Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-23
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning Aug.
25-"Daiiy Prayer and GIeanings
From Many Ficlds"-Text, Dan. =
vi, 10; rs. Nv, 10, II; xxiv,3-1.

vi, 10; Ps. Nv, 10, 7;Xxiv.3-!. z
Evening, morning and at noon will
pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear
my voice.
kore things are wrought by PRAYER
Than this world dreams Of. Wherefore let thy
| voice
Rise like fountain for one night and day. -
For what men better than sheep goats
That nourish q blind life within the brain
| II, knowing God, they lift not hands in prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them
friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet Of God.
Much comes to us in this world I'M
asked and unsought - sunlight, air,
rain and all the marvellous equipment
Of the natural world in which we live.
Many things are asked for and eager
ly sought, but never come. Some are
lifelong sufferers and never know a
day free from suffering. Some are
poor, plain of feature and peculiar in
manner and ever wish for things they
never get. But the best things of life
come only by asking and seeking and
always do come to those who seek and
ask.
"a mans life consistent not in the
abundance of the things which he pos
sesseth."
1.-The kingdom of God is not meat and
drink" The best goods of earth are
not things, but are possessions of the
soul. The best gifts of God are in His
spirit and can be given only to spirit.
Soul rest, beauty, strength, are far be-
yond all bodily comfort and excellence,
as hunger Of spirit exceeds all appetites
of flesh. The divine projections and
glory are incomparably more desirable
and satisfying to soul than any mere
filling Of physical wants God designs
to share with US His own best goods.
Better than gold and honors of men are
nearness to God and consciousness or
His favor and guidance,
Prayer is the medium by which God
imparts His best gifts 10 men. Prayer
Is not 50 much asking God for things
desired as it is putting the soul in CON
tact with the divine person and then
by that contact receiving the enlighten-
ment Of the Spirit. feeling the quicken
power of divine will. 1t is like grasp
ing the poles of the galvanic battery
and receiving the current which trans
forms the whole being into new condi-
tons.
We do not so much get things as we
get God. Things are not so much
changed for us as we are changed in
our relation to things. Miracles are
more wrought in US than in matter
around US.
0;r wills are ours, We know not how.
Our wills are Curs to make them Thine.
To any one who values himself ade-
quatcly the cultivation of spirit life
becomes the chief concern Of life; all
else must assist this; getting near God
is the principal business; all cares and
concerns are submitted in prayer 10
God for direction and control. The
round Of daily duties which would
otherwise be intolorahly trivial and
soul stirring lac0me most helpful in
discipline of ali tie powers Of bSag
aul constant means by wh.ch Tie
divine mia1 ana VIII low !Hto tie
A.Man. TIE att'u14 ct constant raegp-
t,s.r e Impressions q 2'1! ami >fE-
g.st.a4s Of action IS The real rssgUa" II
Drawer. Il :, thc vital Christian lyu-
tact with Ga and serves ass Insulation
from Tie world ami m.rectnn aaid
IFS .g1u.-..s @-.ta~c temptation %
ri. t5 H. la-ot a.l l.ss wvr'.y IN
p-,-.s. 1-l.-h Is TIE 'a'u.r q. E.u
81 L. 4 t.,