Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-05-15
Faiths 0aken Chest.

A Christians faith needs frequent tonics
for the atmosphere of this world is very
enervating and demoralizing. One of the
Bibletexts that doeth good like lnedi-
cine " is this God is the rewarder of
them that diligently seek him" This glori.
Gus truth has breathed new life under the
ribs of many a discouraged toiler, and
brought brightness to eyes which were fail.
ing with long watchfulness and tears. This
truth is linked with every noble endeavor,
with every act of obedience, with every
sacrifice for Christ, with every fervent prayer
of faith. God rewards honest labor. On
the strength of that fact tens of thousands
of ploughs are turning up the sods to-day.
and thousands of pastors pens are busy in
" the study preparing to-morrow's sermons.
The Sabbath-school teacher will go to his
class tomorrow, with Gods assurance that
if he sows the seed faithfully (steeped in
prayer) he shall, in due season, reap results.
To tear away the truth embodied in this
precious text would be like breaking the
backbone of every godly minister, teacher,
reformer, or parent. God rewards honest,
humble, submissive prayer. Our wise Father
chooses his own time and his own way, but
answer he will. ] do not believe that a
single sincere, fervent prayer of genuine faith
was ever treated with neglect by a holy God
. the long wearsone trials to which we are
often subjected, when God would test our
faith, or would strengthen its certebrG by
laying heavy loads upon it That woman of
Canaan has had millions of successors. They
have pressed their suit until they proved how
Jesus can reward those who diligently seek 1"
for a blessing. Brother Moody's meetings
often seem to me like Mount Carmel, when
the drenching rains pour down in perfect
jubilee. Blessings ON brave old Elijah lie
taught us all the power of holding on.
We could enumerate many cases of prayer,
answered long after the praying lips had
mouldered into dust When Captain K
sailed on his last voyage from America he
left a prayer for his infant-child written on
paper, and sealed up in an oaken chest. He
died at sea. His widow locked up the chest
for the use of the child when he should have
grown to manhood. The child grew up, dis
sipated and dissolute. The mother, on her
dying bed gave him the key of the chest /;
but he was afraid to open it, for his CON
science suspected that there was something
in it to trouble him. After he reached mid
die life he determined, one day, to crafty
his curiosity, and opened the chest. On the
bottom of it he discovered carefully yielded
paper on which was written" The prayer
of Nj K for his wife and child He
opened the paper, read it, and then putting
it back, resolved that he would never unlock
that chest again. But the arrow of con-
vction had entered his soul. His distress
became so intense that the woman-with
whom he was living in guilt-thought him
deranged He cried to his fathers God for
mercy, and repented of his sins as in dust
and ashes Faith in Jesus brought peace to
his conscience, and new and purer life to
his home. He married the woman he had
wronged, made public confession of Christ,
and served faithfully his fathers God to a
ripe old age. Faith keeps an oaken chest.
1t is constantly receiving fresh prayers writ
ten by the hand OF love. Ever and anon the
chest is opened and rich blessing found,
That chest is of the Kings making and on
the lid is inscribed, in letters of gold-"God
is the rewarder OF them that diligently seek
him."-Egdngeiia