Evening journal., 1916-01-08

Luke xi;1. Lord teach MS TO pray.
Among other things he said: There
is no subject in connection with the
spiritual life that has caused the
average Christian more doubt and
difficulty than that OF prayer. II is
certain that prayer is the Christians
vital breath. II lies at the heart of all
spiritual progress. IL has been var
iously defined in the scriptures. II
is called in some places Lifting up
the heart and soul unto God The
entire nature must go forth toward
our Heavenly Father. open and re-
sponsive to His Spirit, il there is TO
be any genuine prayer. Prayer has
also been designated as Calling upon
the name OF the Lord You parents
have had this experience IN the dark
ness OF the night, when the child was
in need or suffering. Though the lit
tie one could not see the parent yet
IL was conscious that the parents
ears were always attentive to its
cries. Prayer is also defined as
Drawing near to God Let us draw
near to Him with full assurance Of
faith Just as in the evening the
child climbs on its fathers knee and
nestles down to slumber, so the hu-
man heart should draw near TO the
Heavenly Parent without foreboding
or fear.
prayer Is important. first Of all,
on account OF our great Associate In
prayer. No one OF US would deem II
small privilege OF honor TO have
an interview with the king Of Eng
land. or the emperor OF Germany, or
our own President. We would con
slider il one Of the great events OF our
! life. TO be planned FOR in advance and
/ to be looked back 10 In the future
[ How much greater Is the privilege
and honor OF having an interview
with the King of kings? Yet many
rush hastily into Gods presence, just
as mischievous boys rap at the door
and hurry away before the house
keeper can answer the summons.
Prayer is important also because
il is commanded by the scriptures
We are exhorted to ask, 10 seek aud
TO knock. This is not only horta.
tive. but also imperative. We ask fOl
something we want or want to know
We seek for something we have lost
we knock for admission to some place
that before we had not obtained
entrance. Whatever God in his words
commands. whether IL be for prayer
or for service it is your business anS
mine TO obey.
"ln the next place prayer is I'm
portant on account OF the example o
holy men of the scriptures. Ever,
soul throughout the generations tina
has had a great influence with mel
for good has first OF all had a groa
influence with God Before Abraham
left his native land he erected al
altar and prayed. At Bethel. Jaco
communed with God. Moses went ON
from the presence of Pharaoh AM
called upon the Lord. David lay upol
his face all night in prayer. Befor
Nehemiah began his great work o
rebuilding the walls OF Jerusalem Il
spent q season I'm fasting and prayer
Peter went upon the housetOp a
noon to pray, and with Paul, praye
: seemed to be the chief business OF HI
ministry.
"Bui more than all these. Jesu
, Himself spent much time in con
, munion with the Father. BefoI
every great event of His earthly mil
istry He continued for season
prayer. SO many speak Of Jesr
going upon the mount to be tram
! figured. That is not what the scriI
lures say He went upon the mouI
tain TO pray. and while He was pra,
ing the TRANSPORTATION came. HeI
then. is the great truth that shoul
i find its way TO every mind and hear
that If Jesus. the Son OF God VIII
had the pre-existence with the Fathe
without whom nothing was mare
that If Christ. in order TO fulfill III
. earthly ministry needed TO spend s
, much time in prayer. how much NOR
do Won and I need 10 pray?
"And furthermore. prayer is bot
important and essential on account {
its great results. First, for the pro
/ lection from many dangers, seen an
, unseen. Doubtless there are man
, Christians in this audience that cOul
testify to how your life has bee
spared and kept from what SCENE
/. almost certain death. God has prom
ised 10 send His angels as ministerin
spirits to minister unto those who al
. heirs of salvation. The experience
OF our missionaries in China in IL
Boxer insurrectiOn during the siel
Of Pekin. how they were cared *
, and kept from harm seemed as mira
!. ulous as the story OF Elijah being fe
by the ravens.
Healing Is another OF the bles
4 ings that comes from earnest pet
tions to God. Pray for one another
SAYS the word of God that ye ma
r be healed. Some one asked me r
e Gently il | believed i'm divine healin
c replied, 4 believed in no oth'
{ kind. Human physicians and rem
e dies cannot heal: all they can do
!. TO help get the conditions right. III
cure must come from God SOmeOI
then asked. Would you then elimina
- doctors? ! replied. 1 would banis
b ungodly and vicious doctors No OF
o has any right 10 treat the humi
Y body. the temple of the Holy Gho
r without the love of God in his hea
e any more than a man has to prea'
II a sermon without this same love
God. The work OF the physician oug
# to be regarded as a divine callin
No one in the community has
s greater opportunity to do good
: both body and soul than trl
d Christian doctor. The up-to-date pa
= tor realizes that man has a body
e well as soul. And the up-to-da
IS physician realizes that man has so
e as well as a body.
p "Opie. tho great painter. was ask
Is how he painted such beautiful pi
5. lures and he replied. 1 mix my braii
IS with my paints So il would he we
r il a doctor would mingle his praye