The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-09-04
PRAYER
TREAD BY MR.. A. W. YORK. AT MARIETTA
BAPTIST CHURCH

We are engaged in series o.
prayer meetings, and having been
re quested by our absent pastor tC
conduct these service, have chosen
Prayer il, the Family Circle as
my subject to night.
First, | would ask, What is pray
err A writer has said Prayer is
simplest form of speech that infant
lips can try Prayer the subimest
strains that reach the Majesty Oh
high If we compare this cefini
ton with the many prayers we find
recorded in Gods holy word, re
mark able not only for simplicity bat
tor brevity, we wIll at ooce be cons
strained to accept it as true one.
One of the most remarkable prayers
of which We have any account, is
composed of seven words, and yet
we are told that the publican event
down to his house justified "
Another prayer remarkable for its
brevity was uttered by our Savior
himself. This prayer SO very dear
to the true christian consists Of nine
words: Father, forgive them, they
know not what they do" 1t is not
our purpose however to speak at
Iepght to night about the manner or
length of our petitions, but rather to
speak of prayer as a duty; a duty
which we owe to our fellow beings,
to our families and to our Cod
How then can we best perform this
dutyP Many persons excuse them
selves from prayer by the plea of
timidity. Aud why should there be
timidity when the child approaches
the father If it should be required
of us that we approach proud mon
arch, sinful man like ourselves,
then indeed might we hesitate and
tremble. But thanks be to God, the
captain of our salvation, is not such
an one. A monarch it is true, yet
father, the maker and fuisher of
oil things, and yet when we approach
him pleading the merits of Jeous, his
his only begotten son and our advo'
cate, be is still the kind and loving
Father. But where and when
should we pray The com
mand is that men ought always to
pray. Let US picture little scene,
We arise in the morning refreshed,
rested from the toll Of the previous
day. We have been kept by tho
strong band of our Heavenly Father,
the icy hand of death has not been
permitted to touch us, our strength
is renewed and the family are soon
to enter upon the tolls of new day.
None of us can tell what that day
may bring forth. Toll, dangers,
wars without and fears within, oh |!
how we need to be prepared for the
battle to be fought on that day
Oh how we need to ask for strength,
for wisdom. Oh we need. the
spirit of Jesus to dwell in our hearts
Oh ! how we need that our Father
should guide us in all things and
lead us not into temptation. The
little ones are up aud dressed +; the
breakfast 10 about ready; shall we
not open the old family Bible, read
il only few verses aud then join 10
a song of praise, and if we cannot
sing, shall we not as an entire famiN
~ kneel around the family altar and
return thanks to our Heavenly Faith
err for the many blessings with which
he has surrounded US, for his good
ness and mercies to US poor, weak
and sinful beings
Let us picture another scene
The father aud mother are members
of some Christian church. They
live at home and abroad about as
other goddess people. A family has
been raised, many sons ana daugh
tiers have arrived to years Of matur>
ity. A daughter Of Is or Is years
is taken suddenly ill the doctor is
brought 10 all haste. In few short
days, or hours it may be, the daugb'
ter turns her already sunken eyes
upon the father and says: "Father,
| am dying, and O, | am a great
sinner ; you protested to be chris
tiau. Do you know, father, | have
never heard you pray9 0, father,
did you ever pray for me that
might not be called away unprepar'
ed to meet my God 7 Now, alas il
is too late !"
Is this an overdrawn picture p
Do you see nothing Of real life in III
Perhaps the young lady in our pic
ture has a duplicate who was regu'
lar attendan. upon the services o.
the church and Sabbath school, and
also attended the masquerade ball
carried thee by the example Of
some member Of the church. ADD
just here very inn 'tant question
and about which, in consequence OF
its magnitude | feel totally unable tc
speak, comes unbidden to our minds
allude to the responsibility resting
upon parents in reference to the
proper training Of their children.
can only allude to it here with the
hope and prayer that j. may b
more deeply impressed upon on
minds than it has been in the past
That prayer 10 the family circle
should enter largely into the prope
training of our children, | suppose
! ,4..L4