St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-27
sincerity i'm Prayer.

To men of the world it must he a
subject of real wonder and surprise, to
use no more disrespectful terms, why
80 many petitions offered by the peO-
pie of God prove fruitless. They hear
Christians cxhort each other with all
zeal and pcrtinacity to pray without
ceasing," and they know, from the
reverent way in which we urge Il cOun
sci like this, that the admOnition is in
spired No doubt many of them adj
mire the unwaVcring and dauntless
confidence with which we continue to
present prayer as the panacca for all
ills, and the available help for all times
of need, even though we admit, by our
own showing in its repetition, it has
failed in exact answer often.
To all this, Christians ought to be
able to reply that prayer follows laws
and respects intelligent conditions,
just as every other part of Gods plan
of redemption does. We are accus-
toned to say to each other that God
always hears prayer. No, he does not.
The wiscSt man that was ever inspired
says distinctly: "He that turneth
away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer shall bc abOminatiOn."
And in the New Testament, the apostle
explains the whole anomaly Of failure
thus "Ie ask and receive not, because
We ask amiss." The hindrance falls in
at the lowest point human impertec-
ton stays the petition. The arrow
drops ut the bOw-string.
For one thing, self-conceit destroys
all sincerity in prayer Notice how
this man in the parable runs on in his
voluble rehearsal of his own eXcellen-
cics. He addresses his Maker in
terms of irrcvercnt and gross familiar
ity. He thanks him, but he has no
idea of being grateful; it is the rather
IA sort of congratulation of God, as hay
ing at least one splendid Pharisee who
brings him a good deal of money and
gives him very little trouble. There
is no request of any kind IN the for
mulary he is occupied only with his
own supreme individuality, and his
address is but Il laudatiOn of himself.
"Surcly God will not hear vanity,
neither will the Almighty regard it,"
1t is not certain that many could be
found in which this disposition would
he considered SO pronounced as it is
seen to he in this case. But the eXpe-
rience of many Christians might be
trusted to furnish illustrations of the
hindrance they have felt from an alb
surd and annoying sclf-cOnsciousncss
even i'm the midst of their sincercst de-
votions. We all know the anecdotc of
one of the first divines of our land,
which he tells of himself. As he rose
to pray one evening in service, while
he was in the very act of closing his
eyes, he was unfortunate enough to
catch a glimpse of Il ncighhoring min
lister entering the church, one whose
theological opinions were mt variance
with his own. He relates with shame
the iomdering efforts he made to avoid
praying Calvinism, lest he might by
some little chance word offend the
taste of his visitor '"The fear of man
bringeth Il snare This is making Il
prayer, not praying to God.
These prayers are empty, and i'll the
full sense meaningless. They are van
ity embodied, which God says he will
not hear. The Almighty never tritles
never waists time in admiration of his
creatures literary excellence, and
never bears patiently with those in
the act of composition while at the
mercy-seat. He who brings no heart
Ia his prayers will find neither utter
ance nor success Chas. 5. Robinson