The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-11
sensible Prayers.

u~,4,-... w. Robertson, one Of Eng
- r.-t distinguished and most be-
- oiarr.mrl. tells this story of his
b.rhood Is bad been taught TO pray on
en occasions. which he conSclenuOusly
ali one day, at school, he was taken
rp with nine other boys to be unJusly
h.cgel h;,,-.,f
ct don't deserve this; but i cannot es-
cape the disgrace. Perhaps Ood VIII
help me ont Of it,
Then be began to pray that he might
esctpe the shame. What was his be
Hilderment when his turn came TO be
whipped, to hear the teacher say:
Robertson, 1 excuse you. l have par
hcul9r reasons Tor II.
Robertson saws: THAT incident settled
MY mind for long time; only 1t did not
do me any good, for prayer became Il
charm. I fancied myself the favorite OF
tie Invisible. / felt that l carried about
q tailsman unknown TO others, wMch
would save me from all harm. III dld not
make me any better"
There are thousands Of young people
at ibis time undergoing what IS called
the Christian experience In the
freshness of untainted imagnatlonS and
miadcd ambitions, they are giving Them
selves to the service of the great spiritual
Master. Such questions as that involved
in this anecdote interest them deeply.
We have all been taught 10 pray, and
iu the main we try to do IL Prayer IS as
READ a power as electricity or steam. Now,
the question is. What kind OF power IS
IL! And how should we use IL!
Many Of u.s. like the boy Robertson, use
prayer indiscreely. We are apt uncon-
Sciously to think it q charm and trust ID
81 - raI
other hand, do not pray enough, anu CON
ssider prayer failure.
Blt a crisis IN life comes. An unknown
disgrace threatens. We try to pray out
of it, A dear one sickens. We try to
pray him well The disgrace strikes.
The dear one dies. To our horror and
establishment our prayers are unan-
swered What is the matter! On whom
IS the failure to be laid! We have
prayed and done our part. Shall we then
distrust God, and think that the religious
life and intimate relations with God are
unreal?
There is q better way than that.
Above all things Wa must pray senslpiy.
A man cannot be unreasonable IN religion
any more than in business, and expect
success There are two ways of looking
AZ this question. There are certain other
things which we do not know whether
ne ought TO have or not.
We know that we ought to have purity,
veraoity, honor, trust, unselhshnes and
faith In God. There is no dispute IN
heaven or on earth about these things.
We do not know whether we ought
70 be warm or cold, hungry or led, sick
or well, rich or poor, happy or miserable.
God does. In these doubtful matters we
can only suggest, and not dictate to the
Almighty. TO Him belongs the decision.
Our business is to pray, even II we 90
not get what we want. His Dart Is to
answer in the way His love and wisdom
dictate.
But as concerns the things thnt we
know we ought to have, because we are
sure they must be what He wishes us 10
have, our duty is to pray, and not only
expect to get, but seek 10 get what we
ask for.
Some such simple explanation as this
Of very old and a very perplexing ques-
ton may keep young Christians from mis-
understanding God, and from despairing
Of His Tenderness and OF Ills help
Youths Companion.