Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-29
Reli0iolls department.
THE HABIT OF PRAYER.

So, again, man finds it almost i'm
possible to pray. When he makes the
attempt, the idea of the being he is adj
dressing is SO vague that he must either
go on saying empty words or fall into
latter being much the best
course. But he can do this; with his
first waking consciousness he can set
himself to take serious, manly view
of the day before him. He can send
away the swarm of petty thoughts about
matters of detail and externality, tell
ing them he is engaged with other Wis
itors. He can recall to himself the one
thing best worth doing that day-not
to make money, or have good time,
but to be 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 what
ever 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 good time, too, for giving
his thoughts range quite beyond him.
self, beyond even his moral struggles
a good time, there in the stiffness, for
going into the realm of other lives.
His wife-what needs has she, for kind
ness, for sympathy, that he can meet ?
His children-how can he make the
day sweeter to them This acquaint-
ance, who is having hard time,-this
friend who dropped word to you yes
terday that you hardly noticed in your
hurry, but that comes up to you now
revealing in him some finer trait, some
deeper hunger, than you had guessed
before,-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 [ think every
honest heart can humbly and reverently
say; "Thy will be done" May Gods
will be done,-may goodness, truth
tenderness. purity, have way and pre-
vail. In that aspiration you enthrone
your nobler desires above all basel
wants you put the good of the whole
above your mere personal good. Some
sense there may come to you, too;
sense which in thoughtful and rever
ent man should grow deeper the longe
he lives-that that little life of your
which you see and are. conscious of is
part of some greater and grander destl
ny in which you and all mankind ar
embraced. You cannot measure it
scope nor forsee its issues, you are hum
bled and awed before its mystery, bu
there is in you hope that all is work
ing toward a consummation, better tina
. all we see or know. And so with som
sense, true though it be dim and tren
bling, of self-surrender to some highe
> power, you say, "Thy will be DONE
/ Again, when the day is done, 20
l. look thoughtfully back over it. 70
measure your own success and failul
IL by the highest standards. You ST
IL something for which to be glad, som
10 thing for which to be humbled. But
e think to any one who faithfully an
'e steadily tries to lead the best life
II !, knows of, the thoughtful backward loo
- over the day will come to yield mo
10 and more the sense that it is good al
81 blessed thing to live, and with tn
III sense some irresistible motion of graz
eS tude toward the source and giver of lii
% As one lies down to sleep, passing
~ serenely into the realm of unconsciou
- ness, there may we'll rise in the pu
% and reverent heart deep, iuscrutit
ly trust. 1t gives no reasons for itse
e- and needs none,-the will yields its,
to some tranquil sense of rest upon
all-suficient stay. as naturally as t
- body yields itself to slumber.
:. l think that any one who will ma
cS of this morning and evening upwa
al look of the heart habit. will find
mt grated and growing in himself the TT
is spirit of prayer. To rightly pray
&c wholly merge ones will in the divi
~ will, to purely love, to perfectly tru
u it is the achievement of life-tim
&c But you may plant the seed to-day.
&c. Geo. S. Merriam.