Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-19

So, again, a man finds it almost impossible
to pray. When he makes the attempt, the
idea of the being he is addressing is SO vague
that he must either go on saying empty words
or fall into silence-the latter being much the
best course. But he can do this with his
first waking consciousness he can set himself
to take a serious, manly view of the day be-
fore him. He can send away the swarm of
petty thoughts about matters of detail and
externalty, telling them he is engaged with
other visitors. He can recall to himself the
one thing best worth doing that day-not to
make money, or have good time, but to be
a man He ought to know pretty well on
what lines his difficulty is likely to come
whether in being irritable or domineering, or
sharp in his bargains or self absorbed, or
whatever it be and now in this quiet hour
he can take good square look at his enemy
and make up his mind TO beat him. 1t is a
good time, too, for giving his thoughts
range quite beyond himself beyond even his
own moral struggles-a good time, there in
the stiffness, for going into the realm of other
lives His wife-what needs has she, for
kindness, for sympathy, that he can meet !?
His chldren-how can he make the day
sweeter to them? This acquaintance, who is
having a hard time, friend who dropped
word to you yesterday that you hardly no.
ticed in your hurry but that comes up to
some deeper hunger, than you had guessed
before, e,-now you can think these things over
So, you get your day somewhat into right
perspective and proportion before you begin
it. And then there comes one word which l
think every honest heart can humbly and
reverently say: "Thy will be done" May
Gods will be done,-m goodness truth
tenderness, purity, have way and prevail. In
that aspiration you enthrone your nobler de-
sires above all baser wants you put the good
of the whole above your mere personal good
Some sense there may come to you, too-a
sense which in a thoughtful and reverent man
should grow deeper the longer he lives-that
that little life of yours which you see and are
conscious of is a part of some greater and
grander destiny in which you and all man.
kind are embraced. You cannot measure its
scope nor forsee its issues, you are humbled
and awed before its mystery, but there is in
you hope that all is working toward a con-
summation, better than all we see or know.
And SO with some sense, true though it be
dim and trembling, of selfsurrender TO some
higher power, yod say, ''Thy will be done. "
Again, when the day is done, you look
thoughtfully back over it. You measure your
own success and failure by the highest stand
ards. You see something for which to be
glad, something for which to be humbled.
| But think to any one who faithfully and
steadily tries to lead the best life he knows
of, the thoughtful backward look over the
day will come to yield more and more the
sense that it is good and blessed thing to
| live, and with that sense some irresistible
motion of gratitude toward the source and
giver of life As one lies down to sleep,
passing SO serenely into the realm of uncon.
seriousness, there may well rise in the pure
and reverent heart deep, inscrutible trust.
1t gives no reasons for itself, and needs none,
| the will yields itself to some tranquil sense
of rest upon an all-sufiicient stay, as naturally
as the body yields itself to slumber
think that any one who will make of this
morning and evening upward look of the
heart habit, will find ingrafted and growing
in himself the true spirit of prayer. Rea
prayer is so natural to the scul,-the sense
of dependence on higher strength, affection
toward higher good repose upon higher
will is so normal to man-that it grows easily
In the soil furnished by loyal will and pure
affections and reverent mind, it takes root
and thrives like wheat cast into the prairies
of Minnesota The wheat does not perfect
itself in a day no more will the spirit Of
prayer in you. To rightly pray,-to wholly
merge ones will in the divine will, to purely
love, to perfectly trust, it is the achievement
of lifetime But you may plant the seed to
day.-GeO. S. Merriam.