The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-15
The Praxerle.s Man.

(Selectej for The Advertiser.)
 ,"What profit should we have If we pray unto Him?"-Job xxi. 16.
 Bear with me if ask an apparently useless question; but 1t is one which sad experience has taught me Is very necessary--Is there any one now amongst us who does not pray? ap- peal to your conscience. and ask in all earnestness your position in this matter.
 Is there any one who reads this. and who. nevertheless, does not pray? Who has let months and years pass over his head and has not once knelt down morning or night to ask forgiveness of his sins. or strength to resist temp tation? Has not begged Gods bless ing on himself and those most dear to him? Who has started up in the morning, thrown on his clothes, and so to work. and at night has thrown them of, sprung, into bed and settled himself to sleep without recalling the sins committed, or the mercies he has received in the past day? No thought of God! No gratitude to Him!
 If there be one such person whose life has been thus. to him I speak, for him this sermon is written, and most earnestly, but gently and affectionately do I address myself to you. beseech- ing God to give the words power that they may win you to better way for your immortal soul is in the most extreme peril. pray you, for your own sake. read this appeal through to the end.
 Be not offended with me. your fell low-sinners. but ask your own con- science, and let 1t be your judge. Why have you not made prayer as much necessity for your soul as daily bread is for your body. A life without prayer is the very death of the soul If you will be without God here, you shall be without Him hereafter. It is probably that you pray in public when you do not pray in private. But public prayer Is not enough; 1t must be made daily matter between God your Father and your own soul; between you and Him alone.
 Perhaps you will say. 'I slept in the room with others and they never knelt down, and I was ashamed" Ashamed of God Hear His own words "Who soever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He cometh in the glory of the Father and the holy l angels" hf
 But I am so sleepy in the morning and so weary at night" do not un- derrate your trials in that respect. Still I must say. poorer excuse could not be made! You can find time for anything you wish to do; but it is the will which Is wanting here. You are not expected to made long prayers Short ones you can make; few words will suffice if the heart is behind them But you must put yourself in direct communication with God.
 will tell you the reason why you live without prayer. You have some private sin which you will not give up. You know what 1t Is, and you alone I will not believe that you have made up your mind to live altogether without God. Remember. Praying will make thee quit sinning, or else shining will make thee quit praying"
 You will have to be alone with Him ito meet Him face to face-when you die; and death may come any day. Think of what God has done for you, through all these prayerless years What blessing He has bestowed. What mercies granted! Think of the pa tience which He has borne with you the love He has shown you: of His strength and help of the Holy Spirit which Is yours for the asking. Can you expect Gods blessing on you throughout the day if you will not take the trouble to ask for 1t? Will you lie down without thanking Him and asking Him to care for you in the hour of darkness and peril?
 Look at the past! Have you nc sins to be forgiven-no heavy load of guilt to be taken away? Look al the present. Who keeps you in health and strength and enables you to win your daily bread. Look at the future Do you need no help or blessing for yourself? Do you desire npne for those nearest to you? Have you no | thought, no need of a friend in the hour of death and in the day of judg- ment?
 Surely I shall not plead in vain You will never be again as if you had not heard this warning. Other appeals may have gone wide of the mark But not this-not this! pray God not this!
 beseech you let there be no more prayerless days. Begin at once, and having begun. resolutely perSevere Let nothing stop you; it Is your saliva. ton. Never mind if 1t is uphill and 1 irksome; never mind the delayed an swer never mind the whispers of the l Devil, the sneers of the goddess, the weakness and coldness of your own heart For once be resolute. let noth- ing turn you aside-pray, pray, pray 1 pray and do not faint, and the answer will surely come. It will not be long before you will find yourself grow g more like Christ, and therefore, ha-- pier and more useful, and when you come to die you will find that perse' vering prayer has, for Jesus sake opened unto you the gate of Paradise
 And now one word to those who dc pray already. You are diligent tn prayer for yourself. Do you pray fol | others. An! what blessings we forfeit by not interceding for them!
 1 Do you make it a part of your daily petition to pray for those who do not will not. pray for themselves?
 Do you pray for the ignorant, the reckless. the hardened. the desperate Do you pray for those who have none to pray for them? Do you pray for the sick and their doctors and nurses the afflicted and sorrowing. for all your children for strangers and travellers and emigrants and outcasts?
 Do you pray for all these as earn estly as you pray for yourself? Do you pray for Gods Kingdom to come, and His Holy Spirit to guide and bless the church?
 Lord, give us Thy Spirit and teach us to pray; Send us an answer lex ceeding abundantly above all that we If