St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-17
Entering into the Closet.

BY GERTRUDE TENNEY TwINING.
"But thou, when thou prayest, entel
into thy closet, and when thou has
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which
is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee open
ly."
Not long since lady drew for me
the plan of her house, which l had new
err seen. "This," she said, pointing to
large room on the sunny side of the
house and having several pleasant win
dows, sis our room and here, opening
off from it, is my husbands private
closet, and here is mine. They are of
about the same size, and are just large
enough to hold little table and chair.
Each has window. On the table are
few books, Bible, hymn-bOok, and
whatever else we may desire when
alone with God"
What an admirable feature in the
plan of a house, "Mother's room" is
always common property for the whole
family. 1t is well that it should be a
large, sunny, cheerful room. But what
a wise forethOught that added the two
closets, large enough for a window and
small enough to hold only one beside
God. A small room brings him so
much nearer; and there, entirely shut
out from the world, could one commune
with God and his own soul, read his
messages of love and, day by day,
grow in grace. What refuge to flee
to, such a closet would be ! If all our
houses were built after that plan, there
would be fewer backsliding Christians !;
for there is nothing so sure to produce
such, as neglect of ones private devo-
tions.
1t is important to have stated times
for prayer and to observe them regular
~ and it is for us to decide, each for
himself, how often we should pray and
at what times. 1t may be necessary
for the comfort or convenience of 9TH
ers, to occasionally defer the precious
season, and we can unselfishly deny
ourselves the customary pleasure as we
would deny ourselves any other pleas
nre upon sufficient occasion. But no
affair of our own can be as necessary to
us, or as important, as our appointment
with God and we should allow no
trifliDg thing to prevent us from keeping
that appointment.
Paul says, "Pray without ceasing."
Not that we are to spend our days upon
our knees but he appreciated that an
inestimable blessing is theirs who en-
JOY the continual presence of the Lord,
who hold constant communion with
him, who can say as he did, 81 live,
yet not 1, but Christ liveth in me-"
And in order to enjoy this blessing it is
necessary that we should go regularly
10 our closets. We read that Daniel
"kneeled upon his knees three times a
day, and prayed and gave thanks before
his God" David said, Evening aud
morning and at noon will l pray"
Some persons are so hurried from the
time they leave their beds in the morn
ing until they return to them at night,
that it seems well nigh impossible to
give any time to prayer except the first
few moments in the morning and the
last in the evening. If such is our lot,
we may be able to have few moments
alone with God, even in the crowded
street car or while busily mending the
cbildren's torn frocks. How thankful
We should be that our God looks upon
the heart and knows its faintest desire
We may be sure that he will be just as
near with his presence and blessing in
such moments as if we could devote the
whole time and attention to prayer.
In this way we may be able to keep a
regular hour.
This lifting of the heart to God az
any time and place is privilege which
cannot be overestimated. In times of
temptation or danger, one cry to God
can save us, for he says, 81 will surely
hear their cry )" "Call upon me in the
day of trouble will deliver thee, and
thOn shalt clarity mo
When possible to do SO, we may find
1T pays to devote a few moments from
our hurry to quiet prayer. We shall
work the faster and accomplish the
more for our little rest; and the wheels
may move more smoothly and easily for
such a careful oiling.
One very important part of our
prayers, and one which we are apt to
forget, is the thanksgiving. We plead
earnestly for given thing; we obtain
the answer to our petitions, in many
cases hundred fold and then we for
get all about it, come with some new
request, and do not say, ''Thank you,"
after receiving what we have desired so
much. A neigbbor may have received
visit from burglars who failed to ac-
complish their object. He forgets to