Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-10
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Jan. 13: "seIfshness In Prayer" -
Matt. vi, 80.

BY REV. WALTER J. YATES. d. D.
Passages for reference.-Job xvii $40;
lisa. /, 10; Luke xviii. 1O-14; XXX AZ; James
", 3.
How much there is that goes under
the name of prayer which really has
not one element Of true prayer in it.
How much there is in real prayer
more than most have ever understood.
Is prayer asking for things? This is
all that many have ever seen in it. and
all the praying which multitudes have
done has been in the time of trouble,
when they We're hard pressed. to ask
for help out of the difficulty. We have
seen not Il few who have been ap-
parently near death and, realizing that
their lives had been msspent, have
been afraid to die and SO have cried
hard and long to God to spare them,
promising if they could only get well
they would lead a far different life.
Some of these have been spared and
got well, but in the great majority of
cases there was no change in their lives
from the old track. The former COM
panons and practices were resumed.
and no amendment took place Was
their praying true prayer or not? 1t
may have been, and the real difficulty
may have been in different place
But we are increasingly suspicious Of
the praying which merely asks for
things because afraid or selfishly con-
cerned for comfort and ease.
There is the possibility of such COM
munion with God in prayer that the
soul loses all special care and will as
to the direction Of the affairs of life
and has a peaceful Indifference which
way things go only so that the glory
of God be seen.
James Is very emphatic in his decara-
ton regarding the asking amiss. Is
there not much of such asking in this
present time? 1t Is to be feared if
much Of the so called praying of the
present time was analysed and reduced
to its proper elements it would be
found made up Of combination OF
pride, fear and selfslihess.
What. then, shall we never ask for
things, shall we not bring all our
needs to God and expect help? Most
certainly we can and should make all
our wants known to Him and trust
Him to supply our every need. We
should in coming to Him believe that
He is constantly supplying us with the
desirable things of life. We should
recognize His hand as dispensing all
our benefits and His fatherly care as
over all His works. We can and
should trust Him. and the greatest
chr h
bearing from this same confidence that
He knows our needs and will supply
them. But with all this our seeking
should not be for our comfort, our
profit. our pleasure our advancement
and honor. not even for the material
things of daily life as much as for the
quiet mind and the coming Of the di-
vine kingdom into our hearts and lives
Have you ever given close study to
the Lords Prayer? II not, it will pay
you to study all its parts carefully. 1t
is our model prayer, showing us how
to approach God.
There is, first. adoraton-"Our Fa-
Their, who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy name" That is .the first thing to
desire and to ask. Do you wish this
above all things possible besides? Is
Gods glory more to you than your own
pleasure and profit? Then proceed
If it is not the supreme object of your
desire, you would we'll pause here and
master this selfishness of yours before
you go on to ask anything more, for it
is doubtful if you can receive the other
things before this point is settled.
There are law and rule in spiritual
things as truly as in the natural world,
and until you are in proper condition
of soul to receive nothing can be i'm
parted.
THY kingdom come, Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven" SO
go on with the whole prayer. Occa-
sionally examine yourself and your de-
sires in the light of this analysis and
see how much of the right spirit you
have and how much of the selfshness
which defeats all good.
If you have been self seeking, cor
rect 1t and rest in God for all that He
can impart.