New-York tribune., 1896-05-04
PRAYER AS RESORT IN A CRISIS.
THE EXAMPLE OF DANIEL CITED BY THE RE'
J. 7. CARSO.

J. +. CARSON.
The theme Of the Rev. j. F. Carson's sermon In
the Central Presbyterian Church yesterday morning
THE Resort OF Strong Man In Ills Hour oi
Crisis" In part, Mr. Carson said:
''In an age when prudence Is deemed the highest
wisdom, and discretion the climax OF valor' ana
compromise is the policy of the multitude. 1t Is
we'll to have the story Of Daniels sublime heroism
told frequently. 1t is a tremendous inc.tement 10
moral courage. 1t inspires us to be brave and true
In the crucial hours OF our lives. But the story Is
also valuable that 1t dscoses the resort OF this
Babylonian statesman in the great crisis OF MS
life. He went into his house and prayed. We are
not told what he prayed for, but we are told that
ne prayed, and that Is the important thing In the
whole story. Daniels example is good here. What
ne did In his crisis 1t would be well for us TO do
In the emergencies Of our lives. Prayer Is the
refuge OF troubled and harassed souls. 1t Is the
defence Of the distressed: II is the mghtes weapon
OF the oppressed. Daniel turned naturally to prayer
In his extremity. His action was not forced by
present exigency inspired by present intimida-
ton. 1t not excited by fear. nor prompted by
terror 1t was the natural thing for Daniel to do;
It was in line with the bent OF his life.
"When Savonarola bound to the rack to
force him to disclose the schemes which his ene'
mics thought he had. he said My secrets are few
because my purposes were great II is only the
man OF small purposes who is the man Of cunning
policies The man Of large. divine purposes is the
man Of open, frank life. Daniels purposes were
great and good. and therefore his life was open
and his conduct In his crisis natural.
There was method in Daniels action. Not only
did he pray, but he prayed three times day. al
ways in the same place. always In the same posture
and always at particular window which looked
out toward definite place on the western horizon
There method in his devotions. This is char.
acteristic of the Jewish system OF worship. and
In large measure the secret OF its beauty and
power The mechanical idea Is more or less ap-
parent in everything great and good Heaven Is a
city four square, II has twelve gates, not lndlS-
crm!nately placed, but three on each SIDE There
seems to be some relation between religion and
arithmetic. The mechanical in religion Is not
foreign importation-it is native ingredient. AL
our public worship Is timed. 1t begins at speci
fed hour, IL progresses along fixed lines, you ex
pect 1t to close at definite hour. At least that +
yonder facing the pulpit That clock is not there
FOR the benefit Of the people for Is back OF them
and only the rude would think OF turning round
to look at It, The clock is there for the preacher
that its moving hands may guide him In the con
duct OF the service. and especially that he may
some satisfaction to the present incumbent OF thi;
pulpit to know that the clock was placed there be
Gore he came to the church
Having a definite time to pray makes US fee
ike praying some time The man who claims th'
privilege Of worshipping when and where he please
viii soon please to worship nowhere. ! agree witt
the man who says that the spiritual idea OF wor
ship Is the best, and that the Ideal worship o.
heaven needs temple. But We are not wholly
spiritual. and are not yet In heaven; and only
without a temple. The man who derives the great
est benefit from the services OF the sanctuary Il
the man who has definite sanctuary. on whose
services he attends.