Year: 1863

PRAYING BEFORE OTHERS.


Every christian ought to pray, not
only in the closet, but wherever prayer is
needed. Any disciple who cannot pray
by the sick bed. or with the inquirer, or
with the family, or even in the social
meeting, has reason to deplore his spirit
ual poverty and dumbness. 1t is hard to
conceive how one who has power with
God in secret, loses the power of prayer
before others, and it is doubtless a gener-
al rule that those who are reluctant to
lead social devotion are barren and life
less in the closet. Not long since l was
conversing with brother in the church,
and asked him why he did not attend the
prayer and conference meeting; also the
preaching on the Sabbath. He readily
answered. because | am deaf and can
not hear" | then asked him if he could
not 60 and do his duty that others might
be fed, and in SO doing get his own soul
fed? Again he said Il cannot hear-L
think | shall stay at home" Whatever
our circumstances. every man ought to
live Under the conviction that God placed
them here to work in His vineyard, and
to prepare to meet Him in the skies.


The steps Of good man are ordered by
the Lord, and He delighteth in his way.
Toll is nessary. The peole are to be Wis
tied. Look out upon the fild, and see it
is all ripe for the harvest. How many
families now neglected may be brought
within the influence of the Gospel and be
saved There is no time to trihe-let us
see and feel this Let us visit every fam
ily-speaking to all with love, and tears,
and kindness. Pray with them if you
feel it your duty-pray wherever prayer
is needed,


would like to give the experience of
my early days. | was very timid child,
hardly daring to speak upon any subject,
especially the subject of religion, and af-
ter had passed the days of childhood,
that timidity was not overcome. A few
months after | became christian. | en-
gagged to teach school in the neighbor-
hood of my home felt that must
open that school with prayer but my
heart shrank-none excepting those who
felt as then did, know how great the ef-
fort When the morning came met ray
pupils in the school room, and my heart
ohrapk within me. | could hardly COM
mand my voice to read the scriptures, or
to say that I" we need t,od's blessing to sue.
ceed in our effort this day; shall we all
kneel down and look to Gcd for bless
ing ?" And when knelt to ask that
blessing the words were few and feeble,
but at last this feeling of dread and en-
barrassment wore Of, and | was glad
when the hour of prayer came. Indeed,
those morning hours, were the happiest of
my life, and they come to me often with
sweetest memories. Since then have
been called to watch by two Of my sisters
during long months of pain and weari-
ness, and to see them 60 down to the val
ley and shadow of death.


have sometimes been called to speak
Of my blessed Saviour to those who we're
seeking Him; and you know not what
pleasure it is to. take them by the hand
and introduce them to my Saviour, Do
you ask how | could overcome my natur.
al timidity? 1t was by taking up the
Cross and praying everywhere | felt it to
be duty. If we try to do this for Jesus
He will enable us to succeed. DO not
neglect to pray in the social meeting for
you do not know how much you may do
in this way; and fear not an arm of the
flesh. No Cross. no Crown. S.


johnson, Oct, 1868.


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