The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-05-07

the life OF the body Is The breathing
In of the lifegiying qualities of the air,
w w tho secret pf the life of the soul
In the taking into onH'E heart Of the
iifcgiying qualities Of the Father, which
may BIZ dome only through prayer. In
tlie Christian life tie question IL one
ii life and not Journalism. Life Is Il
living. God-gisen gift. Just as iii the
life of The body III II not question IN
how much dir there il about ns--there
il a plenty Of thst---btit II Ii whether
v friend II All the point az death we
hold mirror before bis face TO see If
any moisture gathers there. for ii there
does we know that there Is breath,
and If breath, then life.
80 IN the Christian HE ii q NOT d
matter 81 how much inspiration comes
from The Father, but N how much Of
that inspiration we take into our hearts.
II there il no prayer then there can
be no Christian life. III there il 40
prayer in family, then there isrno
life Ill that family II there ia no
prayer in church then thsre il no life
In that church. II there Is no prayer in
IA city. then there Il not life IN that
city. Much prayer, much life; no prayer,
no life. Men should never fail to pray,
Christ said.
Prayer IL very easy In theory but
though simple in theory II Il more diff
cult in practice. Every boy IN the
congregation remembers when he knelt
az His mothers knee and thought that
the most sacred place on earth. Al.
though he new remembers the words
be said there, set ia many cases the
words have NOW no meaning. No time
il left To commune with God now
There is time enough for conversation,
with business men, and for the carrying
on Of business, bur there ii no time
for communion with God Some think
that Christian works are the highest
forms Of prayer. Good works are grand,
but there are no good works without
prayer Prayer is inspiration, or The
dawing into our minds Of the power
aud ideas of God There is no way
Of getting God into oir hearts except
BY drawing him there by prayer.
we want TO see in what relation
We stand "a this subject. The reason
why prayer is not practised more aud
not enjoyed more Is because Of our
ideas of God The text said: Pray
10 thy Father. II there Il nothing he.
yoBd the visible things OF life, then
there is nothing 10 pray 70. In scien-
tilc studies God is often spoken OF as
force. Sometimes We find people who
think God is only force. ii God *
only force, then there il no use in
praying. 1t Ia senseleis praying VI
blind force. What sense would there
be if man in danger OF being swept
over Niagara falls should pray simply
the force OF the fall 10 save himl What
use Is there praying TO these forces {?
God Is force; lie is power. But he
Is something else. Some think that
He II only mind BY some whose minds
have been greatly developed, God is
thought of as being simply wisdom.
Yet God is something more than
mind. II God were only mind. then we
are worlds apart. II he were only
mind, then our prayers would never
roach Him. God j. power, force, initial
lect, but something else. Above All lie
is heart. lie is love. Christ has taught
power and intelligence, but He has also
taught that He is love. There Is no
gulf between US, no separating chasni,
when lie il love. Since given this view
Of God, q great question is settled.
Some ask the question: rs II right
70 pray for personal blessings These
wish some line to be drawn for things
to be prayed for. Christ has made one
restriction, that when we pray we shall
say: God is our Father, then we may
pour out our hearts; keep nothing hack.
Will God not sbe weaiied Of ON much
spcakingl' some ask ask question
Of the fathers and mothers. Is IL
q burden whom your children come and
toll vou all their troublesF ls it not
the delight of your hearts 70 have them
do so?' II shows that you ale power
in their lives. There Is connection OF
love between you and your child. III
II delights you, how much more does
IL delight the Father in Heaven TO have
His children on earth tell Him all their
troubles and joysl Then be always
prayerful. let rs remember this. IN
times OF trouble come 10 Him. III times
~ 10y, come 20 him: He is the author
Of both 10Y and trouble.
The pastor closed his discourse by say
ing that he came TO Barre to do God :
will both in the civic and social leIa.
tionships ot the city. but that. there
was one thing which he desired Of the
congregation. Il desire your prayers
~ the prayers 81 this congregation as,