St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-08


~ glimpse of his in
~ ! ~ ner life. The Sc
%fF cret of his close
eAD fellowship will
TX n God, of his clear
.MN Y understanding OF
&H\ ~ the deep things OF
~ ~o God, of his joy in
life anu us sweet trust and confidence
In the face of every danger and every
difficulty and every experience, is dis
| covered in this bit Of autobiography
which he here gives us. In another
place the Psalmist declares: "My voice
shalt Thou hear in the morning. 0
Lord: in the morning will direct my
prayer unto Thee. and will look up"
Or, as the revised version puts it,
"Will keep watch" The morning
watch with prayer as the ladder by
which the soul may climb to the Divine
presence and there obtain the needed
strength and grace and guidance for
the duties of the day. The noontide
rest with prayer as the calm, peaceful,
refreshing breath Of God coming to the
soul in the fever and struggle of the
daily conflict and giving new hope and
new vigor and new purpose to the life.
The evening quiet with prayer as the
gentle, soothing influence stealing over
the soul and drawing it away from the
things of time to the things OF
eternity, and causing it to rest in SIM
pie trust in the Fathers care. Eve
ming, and morning, and at noon" David
would withdraw himself from the &C
tive, busy scenes of life and alone with
his God he would hold sweet and rest
full and helpful fellowship with Him.
THINK you this thrice daily bending
i of the knee and the lifting OF the
heart to God was the perfunctory
obedience to duty's stern call? Think
you that the early morning watch and
the noontide rest and the evening quiet
with God alone were seasons trying and
unenjoyable? The traveller over the
dreary desert waste of sand, with burn
ing heat and binding light, looks for
ward with JOY to the refreshing under
the sheltering shade of the palms and
by the cool, gushing spring which is to
be found just ahead on that bit of
green and verdant oasis. The children
of Israel rejoiced with exceeding great
joy when, after the weary marches
over the waterless and treeless and
rocky desert, they came to Elm where
were wells of water and inviting shade
and luscious fruits. Think you that
the traveller breads the oasis rest and
refreshing? Think you that IsraePs
hosts found the hours at Elm too long
and tedious and undressing? Nay,
verify, for the oasis and Elm were
places of refreshing, of rest, of joy and
blessing, and the places Of preparation
for the onward journey, and the GASES
and Films of prayer are the places OF
refreshing, and rest, and encourage
ment and preparation for the duties of
life.
THE Christian cannot prosper and
i make progress toward the prom
ised land which God has given as her
itage to His children, unless the soul
comes to these places of refreshing, to
these cases of prayer. They should be
set in the journey of the everyday life.
SO that the shades Of the evening hour,
as they draw down and shut the light
of day from view, will find the soul
encamped by the side of the reviviAg
and quickening springs Of water of
Gods presence. There the soul pay
rest in safety until another day calls
the pilgrim to take up his journey.
Then the soul may drink deep and long
at the well of prayer, and gain strength
and encouragement and guidance for
the journey Of the day. And at noon
the soul should turn aside from the
hustle and strife and struggle of life
and seek out the oasis OF prayer There,
as nowhere else, it may meet it's God,
may tell Him it's hopes. its trials, it's fall
ures; may unburden ttsef, and may OBJ
tain new inspiration and strength and
guidance for the afternoons duties
and cares and responsibilities. Daniel
with the multitude of responsibilities
Of statecraft resting upon him, with the
problems of the great Babylonian king
dom demanding his attention, found
time, three tines day, with his win
dows open towards Jerusalem, to seek
his God in prayer. Nay. rather, It was
a privilege and necessity, this thrice
daily communion with God, if Daniel
was to continue the wise and successful
statesman and governor that he had
proved himself under the leading and
direction and blessing of God.
IIOW full the Scriptures are of pre-
J. cept and example, enforcing the |
Importance and necessity of prayer. |
How every great event and epoch re-
corded IN sacred history has come as |
answer to prayer. OF the Cody line OF |
Seth it is testified that they began Ito |
call upon the name of the Lord" And |
ever since that day there have been
God-fearing men and women who have
known and believed God, and who have
prevailed in prayer with Him. Abra- !
nam, Isaac and Jacob, having received |
The promise of God of posterity and a
nation, obtained that promise through |
faith, and through prayer, which was
an evidence and expression of that
laith. Jacob in prayer prevails and is
called a prince Of God, because He
prayed the prayer of faith and held on
70 God until the prayer was answered.
Moses, again and again, offers prayer
IN behalf of Israel and obtains for them
and hInSsine Mhara tho