Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-02-16


To-day (Tuesdsy) has been observed
by some in connection with the Union
meetings as day OF fasting and prayer.
A young girl asked in the morning,
t" Whist Is the use Of fasting? what
good does it do 2" and In attempting TO
explain, We realized the fact that NOT
90 very long since we might In all
seriousness have asked the same ques-
tion. How many are those who, from
the depth Of their own experience, know
the help that fasting gives TO prayer
We want to know it now very special
ly, and there could not be better time
TO find it out. The winter that the
churches looked forward to with more
than usual confidence and expectations
10 nearly passed, and Wilmington
wears the same careless, unmoved face.
We hear of great things In other places,
Of crowded halls full Of men-not i'm
pressible women and childIen-risinR
In q body for prayers OF thronged
ch urches and eager inquirers, but the
refreshing showers nave not fallen
here
We can all remem Der days Of fasting z
and prayer appointed In times OF sum-
mer drought. We heard OF rains all
around us, but our fields were dry ;
for some unexplained reason we were
passed over but We tasted and prayed,
aud finally were helped.
In some way, perhaps. the soil here
has become more dry, dusty and hard
ened than elsewhere /; the skies Of
worldly prosperity may have been too
bright and unclouded for our best good.
But, oh, we want not sorrows 70 gather
over heads, but clouds of blessing |
And; II the blessing comes not, sorrow
surely will. II the hoedless throng,
satisfied that to day is bright, think
nothing Of this. We must. We that
are strong, whose eyes have been open
ed TO zee little further than the rest,
m ct bear the burdens of the weak and
foolish, of those who cannot look be-
yond the short to morrow that may
never come TO them, must bear them on
our hearts day by day. What IL one
day Of fasting II we are in earnest
When o case OF special difficulty was
brought to Christ he said, "This kind
goeth not out but by prayer and fast
ing" Perhaps that Is our case. We
can do as much as the disciples did, -
bring it to Christ. Would He not be
likely TO tell us the fault 10 In pleasure
loving, Indifferent church? A few may
not have faith enough for the many.
The ave wise virgins could not fill the
lamps OF the Ave foolish. God wants
more to be aroused and In earnest.
Oh, cannot all consider that this ID
our city, this iB our home, this IL the
Geld In which we have been set down
and told that for its harvests we will be
held accountable ? Can there be any
who do not care whether that be q
glorious harvest, or whether there be
only a few poor gleanings from dry
and barren field to give TO the Master
And II you care, do O little. Be sure
you do q little anyway. Go 10 the
meetings, and ycu will be helped tc
fiud out what that little may be. The
drops make the shower. The little
things that even q child can do-so only
there be enough Of them-seem the
pressing want just now. The little
tender word, the kind, affentionst'
manner, the earnest prayer, one day, Il
no more, Of fasting. given so willingly
and gladly, II only some good may
come Of 1t; q traet given . book loaned
q little interest shown TO surprise th'
neiehbor who, perhaps has often said
"No man cares for my soul !" visi
10 sick or dying bed, voice to maxi
richer and more attractive the singing
that some coming 10 the meetings solel!
to hear may listen also to the word tina
Oh all be the means Of their conversion
Little things.
II only the right and feeling heart
lie behind them they may prove NOR
effective than aught else to bring abou
the longed-for good. Any ofthem ma!
result, directly or indirectly, In bring
ing a soul TO God, and who can foretel
. the end of the smallest beginning. /
you never did another thing for Christ
} that person, converted through you
instrumentality, may do much. Be
} what our pastors, our great evangelist
, and others are accomplishing. Sun
up, II you can, the good wrought da.
by day by their lives Of service, tn
) great number that has been and vii
be saved by their means. Yet ther
I was q time when the destiny OF each
their souls hung trembling In the ba
: auce. Would he come to Christ or no
! He came, and others just as Riite
: turned away. Perhaps only q littl
word said, some little thing done b
come humble soul God thus made uf
Of, beyond his thought" made all th
T difference.
For God in ways they have not
known
Will 1aad uIa ovn r