The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-22
The Pr,,oner. are Li.tenipc.

Pray on, sing on, afflicted child of God,
for you are not unheardI You may not
know just who is hearing, yet your audience
is all about you, perhaps unrecognized, even
unseen. But dellverance is coming to your
self and others with you, if you can begin
and keep on with your praying and your
praises.
This is the way two good people did eyer ever
had been assaulted, cruelty beaten, impris-
oned and manacled, and now they were too
weary and full Of pain to sleep. So, late as
1t was, they lnaugurated delightful little
prayer-meeting right there, and there was
going to be sermon by and by. They didn't
have warm, well-lighted room with cush-
oned seats. such place as was opened for
you last Wednesday evening, for the meet
ing which you didn't attend. Neither were
they in a bright, cosy parlor at home, with
their families and few friends gathering
around the organ with the gospel hymns.
Ali they never even heard of such luxuries,
not to say necessities
But they were "thrust into an inner pris.
on" whatever that was, certainly uncom-
Portable, dark and damp. And now, ut
was about midnight" and terrible. Yet
"Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns unto God, and the prisoners were lis
tening to them" Strange audience! All
prisoners, either guilty or innocent, at a
prayer and praise meeting, separated by walls
were hearingl Ah, the eagerness with
which they bent to heart One could have
counted the heart bests in the hush as the
sweet tones of petition and song rose straight
to heaven, low and gentle at first, then SWELL
ing into louder joy and gladness. "And the
prisoners were listening"
Well, what came next? An earthquake,
and open doors, and every band loose, and
all free! And 1t isn't likely that any poor
suffering prisoner was manacled again that
night. 1'All here,n responds Paul to the
frightened jailer and then he had light at
last, and chance to preach, and then thoy
were refreshed and fed. and liberated in the
morning, and test Of all, folks were con:
verted and baptized, and there was blessed
time all around.
Now; dear fellow-prisoners, let us initiate
Paul and Silas. What il we are In the pris..
on house of trouble, even an Inner prison.
where the sweet sunlight comes not and
what if we are bound hand and foot, help
less to aid smother or ourselyes9
Yet one thing is left. We can offer
PRAYER, and raise song. There is always
something to pray for, something to praise
for. Light and liberty are coming to US,
but Just now let US forget ourselves, and
cherish the moving and inspiring thought
that the other prisoners are listeningl
There are plenty Of them all around who
are manacled in greater or less degree by
sorrow, sickness, or sin: Perhaps they never
heard a prisoner of the Lord" before. If
you and l are such, now is the time to raise
our voice to glorify the Master, for the
prisoners are listening. Be sure they will
hear us. and form their opinions OF religion
accordingly. II we groan and grum,.
be-. weep and worry. the whole dismal
process will not help US, but will hinder them
from receiving the benefit and comfort we
might give. We are bound down, but it is
in a very responsible place! But II now there
is music on our lips, and prayer in our lives,
oh, the good it may do to those weary,
crushed, hopeless ones to hear us! They will
listen.
The whole imprisoned world is listening
for the song Of grace that shall soothe and
save the captive; for the prayer that shall
lift him up to the knowledge Of the love
Of God. d..
For the prisoners sake, for sweet mercy's
sake. for the dear Christ's sake, let you and
me in our "inner prison" sing song or two
and bre4the prayer 'about midnight" for
'the other p. isoners are listening"