The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-04
The Devotional Life.

" He went up in the mountain apart to
pray" What an argument is here against
those who proclaim the unreasonableness
OF prayer What reproof to those who
never pray II he whose life was crowned
with the beauty of holiness thus felt the
need of solitude and devotion, thousand
fold greater is our need, whose DAYS so
rarely chronicle what is truly Christian
or divine. 1--WE bow to the man who
kneels." SAYS Victor Hugo. Then let us
take the shoes off our feet; for surely
this is holy ground where Christ is kneel-
ing. "Leibnitz praying is something
grand" he continues, "Voltaire worship
ing is something beautiful" What,
then shall we say Of this lone figure on
the mountain side ? Our lips are sealed,
our head is bowed. The weight is more
than human words can bear. Do the dis
ciples of Christ in our time know what it
is to enter thus into the sanctuary of de-
won't and solitary prayer and lift up soul
that is hungering and thirsting after
righteousness ? Once in seven days, no
doubt, we offer an earnest prayer for for
giveness, and perhaps are conscious of a
desire for the amendment of our lives and
closer walk with God; but do we, day
by day, set apart with real earnestness of
purpose and because we feel the need of
it, some moments-the world claims the
hours-for quiet, devout meditation,
PRAYER, and the reading of what ia spirit
ually helpful and inspiring? The mon
astery. men say, is the place for such a
life. There is room for the wearing of
sackclotb and the repetition of endless
prayer but here, in our busy world.
where all is rush and turmoil, there is no
time for devotion no place for daily
communion with God and our own souls.
That is the work of the hermit and the
priest. In the morning we must hurry
off to our business, and at night we are
tired and worried, unfit for the contem-
plation of things divine. How many
thousand Christians must confess to the
truth of all this ? And, even where they
do hold family worship" how sadly
conventional it often is, the prayer becom-
ing mere orison and the Bible-reading a
perfunctory task. But the defense is
made in behalf of this style of living that
one cannot ignore the homelier and
palmer duties of life, even for the sake of
his spirits growth. There are mouths to
be filled and bodies clothed, and every
available hour of the day is demanded
for these ends. All honor to him who
tolls for daily bread. But can man live
by bread alone? Is there not that which
is as indispensable as food and raiment, il
we would "lav hold of the life which is
life indeed ~? Yes aud this can be done
too, while we are in the midst of the
busiest employments and fretted by the
gloomiest cares of the world. The life
of Samuel Wherefore, with all its eccle.
siastical ambition and varied activities
did not shut ont devotion. His spiritual
life was ever uppermost and " no outward
success was allowed to profane the inner
sanctuary of his soul" No rule for the
exercise of devotions can be laid dowr
for the universal observance OF men. The
time and manner of them must vary &C
cording to our several employments anC
opportunities. But let us not forget thai
the "soul may be upon its knees, what
ever the attitude of the body" and thai
we NAV, obedient to the words of Jer
envy Taylor, preserve amid our mos
commonplace pursuits, the spirit o.
prayer and aspiration. We need thes'
| hours OI BOllUuQe we n6eu W DTtdtD'
this life-giving atmosphere of prayer, i
we would walk with Christ and lear
what it is to work out our own salvation
Take up the Bible before you 90 to rest
and read again the words of him whit
spake as never man spake; of him WIFI
himself sought to hear, amid the stillnes
and solemnity of the mountain woods, tn
Voice that speaketh from Beyond. Bull
in your room an altar for morning An,
evening sacrifice, and make every day
day of atonement when you shall ente
the holy of holes and stand face to fac
with God. Then will be an end to you
lukewarm faith, beginning of you
growth in grace and knowledge o
Christ. Then the prayer-meeting will b
an hour of consolation and joy, when lip
cannot withhold the expression of thei
new-found inspiration and hearts mus
voice the fullness of their love. No harr
can befall the church of Christ, no ev
overwhelm the individual life, 80 long a
we daily seek in God our refuge and TO
low him who went into the mountai
apart to pray.-Independem.