with the courage of heroes
and the desperation of those who had staked
everything on their action. The earnest mid
night prayers of Stonewall jackson told his
servant that fearful battle was to be fought
on the ensuing day. Such is the character OF
true prayer--it sets us at work.
In uniting prayer and work we honor God
as the controller of the laws of nature, as the
dispenser of blessings, and us the gracious
bestower of requests United Presbyterian