The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-11
ALONE WITH GOD.

When preparing his disciples for their work tbe
LORD taught them to pray, and in doing so laid
ehPhasis on the necessity. of being alone with
God Enter into thy closet and shut the door,
frayer is the foundation of the Christian life it
IS the secret spring of effective Christian work
Jesus was man of prayer; at all times he was in
close communion with the Father and in order
that this communion might be in the fullest meas
ure according to his love and his need He went
apart to pray. In the Wilderness on the NOM
tain, the world and the duties and burdens of life
shut out, he alone with God So he TAUGHT
separation to his disciples. After his resurrection
when the door was bolted he to his disciples
and breathed upon them the Holy Ghost In the
secret OF his tabernacle God hides his Deonle
from anger and reveals himself to them They
are called to be people separated from the world
but also to be in close fellowship with himself.
mere Is a great need for us to remember this
at the present time. Religious DEVELOPMENT re-
CURES repose and thought, state of mind free
from worldly care in which we are open to spir-
itual influences. The things of God are not clear
ly seen through the smoky atmosphere of the
worid lie. we live IN an age of great activity;
we are driven by an unrestng energy Not so
many are their masters as formerly and
these few are under the spell of the worlds move
ments; they are caught in the strong current
there is little time for devotion. Every place
may be place of prayer, but one cannot hold
close fellowship with God the desk amid the
NOISE OF machinery in the place where the
daily duties of secular affairs are met So COM
pick has our social life become that almost everv
hour makes its demand upon How can we
dwell with God under such conditions?
The same is true of the church life The rush
ing spirit is in it. The key-word of the church
life to-day is work" We are under pressure
Tor It, This calls for organization, and we have
societies and associations until, day and night
we are subject to call. This brings us out into
the public We speak and pray in public Even
the children taught We should restore the
old watchword, Pray" Work is a duty, associa-
ton is good, but back of this is the personal life
with God the fountain of all efficient work
First of all, Enter into thy closet and shut the
door, God is there and alone with him we re-
ceve his Spirit
We marvel at the santlness of some They
are holy; they cary about them, unconsciousy an
atmosphere of holiness. We come under its in
Huence, and as receive blessing from it. we
wonder whence it Like the light on the
face of Moses, it from the presence of
God We amazed at the amount of work
some men have accomplished; the explanation is
in the spiritual insight and power gained in being
alone with God. Some of the fathers daily spent
hours i'll meditation and prayer, and the world
moved at their touch
The public assembly for PRAYER is an outprowth
of the Spirit given us by the Lord. The disciples
with one accord were in the place of assembly;
the Spirit descended on them Individually. The
relation of the soul to God is personal, and the
power from God to the individual and
through him to the world.
In this day of movements" in the present
evangestic efforts for revival our appeal is for
close, personal fellowship with God The river is
led by the little springs; when from each ind-
vidual closet-life there flows the rivulet of per-
sonal spiritual life, there will be river of grace
at flood time.
Enter into thy closet and shut the door,