Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-08-22
PRAYER AND ITS FRUITS.
(BY c. A. Cox.)


When God made man, he made him
a free, moral agent. Had He not done
so, there would not have been any way
for man to have shown his superiority,
or God to have shown His superiority.
Man was made a dependent being; a
being capable of realizing his weak
ness and unworthiness. Too many
times we are inclined to forget our duty
to our Creator, but we, ooner or later,
have a consciousness of the fact that
we have disobeyed. Then it is we are
anxious to entreat u Maker for THAI
consolation which comes only when we
pray.
Those who have failed to put them
selves in the attitude of prayer have
failed, also, to have that sweet peace
and comfort which belongs to every
prayerfu1 servant of the Lord. Can you
imagine, dear reader, how great would
be the joy in heaven, and on the earth,
if every being would, at one time, and
with the same mind, humbly submit to
God in fervent prayer? Then let us all
be more devoted, more consecrated,
and more nearly perfect in every way.
Our bodies must have food or they
perish. Our souls, or our spiritual
bodies, likewise must perish unless
they be fed. Prayer will feed the soul.
After studying about ourselves and
God awhile, it would be more encourage
ing to us if we were to see prayer thus:
AS a spirit of gentleness, akin to the
Holy Spirit. We should remember
that prayer-true prayer originates in
the heart and mind of mankind.
Prayer has a dove-like simplicity. It
, has no tendency toward b~oastfulness.
Jesus gives us examples how to pray.
He it was who prayed for those who
hung Him on the cross.
By prayer we show our willingness
| to conform to the will of Him whose
anger marches slowly, is often hinder
= ed, and never hasty, and always just.
Prayer is the peace of our spirits; the
5 stiffness of our thoughts, and the
/ source Of all true comfort.
4 The family altar is heavens TIRES
hold. And happy are those children
1 who at that altar have been consecrated
2 by a devoted ather's blessing; baptiz-
ed, as it were, by a mothers tears, and
borne up TO heaven upon their joint
petitions, as a voluntary thanks-offer-
ing to God.
Every home that has honored, and
does yet honor God, with an altar OF
9 devotion may well be called blessed.
The influence of family prayer is great,
silent, irresistible, and permanent.
o Like the calm deep stream, it moves
on in silent, but overwhelming power.
1t spreads its branches wide over the
entire being. Like the lily that bears
the tempest, and 1ike-the Alpine flower
that leans its cheeks upon the bosom OF
eternal SHOWS, it fourishes amid the
widest and most turbulent storms OF
: life.
Prayer all family frictions,
and causes all the wheels OF domestic
/, machinery to revolve silently and
smoothly along. It allays all petulent
feelings, and violent passions; destroys
: peevishness of temper, and makes a
delightful place of every home in which
it is practiced.
What, then is a home without that
amiable spirit, and admirable charac-
t~eristic of our Saviour and Friend?
Home is then only a place of unrest,
contention, strife, envy, hatred, malice,
and every abominable- principle SO
closely akin to the wicked one. It is
in true earnest praye that every in
tellectual and moral need is met and
nourished and converted to a most
glorious blessing.
Herein does our home education be-
come im~pregnated with the spirit and
. elements of our preparation for eter-
nifty.
Christian friends, dc not forget how
true are those words above. They de-
-, serve our careful attention. Let a spirit
of prayer abide in every heart.
= May the Father of love bless you all
{ and bless. our paper to His gracious
cause is our humble prayer.
e PLANTERS WAREHOUSE