The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-22
True PRAYER.

1t is neither wlSe nor right for Gods peo-
pie to be too persistent in pressing particular
requests in prayer; or rather in showing
wilful disposition in prayer. No matter how
much we want tp obtain some fancicd good
thing or to avoid some fancied trou le or
calamity, our petitions ought always to be
accompanied with the feeling and expression
that the Lords will, not ours, may bs done.
This is the lesson taught us in Christ's ever
memorable struggle in the garden Of
Gethscmane, and it is n revelation of the
nature and effectiveness of true prayer. 1t
is only when the ignorant and weak human
soul submits itself to the guidance of infinite
intelligence and perfect love; only when the
wayward and sinful human will bows to the
righteous Divine Will that there is any real
communion between man and God
Nor will God answer in the best sense any
other kind of petition. He does inlecd at
times answer wrong petitions pushed by the
wilful believer to the extreme and in wrong
spirit: but the very answer is an infliction OF
His displ asure and sure to end in disastrous
results. For example: when the lsraclitcs
prayed in n murmurng and rcb"llious diSpo-
stion for flesh, whilst signing after the flesh
pots of Egypt, God replied by sending fiocks
of quail which, though wonderfully crafty
ing to the appetite, bred nevertheless a
| plague that destroyed the eaters by thou
sands. So again He yield d to the demand
| of the tribes to send spies into Canaan, which
displayed lack of faith and obedience; but
|
| divided the camp threw the majority nto
| doubt fear and dcspai"; and in fact hurled
| the nation back into 3S years of wretched
| wandcringS in tn wilderness. In the same
| way the wish and determination Of the dis
contcnted people to have king was n real
| rebellion against the tlcOcra"y. Well, Je-
| hovah granted the rebclliOus request and
| himself selected the king had him anointel
and crowned; but the result was that tho
| people suffered all sorts of evil from their
| king, 50 that he became II rod OF Divine
wrath rather than an instrument of mercy
| and blessing.
The writer of these lines once knew n
mother who was most remarkable in her
persistence in praying for the rcstorat on
from perilous sickness of her son. She was
warned that she should say: "ihe Lords
will he DONE" but replied that ''shc could
and would not, if that VIII meant the
death of her only and darling boy" Here
| was u sinful rebellion of heart and will.
Her prayer. however. was answered. Tho
boy seemed rescued from the jaws of death;
but alas, he grew up to b. wick d, drink
ing, gambling, remorSelcsS wretch! The
heartbroken mother often recalled with
penitcntial sorrow Eer own stubb0rnness OF
will in having refused to bow to what
sec red call from G. d for her boy as
clear as the call oncs given to Abraham
and wished too late, that God had taker
him fro earth while yet in the beauty
and inrocence of childhood
The thoughtful and judicious disciple vii
always remember, and IN remembering thi
will find all his comfort and joy, that Coo
knows best and will do best, that as his owl
truth declares: "All things work togethe
for the good of them that ! We Him." H
will therefore av as Jesus did when contcm
plating the appal ing scenes Of tn cruci
fixon: 20, Ny Father, il it bc posi- lc, le
this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not "a
will but as Thou wilt. Christian at Work
We ere wanting the strength we need TO
the discovery Of truth as yet unknown, bt