St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
A Word of Cheer.
BY CELIA NJ. WINSTON.

The Week of Prayer is past. Some
who were awakened from their careless
ease have again settled down into apa-
thy but there are others, | know, who
during that week often wrestled with
God in prayer for some particular dear
one, and now their hearts are sinking,
because God seems to have turned a
deaf ear to their entTeaties. For does
not the loved one appear as far away
from Jesus as before or possibly he
seems even farther, having been reused
by the Spirit only to grieve him away.
To these discouraged ones, whose faith
is failing, and especially to young
Christians eager to have their prayers
answered nOr, these words are address
ed, with the hope that they may
strengthen their dropping trust as it did
my own.
Tive or three years ago, a small
group of girls were gathered together
in little room in one of our large sem
inaries, all devoted friends, and all ex-
pecting to graduate in the Spring.
Two of their class we're absent, and 1t
was of them they were talking. The
Week of Prayer was just over, and
these friends, who belonged to a little
prayer, had had their hearts filled with
new zeal and love, for several of their
companions had found peace in believ-
ing, and others were seeking Jesus.
But there were two in whom all the
group felt peculiarly interested-two
talented young girls, loved and ad-
mired by the whole school; two who
would leave the dear institution very
.,l,,o IA 81
desired so earnestly the conversion of
these two.
Among themselves it was agreed that
special, daily prayer should be made
by every one present that these two
might be ''led from darkness into light"
that session, that the Spirit of God
might move upon their hearts also dur
ing this gracious awakening; and many
times were their names mentioned at
the Mercy Seat after that-at first with
glowing faith and hope, afterward with
sinking courage, as months wore on
and their prayers seemed in vain.
One of the objects of their anxiety
was the life of the school, brilliant
little thing, always bright. pleasant
and lovable. She bad won the hearts
of all, aud welded a powerful influence
over her intimate associates-an inflU-
ence, however, often for evil, we feared,
for her witty and gifted tongue could
make adroit thrusts against the Bible,
and could pour ridicule and contempt
upon religion, with great effect upon
the minds of her admiring companions.
The other, educated by gOdly parents,
respected the Bible, and WAS at that
time serious but. proud and reserved,
she struggled against her convictions
and would not come to Christ that she
might be saved-even avoiding those
whom she thought concerned in her
spiritual welfare.
So the session came to a close, the
happy recipients of the diplomas all
went out into the world. but the ones
for whom SO many petitions were offer
ed left unchanged. and word would
come of the gayeties, parties, dances
and merTiment they had whirled into.
for they were courted and admired,
had beaux, and the weak young Chris
tians, who had SO ardently wished for
their salvation, sighed as they heard
these accounts, doubling whether God
accepted their requests, so imperfect as
they were. Satan whispered, as he did
to Eve, Ibid Jesus say, Whatsoever
We VIII ask lR My name, that VIII L
give unto you'i or does he just intend
that for Christians like the apostles, not
such as you r. while unbelief suggested
that it was best not to have a special
object of prayer, since many of their
companions whose names had not been
as often on their lips when pleading
with God had already entered into the
ark OF safety.
A year rolled by, and two or three of
that little number met again to see
their old school mates win the honOrs
they had also won; and that day there
came word from these PARKWAY friends
that they, too. had become new Great
ures in Christ. What rejoicing was
there then! though mingled with the
the thanksgiving there were tears of
penitence for their unbelief and doubt.
Have you, my dear reader, been ago
nizing for father, child, brother, sis
ter, husband, or friend, and do they
seem no nearer to the kingdom of God
nay, do they seem farther every day,
beyond even the power of Gods grace :