New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-14
PRAYER AND ITS NECESSITY.
THE REV. DIR. 9. G. NELSON SPEAKS ON "CC
VERSE WITH GOD"

THE REV. DR.. 9. G. NELSON SPEAKS ON CON
VERSE WITH GOD"
In the Bedford Avenue Baptist Church yesterday
morning the Rev. DIR. s. G. Nelson resumed his
ministry after a vacation. preaching on the PRIV
ieee and Duty Of Prayer" from Acts xii g. lie said
in part
Peter had been in prison. and the narrative tells
Of his remarkable del!verance-a deivcrance in an
swer 10 prayer. Many think lightly Of prayer now
adays. Materiallsm looms like mountain between
the soul and God. Our great need is the realization
of the divine in common life the knowledge In the
soul that God walks through store and street with u.s.
that He is omnipotent in the affairs Of the Nation
in those of tho Individual Did we know this we
would place ourselves unreservedy in His hands and
perform our duty more punctually and strongly.
For each and all the issue would then be safe. Do
We desire this knowledge? Let pray Prayer is
converse OF the heart with God. In it address
Him as our omnipotent and loving Father.
I'm response receive the whispered word OF d.
rection. the needed balm of consolation. and ex
perience the comfort that flows from feeling that
little lives floating the stream Of the divine
purposes
There is no need 10 demonstrate the virtue ard
efficacy of prayer to one who prays Those who
doubt its efficacy usually base their objection upon
the commonplace which alleges the hxity of natural
laws. They do not take into account that man has
dual nature, needing ministry both material and
spiritual. He is creature of sense. and If he pos
sessed only he would be limited those things
in which the find satisfaction He would thus
be with the brute. But he has faculties that
know love. hope. aspire. These lay hold upon some
thing beyond the realm of sense-realiues that are
the robes of God
Neither does material thought apprehond the
nature of God. The divine energy eXerng itself in
physical things reveals only margin Of His power.
Behind all physical manifestation lies that which Is
the essence of the divine nature-ove. SO that. while
we may not pray against the tides or tempcsts or
seek the arrest of that the night shall be
turned into day. are to remember that there is
still a Power above that of the tempest Hand
that can be laid upon the names Of the tides. Faith
erhOod that is with in the darkness and that
makes the night to be light around about us. In
word. there is a spiritual energy capable Of modify
ing, without violating. the laws of nature
we therefore pray not 10 "A circumscribed Being.
but Almightiness. There are faults, however,
that vitiate prayer. We ask and receive not, be-
cause We ask amiss' There is prayer that is me-
chanical. superstitous ard selfish. Prayer should
be sincere and earnest | used TO wonder why God
should desire to be and impOrtunate in
praying. The purpose of il is that we may catch the
impress of the Divine when our own souls are sus-
ceptible and aglow. We never learn anything well
until become earnest in the study OF IT. TO make
us like unto Hm-print His image In our docile
hearts-s Gods purpose in commanding us 10 pray.
He does need our poor prayers TO instruct him
But as earnestly gaze towards Him, lie nXes
Himself upon the soul. the image of things oX-
ternal fixed upon the retina of the eye that in
tently regards them