Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-10
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Jan. @, Morning watch.
BY REV. WALTER ]. YATES, D.

jan. St Morning watch.
BY REV. WALTER J. YATES. d. n.
Secret communion with God.-Matt. vi,
s. Passages for refcrcncc.-Gon. NNsNi. a
-; II Kings iv, 3j-3'; Matt. xiv, l3i Luke
xxi, n-i}; John i, As
Il have much to do today, therefore
/ must lie much in prayer" is said to
have been the frequent remark of Mar
tin Luther. To some ii seems Goa
tradiciiOn or at least difficulty % De
in prayer when busy auout other
things. but to the one who is accds-
toned to pray it is all clear. one who
merely says prayers ana needs to get
his body mo certain postures to say
them devoutly, who makes much Of the
outward form and has not come to
know the nature of true prayer as the
inward attitude Of the soul toward
Cod such one will find it hard to
pray and work at the same time.
But he who knows God close at hand
and has learned to speak to Him as
man speaks to faithful and near
friend such one at once knows how
the very stress of work will give
greater urgency to the inner craving
for communion and counsel with the
Father.
This morning watch, do you observe
It? DO YOU belong to the company
who every morning before beginning
the work of the day spend little time
in the reading of the book of God and
in secret prayer 10 Him for guidance
and protection during the day! If
ii
gin to do it now? We need constant
guidance in all our affairs by God.
This can come only to those whose
minds are fixed to do Gods will. That
must be all settled first. But after
that is done. how shall we know what
His will is concerning us in any par
ticular case? He has promised to re
veal Himself to us, as He does not to
the world. Whoever comes into the
devotional frame of mind and has God
much in his thought and is earnestly
desiring special direction that he may
please and glorify God never fails to
sooner or later come into conscious
ness that he knows what is pleasing to
God and to lind himself possessed of
different experience of divine things
from any he has had. This comes
by no outward voice or visible sign,
but is an inwrOught consciousness
which has the highest degree of GER
tainty for him VINO possesses it and
needs no outward attestaton to make
it more convincing to him.
This talking with God not only brings
clear knowledge of duty, but it also
is effective in settling the will with
/ less struggle and conflict than is or
/ binary. BY communion with God and
meditation on His will and way we
/ come to see that it is best, and our
| determination goes out to put our
| selves in accord with the right and
| good, and not to be contrary to what
we see is most desirable and altogether
. admirable.
Then, again, this talking with God
puts us in the same frame of heart
that He has. Knowing the right and
true and determining to do it, we come
to love 1t and find our pleasure in that
way alone. This brings peace and
contentment We are in harmony with
ourselves and with God and the petty
contradictions of life in the world do
not so greatly disturb us. All things
come to work together for good for us,
and life takes on new coloring and is
altogether different.
Have you tried this and failed in a
measure because of lack of time OF
forgetfulness? Has it after a little
become dull and irksome routine, with
no zest and little profit in it? Well
that is but the natural course with all
new things. Begin all over again. Dc
not expect too much of yourself al
first. You must not expect all the
deep things of Gods presence to be
revealed to you at once. Consider how
it is with earthly friends and acQuaint
ances When first introduced to per
son you often find it difficult to make
much conversation. because you do not
know each other or have much in com
mon, but let a friend of many years
intimacy come in and how the wheels
of talk spin round! Get acquainted
with God and hold all you have in com
mon with Him and you will find nc
moments in communion with Him dull
Whatever else you neglect this year
do not neglect to cultivate intimacy
with God.
Kingdom of Heaven Ii Within You
If you do not wish for His kingdom
: don't pray for it, but If you do you
must do more than pray for it; yol
must work for it, And to work TO
it you must know what it is; we hav,
all prayed for it many a day withou
thinking. Observe, it is kingdom