The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25

unto Him?-Job xxi, 15
| Emerson says: 'It is doubtful if that man
| lives who has never prayed" 1 don't know
| that Emerson was any better entitled to
| judge upon this point than another, but.
| considering that his attitude towards pray
| err was accounted one of his heresies, one
| is inclined to attach to his statement little
more than ordinary weight.
The prayer habit is not independent Of the
vicissitudes of opinion. If it be said, for in
stance, that prayer is not justifiable upon
grounds of reason, If the weighty word,
science" be brought into the discussion as
authority against prayer the general
prayer habit will unquestionably. be af-
fected. There will be those who will regard
prayer as an intellectual weakness.
A single question let's us into the center
of the current skepticism about prayer:
Does prayer change God? 1t is tacitly as
sumed that If we must say no to this the
grounds of intelligent petition have been
given up. Now, the New Testament tells us
that with God there is neither variable
ness nor the shadow of turning" and this
statement falls in squarely with our ideas
of the character of the Eternal.
But if prayer cannot change God, 1t can
do that which in the result amounts to the
same thing: it can work a change of divine
benefactions. Suppose you sit in room
with blinds closed and shades drawn, while
outside the day is bathed in brilliant sun
shine. You may long for the light, you may
pray for it, but not until you raise the
shades and fling open the shutters will it
come in. Now, prayer is the opening of the
souls windows toward God. All about us
is the divine light. 1t is a constant quantity
never absent from any corner of natures
domain, except as the windows of the heart
are closed again it.
And this power and intelligence that pene-
trates everywhere is also an infinite affec-
ton. But who does not know that it is in
the power of the human will to shut ex-
ternal influences out. making them as
though they were not? One is angry with
his friend, and though that friend is full Of
affection and kindness to him, anger pre-
vents the love and kindness from entering
his heart. So we are antagonstic to good
ness. Indifferent to God. and for us it is
virtually as though God were separated
from us by a world of distance. Our atti-
tude shuts him away from our conscious
ness. Change that attitude. and the way is
open for the entrance of the divine spirit.
But more than this. If in the wisdom of
the Almighty the design be to draw man
to his Maker through appeals to his reason
and affections what could more facilitate
this than to ordain it as a law that certain
gifts should be bestowed upon man in re-
Spouse to his asking?
A COMMON BELIEF.
I suppose we all believe that in some real
way God bears to the occupants of earth
relation of fatherhood. Now, suppose a
parent to be so fortunately situated as to
be able to bestow every needful thing upon
his child. Will it be best for the child for
all the parental benefactions to be given
without the asking. Will it not tend to fos-
ter an undue assurance, to lead the child
to regard the parents gifts as a matter of
course, to prevent in the child mind the
growth of grateful feeling, than which
nothing can more closely draw it to its par
ents?
1t is necessary to anticipate many wants
with children. but in some cases there is
decided advantage in waiting until they are
conscious of the want until they ask for
the thing needed. The little ones are thus
self-taught the fact of their dependence.
They place a greater value upon the gift
when it comes. They have fonder affection
for the givers. And if we have not judged
wrongly of the relationship between par
ents and children in this matter then it
would be no unnatural thing If God chose
to wait His gifts to us-some of them-until
we felt their need and were impelled to ask
Tor them. Therefore, I think prayer may
be the key to which certain of the treasures
of heavenly bounty OPEN
And what parent does not love to have
his child come to him with it's requests
even for that which would be supplied any,
way? l believe it is even so with God. A
thousand blessings he gives without the ask
ing. Your heavenly Father knoweth that
We have need of these things before We ask
him." Yet we are explicitly urged to ask
for them I'm everything, by prayer and
suppli.htion with thanksgiving, make known
your requests unto God" And Christ gives
us the example when he instructs his dis
ciples to say, Give us this day our daily
bread
And must we not confess that just because
they are common daily benefactions we
come to receive them as matter of course.
and without much gratitude, if indeed with
a thought of their being Gods gifts?
Health, food, home. friends. opportunity
how frequently do we think of these as be-
slowed afresh every day by loving Father?
| fear we often forget to acknowledge them
and to pray for their continuance. Yet God
desires it and our own natures are uplifted
by it.
Then there is the matter Of prayer with
reference to others than ourselves. Certain
1t is that If one yield obedience to the pray
er impulse at all, he will be impeled to re-
member in his supplications not only his
nearest and dearest. but "al sorts and con-
ditions of men" who are afflicted in mind,
body or estate"
ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT 1T
Yet there is a way of looking at PRAYER
of this sort which makes it appear foolish
and presumptuous Am T. a frail ignorant
and erring man, to indicate to God what
He ought to do to others? Is God so I'M
aware of what happens in this world, so
unadvised in regard to those who need His
help that am called upon to inform Him?
Some prayers that you hear seem like news
bulletins containing the latest inlormat ion
for the enlightenment of heaven. Yet un-
less made only to be heard of men, if they
are the free and natural outpourings of
the mind, as it thinks of the manifold sor-
rows and sufferings and needs of the human
family, they need no apology God gave
humanity its instinct of interest in others
| an instinct that shows itself in sympathetic
| and generous acts and just as naturally in
| thoughts and prayers.
And by what right shall any one claim
| that the prayer of the true-hearted and
| faithful may not avail for others? St
James tells us that it ''availeth much" and
corroborative testimony has never since