Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-24
8eli9ioms department.
A SUPERSTITION


Suppose that it were to be an
nounced to the world, that after the
lapse of thirty days, God would be
no more the hearer of prayer. After
that period, his throne should no
more be throne of grace. All the
acceptable prayers that any should
present, must be presented before
the thirty days should have expired.
No longer to any one should the
golden sceptre be extended. Not an
available petition could be offered
beyond the prescribed limit.
Methinks that such an accredited
proclamation would not be without
it's effect. Deep would be its impress
sion upon those who had been accus-
toned to call upon the Lord. They
would feel that one Of their most
precious privileges was about to be
taken from. them. Evening, and
morning, and at noon,'' has it been
their habit to pray. They have felt
that prayer was their ''vital breath,
and that they could not live without
it. And now the thought that the
privilege was about to be denied
them, would be more than they could
we'll bear. But, whilst it should be
continued, they would make the best
of it, and spend most of their time
and breath in pleading with God.
They would seek of him rich bless
ings for themselves. They would
beg of him large supplies of grace
grace for all trials, for all duties, fol
all temptations, for all their needs
grace for living and grace for dying
They would pray again and again
that He would do for them ''eXceed'
ing abundantly above all that they
ask or think. And they would
abound in prayer too for others, fol
their own kindred according to the
flesh, for all loved ones out of Christ
and for an impenitent world. The
church of God would not be forgot
ten. Frequent and fervent would be
the petitions "Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done in earth as it is in
heaven
Nor would praying souls alone i'm
prove the brief opportunity for pray
er. Many who never Bonded thei
knees at the mercy-seat, would begin
to call upon God. Many who hav'
called upon Him, only to profane Hi
name, would begin to speak tina
name with reverence and to plead TO
r mercy. Scoffers would cease thei
scoffing, and begin to pray. Infidels
who have spoken contemptuously o
the Bible, and atheists, who hav
s said in their hearts: "There is n
5 God" and libertines, and profigates
and wicked men and women of a
classes, and of all degrees of Grim
n nality, would make haste to pros
trate themselves at the throne {
grace. All over the world, whereve
the living God is known, both goo
men and bad men, in unusual nun
bers, and with unwonted fervenc,
would be seen besieging the mere,
seat.
But no such proclamation has bee
, made, and probably never will
made. And yet with respect to eaC
one there is limited time for ava
able prayer. There is limit, n
far remote, beyond which no sim
can effectually call upon God. eth
shall they call upon me-" says Go
s'but l will not answer; they sh;
seek me early, but they shall not fl
me-" All are rapidly approachi
that limit, and some are each d
passing it, of whom it may be sal
"their prayers are ended" 1t /
comes us one and all well to impro
our time whilst we are yet on prs
ing ground, and to heed the exhor
Wy ton to "pray without ceasing.'
Rev. III. Seymour.