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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Subconscious Religion
+
+Author: Russell H. Conwell
+
+Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37143]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Karina Aleksandrova and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+            Subconscious
+              Religion
+
+  Does God Answer Christians Only?
+        Conflicting Prayers
+       Subconscious Religion
+    Praying for Visions of Heaven
+           Great Prayers
+     Use of the Bible in Prayer
+            Conclusions
+
+
+                _By_
+         RUSSELL H. CONWELL
+
+            VOLUME 10
+
+             NATIONAL
+       EXTENSION UNIVERSITY
+
+    597 Fifth Avenue, New York
+
+
+         EFFECTIVE PRAYER
+
+  Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothers
+  Printed in the United States of America
+
+
+
+
+Chapter I
+
+Does God Answer Christians Only?
+
+
+What might be the consensus of opinion found in a digest of all the
+testimonies of mankind cannot be surmised, but it did not appear that
+God was "a respecter of persons" through those years of prayer at the
+Baptist Temple. The prevailing belief, however, was that God was more
+willing to answer the sincere disciple than he was to heed the requests
+of a great sinner. But the fact was also evident that God does answer
+the just and the unjust. The assertion of the blind man before the
+Pharisees that "God heareth not sinners" was evidently a quotation from
+the Pharisees' creed and not a gospel precept. As all have sinned and
+come short of the glory of God, no one would be heard if God would not
+hear sinners. Jesus was more inclined to heed the requests of John and
+Peter than he was to listen to the requests of the sacrilegious
+Sadducee. But a repentant Sadducee would not be neglected, and the fact
+is apparent that there is a clear distinction between the influence with
+God of a righteous man and the influence of a wicked or a frightened
+sinner.
+
+Here are a few of the testimonies which have a bearing on this important
+subject. One hardened sinner was so convicted of his completely lost
+condition that he spent the night in agony, calling on God for
+forgiveness. He was determined to fight the battle alone, but his
+strength failed and he was certain that he was condemned irrevocably to
+eternal punishment. His prayer availed him nothing. When, at last, he
+opened his heart to a faithful Christian friend, that friend's prayer
+was heard instantaneously, and the seeker knew by an instinct axiomatic
+that he was received by the Lord.
+
+There is a general belief that God does hear the pure Christian more
+readily than he does the vile reprobate. That belief is founded in the
+moral laws universally recognized in human relations. There may also be
+a semiscientific reason. The soul which is in tune with the Infinite can
+more effectively detect and understand the "sound waves" from the spirit
+world than the soul which is out of tune with God. In the mass of the
+correspondence about which this book is written there are strong
+testimonies to the necessity and attainableness of a practical harmony
+with the Spirit of God. One man who has been long a teacher of
+psychology wrote that he had made a deliberate test of the matter, and a
+condensed report of his experience is here given. He sought "to place
+his soul in communion with God." He desired that state of spiritual
+harmony with the divine character which would make him sensitive to
+every spiritually divine impression. Hence, he prepared himself in this
+way: he locked himself in his room and gave himself up to the serious
+business of getting into communication with God. He began to count his
+sins of commission and earnestly asking forgiveness; he promised the
+Lord that he would guard himself against them evermore. He then tried to
+comprehend the awful list of sins of omission which for a while made him
+hopeless of God's favor. But in deep and prayerful meditation, thinking
+long on the great mercy of God and of the propitiation Christ had given,
+he felt his soul slowly emerge from the slough of despond. Suddenly a
+strange confidence took possession of his soul and a feeling of glad
+triumph overcame all doubt of his forgiveness. The assurance that he was
+getting into harmony with the Spirit of God became complete. He threw
+himself across his bed and "let go of himself," making an absolute
+surrender to the spiritual impressions.
+
+Into such a state the apostles and prophets must have entered to feel
+the spiritual impulses and see the visions which they recorded. It as an
+exaltation of the whole being--a temporarily superhuman experience
+which may be the state of the soul when released from the body. The joy
+of that hour of oneness with God cannot be described to one who has not
+known it. It is higher, purer, more real than other feelings. It is so
+unlike any other experience on earth. "The soul is lost in God." The
+worshiper is outside and above himself. Life gleams as a cloud glows in
+some heavenly morning. Disease, pain, human limitations, care, or
+anxiety is nonexistent. A pure peace which passeth all understanding
+permeates the whole being. Underneath are the everlasting arms; over him
+is the spirit face of Christ. But why should he try to convey an idea of
+that growing answer to his prayer? He knows he is with his Lord. But the
+less he tries to tell his experience the more confidence his unbelieving
+friends will have in his sanity. That such harmony with the divine is
+subject to certain laws is seen in the fact that such elevation of soul
+is gained only by a full compliance with certain conditions. Some of
+these conditions are found by experience to be those which are laid down
+in the Scriptures. The seeker must force out of his heart all malice,
+jealousy, hate, selfishness, covetousness, unbelief, and give himself up
+to the opposite feelings. We must go over wholly to pure intentions,
+holy aspirations, truth-living, kindness, forgiveness, love for all,
+inflexible adherence to the right, and all in all harmonizing with the
+divine disposition. Pure holiness must be sought, without which no man
+can please God. All those who give themselves over to such a state of
+surrender to God have the full assurance of faith which is promised to
+those who love God with all their hearts and with all their minds.
+
+Such servants of God can offer prayer which avail much more than the
+frightened call of the worldly minded, egotistic, and selfish enemy of
+good people and good principles. God loves all men with an everlasting
+affection. But the kind of intensity of his affection for the saint and
+the transgressor is quite different. Christ loved the priest and the
+Levite in a true sense, but he loved the Good Samaritan more. He can
+love and care for his own without encouraging evil. He could not be just
+and show no partiality for those who obey him fully. He never fails to
+hear the cry of any contrite heart, but even among the disciples John
+was especially beloved.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter II
+
+Conflicting Prayers
+
+
+This chapter leads into the wilderness. Just beyond it is the insane
+asylum. The most bewildering, confusing, and dangerous region is the
+morass of conflicting prayers. No human theory concerning them is even
+helpful. The labyrinth is absolutely trackless to the human mind when
+once the worshiper becomes entangled therein. So we will not attempt to
+explain any of the even unthinkable intricacies of its strange region.
+Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord answer the questions which millions
+have asked about it. Two persons, equally sincere, pray for success in a
+matter where the victory of one must be the defeat of the other. Nations
+at war pray hard and long for victory, and not even God can answer both.
+Something must be taken from one to give to another, while the one in
+possession is praying that he may keep it. One's loss is another's gain.
+The employer prays for a profit on his business, and the laborer prays
+for higher wages. The white man and the colored man prays for his own
+tribe. The Samaritan and Jew, worshiping the same God and having the
+same family inheritance, believe it is a duty to hate each other, and
+each calls for God's curses on the other. Many an honest investigator
+has entered this region of doubt and mystery and managed to back out
+while still in his right mind. But he has returned the worse for the
+experience. All sorts of foolish speculations have been given creedal
+expression until men have declared, with strange assurance, that man
+cannot trust his reason or his conscience in any matter. They have tried
+to prove that the laws of nature are inflexible and that prayer cannot
+have any influence whatever in current events. Gifted men and women of
+culture and high purpose have convinced themselves that there is no
+evil, that men never sin, that the Bible theories concerning prayer are
+fanciful and too miraculous to be possible. "Too much study hath made
+thee mad," said the practical Roman to the Apostle Paul. The old Roman
+had probably seen so many religions that he had no faith in any. The
+religious maniacs are those men who have broken down their brains by
+laborious study over these insoluble problems. Therefore, while no one
+should discourage reasonable research anywhere, and while it is not
+sacrilegious or foolish to think on these things, it does seem best to
+admit that to the most faithful Christian there are unsearchable things
+of God which he cannot sanely hope to understand in this life. "My
+thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the
+Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
+higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." We
+cannot expect to achieve a knowledge as great and extensive as that of
+the Creator, and must be content with our reasonable limitations. "What
+I do ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter." Satisfied, then,
+with the promise of that future full revelation we should study all that
+Providence places before us for investigation and never let go of what
+we are sure we do know. We will distinguish, as clearly as possible,
+between our imagination and our knowledge, and with a level head and our
+feet on solid ground we will live by a faith that is reasonable and
+never become blindly reckless.
+
+The lightning struck a tree near a neighbor's residence last week. He
+knows that to be a hard fact. He does not know much about the electric
+currents in the atmosphere, neither does the most experienced scientist;
+but the neighbor knows that the lightning did splinter that tree. From
+that fact he entertains a faith in a possible return of that event and
+by faith he puts up a lightning rod on his barn.
+
+The observer notices that sin brings its own punishment in many cases,
+and he has faith that such will be the universal experience of the
+future. So he keeps his soul insured by safe and sane investment in
+righteousness. Every sane man knows that we must at all times walk
+largely by faith. Faith is a constituent part of the natural human
+constitution. The degree of faith determines the character of the
+individual. Faith, like water, seeks its level. But the greater its safe
+elevation, the greater its power. Faith must grow reasonably, like a
+grain of mustard seed. It also develops mysteriously by natural increase
+until the fowls of the air nest in its branches and its growing root
+will cleave off the side of the mountain. The patriot, earnestly seeking
+victory, lets no possible agency pass unused to overcome the enemy. When
+he has prepared fully and laboriously for the battle he will then pray
+for the help which God may give him. Even should he strongly doubt that
+the Great Power moving on events beyond his knowledge can or will hear
+him, yet he will not fail to pray. Any man who calls on the Christian's
+God will not ask him to aid an unholy cause. A murderer seeking an
+opportunity to kill will not call on God for aid. The thief ever fears
+some providential interference with his plans. The Christian ever hopes
+for God's aid, and asks for it because his aim is a godly one.
+
+Herein is found the safe position for the believer to take. We can pray
+for the heathen, although they do pray against their own good. We can
+pray for victory in some holy war, because the enemy are praying really
+against their own good. Because their cause is unrighteous, their
+victory would be a great loss to them. Hence, even the great prayers
+which sublimely petition for the nations, and which include the whole
+world in their range of vision, are consistent only when man realizes
+his weakness and his ignorance, and adds to every prayer the
+reservation, "nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."
+
+He is the wisest servant of God who can pray from the camp that he may
+conquer if his cause be really just. The preacher who enters his pulpit
+with an almost agonizing prayer that God would aid him in his
+presentation of the Christ to men must ever ask that God will turn aside
+any arrow which would do harm to the cause. In his ignorance or weakness
+he may mistake the Gospel message, or may not present the whole truth,
+and he must ever ask that, whether he gain or lose in the esteem of his
+congregation, the truth shall always prevail. Christian nations are
+often wrong in their diplomacy or in their wars, as they discover after
+a while. The Lord, therefore, gave them that for which they would have
+asked had their hearts been right with God and their intentions been
+Christlike toward men.
+
+Sometime we shall understand. But now the seeming inconsistency of
+asking the Lord to aid his own cause, or praying that Christ may soon
+come into his own kingdom, is ever a stumbling block to the doubtful
+ones. If the Lord has all power and has a sincere desire to make the
+world good, why does he not do it by one sweep of his hand or by one
+magic word? What is the reason for his commandment to pray to him and to
+ask him to do that which he wishes to do and can do himself? All these
+questions lead into the wilderness. We do not know. We cannot suggest
+any hypothesis which would make the sovereignty of God and the free will
+of man reconcilable. Man's mind is so constructed that it is impossible
+to believe that the Creator controls all things and arranges the details
+of even our thoughts and yet leaves man free to choose to defeat the
+Lord by his own thoughts and actions. It is impossible fully to believe
+that man can voluntarily do evil without in some way interfering with
+the designs and power of God. If God undertakes to save the world, and
+"would not that any should perish," but that all should come unto him
+and live, and yet sinful man can defeat or hinder the accomplishment of
+his purpose, then the thinker must conclude that God is not supreme. Yet
+when we keep our minds within their reasonable limits and fall back on
+our common sense we must believe that God is all-powerful and also that
+man is free to be sinful. The facts are actual facts, although we cannot
+reconcile them. There is but little we frail mortals can understand
+about such matters. Let us, therefore, carefully hold to the facts which
+we can comprehend, and never assume that things which are, surely are
+not, or that things which are not, most surely are. There was a bowlder
+in the highway yesterday. We don't know how it came to be there. We know
+it should not be there. But there it is, and he would be idiotic who
+tried to go on as if the stone were not there. Behold! there is set
+before every man good and evil. "Choose good that thou and thy seed may
+live." We know that in a thousand matters we can choose the good or
+choose the evil. We see also that liberty is limited by great laws and
+there are a myriad of things a man cannot possibly do and about which
+he has no choice. When a man reaches those limitations his
+responsibility for choosing ceases.
+
+With these simple facts the teaching of the Bible is fully in accord.
+The necessity for sustenance and protection beyond our ability to supply
+is ever a great apparent fact. The recognition of that fact leads the
+thoughtful man to prayer. Let us, therefore, have a care not to venture
+too far into the wilderness of the seeming theological inconsistencies.
+That God does answer men and women, thousands can testify. They have
+tried it fully. They cannot explain why God thus works out his
+complicated schemes, but they know that he does work in that way. It is
+established fact. The Great Teacher and Saviour also prayed. That is
+enough.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter III
+
+Subconscious Religion
+
+
+In Leipzig, Germany, in 1866 there stood an old three-story mansion,
+used as a manufactory of mechanical toys. An American student attending
+the university was invited to visit the showrooms in the upper story and
+became intently interested in the surprising exhibition of inventive
+genius. As the visitor descended to the second and first floors he
+visited the rooms where machinery of many kinds was turning out various
+parts of the toys. But when he ventured to descend to the cellar to look
+at the power plant he found "No admission" on every door. But he was
+more disappointed when he was told that the "designing room," where the
+toys were invented and the drawings made, was in the subcellar. In order
+to preserve their patents and their secret processes, even the workmen
+on the upper floors were forbidden ever to look into the subcellar.
+
+That illustrative fact came forcibly to mind when meditating long over a
+letter written by a praying student and author who said that he felt
+sure that the only direct passage between the human soul and the world
+spirits is through the subconscious mind. From that subcellar of the
+soul come ideas, impulses, and suggestions which most largely influence
+our actions. But we are forbidden to enter that department to examine
+the plans or listen to the wireless dispatches from the spirit world so
+continuously received there. "No admission" is posted on every door to
+the subcellar designing room of the human soul. We get the blue prints
+of new plans, or read suggestions for new or improved work sent up to
+our brains. But who makes them we do not know. In the impenetrable
+regions of our mental and spiritual nature are formulated many ideas and
+moral laws which we must blindly obey. A man is what he thinks, and the
+larger portion of his thinking is originated or molded in his
+subconscious self. That is evidently the meaning of the reference by
+Peter to the "hidden man of the heart." It is amazing to the careful
+student of our mental constitution to find out how meager is the part of
+our thinking which originates in the suggestions of our five senses.
+
+From the Grecian and German philosophers some psychologists derived the
+hypothesis that the subconscious self is only the aggregation of all the
+faint or half-formed ideas which are not strong enough to force
+themselves up into full recognition by the brain. Consciousness includes
+only those thoughts which the brain accepts and uses in positive action.
+That theory seems to be in a measure, true. There are faint suggestions
+and half-formed motives of which we catch glimpses and which never seem
+to be fully developed. Also the natural instincts of our animal nature
+still continue and persist in our higher station in the creative order.
+It can be noted by anyone that perhaps not one in a thousand of our
+muscular contractions or of our decided actions is consciously dictated
+by our will. The human race is seemingly, in a large measure, a
+collection of automatons. We are generally moved about by powers and
+mechanisms beyond our comprehension and are unconsciously working out
+designs in the making of which we have no consciously important part.
+
+It is difficult to write clearly on such a subtle theme or explain what
+is known concerning autosuggestion or explain the laws which, in a
+measure, control the unconscious part of human life without using
+technical terms or scientific formulas beyond the understanding of the
+everyday reader. But, plainly stated, a human being uses but a small
+inclosure in which he can move on his own conscious volition. We are
+fearfully and wonderfully made. "What I would not that I do and what I
+would that I do not" was not the exclusive experience of the Apostle
+Paul. But it is the common experience of all mankind. A man's thoughts,
+happiness, and usefulness are the products of his moral character. His
+"subconscious self" is his real character. What one does consciously may
+not represent his real character, but that which he does without
+meditation or conscious limitation represents the true disposition or
+tendency of his real nature. Inasmuch as ye are disposed by nature or by
+second nature to be a good Samaritan or to aid "the least of these," ye
+have lived a continual good deed for the Master. The redeemed soul is
+one whose permanent disposition, called his "subconscious" or
+"subliminal self," is controlled by the magnetic influence of the spirit
+of truth and goodness. The few matters on which the brain acts directly
+are the deeds of the conscious mind. They are controlled by the will and
+reasoning powers of the independent portion of man's being. They may or
+may not accord with the heart's general impulses or they may be the
+direct product of the heart's purposes. The will and the subconscious
+self interact, each influencing the other. This thought presents "a
+logical contradiction" which has puzzled many great minds.
+
+But our appeal here is to the everyday experience of sincere, truthful
+Christians concerning their communication with God through the
+subconscious mind. One writer states that she has often received
+trustworthy messages from the spirit world in dreams and in unusual
+impressions during waking hours. This statement often arouses the
+general prejudice which some of the extreme spiritualists or deceivers
+have brought upon the theory of mental communication with the departed;
+but it should be examined on its own merits without bias. The testimony
+of the millions who believe or hope that they have had messages from
+their beloved who have gone on before counts for much and is not a
+testimony confined to professional mediums. The rejection of the theory
+that it is possible for angel beings to communicate with mortals, and
+that they are sent of God to do so, involves the rejection of the whole
+Bible as a divinely truthful Book. If there is no open path through the
+subconscious self to the spirit world, then the recorded visits of the
+Holy Spirit to the hearts of men are only idle tales. The disbelief in
+the soul's ability to hear heavenly voices or receive spiritual
+suggestions from other spirits would destroy all trust in supernatural
+religions. God does speak to man in the events and laws of the material
+life, and he also speaks to us in the "quiet, small voice" as he did to
+Elijah at Sinai. There appears to be no alternative but to believe in
+that declaration, for to reject it is to reject the whole body of
+Christian teaching. We will not entertain such a suicidal proposition.
+The indestructible spirit body is the same being and possesses the same
+characteristics in the material body that it possesses when separated
+from this limiting framework of the earthly body. It is indestructible,
+but it can be modified in disposition while in this body. That
+statement, for the sake of brevity, is mentioned dogmatically, but it
+will be illustrated by the following testimonials.
+
+One writer who evidently has been reared to believe sincerely in
+"emotional religion," who shouts and groans and wrings his hands at any
+devotional meeting, but whose probity and strong good sense are the
+admiration of his friends, states that he knows "that his Redeemer
+liveth, by the direct assurance of the Spirit." He claims that when a
+man tells him a lie he feels the presence of evil. He testifies that in
+his most exalted moments following a season of fervent prayer he knows
+what it is to realize the fact that he lives and moves and has his being
+in God.
+
+There are thousands of men and women whose wild behavior in religious
+meetings is only the natural evidence of a disordered mind. The negro
+camp meeting and the whirling of the Egyptian dervishes seem to be much
+alike in their manner of working up a religious excitement. The
+unbalanced mental condition of some truly honest worshipers causes
+distrust of others whose good sense in other matters is never
+questioned.
+
+Other writers tell of their experience of some overpowering emotion
+which came so logically in answer to their prayer that they cannot doubt
+that such was truly the fact. A man prayed that he might be protected
+through the night. He awakened from sleep, moved by an "inward impulse"
+irresistible, and went to the barn to find, as he opened the stable
+door, a little blaze creeping toward the haymow. It was easily
+extinguished then, but ten minutes later would have been entirely beyond
+control. The fire was caused by a lighted cigar dropped carelessly on
+the stable floor near the horses. Another writes that he is naturally
+emotional and dares not trust himself on any pinnacle, as he always
+feels when on any high place a strange desire to leap off in suicide.
+He states that the sensitiveness of his emotional nature becomes most
+acute in religious gatherings, and that he has never found himself
+mistaken when he has followed the leadings of that spirit. His wife
+writes that he had, for years, planted the crops which he "felt like
+planting" after attending a religious meeting. She adds that while, at
+first, she had regarded his "moods" as accidental emotions, she had
+learned that his crops planted in those moods were always profitable
+investments. Another who had been trained in the Friends' meeting to
+wait for the Spirit to move him went so far as to wait for the same
+impulse in all his undertakings. He tried to lay his business ventures
+before the Lord in silent prayer and then go in the direction the Spirit
+indicated. He related how, when once he was lost in a thick forest on a
+cloudy day, he prayed until his "sense of direction" became so clear
+that he started with closed eyes to take the direction toward which his
+inward impression impelled him.
+
+Another acted always on the impulse of the moment in speaking to a
+friend or to a stranger upon religious matters. Another wrote that she
+had observed for many years that the praying housekeepers were guided in
+their work by the most trustworthy intuitions. Few is the number of
+women who guide their domestic affairs by the rules of cold science, and
+the larger part of a mother's movements in the care of her children are
+the unconscious results of special intuition. She claims that in the
+intuitional nature of the human soul there is such nearness to the
+divine nature that the especially sensitive soul "feels impulses from
+across the border."
+
+Here, again, after a day's study of the many accounts concerning the
+impulses awakened by prayer, we lay down the correspondence with a sigh
+of regret that nothing absolutely conclusive for or against prayer is to
+be found. We must still believe or disbelieve according to the measure
+of faith. In the courts of law attorneys often establish their cases by
+the use of what is termed "cumulative evidence," where they secure the
+testimony of many witnesses to the same fact. If that custom be applied
+to the establishment of the fact that emotions and impulses are sent in
+answer to prayer the number in its favor would be overwhelming. Down in
+the subcellar of the mind there may be a tunnel leading through to the
+palace of God. Millions believe that is a fact. No one can prove it is
+not so. Therefore, with the reasonable student, the testimony of the
+many will still be considered trustworthy. The soul of God speaketh
+often to the soul of man. A great writer on secular subjects confirmed
+the general impression when he forcibly wrote, "You can get almost
+anything you want, if you only want it hard enough, and long enough, and
+with faith enough."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IV
+
+Praying for Visions of Heaven
+
+
+A sturdy young farmer's boy who had inherited a strong body, a clear
+mind, and a good family name sat under a maple tree in the hayfield at
+the hot noontide. He was eating a cold lunch and at the same time
+reading an article in the weekly paper. The editor had written an
+editorial on the romantic history of the poor country boys who had risen
+to world-wide fame and to enormous riches. When he had reread the
+article he tossed the paper aside, lay back on the odorous new-mown
+grass, looked up at the deep-blue sky, and watched the passing of a
+pure-white cloud. A vision of what the world might be to him came in a
+dreamy way. Other boys as poor as he had graduated from college, had
+made great scientific discoveries, had married rich and beautiful women,
+had traveled in far countries, had feasted with kings, had held high
+office, and had written great books. Why could not he follow their
+example? It seemed impossible, and with a deep sigh he arose and seized
+his scythe.
+
+But the vision could not be obscured. As his strong muscles drove the
+sharp blade through the thick grass he kept muttering to himself,
+debating pro and con the possibility of an ignorant farmer, living far
+away from city civilization, and too far from a railroad to hear the
+whistle, to become powerful in national affairs. How did they start?
+What did they do first? When his return swath brought him again near the
+shade of the tree where he had eaten his lunch he caught up the weekly
+paper and read again the editorial. Then he left his scythe in the grass
+and went into the shade, leaned against the gnarled trunk of the old
+tree, and, wholly engrossed in earnest thought, forgot his work. He
+reviewed his own simple life and examined his own plans and ambitions.
+He had expected to marry some one of the strong, sensible, country
+girls and bring her home to live with the old folks, as his father had
+done. He had a dim idea that he would inherit the old, stony farm some
+day. He had a latent ambition to raise more corn than his father had
+raised and to clear a large piece of woodland which for centuries had
+hidden the mountain side. He would build an addition to the stable and
+put in a new pair of bars near the brook where the cattle went to drink
+in winter. He had also a half-formed purpose to join the local church,
+and perhaps some day he would be an elder.
+
+At last he aroused himself and, with a half-angry impulse, he began to
+strike the grass with his scythe as if the grass were some sneaking
+enemy. He could not arouse again the sweet content of the forenoon. He
+had caught a glimpse of that far-away land, and while he did not hope
+ever to enter it, yet the thought disturbed him.
+
+The next Sunday the echo of the old church bell, along the narrow, but
+beautiful, Berkshire valleys, called him to church. The cows were milked
+and fed, the old horse curried, and the chores hastily finished when he
+ran down the road to overtake the old folks. But the grand forest, the
+sheening, cascading brook, and the brown fields were not the same to him
+that they were the day before. The cows and horses in the pastures near
+the road had lost their fascination and value. The hills seemed lower
+and the grain fields more narrow, the cottages seemed shrunken, and the
+old church was but an awkwardly built bungalow. All had changed. His
+clothing was coarser woven and the most attractive girls in their Sunday
+attire were rude specimens of country verdancy.
+
+As if by a preconceived purpose to accelerate his sweeping mental
+changes the preacher that morning took his text from the Proverbs of
+Solomon, wherein he stated that wisdom is more valuable than gold or
+rubies. The speaker illustrated his sermon by showing the value of an
+education. He mentioned the happiness of the men and women who knew the
+structure of vegetation, of animals, and the laws which control their
+life. He mentioned cases of self-made men who had read good books and
+whose minds could walk with God through his wonderful natural creations.
+He spoke of the uselessness or curse of possessions which the owner
+cannot enjoy for lack of knowledge. He said that the discipline of
+obtaining wisdom was in itself of great value and that God promised
+riches, and honor to the man who would earn them. He also said that the
+Lord started many of us into life with nothing for the loving purpose of
+developing our capacity and inclination to know and enjoy more. The
+happiest boy is the one who makes his own toys. The application of the
+sermon brought forth the exhortation to read instructive books, to
+examine more closely the works of nature and the laws which control our
+being. "Learn something every day," said the preacher, and he closed
+with the quotation from Luther, "Not a day without learning another
+verse" ("_Nulla dies sine versu_").
+
+The young farmer was an only son. But his parents had wisely kept him
+from selfishness and egotism. He had been taught to work and to be
+grateful for the necessities of life. He had a loyal disposition and
+loved his parents with a half-worshipful devotion. He had been
+contented, industrious, careful, and honest. His only pride seemed to be
+in the distance he could see and in the large burden he could shoulder
+or carry. He had left school because his father needed him on the farm
+and he had abandoned the expectation of further education. But on that
+Sunday he held a long conference with his mother and father concerning
+his ambition to be something more than a country farmer. He read to them
+the editorial which had so moved him, and tearfully said: "I want to be
+great like them! I must improve my mind. I must increase my skill. I
+must have more influence and do more good. I must get more wisdom and
+more understanding. This farm is too small a place for me. I will stay
+at home if I can, or as long as I can, but I must begin to study
+to-morrow, and never thereafter lose a day. God helping me, I will be
+something worth while." His parents, with sad hearts, saw the
+reasonableness of his ambition and gave their consent to his proposed
+education. He began to read selected books at home, but he soon saw the
+great advantage of academic instruction in some well-equipped
+institution. He attended a high school in a near-by village and an
+academy in another part of the country. He was the leader of his classes
+and a close student of languages and natural science. He had obtained a
+glimpse of the world of knowledge and was fascinated with the idea of a
+university education. Beyond the university, he occasionally saw himself
+a multimillionaire with a palace and a brilliant retinue of servants. He
+had chosen for his life mate a brilliant young woman who was a teacher
+in a kindergarten school connected with the academy. They were to be
+married when he should graduate from the university. All seemed hopeful
+and promised a most noble and notable career.
+
+But while he was spending his vacation at the old home in the Hampshire
+Highlands of the Berkshire Hills, helping his old father in gathering
+the usual crops, he received an invitation from a rich uncle living near
+San Francisco, inviting him to visit his estate. The uncle had not often
+corresponded with the young man's parents and they had taken no interest
+in his history. They had heard that he was a wealthy manufacturer and a
+railroad director. So the brother, and the sister who was the student's
+mother, had lost all acquaintance with each other in the fifty years of
+their separation. The young man gladly accepted his uncle's invitation
+to visit him, and the uncle sent on a railroad pass to bring him to
+California and return.
+
+The estate of the uncle was on the shore of the Pacific, occupying a
+gentle slope with wide lawns, evergreen trees fancifully trimmed, and
+gushing fountains. Hedges of lilies, acres of poppies, roses of every
+perennial variety, and shade trees in long rows, decorated the great
+plateau. Orchards of luscious and rare fruits stretched away in great
+lanes from the back gardens. The house was a mansion built for show,
+with a front largely Grecian in design, and a rear porch and veranda of
+the Old Colony style. Carpets, paintings, mirrors, and a hundred curious
+and costly decorations made an exhibition of lavish wealth. Fine horses
+and extravagantly furnished carriages in great variety filled the
+stables. Servants' quarters were really fine cottages and the
+gatekeeper's lodge cost an extravagant sum. To this New England nephew
+who had spent his youth in the simplicity and poverty of a back-country
+farm, all this display of wealth was bewildering. The great library of
+costly volumes, few of which had ever been opened, seemed to him a great
+opportunity for his uncle to learn almost everything. The food was so
+various and so delicious. The wines which he had never tasted were
+sweetly stimulating and had been made on the estate. His uncle
+entertained him royally and introduced him to a number of handsome young
+ladies of fascinating manners, who volunteered to teach him to dance.
+Every kind of musical invention seemed to be stored in the mansion, and
+quartets from the university near by came in often to entertain and to
+be entertained at the uncle's evening socials. The uncle was a widower
+and childless, and seemed to be most pathetically lonely. He was pleased
+with his nephew and was proud of his apparently sterling character and
+manly appearance.
+
+The evening before the nephew's departure on his return journey his
+uncle talked with him until late in the night and told him frankly that
+he was going to make the young man his sole heir. But he made his nephew
+promise repeatedly not to tell any person, not even his parents, what
+the uncle had decided to do.
+
+The return of that young man, when viewed in the light of subsequent
+events, must have been a startling experience to his dear, patient,
+plodding old parents. His manners, his thoughts, his estimation of
+values had undergone a violent change. The old farmhouse seemed to him
+to be smaller than ever, the furniture was rude and cheap, the food was
+coarse and unpalatable, the horse was shamefully old, his father's
+overalls were disgracefully stained, and his mother's old apron was fit
+only for rags! The home was lonesome and uncomfortable. He sat by the
+fire on the cool evenings, silently picturing in his wild imagination
+what he would do with his millions, and sometimes he admitted, for an
+instant, the hope that his uncle would die very soon. He abandoned the
+idea of going on with his college education. He reasoned that money can
+buy anything and assured himself that he could hire men to think for him
+if he should need them. Letters from his fiancée became a bore. She was
+too plain and too unsophisticated to adorn his future mansion. He could
+not think of marrying a woman of whom he would be ashamed in that
+fashionable group to which he would be attached. He finally broke the
+engagement, telling her that he had discovered that he did not love her
+enough sincerely to marry her. The lady became ill and was suddenly
+killed in an accident in the sanitarium. The young man would not work.
+He refused to help his father on the old place and bluntly refused to
+help his mother when she was about her household tasks alone. All was
+changed. He was no longer their son. The father felt the impression of
+mystery about the son's strange behavior and suggested to his wife that
+the boy showed symptoms of insanity. Not many months passed before the
+son left his home to take an easy position as a clerk in Boston. But he
+soon left that and went to sea in a steamer, where he acted as assistant
+to the steward. At Bordeaux, France, he made the acquaintance of two
+American young men whose wealthy parents supplied them with funds to
+travel, but evidently did so to keep the rascals away from home. Then
+his downward course became a reckless race.
+
+A few years later the uncle heard or read that his nephew was sentenced
+to three months in the workhouse for drunkenness, and he changed his
+will, leaving all his estate to benevolent institutions. From that time
+the unrepentant prodigal disappeared from the knowledge or care of his
+old neighbors. Both his parents went down to the grave in bitter sorrow
+before his reform. The death of the mother was only a few weeks later
+than the death of the father.
+
+    God pity them both, God pity us all
+    Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
+    Of all sad words of tongue or pen
+    The saddest are these, "It might have been."
+    Ah, well for us all some sweet hope lies
+    Deeply hidden from human eyes,
+    And in the hereafter the angels may
+    Roll the stone from the grave away.
+
+The friend who reads this account of that young man's broken life may
+ask what this biographical sketch has to do with the subject of
+"unanswered prayer." It has much to do with it. Such experiences, which
+must have been seen in millions of cases, show a reasonable explanation
+why so many prayers for a view of heaven are denied. At almost every
+funeral the loved ones ask if the departed is still living and why God
+does not permit them to come back and tell us about their spirit life.
+"What are they doing in heaven?" is a question on the lips of millions.
+
+But in the letters herein mentioned the records of unanswered prayers
+included many who prayed for visions of heaven or who wished to see the
+angels or the face of the Saviour. One brother prayed continually, "Oh,
+for one view of the holy city!" and another seemed never to leave out of
+his daily prayer, "Lord, open my eyes to see the faces of the dear ones
+hovering about me!" But our eyes are still holden. Our pleading hearts
+are unsatisfied. We are not permitted to see our future home nor catch
+more than a glimpse of the angels' wings. When, however, we seek an
+explanation of this divine arrangement, this separation of this life
+from the other, the faithful believer in God's wisdom and love can
+easily set up a reasonable theory concerning it. He will see that God
+has placed us on this earth to grow in knowledge, to get necessary
+spiritual discipline for his heavenly service. To obtain that training
+we must keep our attention on the duties of our daily tasks and do them
+well. We cannot reap rye with heaven in actual view. It is not
+consistent to think after the Apostle John saw the holy city at Patmos
+he could devote himself as readily to catching fish. When that
+California uncle showed his nephew all that luxury, beauty, and wealth,
+and told him that he would some day own it all, it was a foolish
+act--almost criminal. The young man's mental and moral development was
+stopped then and there. The young man lost far more than the estate
+could be worth. Suddenly acquired riches are ever harmful.
+Dissatisfaction with this life is a fatal sin. God commands us to be
+content and toil. He, therefore, does not himself do so destructive and
+discouraging an act as to show us heaven's glories and fill us with a
+suicidal anxiety to get out of this world at once and speedily to enter
+the other where there is no more pain or sorrow or dying. A prayer for a
+view of heaven seems, therefore, to be an unreasonable request. This
+conclusion satisfies many who have been denied communication with the
+departed dear ones, and they take up their toil, content to labor and to
+wait. God does not interfere with the healthful exercise of our free
+will by holding bribes before our eyes or by forcing our discipline by
+awful fears.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter V
+
+Great Prayers
+
+
+Men talk and write of "great prayers" as though such petitions could be
+weighed or measured. They appear to think that sacred feelings can find
+a standard of comparison. But even the rightfully esteemed Lord's Prayer
+presents no universal standard by which to measure our varying appeals.
+One old saint writes that he often gets out of patience when the Lord's
+Prayer is intoned or recited, as none of its paragraphs fitly or
+adequately expresses his "soul's sincere desire."
+
+Prayer is necessarily as varying in its moods and objects as a
+kaleidoscope. Jesus said, "after this manner pray ye." And we must pray
+"after this manner." But person, time, place, hearers, sharers,
+emotions, ideas, desires, and needs all enter into the conditions of
+earnest prayer. To call on God in your own way, with your own motives
+and your own emotions and your own language, or without words, will be a
+clear fulfillment of the command to pray. The Lord understands every
+language and knows all that the heart would express if it could find an
+adequate form of speech.
+
+The books, except the Bible, most frequently quoted in these letters
+include volumes by St. Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Whitfield, Spurgeon,
+Moody, Fosdick, Nicoll, Campbell, Whittle, and Finney. In the quotations
+the idea is ever present that there are _great_ prayers. That place is
+given most frequently to the printed petitions of Spurgeon. But it is
+misleading to attempt to place a valuation on any of them. The most
+effective prayer recorded was the appeal of the Publican as he smote his
+breast; and Christ's long prayer at the Last Supper was the most
+comprehensive. But in the following circumstances, having trustworthy
+witnesses, no two of the marvelously effective petitions were
+alike--_viz._, the English boy's prayer for his blind sister's
+restoration to sight; Muller's prayer for a food supply for his
+orphanage; Doctor Cullis's appeal to God for his Consumptive Home;
+Doctor Kincaid's petition for protection for the converts of Ava; the
+Brooklyn child's prayer for her shipwrecked father; the groans of John
+Hall's praying, but starving, mother; the prayer of President Garfield's
+mother at the washtub when her boy was lost in the forest; the silent
+wish of Carey, the pioneer missionary; John Daniel Loest's prayer for
+money to pay his mortgage the next day; Spurgeon's prayer for his
+pastors' college in dire need; Moody's prayer for the establishment of a
+Bible school in Northfield; Luther's prayer for Melancthon; Halderman's
+prayer, in the Fulton Street daily prayer meeting, for the lost ship
+_Leviathan_; the petition of the mother of Doctor Talmage, asking that
+her son be made to decide at that moment to come home; Miss Lyon's
+prayer in the field for a seminary for women; and the prayer of the
+Dock child of Stockton who claimed that God had told him "in his heart"
+that his sister would immediately recover. To these may be added an
+almost innumerable number of cases where the prayers brought direct
+results, although there was no attempt to use any special form of words.
+
+This principle or truth is probably accepted by all thinking worshipers,
+including most extreme ritualists. As, however, true prayer requires a
+devotional state of mind there can be no denial of the statement that
+the forms, ceremonials, scenic effects, and processions of the different
+creeds and races have a most potent effect on the devotional natures of
+their supporters. Whatever awakens a spirit of devotion is more or less
+useful; but when a strong desire for communion with God has been aroused
+by music, exhortation, processions, or scenery the most effective method
+appears to be to then leave each soul alone with God in silent prayer.
+"Resting in Christ" has a meaning to the devout which no other can
+understand. Love only can understand love. To be "alone with the loved
+one" is ever a holy and soul-brightening experience. But to be "alone
+with God" is, by far, the most holy of all emotions. The testimony of
+nearly all those at the Baptist Temple who report an answer to prayer,
+mention the fact that their prayers seemed to be the most productive of
+results when offered in the silent moments at the close of some
+inspiring service.
+
+It is clearly impossible for one finite mind to shape a petition which
+will include and express all the desires of the multitude. Neither can
+an uninspired writer in one age fully appreciate and comprehend the
+conditions and needs of another age. Hence, while the petitions of
+friends, priests, or pastors have a strong influence with the Creator,
+the one vital necessity in making acceptable appeals to God is that each
+petitioner should ask for himself. No character can be changed from the
+outside. No wicked heart can be made pure without its own consent, and
+the Lord seems to have limited himself so that he never crosses the
+threshold of the soul unless he is sincerely invited by that individual
+householder. God does not convert any soul by force. Therefore, all who
+would be blessed by him must voluntarily and individually go to him.
+There can be no substitute in that case. Even Christ, a mediator, may
+take on himself our punishment, but he cannot do our praying for us. He
+makes intercession for us, but that is of no use without our
+co-operation.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VI
+
+Use of the Bible in Prayer
+
+
+It will be useful to any seeker after God to examine the agencies which
+have helped those whose prayers have been conspicuously answered. Among
+the many helps which, seemingly, have had especial potency in developing
+or awakening a devout spirit there is none so general in use as the
+Bible. The petitions which have been preserved from the ancient Fathers
+often quote the Scriptures; and when they do not quote directly, the
+language used shows a close familiarity with the Sacred Word. The Gospel
+truth is wonderfully condensed in this prayer of Thomas à Kempis:
+
+     O, Most merciful Lord, grant me thy grace, that it may be with me,
+     and labor within me, and persevere with me, even to the end. Grant
+     that I may always desire and will that which is to thee most
+     acceptable, and most dear. Let thy will be mine, and my will ever
+     follow thine and agree perfectly with it. Grant to me, above all
+     things that can be desired, to rest in thee, and in thee to have my
+     heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, thou its only
+     rest; out of thee all things are hard and restless. In this very
+     peace, that is, in thee the one Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep
+     and rest.
+
+     Amen.
+
+The following prayer by St. Augustine is a good example of the influence
+of the Bible on the trend of his thought:
+
+     O, thou full of compassion, I commit and commend myself unto thee,
+     in whom I am, and live, and know. Be thou the goal of my
+     pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from
+     the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of thy
+     wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in
+     thee, O God. Thou bounteous giver of all good gifts, give to him
+     who is weary refreshing food; gather our distracted thoughts and
+     powers into harmony again; and set the prisoner free. See, he
+     stands at thy door and knocks; be it opened to him, that he may
+     enter with a free step, and be quickened by thee. For thou art the
+     wellspring of life, the light of eternal brightness, wherein the
+     just live who love thee. Be it unto me according to thy word. Amen.
+
+When looking outside of the local list of petitioners to which this
+volume is so closely confined it can be seen clearly that those whose
+petitions were the most surely answered were familiar with the Bible. It
+is also interesting to notice the quotations which were used as mottoes
+or the favorite extracts from the Bible by the most saintly of the
+heroes, martyrs, and victors in the Christian Church. Out of many
+hundreds of Scripture quotations the following are selected with the
+hope that some one of them may be of especial helpfulness to some one
+who desires to pray successfully:
+
+     Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged
+     me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer
+     (Psalm iv:1).
+
+     My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning
+     will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm v:3).
+
+     The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my
+     prayer (Psalm vi:9).
+
+     Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my
+     supplication (Psalm lv:1).
+
+     Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting
+     up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm cxli:2).
+
+     I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
+     intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (Tim.
+     ii:1).
+
+     For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are
+     open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them
+     that do evil (I Peter iii:12).
+
+     And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that
+     Eli marked her mouth (I Sam. i:12).
+
+     Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his
+     supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
+     prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day (I Kings
+     viii:28).
+
+     And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and
+     the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before
+     the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was
+     speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the
+     vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me
+     about the time of the evening oblation (Dan. ix:20-21).
+
+     And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any;
+     that your Father, also which is in heaven, may forgive you your
+     trespasses (Mark xi:25).
+
+     And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the
+     time of incense (Luke i:10).
+
+     Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus
+     also being baptized, and praying, the heaven opened (Luke iii:21).
+
+     And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were
+     with him (Luke ix:18).
+
+     I was in a city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a
+     certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from
+     heaven by four corners; and it came even to me (Acts xii:5).
+
+     I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
+     also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
+     understanding also (I Cor. xiv:15).
+
+     Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
+     watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication (Eph.
+     vi:18).
+
+     Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and
+     might perfect that which is lacking in your faith (I Thes. iii:10).
+
+     And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy
+     people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear
+     thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive
+     (I Kings viii:30).
+
+     Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
+     against them day and night, because of them (Neh. iv:9).
+
+     Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and
+     thou shalt pay thy vows (Job xxii:27).
+
+     He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their
+     prayer (Psalm cii:17).
+
+     The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the
+     prayer of the upright is his delight (Prov. xv:8).
+
+     And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and
+     supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.... (Dan.
+     ix:3).
+
+     ... and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind
+     goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matt. xvii:21).
+
+     But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the
+     ministry of the word (Acts vi:4).
+
+     And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where
+     prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the
+     women which resorted thither (Acts xvi:13).
+
+     Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and
+     supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
+     God.
+
+     And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
+     your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. iv:6-7).
+
+     And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
+     raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
+     him (James v:15).
+
+     Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
+     ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
+     availeth much (James v:16).
+
+     ... be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (I Peter iv:7).
+
+     Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any
+     man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own
+     sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this
+     house;
+
+     Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
+     render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou
+     knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of
+     men....) (II Chron. vi:29-30).
+
+     And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God;
+     and the prisoners heard them (Acts xvi:25).
+
+     And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain
+     apart to pray (Matt. xiv:23).
+
+     Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and
+     saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder
+     (Matt. xxvi:36).
+
+     Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit
+     indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. xxvi:41).
+
+     Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
+     presently give me more than twelve legions of angels (Matt.
+     xxvi:53).
+
+     Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye
+     pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark
+     xi:24).
+
+     And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always
+     to pray, and not to faint (Luke xviii:1).
+
+     I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou
+     hast given me; for they are thine.
+
+     I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
+     thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
+
+     Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
+     believe on me through their word.... (St. John xvii:9, 15, 20).
+
+     Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not
+     what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh
+     intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom.
+     viii:26).
+
+     Pray without ceasing (I Thess. v:17).
+
+     And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
+     whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
+     coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Thess. v:23).
+
+     Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
+     worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his
+     goodness, and the work of faith with power (II Thess. i:11).
+
+     That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
+     rooted and grounded in love,
+
+     May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
+     length, and depth, and height.... (Eph. iii:17-18).
+
+     And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
+     commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight
+     (I John iii:22).
+
+     And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
+     thing according to his will, he heareth us;
+
+     And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
+     have the petitions that we desired of him (II John v:14-15).
+
+     But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God
+     will give it thee (St. John xi:22).
+
+     And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
+     Father may be glorified in the Son (St. John xiv:13).
+
+     If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (St. John
+     xiv:14).
+
+     If ye love me, keep my commandments (St. John xiv:15).
+
+     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
+     men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
+
+     But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (James i:5-6).
+
+     Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.... (James iv:3).
+
+     There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but
+     God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
+     are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
+     that ye may be able to bear it (I Cor. x:13).
+
+     Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
+     you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy
+     (Jude i:24).
+
+     But when ye pray, use not vain repetition, as the heathen do: for
+     they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
+
+     Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what
+     things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
+
+     After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
+     heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
+
+     Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
+
+     Give us this day our daily bread.
+
+     And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
+
+     And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For
+     thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen
+     (Matt. vi:7-13).
+
+     Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,
+     and verily thou shalt be fed (Psalm xxxvii:3).
+
+     Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring
+     it to pass (Psalm xxxvii:5).
+
+     Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.... (Psalm xxxvii:7).
+
+     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm xxiii:1).
+
+     Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
+     will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
+     comfort me (Psalm xxiii:4).
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII
+
+Conclusions
+
+
+As one lays aside the last letter of this collection and leans back in
+his chair for meditation on all these heart revelations he asks, most
+anxiously, What is the conclusion of the whole matter?
+
+Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, our faith remains unmoved.
+A general view of the field of prayer shows that the great fundamental
+facts remain undisturbed. God is. God answers prayer. The Bible is the
+inspired work of the Spirit of God. Jesus is the Son of God. The Christ
+is the Saviour of a sinful world. "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"
+Entering upon this investigation with a firm determination to hold an
+unbiased mind and trying to examine the evidence as an impartial judge
+there were moments of doubt as to the wisdom of setting one's mind so
+free. It seemed sometimes as if it was wrong, even for a day, to stand
+outside of the circle of earnest believers and be a neutral critic of
+sacred things. But the risk was taken. A tremor came with the suggestion
+that the lovely structure of our lifelong faith might be shattered, and
+only dust be left of the religious building which we had so fondly
+believed was a building that had indestructible foundations, "Eternal in
+the heavens."
+
+But not one pillar has moved, not a rent or seam in any of the old walls
+has appeared. The fear that faith might be lost has increased our
+estimate of its everlasting value. The faith of our fathers stands
+secure. The testimony of unbalanced minds to the Sonship of Christ did
+not defeat the Saviour in his day, and they cannot do so now. The
+mistakes, errors, and superstitions of the extremists and deceivers have
+not made more than a ripple in the current of Christian faith. The tide
+comes back. The love for the Holy Bible revives. The prodigal will come
+to himself and come back. The spirit of the Christian religion is a
+necessity to human progress and human happiness. The world needs it. It
+may come slowly, but, nevertheless, it will come surely. The spirit will
+awaken. The winter cannot last forever. Prayer is as necessary to the
+spirit of man as breath is to his body. The soul's sincere desire will
+ever seek expression. The seeker after God will surely find him when he
+shall truly seek him with all his heart. Hundreds testified to the facts
+that their prayers were answered where only a score or less asserted
+that they did not know whether their requests were heard or not. The
+millions who never tried to pray cannot be accepted as witnesses on
+either side. But the great majority of those who have tried the matter
+testify to its effectiveness.
+
+The doubters, who quibble and stumble over the parables and miracles,
+find that whether the believer accepted them as literal history or as
+spiritual illustrations, they all teach the truth; and to believe in
+them can do no harm. The consensus of religious opinion among the common
+people is decidedly in favor of trusting more and, consequently,
+doubting less. "We will be no more children, tossed to and fro and
+carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and
+cunning craftiness." We have put away childish things and here we stand,
+men and women, saved by grace, and "Who can separate us from the love of
+Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword? I am
+persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
+nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, not height, not
+depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love
+of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
+
+    Right is Right, since God is God,
+      And right the day will win;
+    To doubt would be disloyalty,
+      To falter would be sin.
+
+Ye saints, with your faith of steel, pray on. Ye faltering sinners,
+smite your breast and pray on. Ye doubtful critics, pray on. Ye
+sorrow-stricken ones, pray on. In due time every petitioner shall reap
+if he or she faints not.
+
+Oh, the rest, the peace, the joy of this settled conviction, that the
+faith in the Messiahship of Jesus Christ need be no more disturbed! "Now
+unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you
+faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the
+only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
+both now and forever. Amen."
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+
+    1. This volume is continuation of the preceding two: Health, Healing
+    and Faith and Praying for Money.
+
+    2. The troublesome subject/verb agreement in chapter I has been
+    retained as in the original ("Such servants of God can offer prayer
+    which avail much more than the frightened call of the worldly
+    minded...").
+
+    3. Preposition "in" was added in chapter VI ("...and in thee to have
+    my heart at peace").
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
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+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Subconscious Religion
+
+Author: Russell H. Conwell
+
+Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37143]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Karina Aleksandrova and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="transnote">
+<p class="center">Transcriber's Notes</p>
+
+<ul>
+<li>The page numbering in this volume starts with 153. See the preceding two volumes: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36891">Health, Healing and Faith</a> and <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36899">Praying for Money</a>.</li>
+<li>The troublesome subject/verb agreement on <a href="#Page_158">page 158</a> has been retained as in the original ("Such servants of God can offer prayer which avail much more than the frightened call of the worldly minded...").</li>
+<li>Preposition "in" was added on <a href="#Page_206">page 206</a> ("...and <ins>in</ins> thee to have my heart at peace").</li>
+<li>For accessibility expansions of abbreviations have been provided using &lt;abbr&gt; tag, and changes in language are marked.</li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="center">
+   <img src="images/cover.jpg"
+     width="324" height="500"
+     alt="The book cover, with the words SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION embossed in gold at the top, and the words CONWELL LIBRARY embossed at the bottom on the dark red background"
+     title="SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION / CONWELL LIBRARY" />
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h1>Subconscious<br />
+Religion</h1>
+
+<ul class="toc">
+<li><a href="#Page_153">Does God Answer Christians Only?</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_161">Conflicting Prayers</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_171">Subconscious Religion</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_183">Praying for Visions of Heaven</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_199">Great Prayers</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_205">Use of the Bible in Prayer</a></li>
+<li><a href="#Page_217">Conclusions</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<p class="center"><small><i>By</i></small><br />
+RUSSELL H. CONWELL</p>
+
+<pre class="empty">
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<p class="center">VOLUME 10</p>
+
+<pre class="empty">
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<p class="center">NATIONAL<br />
+EXTENSION UNIVERSITY<br />
+<small>597 Fifth Avenue, New York</small></p>
+
+<hr />
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Effective Prayer</span><br />
+&mdash;&mdash;<br />
+Copyright, 1921, by Harper &amp; Brothers<br />
+Printed in the United States of America
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;153"> </span><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="1">I</abbr><br />Does God Answer Christians Only?</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">WHAT might be the consensus of opinion found in a digest of all the
+testimonies of mankind cannot be surmised, but it did not appear that
+God was "a respecter of persons" through those years of prayer at the
+Baptist Temple. The prevailing belief, however, was that God was more
+willing to answer the sincere disciple than he was to heed the requests
+of a great sinner. But the fact was also evident that God does answer
+the just and the unjust. The assertion of the blind man before the
+Pharisees that "God heareth not sinners" was evidently a quotation from
+the Pharisees' creed and not a gospel precept. As all have sinned and
+come short of the glory of God, no one would be heard if God would not
+hear sinners. Jesus was more inclined to heed the requests of John and
+<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;154"> </span><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>Peter than he was to listen to the requests of the sacrilegious
+Sadducee. But a repentant Sadducee would not be neglected, and the fact
+is apparent that there is a clear distinction between the influence with
+God of a righteous man and the influence of a wicked or a frightened
+sinner.</p>
+
+<p>Here are a few of the testimonies which have a bearing on this important
+subject. One hardened sinner was so convicted of his completely lost
+condition that he spent the night in agony, calling on God for
+forgiveness. He was determined to fight the battle alone, but his
+strength failed and he was certain that he was condemned irrevocably to
+eternal punishment. His prayer availed him nothing. When, at last, he
+opened his heart to a faithful Christian friend, that friend's prayer
+was heard instantaneously, and the seeker knew by an instinct axiomatic
+that he was received by the Lord.</p>
+
+<p>There is a general belief that God does hear the pure Christian more
+<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;155"> </span><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>readily than he does the vile reprobate. That belief is founded in the
+moral laws universally recognized in human relations. There may also be
+a semiscientific reason. The soul which is in tune with the Infinite can
+more effectively detect and understand the "sound waves" from the spirit
+world than the soul which is out of tune with God. In the mass of the
+correspondence about which this book is written there are strong
+testimonies to the necessity and attainableness of a practical harmony
+with the Spirit of God. One man who has been long a teacher of
+psychology wrote that he had made a deliberate test of the matter, and a
+condensed report of his experience is here given. He sought "to place
+his soul in communion with God." He desired that state of spiritual
+harmony with the divine character which would make him sensitive to
+every spiritually divine impression. Hence, he prepared himself in this
+way: he locked himself in his room and gave himself up to the serious
+<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;156"> </span><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>business of getting into communication with God. He began to count his
+sins of commission and earnestly asking forgiveness; he promised the
+Lord that he would guard himself against them evermore. He then tried to
+comprehend the awful list of sins of omission which for a while made him
+hopeless of God's favor. But in deep and prayerful meditation, thinking
+long on the great mercy of God and of the propitiation Christ had given,
+he felt his soul slowly emerge from the slough of despond. Suddenly a
+strange confidence took possession of his soul and a feeling of glad
+triumph overcame all doubt of his forgiveness. The assurance that he was
+getting into harmony with the Spirit of God became complete. He threw
+himself across his bed and "let go of himself," making an absolute
+surrender to the spiritual impressions.</p>
+
+<p>Into such a state the apostles and prophets must have entered to feel
+the spiritual impulses and see the visions which they recorded. It as an
+<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;157"> </span><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>exaltation of the whole being&mdash;a temporarily superhuman experience
+which may be the state of the soul when released from the body. The joy
+of that hour of oneness with God cannot be described to one who has not
+known it. It is higher, purer, more real than other feelings. It is so
+unlike any other experience on earth. "The soul is lost in God." The
+worshiper is outside and above himself. Life gleams as a cloud glows in
+some heavenly morning. Disease, pain, human limitations, care, or
+anxiety is nonexistent. A pure peace which passeth all understanding
+permeates the whole being. Underneath are the everlasting arms; over him
+is the spirit face of Christ. But why should he try to convey an idea of
+that growing answer to his prayer? He knows he is with his Lord. But the
+less he tries to tell his experience the more confidence his unbelieving
+friends will have in his sanity. That such harmony with the divine is
+subject to certain laws is seen in the fact that such elevation of soul
+is gained only by a full compliance with<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;158"> </span><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a> certain conditions. Some of
+these conditions are found by experience to be those which are laid down
+in the Scriptures. The seeker must force out of his heart all malice,
+jealousy, hate, selfishness, covetousness, unbelief, and give himself up
+to the opposite feelings. We must go over wholly to pure intentions,
+holy aspirations, truth-living, kindness, forgiveness, love for all,
+inflexible adherence to the right, and all in all harmonizing with the
+divine disposition. Pure holiness must be sought, without which no man
+can please God. All those who give themselves over to such a state of
+surrender to God have the full assurance of faith which is promised to
+those who love God with all their hearts and with all their minds.</p>
+
+<p>Such servants of God can offer prayer which <ins title="Transcriber's Note: Subject/verb agreement retained as in the original.">avail</ins> much more than the frightened call of the
+worldly minded, egotistic, and selfish enemy of good people and good
+principles. God loves all men with an everlasting affection. But the
+kind of intensity of his affection for the saint and the transgressor<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;159"> </span><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>
+is quite different. Christ loved the priest and the Levite in a true
+sense, but he loved the Good Samaritan more. He can love and care for
+his own without encouraging evil. He could not be just and show no
+partiality for those who obey him fully. He never fails to hear the cry
+of any contrite heart, but even among the disciples John was especially
+beloved.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;161"> </span><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="2">II</abbr><br />Conflicting Prayers</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">THIS chapter leads into the wilderness. Just beyond it is the insane
+asylum. The most bewildering, confusing, and dangerous region is the
+morass of conflicting prayers. No human theory concerning them is even
+helpful. The labyrinth is absolutely trackless to the human mind when
+once the worshiper becomes entangled therein. So we will not attempt to
+explain any of the even unthinkable intricacies of its strange region.
+Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord answer the questions which millions
+have asked about it. Two persons, equally sincere, pray for success in a
+matter where the victory of one must be the defeat of the other. Nations
+at war pray hard and long for victory, and not even God can answer both.
+Something must be taken from one to give to another, while the one in<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;162"> </span><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>
+possession is praying that he may keep it. One's loss is another's gain.
+The employer prays for a profit on his business, and the laborer prays
+for higher wages. The white man and the colored man prays for his own
+tribe. The Samaritan and Jew, worshiping the same God and having the
+same family inheritance, believe it is a duty to hate each other, and
+each calls for God's curses on the other. Many an honest investigator
+has entered this region of doubt and mystery and managed to back out
+while still in his right mind. But he has returned the worse for the
+experience. All sorts of foolish speculations have been given creedal
+expression until men have declared, with strange assurance, that man
+cannot trust his reason or his conscience in any matter. They have tried
+to prove that the laws of nature are inflexible and that prayer cannot
+have any influence whatever in current events. Gifted men and women of
+culture and high purpose have convinced themselves that there is no
+evil, that men never sin, that<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;163"> </span><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a> the Bible theories concerning prayer are
+fanciful and too miraculous to be possible. "Too much study hath made
+thee mad," said the practical Roman to the Apostle Paul. The old Roman
+had probably seen so many religions that he had no faith in any. The
+religious maniacs are those men who have broken down their brains by
+laborious study over these insoluble problems. Therefore, while no one
+should discourage reasonable research anywhere, and while it is not
+sacrilegious or foolish to think on these things, it does seem best to
+admit that to the most faithful Christian there are unsearchable things
+of God which he cannot sanely hope to understand in this life. "My
+thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the
+Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
+higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." We
+cannot expect to achieve a knowledge as great and extensive as that of
+the Creator, and must be content with our<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;164"> </span><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a> reasonable limitations. "What
+I do ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter." Satisfied, then,
+with the promise of that future full revelation we should study all that
+Providence places before us for investigation and never let go of what
+we are sure we do know. We will distinguish, as clearly as possible,
+between our imagination and our knowledge, and with a level head and our
+feet on solid ground we will live by a faith that is reasonable and
+never become blindly reckless.</p>
+
+<p>The lightning struck a tree near a neighbor's residence last week. He
+knows that to be a hard fact. He does not know much about the electric
+currents in the atmosphere, neither does the most experienced scientist;
+but the neighbor knows that the lightning did splinter that tree. From
+that fact he entertains a faith in a possible return of that event and
+by faith he puts up a lightning rod on his barn.</p>
+
+<p>The observer notices that sin brings its own punishment in many cases,
+and he has<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;165"> </span><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a> faith that such will be the universal experience of the
+future. So he keeps his soul insured by safe and sane investment in
+righteousness. Every sane man knows that we must at all times walk
+largely by faith. Faith is a constituent part of the natural human
+constitution. The degree of faith determines the character of the
+individual. Faith, like water, seeks its level. But the greater its safe
+elevation, the greater its power. Faith must grow reasonably, like a
+grain of mustard seed. It also develops mysteriously by natural increase
+until the fowls of the air nest in its branches and its growing root
+will cleave off the side of the mountain. The patriot, earnestly seeking
+victory, lets no possible agency pass unused to overcome the enemy. When
+he has prepared fully and laboriously for the battle he will then pray
+for the help which God may give him. Even should he strongly doubt that
+the Great Power moving on events beyond his knowledge can or will hear
+him, yet he will not fail to pray. Any<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;166"> </span><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a> man who calls on the Christian's
+God will not ask him to aid an unholy cause. A murderer seeking an
+opportunity to kill will not call on God for aid. The thief ever fears
+some providential interference with his plans. The Christian ever hopes
+for God's aid, and asks for it because his aim is a godly one.</p>
+
+<p>Herein is found the safe position for the believer to take. We can pray
+for the heathen, although they do pray against their own good. We can
+pray for victory in some holy war, because the enemy are praying really
+against their own good. Because their cause is unrighteous, their
+victory would be a great loss to them. Hence, even the great prayers
+which sublimely petition for the nations, and which include the whole
+world in their range of vision, are consistent only when man realizes
+his weakness and his ignorance, and adds to every prayer the
+reservation, "nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."</p>
+
+<p>He is the wisest servant of God who can<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;167"> </span><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> pray from the camp that he may
+conquer if his cause be really just. The preacher who enters his pulpit
+with an almost agonizing prayer that God would aid him in his
+presentation of the Christ to men must ever ask that God will turn aside
+any arrow which would do harm to the cause. In his ignorance or weakness
+he may mistake the Gospel message, or may not present the whole truth,
+and he must ever ask that, whether he gain or lose in the esteem of his
+congregation, the truth shall always prevail. Christian nations are
+often wrong in their diplomacy or in their wars, as they discover after
+a while. The Lord, therefore, gave them that for which they would have
+asked had their hearts been right with God and their intentions been
+Christlike toward men.</p>
+
+<p>Sometime we shall understand. But now the seeming inconsistency of
+asking the Lord to aid his own cause, or praying that Christ may soon
+come into his own kingdom, is ever a stumbling block to the doubt<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;168"> </span><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>ful
+ones. If the Lord has all power and has a sincere desire to make the
+world good, why does he not do it by one sweep of his hand or by one
+magic word? What is the reason for his commandment to pray to him and to
+ask him to do that which he wishes to do and can do himself? All these
+questions lead into the wilderness. We do not know. We cannot suggest
+any hypothesis which would make the sovereignty of God and the free will
+of man reconcilable. Man's mind is so constructed that it is impossible
+to believe that the Creator controls all things and arranges the details
+of even our thoughts and yet leaves man free to choose to defeat the
+Lord by his own thoughts and actions. It is impossible fully to believe
+that man can voluntarily do evil without in some way interfering with
+the designs and power of God. If God undertakes to save the world, and
+"would not that any should perish," but that all should come unto him
+and live, and yet sinful man can defeat or hinder the accomplishment of<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;169"> </span><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>
+his purpose, then the thinker must conclude that God is not supreme. Yet
+when we keep our minds within their reasonable limits and fall back on
+our common sense we must believe that God is all-powerful and also that
+man is free to be sinful. The facts are actual facts, although we cannot
+reconcile them. There is but little we frail mortals can understand
+about such matters. Let us, therefore, carefully hold to the facts which
+we can comprehend, and never assume that things which are, surely are
+not, or that things which are not, most surely are. There was a bowlder
+in the highway yesterday. We don't know how it came to be there. We know
+it should not be there. But there it is, and he would be idiotic who
+tried to go on as if the stone were not there. Behold! there is set
+before every man good and evil. "Choose good that thou and thy seed may
+live." We know that in a thousand matters we can choose the good or
+choose the evil. We see also that liberty is limited by great laws and
+there are a<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;170"> </span><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> myriad of things a man cannot possibly do and about which
+he has no choice. When a man reaches those limitations his
+responsibility for choosing ceases.</p>
+
+<p>With these simple facts the teaching of the Bible is fully in accord.
+The necessity for sustenance and protection beyond our ability to supply
+is ever a great apparent fact. The recognition of that fact leads the
+thoughtful man to prayer. Let us, therefore, have a care not to venture
+too far into the wilderness of the seeming theological inconsistencies.
+That God does answer men and women, thousands can testify. They have
+tried it fully. They cannot explain why God thus works out his
+complicated schemes, but they know that he does work in that way. It is
+established fact. The Great Teacher and Saviour also prayed. That is
+enough.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;171"> </span><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="3">III</abbr><br />Subconscious Religion</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">IN Leipzig, Germany, in 1866 there stood an old three-story mansion,
+used as a manufactory of mechanical toys. An American student attending
+the university was invited to visit the showrooms in the upper story and
+became intently interested in the surprising exhibition of inventive
+genius. As the visitor descended to the second and first floors he
+visited the rooms where machinery of many kinds was turning out various
+parts of the toys. But when he ventured to descend to the cellar to look
+at the power plant he found "No admission" on every door. But he was
+more disappointed when he was told that the "designing room," where the
+toys were invented and the drawings made, was in the subcellar. In order
+to preserve their patents and their secret processes, even the<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;172"> </span><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a> workmen
+on the upper floors were forbidden ever to look into the subcellar.</p>
+
+<p>That illustrative fact came forcibly to mind when meditating long over a
+letter written by a praying student and author who said that he felt
+sure that the only direct passage between the human soul and the world
+spirits is through the subconscious mind. From that subcellar of the
+soul come ideas, impulses, and suggestions which most largely influence
+our actions. But we are forbidden to enter that department to examine
+the plans or listen to the wireless dispatches from the spirit world so
+continuously received there. "No admission" is posted on every door to
+the subcellar designing room of the human soul. We get the blue prints
+of new plans, or read suggestions for new or improved work sent up to
+our brains. But who makes them we do not know. In the impenetrable
+regions of our mental and spiritual nature are formulated many ideas and
+moral laws which we must blindly obey. A man is what he<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;173"> </span><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a> thinks, and the
+larger portion of his thinking is originated or molded in his
+subconscious self. That is evidently the meaning of the reference by
+Peter to the "hidden man of the heart." It is amazing to the careful
+student of our mental constitution to find out how meager is the part of
+our thinking which originates in the suggestions of our five senses.</p>
+
+<p>From the Grecian and German philosophers some psychologists derived the
+hypothesis that the subconscious self is only the aggregation of all the
+faint or half-formed ideas which are not strong enough to force
+themselves up into full recognition by the brain. Consciousness includes
+only those thoughts which the brain accepts and uses in positive action.
+That theory seems to be in a measure, true. There are faint suggestions
+and half-formed motives of which we catch glimpses and which never seem
+to be fully developed. Also the natural instincts of our animal nature
+still continue and persist in our higher station in the creative<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;174"> </span><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a> order.
+It can be noted by anyone that perhaps not one in a thousand of our
+muscular contractions or of our decided actions is consciously dictated
+by our will. The human race is seemingly, in a large measure, a
+collection of automatons. We are generally moved about by powers and
+mechanisms beyond our comprehension and are unconsciously working out
+designs in the making of which we have no consciously important part.</p>
+
+<p>It is difficult to write clearly on such a subtle theme or explain what
+is known concerning autosuggestion or explain the laws which, in a
+measure, control the unconscious part of human life without using
+technical terms or scientific formulas beyond the understanding of the
+everyday reader. But, plainly stated, a human being uses but a small
+inclosure in which he can move on his own conscious volition. We are
+fearfully and wonderfully made. "What I would not that I do and what I
+would that I do not" was not the exclusive experience<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;175"> </span><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a> of the Apostle
+Paul. But it is the common experience of all mankind. A man's thoughts,
+happiness, and usefulness are the products of his moral character. His
+"subconscious self" is his real character. What one does consciously may
+not represent his real character, but that which he does without
+meditation or conscious limitation represents the true disposition or
+tendency of his real nature. Inasmuch as ye are disposed by nature or by
+second nature to be a good Samaritan or to aid "the least of these," ye
+have lived a continual good deed for the Master. The redeemed soul is
+one whose permanent disposition, called his "subconscious" or
+"subliminal self," is controlled by the magnetic influence of the spirit
+of truth and goodness. The few matters on which the brain acts directly
+are the deeds of the conscious mind. They are controlled by the will and
+reasoning powers of the independent portion of man's being. They may or
+may not accord with the heart's general impulses or they may be the<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;176"> </span><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>
+direct product of the heart's purposes. The will and the subconscious
+self interact, each influencing the other. This thought presents "a
+logical contradiction" which has puzzled many great minds.</p>
+
+<p>But our appeal here is to the everyday experience of sincere, truthful
+Christians concerning their communication with God through the
+subconscious mind. One writer states that she has often received
+trustworthy messages from the spirit world in dreams and in unusual
+impressions during waking hours. This statement often arouses the
+general prejudice which some of the extreme spiritualists or deceivers
+have brought upon the theory of mental communication with the departed;
+but it should be examined on its own merits without bias. The testimony
+of the millions who believe or hope that they have had messages from
+their beloved who have gone on before counts for much and is not a
+testimony confined to professional mediums. The rejection of the theory
+that it is possible for angel<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;177"> </span><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a> beings to communicate with mortals, and
+that they are sent of God to do so, involves the rejection of the whole
+Bible as a divinely truthful Book. If there is no open path through the
+subconscious self to the spirit world, then the recorded visits of the
+Holy Spirit to the hearts of men are only idle tales. The disbelief in
+the soul's ability to hear heavenly voices or receive spiritual
+suggestions from other spirits would destroy all trust in supernatural
+religions. God does speak to man in the events and laws of the material
+life, and he also speaks to us in the "quiet, small voice" as he did to
+Elijah at Sinai. There appears to be no alternative but to believe in
+that declaration, for to reject it is to reject the whole body of
+Christian teaching. We will not entertain such a suicidal proposition.
+The indestructible spirit body is the same being and possesses the same
+characteristics in the material body that it possesses when separated
+from this limiting framework of the earthly body. It is indestructible,
+but it<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;178"> </span><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> can be modified in disposition while in this body. That
+statement, for the sake of brevity, is mentioned dogmatically, but it
+will be illustrated by the following testimonials.</p>
+
+<p>One writer who evidently has been reared to believe sincerely in
+"emotional religion," who shouts and groans and wrings his hands at any
+devotional meeting, but whose probity and strong good sense are the
+admiration of his friends, states that he knows "that his Redeemer
+liveth, by the direct assurance of the Spirit." He claims that when a
+man tells him a lie he feels the presence of evil. He testifies that in
+his most exalted moments following a season of fervent prayer he knows
+what it is to realize the fact that he lives and moves and has his being
+in God.</p>
+
+<p>There are thousands of men and women whose wild behavior in religious
+meetings is only the natural evidence of a disordered mind. The negro
+camp meeting and the whirling of the Egyptian dervishes seem to<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;179"> </span><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a> be much
+alike in their manner of working up a religious excitement. The
+unbalanced mental condition of some truly honest worshipers causes
+distrust of others whose good sense in other matters is never
+questioned.</p>
+
+<p>Other writers tell of their experience of some overpowering emotion
+which came so logically in answer to their prayer that they cannot doubt
+that such was truly the fact. A man prayed that he might be protected
+through the night. He awakened from sleep, moved by an "inward impulse"
+irresistible, and went to the barn to find, as he opened the stable
+door, a little blaze creeping toward the haymow. It was easily
+extinguished then, but ten minutes later would have been entirely beyond
+control. The fire was caused by a lighted cigar dropped carelessly on
+the stable floor near the horses. Another writes that he is naturally
+emotional and dares not trust himself on any pinnacle, as he always
+feels when on any high place a strange desire to leap<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;180"> </span><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> off in suicide.
+He states that the sensitiveness of his emotional nature becomes most
+acute in religious gatherings, and that he has never found himself
+mistaken when he has followed the leadings of that spirit. His wife
+writes that he had, for years, planted the crops which he "felt like
+planting" after attending a religious meeting. She adds that while, at
+first, she had regarded his "moods" as accidental emotions, she had
+learned that his crops planted in those moods were always profitable
+investments. Another who had been trained in the Friends' meeting to
+wait for the Spirit to move him went so far as to wait for the same
+impulse in all his undertakings. He tried to lay his business ventures
+before the Lord in silent prayer and then go in the direction the Spirit
+indicated. He related how, when once he was lost in a thick forest on a
+cloudy day, he prayed until his "sense of direction" became so clear
+that he started with closed eyes to take the direction toward which his
+inward impression impelled him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;181"> </span><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>Another acted always on the impulse of the moment in speaking to a
+friend or to a stranger upon religious matters. Another wrote that she
+had observed for many years that the praying housekeepers were guided in
+their work by the most trustworthy intuitions. Few is the number of
+women who guide their domestic affairs by the rules of cold science, and
+the larger part of a mother's movements in the care of her children are
+the unconscious results of special intuition. She claims that in the
+intuitional nature of the human soul there is such nearness to the
+divine nature that the especially sensitive soul "feels impulses from
+across the border."</p>
+
+<p>Here, again, after a day's study of the many accounts concerning the
+impulses awakened by prayer, we lay down the correspondence with a sigh
+of regret that nothing absolutely conclusive for or against prayer is to
+be found. We must still believe or disbelieve according to the measure
+of faith. In the courts of law attorneys<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;182"> </span><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a> often establish their cases by
+the use of what is termed "cumulative evidence," where they secure the
+testimony of many witnesses to the same fact. If that custom be applied
+to the establishment of the fact that emotions and impulses are sent in
+answer to prayer the number in its favor would be overwhelming. Down in
+the subcellar of the mind there may be a tunnel leading through to the
+palace of God. Millions believe that is a fact. No one can prove it is
+not so. Therefore, with the reasonable student, the testimony of the
+many will still be considered trustworthy. The soul of God speaketh
+often to the soul of man. A great writer on secular subjects confirmed
+the general impression when he forcibly wrote, "You can get almost
+anything you want, if you only want it hard enough, and long enough, and
+with faith enough."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;183"> </span><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="4">IV</abbr><br />Praying for Visions of Heaven</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">A STURDY young farmer's boy who had inherited a strong body, a clear
+mind, and a good family name sat under a maple tree in the hayfield at
+the hot noontide. He was eating a cold lunch and at the same time
+reading an article in the weekly paper. The editor had written an
+editorial on the romantic history of the poor country boys who had risen
+to world-wide fame and to enormous riches. When he had reread the
+article he tossed the paper aside, lay back on the odorous new-mown
+grass, looked up at the deep-blue sky, and watched the passing of a
+pure-white cloud. A vision of what the world might be to him came in a
+dreamy way. Other boys as poor as he had graduated from college, had
+made great scientific discoveries, had married rich and beautiful women,
+had traveled<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;184"> </span><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> in far countries, had feasted with kings, had held high
+office, and had written great books. Why could not he follow their
+example? It seemed impossible, and with a deep sigh he arose and seized
+his scythe.</p>
+
+<p>But the vision could not be obscured. As his strong muscles drove the
+sharp blade through the thick grass he kept muttering to himself,
+debating pro and con the possibility of an ignorant farmer, living far
+away from city civilization, and too far from a railroad to hear the
+whistle, to become powerful in national affairs. How did they start?
+What did they do first? When his return swath brought him again near the
+shade of the tree where he had eaten his lunch he caught up the weekly
+paper and read again the editorial. Then he left his scythe in the grass
+and went into the shade, leaned against the gnarled trunk of the old
+tree, and, wholly engrossed in earnest thought, forgot his work. He
+reviewed his own simple life and examined his own plans and ambitions.
+He had<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;185"> </span><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> expected to marry some one of the strong, sensible, country
+girls and bring her home to live with the old folks, as his father had
+done. He had a dim idea that he would inherit the old, stony farm some
+day. He had a latent ambition to raise more corn than his father had
+raised and to clear a large piece of woodland which for centuries had
+hidden the mountain side. He would build an addition to the stable and
+put in a new pair of bars near the brook where the cattle went to drink
+in winter. He had also a half-formed purpose to join the local church,
+and perhaps some day he would be an elder.</p>
+
+<p>At last he aroused himself and, with a half-angry impulse, he began to
+strike the grass with his scythe as if the grass were some sneaking
+enemy. He could not arouse again the sweet content of the forenoon. He
+had caught a glimpse of that far-away land, and while he did not hope
+ever to enter it, yet the thought disturbed him.</p>
+
+<p>The next Sunday the echo of the old<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;186"> </span><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a> church bell, along the narrow, but
+beautiful, Berkshire valleys, called him to church. The cows were milked
+and fed, the old horse curried, and the chores hastily finished when he
+ran down the road to overtake the old folks. But the grand forest, the
+sheening, cascading brook, and the brown fields were not the same to him
+that they were the day before. The cows and horses in the pastures near
+the road had lost their fascination and value. The hills seemed lower
+and the grain fields more narrow, the cottages seemed shrunken, and the
+old church was but an awkwardly built bungalow. All had changed. His
+clothing was coarser woven and the most attractive girls in their Sunday
+attire were rude specimens of country verdancy.</p>
+
+<p>As if by a preconceived purpose to accelerate his sweeping mental
+changes the preacher that morning took his text from the Proverbs of
+Solomon, wherein he stated that wisdom is more valuable than gold or
+rubies. The speaker illustrated his sermon by showing the value of an
+education.<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;187"> </span><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a> He mentioned the happiness of the men and women who knew the
+structure of vegetation, of animals, and the laws which control their
+life. He mentioned cases of self-made men who had read good books and
+whose minds could walk with God through his wonderful natural creations.
+He spoke of the uselessness or curse of possessions which the owner
+cannot enjoy for lack of knowledge. He said that the discipline of
+obtaining wisdom was in itself of great value and that God promised
+riches, and honor to the man who would earn them. He also said that the
+Lord started many of us into life with nothing for the loving purpose of
+developing our capacity and inclination to know and enjoy more. The
+happiest boy is the one who makes his own toys. The application of the
+sermon brought forth the exhortation to read instructive books, to
+examine more closely the works of nature and the laws which control our
+being. "Learn something every day," said the preacher, and he closed
+with the quotation<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;188"> </span><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a> from Luther, "Not a day without learning another
+verse" ("<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Nulla dies sine versu</i>").</p>
+
+<p>The young farmer was an only son. But his parents had wisely kept him
+from selfishness and egotism. He had been taught to work and to be
+grateful for the necessities of life. He had a loyal disposition and
+loved his parents with a half-worshipful devotion. He had been
+contented, industrious, careful, and honest. His only pride seemed to be
+in the distance he could see and in the large burden he could shoulder
+or carry. He had left school because his father needed him on the farm
+and he had abandoned the expectation of further education. But on that
+Sunday he held a long conference with his mother and father concerning
+his ambition to be something more than a country farmer. He read to them
+the editorial which had so moved him, and tearfully said: "I want to be
+great like them! I must improve my mind. I must increase my skill. I
+must have more influence and do more good. I must get more<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;189"> </span><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> wisdom and
+more understanding. This farm is too small a place for me. I will stay
+at home if I can, or as long as I can, but I must begin to study
+to-morrow, and never thereafter lose a day. God helping me, I will be
+something worth while." His parents, with sad hearts, saw the
+reasonableness of his ambition and gave their consent to his proposed
+education. He began to read selected books at home, but he soon saw the
+great advantage of academic instruction in some well-equipped
+institution. He attended a high school in a near-by village and an
+academy in another part of the country. He was the leader of his classes
+and a close student of languages and natural science. He had obtained a
+glimpse of the world of knowledge and was fascinated with the idea of a
+university education. Beyond the university, he occasionally saw himself
+a multimillionaire with a palace and a brilliant retinue of servants. He
+had chosen for his life mate a brilliant young woman who was a teacher
+in a kindergarten school<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;190"> </span><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a> connected with the academy. They were to be
+married when he should graduate from the university. All seemed hopeful
+and promised a most noble and notable career.</p>
+
+<p>But while he was spending his vacation at the old home in the Hampshire
+Highlands of the Berkshire Hills, helping his old father in gathering
+the usual crops, he received an invitation from a rich uncle living near
+San Francisco, inviting him to visit his estate. The uncle had not often
+corresponded with the young man's parents and they had taken no interest
+in his history. They had heard that he was a wealthy manufacturer and a
+railroad director. So the brother, and the sister who was the student's
+mother, had lost all acquaintance with each other in the fifty years of
+their separation. The young man gladly accepted his uncle's invitation
+to visit him, and the uncle sent on a railroad pass to bring him to
+California and return.</p>
+
+<p>The estate of the uncle was on the shore of the Pacific, occupying a
+gentle slope<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;191"> </span><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a> with wide lawns, evergreen trees fancifully trimmed, and
+gushing fountains. Hedges of lilies, acres of poppies, roses of every
+perennial variety, and shade trees in long rows, decorated the great
+plateau. Orchards of luscious and rare fruits stretched away in great
+lanes from the back gardens. The house was a mansion built for show,
+with a front largely Grecian in design, and a rear porch and veranda of
+the Old Colony style. Carpets, paintings, mirrors, and a hundred curious
+and costly decorations made an exhibition of lavish wealth. Fine horses
+and extravagantly furnished carriages in great variety filled the
+stables. Servants' quarters were really fine cottages and the
+gatekeeper's lodge cost an extravagant sum. To this New England nephew
+who had spent his youth in the simplicity and poverty of a back-country
+farm, all this display of wealth was bewildering. The great library of
+costly volumes, few of which had ever been opened, seemed to him a great
+opportunity for his uncle to learn almost<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;192"> </span><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a> everything. The food was so
+various and so delicious. The wines which he had never tasted were
+sweetly stimulating and had been made on the estate. His uncle
+entertained him royally and introduced him to a number of handsome young
+ladies of fascinating manners, who volunteered to teach him to dance.
+Every kind of musical invention seemed to be stored in the mansion, and
+quartets from the university near by came in often to entertain and to
+be entertained at the uncle's evening socials. The uncle was a widower
+and childless, and seemed to be most pathetically lonely. He was pleased
+with his nephew and was proud of his apparently sterling character and
+manly appearance.</p>
+
+<p>The evening before the nephew's departure on his return journey his
+uncle talked with him until late in the night and told him frankly that
+he was going to make the young man his sole heir. But he made his nephew
+promise repeatedly not to tell any person, not even his parents, what
+the uncle had decided to do.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;193"> </span><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>The return of that young man, when viewed in the light of subsequent
+events, must have been a startling experience to his dear, patient,
+plodding old parents. His manners, his thoughts, his estimation of
+values had undergone a violent change. The old farmhouse seemed to him
+to be smaller than ever, the furniture was rude and cheap, the food was
+coarse and unpalatable, the horse was shamefully old, his father's
+overalls were disgracefully stained, and his mother's old apron was fit
+only for rags! The home was lonesome and uncomfortable. He sat by the
+fire on the cool evenings, silently picturing in his wild imagination
+what he would do with his millions, and sometimes he admitted, for an
+instant, the hope that his uncle would die very soon. He abandoned the
+idea of going on with his college education. He reasoned that money can
+buy anything and assured himself that he could hire men to think for him
+if he should need them. Letters from his fiancée became a bore.<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;194"> </span><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a> She was
+too plain and too unsophisticated to adorn his future mansion. He could
+not think of marrying a woman of whom he would be ashamed in that
+fashionable group to which he would be attached. He finally broke the
+engagement, telling her that he had discovered that he did not love her
+enough sincerely to marry her. The lady became ill and was suddenly
+killed in an accident in the sanitarium. The young man would not work.
+He refused to help his father on the old place and bluntly refused to
+help his mother when she was about her household tasks alone. All was
+changed. He was no longer their son. The father felt the impression of
+mystery about the son's strange behavior and suggested to his wife that
+the boy showed symptoms of insanity. Not many months passed before the
+son left his home to take an easy position as a clerk in Boston. But he
+soon left that and went to sea in a steamer, where he acted as assistant
+to the steward. At Bordeaux, France, he made the acquaintance of two<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;195"> </span><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>
+American young men whose wealthy parents supplied them with funds to
+travel, but evidently did so to keep the rascals away from home. Then
+his downward course became a reckless race.</p>
+
+<p>A few years later the uncle heard or read that his nephew was sentenced
+to three months in the workhouse for drunkenness, and he changed his
+will, leaving all his estate to benevolent institutions. From that time
+the unrepentant prodigal disappeared from the knowledge or care of his
+old neighbors. Both his parents went down to the grave in bitter sorrow
+before his reform. The death of the mother was only a few weeks later
+than the death of the father.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span>God pity them both, God pity us all<br /></span>
+<span>Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.<br /></span>
+<span>Of all sad words of tongue or pen<br /></span>
+<span>The saddest are these, "It might have been."<br /></span>
+<span>Ah, well for us all some sweet hope lies<br /></span>
+<span>Deeply hidden from human eyes,<br /></span>
+<span>And in the hereafter the angels may<br /></span>
+<span>Roll the stone from the grave away.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;196"> </span><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>The friend who reads this account of that young man's broken life may
+ask what this biographical sketch has to do with the subject of
+"unanswered prayer." It has much to do with it. Such experiences, which
+must have been seen in millions of cases, show a reasonable explanation
+why so many prayers for a view of heaven are denied. At almost every
+funeral the loved ones ask if the departed is still living and why God
+does not permit them to come back and tell us about their spirit life.
+"What are they doing in heaven?" is a question on the lips of millions.</p>
+
+<p>But in the letters herein mentioned the records of unanswered prayers
+included many who prayed for visions of heaven or who wished to see the
+angels or the face of the Saviour. One brother prayed continually, "Oh,
+for one view of the holy city!" and another seemed never to leave out of
+his daily prayer, "Lord, open my eyes to see the faces of the dear ones
+hovering about me!" But our eyes are still holden. Our<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;197"> </span><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a> pleading hearts
+are unsatisfied. We are not permitted to see our future home nor catch
+more than a glimpse of the angels' wings. When, however, we seek an
+explanation of this divine arrangement, this separation of this life
+from the other, the faithful believer in God's wisdom and love can
+easily set up a reasonable theory concerning it. He will see that God
+has placed us on this earth to grow in knowledge, to get necessary
+spiritual discipline for his heavenly service. To obtain that training
+we must keep our attention on the duties of our daily tasks and do them
+well. We cannot reap rye with heaven in actual view. It is not
+consistent to think after the Apostle John saw the holy city at Patmos
+he could devote himself as readily to catching fish. When that
+California uncle showed his nephew all that luxury, beauty, and wealth,
+and told him that he would some day own it all, it was a foolish
+act&mdash;almost criminal. The young man's mental and moral development was
+stopped then and<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;198"> </span><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a> there. The young man lost far more than the estate
+could be worth. Suddenly acquired riches are ever harmful.
+Dissatisfaction with this life is a fatal sin. God commands us to be
+content and toil. He, therefore, does not himself do so destructive and
+discouraging an act as to show us heaven's glories and fill us with a
+suicidal anxiety to get out of this world at once and speedily to enter
+the other where there is no more pain or sorrow or dying. A prayer for a
+view of heaven seems, therefore, to be an unreasonable request. This
+conclusion satisfies many who have been denied communication with the
+departed dear ones, and they take up their toil, content to labor and to
+wait. God does not interfere with the healthful exercise of our free
+will by holding bribes before our eyes or by forcing our discipline by
+awful fears.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr /><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;199"> </span><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="5">V</abbr><br />Great Prayers</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">MEN talk and write of "great prayers" as though such petitions could be
+weighed or measured. They appear to think that sacred feelings can find
+a standard of comparison. But even the rightfully esteemed Lord's Prayer
+presents no universal standard by which to measure our varying appeals.
+One old saint writes that he often gets out of patience when the Lord's
+Prayer is intoned or recited, as none of its paragraphs fitly or
+adequately expresses his "soul's sincere desire."</p>
+
+<p>Prayer is necessarily as varying in its moods and objects as a
+kaleidoscope. Jesus said, "after this manner pray ye." And we must pray
+"after this manner." But person, time, place, hearers, sharers,
+emotions, ideas, desires, and needs all enter into the conditions of
+earnest prayer. To call<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;200"> </span><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a> on God in your own way, with your own motives
+and your own emotions and your own language, or without words, will be a
+clear fulfillment of the command to pray. The Lord understands every
+language and knows all that the heart would express if it could find an
+adequate form of speech.</p>
+
+<p>The books, except the Bible, most frequently quoted in these letters
+include volumes by <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Whitfield, Spurgeon,
+Moody, Fosdick, Nicoll, Campbell, Whittle, and Finney. In the quotations
+the idea is ever present that there are <em>great</em> prayers. That place is
+given most frequently to the printed petitions of Spurgeon. But it is
+misleading to attempt to place a valuation on any of them. The most
+effective prayer recorded was the appeal of the Publican as he smote his
+breast; and Christ's long prayer at the Last Supper was the most
+comprehensive. But in the following circumstances, having trustworthy
+witnesses, no two of the marvelously effective petitions were
+alike<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;201"> </span><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>&mdash;<i><abbr title="namely">viz.</abbr></i>, the English boy's prayer for his blind sister's
+restoration to sight; Muller's prayer for a food supply for his
+orphanage; Doctor Cullis's appeal to God for his Consumptive Home;
+Doctor Kincaid's petition for protection for the converts of Ava; the
+Brooklyn child's prayer for her shipwrecked father; the groans of John
+Hall's praying, but starving, mother; the prayer of President Garfield's
+mother at the washtub when her boy was lost in the forest; the silent
+wish of Carey, the pioneer missionary; John Daniel Loest's prayer for
+money to pay his mortgage the next day; Spurgeon's prayer for his
+pastors' college in dire need; Moody's prayer for the establishment of a
+Bible school in Northfield; Luther's prayer for Melancthon; Halderman's
+prayer, in the Fulton Street daily prayer meeting, for the lost ship
+<i>Leviathan</i>; the petition of the mother of Doctor Talmage, asking that
+her son be made to decide at that moment to come home; Miss Lyon's
+prayer in the field for a seminary for women; and the prayer<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;202"> </span><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a> of the
+Dock child of Stockton who claimed that God had told him "in his heart"
+that his sister would immediately recover. To these may be added an
+almost innumerable number of cases where the prayers brought direct
+results, although there was no attempt to use any special form of words.</p>
+
+<p>This principle or truth is probably accepted by all thinking worshipers,
+including most extreme ritualists. As, however, true prayer requires a
+devotional state of mind there can be no denial of the statement that
+the forms, ceremonials, scenic effects, and processions of the different
+creeds and races have a most potent effect on the devotional natures of
+their supporters. Whatever awakens a spirit of devotion is more or less
+useful; but when a strong desire for communion with God has been aroused
+by music, exhortation, processions, or scenery the most effective method
+appears to be to then leave each soul alone with God in silent prayer.
+"Resting in Christ" has a meaning to the devout which no other can<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;203"> </span><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>
+understand. Love only can understand love. To be "alone with the loved
+one" is ever a holy and soul-brightening experience. But to be "alone
+with God" is, by far, the most holy of all emotions. The testimony of
+nearly all those at the Baptist Temple who report an answer to prayer,
+mention the fact that their prayers seemed to be the most productive of
+results when offered in the silent moments at the close of some
+inspiring service.</p>
+
+<p>It is clearly impossible for one finite mind to shape a petition which
+will include and express all the desires of the multitude. Neither can
+an uninspired writer in one age fully appreciate and comprehend the
+conditions and needs of another age. Hence, while the petitions of
+friends, priests, or pastors have a strong influence with the Creator,
+the one vital necessity in making acceptable appeals to God is that each
+petitioner should ask for himself. No character can be changed from the
+outside. No wicked heart can be made pure without its<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;204"> </span><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a> own consent, and
+the Lord seems to have limited himself so that he never crosses the
+threshold of the soul unless he is sincerely invited by that individual
+householder. God does not convert any soul by force. Therefore, all who
+would be blessed by him must voluntarily and individually go to him.
+There can be no substitute in that case. Even Christ, a mediator, may
+take on himself our punishment, but he cannot do our praying for us. He
+makes intercession for us, but that is of no use without our
+co-operation.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;205"> </span><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="6">VI</abbr><br />Use of the Bible in Prayer</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">IT will be useful to any seeker after God to examine the agencies which
+have helped those whose prayers have been conspicuously answered. Among
+the many helps which, seemingly, have had especial potency in developing
+or awakening a devout spirit there is none so general in use as the
+Bible. The petitions which have been preserved from the ancient Fathers
+often quote the Scriptures; and when they do not quote directly, the
+language used shows a close familiarity with the Sacred Word. The Gospel
+truth is wonderfully condensed in this prayer of Thomas à Kempis:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>O, Most merciful Lord, grant me thy grace, that it may be with me,
+and labor within me, and persevere with me, even to the end. Grant
+that I may always desire and will that which is to thee most
+acceptable, and most dear. Let<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;206"> </span><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a> thy will be mine, and my will ever
+follow thine and agree perfectly with it. Grant to me, above all
+things that can be desired, to rest in thee, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: The original was missing preposition 'in'.">in</ins> thee to have my
+heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, thou its only
+rest; out of thee all things are hard and restless. In this very
+peace, that is, in thee the one Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep
+and rest.</p>
+
+<p class="sig">Amen.</p></blockquote>
+
+<p>The following prayer by <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Augustine is a good example of the influence
+of the Bible on the trend of his thought:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>O, thou full of compassion, I commit and commend myself unto thee,
+in whom I am, and live, and know. Be thou the goal of my
+pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from
+the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of thy
+wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in
+thee, O God. Thou bounteous giver of all good gifts, give to him
+who is weary refreshing food; gather our distracted thoughts and
+powers into harmony again; and set the prisoner free. See, he
+stands at thy door and knocks; be it opened to him, that he may
+enter with a free step, and be quickened by thee. For thou art the
+wellspring of life, the light of eternal brightness, wherein the
+just live who love thee. Be it unto me according to thy word. Amen.</p></blockquote>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;207"> </span><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>When looking outside of the local list of petitioners to which this
+volume is so closely confined it can be seen clearly that those whose
+petitions were the most surely answered were familiar with the Bible. It
+is also interesting to notice the quotations which were used as mottoes
+or the favorite extracts from the Bible by the most saintly of the
+heroes, martyrs, and victors in the Christian Church. Out of many
+hundreds of Scripture quotations the following are selected with the
+hope that some one of them may be of especial helpfulness to some one
+who desires to pray successfully:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged
+me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer
+(<abbr title="Psalm 4 verse 1">Psalm iv:1</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning
+will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (<abbr title="Psalm 5 verse 3">Psalm v:3</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my
+prayer (<abbr title="Psalm 6 verse 9">Psalm vi:9</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my
+supplication (<abbr title="Psalm 55 verse 1">Psalm lv:1</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;208"> </span><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting
+up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (<abbr title="Psalm 141 verse 2">Psalm cxli:2</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
+intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (<abbr title="Timothy 2 verse 1">Tim.
+ii:1</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are
+open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them
+that do evil (<abbr title="First Peter 3 verse 12">I Peter iii:12</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that
+Eli marked her mouth (<abbr title="First Samuel 1 verse 12">I Sam. i:12</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his
+supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
+prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day (<abbr title="First Kings 8 verse 28">I Kings
+viii:28</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and
+the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before
+the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was
+speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the
+vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me
+about the time of the evening oblation (<abbr title="Daniel 9 verses 20-21">Dan. ix:20-21</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;209"> </span><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any;
+that your Father, also which is in heaven, may forgive you your
+trespasses (<abbr title="Mark 11 verse 25">Mark xi:25</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the
+time of incense (<abbr title="Luke 1 verse 10">Luke i:10</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus
+also being baptized, and praying, the heaven opened (<abbr title="Luke 3 verse 21">Luke iii:21</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were
+with him (<abbr title="Luke 9 verse 18">Luke ix:18</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>I was in a city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a
+certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from
+heaven by four corners; and it came even to me (<abbr title="Acts 12 verse 5">Acts xii:5</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
+also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
+understanding also (<abbr title="First Corinthians 14 verse 15">I Cor. xiv:15</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
+watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication (<abbr title="Ephesians 6 verse 18">Eph.
+vi:18</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and
+might perfect that which is lacking in your faith (<abbr title="First Thessalonians 3 verse 10">I Thes. iii:10</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;210"> </span><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy
+people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear
+thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive
+(<abbr title="First Kings 8 verse 30">I Kings viii:30</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
+against them day and night, because of them (<abbr title="Nehemiah 4 verse 9">Neh. iv:9</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and
+thou shalt pay thy vows (<abbr title="Job 22 verse 27">Job xxii:27</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their
+prayer (<abbr title="Psalm 102 verse 17">Psalm cii:17</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the
+prayer of the upright is his delight (<abbr title="Proverbs 15 verse 8">Prov. xv:8</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and
+supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.... (<abbr title="Daniel 9 verse 3">Dan.
+ix:3</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>... and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind
+goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (<abbr title="Matthew 17 verse 21">Matt. xvii:21</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the
+ministry of the word (<abbr title="Acts 6 verse 4">Acts vi:4</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;211"> </span><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where
+prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the
+women which resorted thither (<abbr title="Acts 16 verse 13">Acts xvi:13</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and
+supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
+God.</p>
+
+<p>And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
+your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (<abbr title="Philippians 4 verses 6-7">Phil. iv:6-7</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
+raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
+him (<abbr title="James 5 verse 15">James v:15</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
+ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
+availeth much (<abbr title="James 5 verse 16">James v:16</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>... be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (<abbr title="First Peter 4 verse 7">I Peter iv:7</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any
+man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own
+sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this
+house;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;212"> </span><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
+render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou
+knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of
+men....) (<abbr title="Second Chronicles 6 verses 29-30">II Chron. vi:29-30</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God;
+and the prisoners heard them (<abbr title="Acts 16 verse 25">Acts xvi:25</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain
+apart to pray (<abbr title="Matthew 14 verse 23">Matt. xiv:23</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and
+saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder
+(<abbr title="Matthew 26 verse 36">Matt. xxvi:36</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit
+indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (<abbr title="Matthew 26 verse 41">Matt. xxvi:41</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
+presently give me more than twelve legions of angels (Matt.
+xxvi:53).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye
+pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark
+xi:24).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always
+to pray, and not to faint (<abbr title="Luke 18 verse 1">Luke xviii:1</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;213"> </span><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou
+hast given me; for they are thine.</p>
+
+<p>I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
+thou shouldest keep them from the evil.</p>
+
+<p>Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
+believe on me through their word.... (<abbr title="Saint John 17 verses 9,15,20">St. John xvii:9, 15, 20</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not
+what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh
+intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom.
+viii:26).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Pray without ceasing (<abbr title="First Thessalonians 5 verse 17">I Thess. v:17</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
+whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
+coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (<abbr title="Thessalonians 5 verse 23">Thess. v:23</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
+worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his
+goodness, and the work of faith with power (<abbr title="Second Thessalonians 1 verse 11">II Thess. i:11</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
+rooted and grounded in love,</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;214"> </span><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
+length, and depth, and height.... (<abbr title="Ephesians 3 verses 17-18">Eph. iii:17-18</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
+commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight
+(<abbr title="First John 3 verse 22">I John iii:22</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
+thing according to his will, he heareth us;</p>
+
+<p>And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
+have the petitions that we desired of him (<abbr title="Second John 5 verses 14-15">II John v:14-15</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God
+will give it thee (<abbr title="Saint John 11 verse 22">St. John xi:22</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
+Father may be glorified in the Son (<abbr title="Saint John 14 verse 13">St. John xiv:13</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (St. John
+xiv:14).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>If ye love me, keep my commandments (<abbr title="Saint John 14 verse 15">St. John xiv:15</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
+men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;215"> </span><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (<abbr title="James 1 verses 5-6">James i:5-6</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.... (<abbr title="James 4 verse 3">James iv:3</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but
+God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
+are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
+that ye may be able to bear it (<abbr title="First Corinthians 10 verse 13">I Cor. x:13</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
+you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy
+(<abbr title="Jude 1 verse 24">Jude i:24</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>But when ye pray, use not vain repetition, as the heathen do: for
+they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.</p>
+
+<p>Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what
+things ye have need of, before ye ask him.</p>
+
+<p>After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
+heaven, Hallowed be thy name.</p>
+
+<p>Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.</p>
+
+<p>Give us this day our daily bread.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;216"> </span><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.</p>
+
+<p>And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For
+thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen
+(<abbr title="Matthew 6 verses 7-13">Matt. vi:7-13</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,
+and verily thou shalt be fed (<abbr title="Psalm 37 verse 3">Psalm xxxvii:3</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring
+it to pass (<abbr title="Psalm 37 verse 5">Psalm xxxvii:5</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.... (<abbr title="Psalm 37 verse 7">Psalm xxxvii:7</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (<abbr title="Psalm 23 verse 1">Psalm xxiii:1</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+<blockquote><p>Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
+will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
+comfort me (<abbr title="Psalm 23 verse 4">Psalm xxiii:4</abbr>).</p></blockquote>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+<p><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;217"> </span><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a></p>
+<h2>Chapter <abbr title="7">VII</abbr><br />Conclusions</h2>
+
+
+<p class="cap">AS one lays aside the last letter of this collection and leans back in
+his chair for meditation on all these heart revelations he asks, most
+anxiously, What is the conclusion of the whole matter?</p>
+
+<p>Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, our faith remains unmoved.
+A general view of the field of prayer shows that the great fundamental
+facts remain undisturbed. God is. God answers prayer. The Bible is the
+inspired work of the Spirit of God. Jesus is the Son of God. The Christ
+is the Saviour of a sinful world. "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"
+Entering upon this investigation with a firm determination to hold an
+unbiased mind and trying to examine the evidence as an impartial judge
+there were moments of doubt as to the wisdom of setting one's mind so<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;218"> </span><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>
+free. It seemed sometimes as if it was wrong, even for a day, to stand
+outside of the circle of earnest believers and be a neutral critic of
+sacred things. But the risk was taken. A tremor came with the suggestion
+that the lovely structure of our lifelong faith might be shattered, and
+only dust be left of the religious building which we had so fondly
+believed was a building that had indestructible foundations, "Eternal in
+the heavens."</p>
+
+<p>But not one pillar has moved, not a rent or seam in any of the old walls
+has appeared. The fear that faith might be lost has increased our
+estimate of its everlasting value. The faith of our fathers stands
+secure. The testimony of unbalanced minds to the Sonship of Christ did
+not defeat the Saviour in his day, and they cannot do so now. The
+mistakes, errors, and superstitions of the extremists and deceivers have
+not made more than a ripple in the current of Christian faith. The tide
+comes back. The love for the Holy Bible revives. The<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;219"> </span><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a> prodigal will come
+to himself and come back. The spirit of the Christian religion is a
+necessity to human progress and human happiness. The world needs it. It
+may come slowly, but, nevertheless, it will come surely. The spirit will
+awaken. The winter cannot last forever. Prayer is as necessary to the
+spirit of man as breath is to his body. The soul's sincere desire will
+ever seek expression. The seeker after God will surely find him when he
+shall truly seek him with all his heart. Hundreds testified to the facts
+that their prayers were answered where only a score or less asserted
+that they did not know whether their requests were heard or not. The
+millions who never tried to pray cannot be accepted as witnesses on
+either side. But the great majority of those who have tried the matter
+testify to its effectiveness.</p>
+
+<p>The doubters, who quibble and stumble over the parables and miracles,
+find that whether the believer accepted them as literal history or as
+spiritual illustrations,<span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;220"> </span><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a> they all teach the truth; and to believe in
+them can do no harm. The consensus of religious opinion among the common
+people is decidedly in favor of trusting more and, consequently,
+doubting less. "We will be no more children, tossed to and fro and
+carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and
+cunning craftiness." We have put away childish things and here we stand,
+men and women, saved by grace, and "Who can separate us from the love of
+Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword? I am
+persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
+nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, not height, not
+depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love
+of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span>Right is Right, since God is God,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And right the day will win;<br /></span>
+<span>To doubt would be disloyalty,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To falter would be sin.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p class="i0"><span class="pagenum" title="Page&nbsp;221"> </span><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>Ye saints, with your faith of steel, pray on. Ye faltering
+sinners, smite your breast and pray on. Ye doubtful critics, pray on. Ye
+sorrow-stricken ones, pray on. In due time every petitioner shall reap
+if he or she faints not.</p>
+
+<p>Oh, the rest, the peace, the joy of this settled conviction, that the
+faith in the Messiahship of Jesus Christ need be no more disturbed! "Now
+unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you
+faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the
+only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
+both now and forever. Amen."</p>
+
+
+<p class="center">THE END</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="center">
+ <a href="images/endpaper.png">
+   <img src="images/endpaper-th.png"
+     width="300" height="225"
+     alt="Endpaper linked to a larger version. A picture of a man walking into a wooded glade with one hand brushing away a tree branch and another hand holding a small plant he just uprooted from underfoot. He has a suprised look on his bearded face. To the left of the man and behind him is a lake with three swans, and a castle is visible on the other shore of the lake."
+     title="" />
+ </a>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION ***
+
+***** This file should be named 37143-h.htm or 37143-h.zip *****
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+</pre>
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+</body>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Subconscious Religion
+
+Author: Russell H. Conwell
+
+Release Date: August 21, 2011 [EBook #37143]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBCONSCIOUS RELIGION ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Karina Aleksandrova and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+            Subconscious
+              Religion
+
+  Does God Answer Christians Only?
+        Conflicting Prayers
+       Subconscious Religion
+    Praying for Visions of Heaven
+           Great Prayers
+     Use of the Bible in Prayer
+            Conclusions
+
+
+                _By_
+         RUSSELL H. CONWELL
+
+            VOLUME 10
+
+             NATIONAL
+       EXTENSION UNIVERSITY
+
+    597 Fifth Avenue, New York
+
+
+         EFFECTIVE PRAYER
+
+  Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothers
+  Printed in the United States of America
+
+
+
+
+Chapter I
+
+Does God Answer Christians Only?
+
+
+What might be the consensus of opinion found in a digest of all the
+testimonies of mankind cannot be surmised, but it did not appear that
+God was "a respecter of persons" through those years of prayer at the
+Baptist Temple. The prevailing belief, however, was that God was more
+willing to answer the sincere disciple than he was to heed the requests
+of a great sinner. But the fact was also evident that God does answer
+the just and the unjust. The assertion of the blind man before the
+Pharisees that "God heareth not sinners" was evidently a quotation from
+the Pharisees' creed and not a gospel precept. As all have sinned and
+come short of the glory of God, no one would be heard if God would not
+hear sinners. Jesus was more inclined to heed the requests of John and
+Peter than he was to listen to the requests of the sacrilegious
+Sadducee. But a repentant Sadducee would not be neglected, and the fact
+is apparent that there is a clear distinction between the influence with
+God of a righteous man and the influence of a wicked or a frightened
+sinner.
+
+Here are a few of the testimonies which have a bearing on this important
+subject. One hardened sinner was so convicted of his completely lost
+condition that he spent the night in agony, calling on God for
+forgiveness. He was determined to fight the battle alone, but his
+strength failed and he was certain that he was condemned irrevocably to
+eternal punishment. His prayer availed him nothing. When, at last, he
+opened his heart to a faithful Christian friend, that friend's prayer
+was heard instantaneously, and the seeker knew by an instinct axiomatic
+that he was received by the Lord.
+
+There is a general belief that God does hear the pure Christian more
+readily than he does the vile reprobate. That belief is founded in the
+moral laws universally recognized in human relations. There may also be
+a semiscientific reason. The soul which is in tune with the Infinite can
+more effectively detect and understand the "sound waves" from the spirit
+world than the soul which is out of tune with God. In the mass of the
+correspondence about which this book is written there are strong
+testimonies to the necessity and attainableness of a practical harmony
+with the Spirit of God. One man who has been long a teacher of
+psychology wrote that he had made a deliberate test of the matter, and a
+condensed report of his experience is here given. He sought "to place
+his soul in communion with God." He desired that state of spiritual
+harmony with the divine character which would make him sensitive to
+every spiritually divine impression. Hence, he prepared himself in this
+way: he locked himself in his room and gave himself up to the serious
+business of getting into communication with God. He began to count his
+sins of commission and earnestly asking forgiveness; he promised the
+Lord that he would guard himself against them evermore. He then tried to
+comprehend the awful list of sins of omission which for a while made him
+hopeless of God's favor. But in deep and prayerful meditation, thinking
+long on the great mercy of God and of the propitiation Christ had given,
+he felt his soul slowly emerge from the slough of despond. Suddenly a
+strange confidence took possession of his soul and a feeling of glad
+triumph overcame all doubt of his forgiveness. The assurance that he was
+getting into harmony with the Spirit of God became complete. He threw
+himself across his bed and "let go of himself," making an absolute
+surrender to the spiritual impressions.
+
+Into such a state the apostles and prophets must have entered to feel
+the spiritual impulses and see the visions which they recorded. It as an
+exaltation of the whole being--a temporarily superhuman experience
+which may be the state of the soul when released from the body. The joy
+of that hour of oneness with God cannot be described to one who has not
+known it. It is higher, purer, more real than other feelings. It is so
+unlike any other experience on earth. "The soul is lost in God." The
+worshiper is outside and above himself. Life gleams as a cloud glows in
+some heavenly morning. Disease, pain, human limitations, care, or
+anxiety is nonexistent. A pure peace which passeth all understanding
+permeates the whole being. Underneath are the everlasting arms; over him
+is the spirit face of Christ. But why should he try to convey an idea of
+that growing answer to his prayer? He knows he is with his Lord. But the
+less he tries to tell his experience the more confidence his unbelieving
+friends will have in his sanity. That such harmony with the divine is
+subject to certain laws is seen in the fact that such elevation of soul
+is gained only by a full compliance with certain conditions. Some of
+these conditions are found by experience to be those which are laid down
+in the Scriptures. The seeker must force out of his heart all malice,
+jealousy, hate, selfishness, covetousness, unbelief, and give himself up
+to the opposite feelings. We must go over wholly to pure intentions,
+holy aspirations, truth-living, kindness, forgiveness, love for all,
+inflexible adherence to the right, and all in all harmonizing with the
+divine disposition. Pure holiness must be sought, without which no man
+can please God. All those who give themselves over to such a state of
+surrender to God have the full assurance of faith which is promised to
+those who love God with all their hearts and with all their minds.
+
+Such servants of God can offer prayer which avail much more than the
+frightened call of the worldly minded, egotistic, and selfish enemy of
+good people and good principles. God loves all men with an everlasting
+affection. But the kind of intensity of his affection for the saint and
+the transgressor is quite different. Christ loved the priest and the
+Levite in a true sense, but he loved the Good Samaritan more. He can
+love and care for his own without encouraging evil. He could not be just
+and show no partiality for those who obey him fully. He never fails to
+hear the cry of any contrite heart, but even among the disciples John
+was especially beloved.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter II
+
+Conflicting Prayers
+
+
+This chapter leads into the wilderness. Just beyond it is the insane
+asylum. The most bewildering, confusing, and dangerous region is the
+morass of conflicting prayers. No human theory concerning them is even
+helpful. The labyrinth is absolutely trackless to the human mind when
+once the worshiper becomes entangled therein. So we will not attempt to
+explain any of the even unthinkable intricacies of its strange region.
+Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord answer the questions which millions
+have asked about it. Two persons, equally sincere, pray for success in a
+matter where the victory of one must be the defeat of the other. Nations
+at war pray hard and long for victory, and not even God can answer both.
+Something must be taken from one to give to another, while the one in
+possession is praying that he may keep it. One's loss is another's gain.
+The employer prays for a profit on his business, and the laborer prays
+for higher wages. The white man and the colored man prays for his own
+tribe. The Samaritan and Jew, worshiping the same God and having the
+same family inheritance, believe it is a duty to hate each other, and
+each calls for God's curses on the other. Many an honest investigator
+has entered this region of doubt and mystery and managed to back out
+while still in his right mind. But he has returned the worse for the
+experience. All sorts of foolish speculations have been given creedal
+expression until men have declared, with strange assurance, that man
+cannot trust his reason or his conscience in any matter. They have tried
+to prove that the laws of nature are inflexible and that prayer cannot
+have any influence whatever in current events. Gifted men and women of
+culture and high purpose have convinced themselves that there is no
+evil, that men never sin, that the Bible theories concerning prayer are
+fanciful and too miraculous to be possible. "Too much study hath made
+thee mad," said the practical Roman to the Apostle Paul. The old Roman
+had probably seen so many religions that he had no faith in any. The
+religious maniacs are those men who have broken down their brains by
+laborious study over these insoluble problems. Therefore, while no one
+should discourage reasonable research anywhere, and while it is not
+sacrilegious or foolish to think on these things, it does seem best to
+admit that to the most faithful Christian there are unsearchable things
+of God which he cannot sanely hope to understand in this life. "My
+thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the
+Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
+higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." We
+cannot expect to achieve a knowledge as great and extensive as that of
+the Creator, and must be content with our reasonable limitations. "What
+I do ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter." Satisfied, then,
+with the promise of that future full revelation we should study all that
+Providence places before us for investigation and never let go of what
+we are sure we do know. We will distinguish, as clearly as possible,
+between our imagination and our knowledge, and with a level head and our
+feet on solid ground we will live by a faith that is reasonable and
+never become blindly reckless.
+
+The lightning struck a tree near a neighbor's residence last week. He
+knows that to be a hard fact. He does not know much about the electric
+currents in the atmosphere, neither does the most experienced scientist;
+but the neighbor knows that the lightning did splinter that tree. From
+that fact he entertains a faith in a possible return of that event and
+by faith he puts up a lightning rod on his barn.
+
+The observer notices that sin brings its own punishment in many cases,
+and he has faith that such will be the universal experience of the
+future. So he keeps his soul insured by safe and sane investment in
+righteousness. Every sane man knows that we must at all times walk
+largely by faith. Faith is a constituent part of the natural human
+constitution. The degree of faith determines the character of the
+individual. Faith, like water, seeks its level. But the greater its safe
+elevation, the greater its power. Faith must grow reasonably, like a
+grain of mustard seed. It also develops mysteriously by natural increase
+until the fowls of the air nest in its branches and its growing root
+will cleave off the side of the mountain. The patriot, earnestly seeking
+victory, lets no possible agency pass unused to overcome the enemy. When
+he has prepared fully and laboriously for the battle he will then pray
+for the help which God may give him. Even should he strongly doubt that
+the Great Power moving on events beyond his knowledge can or will hear
+him, yet he will not fail to pray. Any man who calls on the Christian's
+God will not ask him to aid an unholy cause. A murderer seeking an
+opportunity to kill will not call on God for aid. The thief ever fears
+some providential interference with his plans. The Christian ever hopes
+for God's aid, and asks for it because his aim is a godly one.
+
+Herein is found the safe position for the believer to take. We can pray
+for the heathen, although they do pray against their own good. We can
+pray for victory in some holy war, because the enemy are praying really
+against their own good. Because their cause is unrighteous, their
+victory would be a great loss to them. Hence, even the great prayers
+which sublimely petition for the nations, and which include the whole
+world in their range of vision, are consistent only when man realizes
+his weakness and his ignorance, and adds to every prayer the
+reservation, "nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."
+
+He is the wisest servant of God who can pray from the camp that he may
+conquer if his cause be really just. The preacher who enters his pulpit
+with an almost agonizing prayer that God would aid him in his
+presentation of the Christ to men must ever ask that God will turn aside
+any arrow which would do harm to the cause. In his ignorance or weakness
+he may mistake the Gospel message, or may not present the whole truth,
+and he must ever ask that, whether he gain or lose in the esteem of his
+congregation, the truth shall always prevail. Christian nations are
+often wrong in their diplomacy or in their wars, as they discover after
+a while. The Lord, therefore, gave them that for which they would have
+asked had their hearts been right with God and their intentions been
+Christlike toward men.
+
+Sometime we shall understand. But now the seeming inconsistency of
+asking the Lord to aid his own cause, or praying that Christ may soon
+come into his own kingdom, is ever a stumbling block to the doubtful
+ones. If the Lord has all power and has a sincere desire to make the
+world good, why does he not do it by one sweep of his hand or by one
+magic word? What is the reason for his commandment to pray to him and to
+ask him to do that which he wishes to do and can do himself? All these
+questions lead into the wilderness. We do not know. We cannot suggest
+any hypothesis which would make the sovereignty of God and the free will
+of man reconcilable. Man's mind is so constructed that it is impossible
+to believe that the Creator controls all things and arranges the details
+of even our thoughts and yet leaves man free to choose to defeat the
+Lord by his own thoughts and actions. It is impossible fully to believe
+that man can voluntarily do evil without in some way interfering with
+the designs and power of God. If God undertakes to save the world, and
+"would not that any should perish," but that all should come unto him
+and live, and yet sinful man can defeat or hinder the accomplishment of
+his purpose, then the thinker must conclude that God is not supreme. Yet
+when we keep our minds within their reasonable limits and fall back on
+our common sense we must believe that God is all-powerful and also that
+man is free to be sinful. The facts are actual facts, although we cannot
+reconcile them. There is but little we frail mortals can understand
+about such matters. Let us, therefore, carefully hold to the facts which
+we can comprehend, and never assume that things which are, surely are
+not, or that things which are not, most surely are. There was a bowlder
+in the highway yesterday. We don't know how it came to be there. We know
+it should not be there. But there it is, and he would be idiotic who
+tried to go on as if the stone were not there. Behold! there is set
+before every man good and evil. "Choose good that thou and thy seed may
+live." We know that in a thousand matters we can choose the good or
+choose the evil. We see also that liberty is limited by great laws and
+there are a myriad of things a man cannot possibly do and about which
+he has no choice. When a man reaches those limitations his
+responsibility for choosing ceases.
+
+With these simple facts the teaching of the Bible is fully in accord.
+The necessity for sustenance and protection beyond our ability to supply
+is ever a great apparent fact. The recognition of that fact leads the
+thoughtful man to prayer. Let us, therefore, have a care not to venture
+too far into the wilderness of the seeming theological inconsistencies.
+That God does answer men and women, thousands can testify. They have
+tried it fully. They cannot explain why God thus works out his
+complicated schemes, but they know that he does work in that way. It is
+established fact. The Great Teacher and Saviour also prayed. That is
+enough.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter III
+
+Subconscious Religion
+
+
+In Leipzig, Germany, in 1866 there stood an old three-story mansion,
+used as a manufactory of mechanical toys. An American student attending
+the university was invited to visit the showrooms in the upper story and
+became intently interested in the surprising exhibition of inventive
+genius. As the visitor descended to the second and first floors he
+visited the rooms where machinery of many kinds was turning out various
+parts of the toys. But when he ventured to descend to the cellar to look
+at the power plant he found "No admission" on every door. But he was
+more disappointed when he was told that the "designing room," where the
+toys were invented and the drawings made, was in the subcellar. In order
+to preserve their patents and their secret processes, even the workmen
+on the upper floors were forbidden ever to look into the subcellar.
+
+That illustrative fact came forcibly to mind when meditating long over a
+letter written by a praying student and author who said that he felt
+sure that the only direct passage between the human soul and the world
+spirits is through the subconscious mind. From that subcellar of the
+soul come ideas, impulses, and suggestions which most largely influence
+our actions. But we are forbidden to enter that department to examine
+the plans or listen to the wireless dispatches from the spirit world so
+continuously received there. "No admission" is posted on every door to
+the subcellar designing room of the human soul. We get the blue prints
+of new plans, or read suggestions for new or improved work sent up to
+our brains. But who makes them we do not know. In the impenetrable
+regions of our mental and spiritual nature are formulated many ideas and
+moral laws which we must blindly obey. A man is what he thinks, and the
+larger portion of his thinking is originated or molded in his
+subconscious self. That is evidently the meaning of the reference by
+Peter to the "hidden man of the heart." It is amazing to the careful
+student of our mental constitution to find out how meager is the part of
+our thinking which originates in the suggestions of our five senses.
+
+From the Grecian and German philosophers some psychologists derived the
+hypothesis that the subconscious self is only the aggregation of all the
+faint or half-formed ideas which are not strong enough to force
+themselves up into full recognition by the brain. Consciousness includes
+only those thoughts which the brain accepts and uses in positive action.
+That theory seems to be in a measure, true. There are faint suggestions
+and half-formed motives of which we catch glimpses and which never seem
+to be fully developed. Also the natural instincts of our animal nature
+still continue and persist in our higher station in the creative order.
+It can be noted by anyone that perhaps not one in a thousand of our
+muscular contractions or of our decided actions is consciously dictated
+by our will. The human race is seemingly, in a large measure, a
+collection of automatons. We are generally moved about by powers and
+mechanisms beyond our comprehension and are unconsciously working out
+designs in the making of which we have no consciously important part.
+
+It is difficult to write clearly on such a subtle theme or explain what
+is known concerning autosuggestion or explain the laws which, in a
+measure, control the unconscious part of human life without using
+technical terms or scientific formulas beyond the understanding of the
+everyday reader. But, plainly stated, a human being uses but a small
+inclosure in which he can move on his own conscious volition. We are
+fearfully and wonderfully made. "What I would not that I do and what I
+would that I do not" was not the exclusive experience of the Apostle
+Paul. But it is the common experience of all mankind. A man's thoughts,
+happiness, and usefulness are the products of his moral character. His
+"subconscious self" is his real character. What one does consciously may
+not represent his real character, but that which he does without
+meditation or conscious limitation represents the true disposition or
+tendency of his real nature. Inasmuch as ye are disposed by nature or by
+second nature to be a good Samaritan or to aid "the least of these," ye
+have lived a continual good deed for the Master. The redeemed soul is
+one whose permanent disposition, called his "subconscious" or
+"subliminal self," is controlled by the magnetic influence of the spirit
+of truth and goodness. The few matters on which the brain acts directly
+are the deeds of the conscious mind. They are controlled by the will and
+reasoning powers of the independent portion of man's being. They may or
+may not accord with the heart's general impulses or they may be the
+direct product of the heart's purposes. The will and the subconscious
+self interact, each influencing the other. This thought presents "a
+logical contradiction" which has puzzled many great minds.
+
+But our appeal here is to the everyday experience of sincere, truthful
+Christians concerning their communication with God through the
+subconscious mind. One writer states that she has often received
+trustworthy messages from the spirit world in dreams and in unusual
+impressions during waking hours. This statement often arouses the
+general prejudice which some of the extreme spiritualists or deceivers
+have brought upon the theory of mental communication with the departed;
+but it should be examined on its own merits without bias. The testimony
+of the millions who believe or hope that they have had messages from
+their beloved who have gone on before counts for much and is not a
+testimony confined to professional mediums. The rejection of the theory
+that it is possible for angel beings to communicate with mortals, and
+that they are sent of God to do so, involves the rejection of the whole
+Bible as a divinely truthful Book. If there is no open path through the
+subconscious self to the spirit world, then the recorded visits of the
+Holy Spirit to the hearts of men are only idle tales. The disbelief in
+the soul's ability to hear heavenly voices or receive spiritual
+suggestions from other spirits would destroy all trust in supernatural
+religions. God does speak to man in the events and laws of the material
+life, and he also speaks to us in the "quiet, small voice" as he did to
+Elijah at Sinai. There appears to be no alternative but to believe in
+that declaration, for to reject it is to reject the whole body of
+Christian teaching. We will not entertain such a suicidal proposition.
+The indestructible spirit body is the same being and possesses the same
+characteristics in the material body that it possesses when separated
+from this limiting framework of the earthly body. It is indestructible,
+but it can be modified in disposition while in this body. That
+statement, for the sake of brevity, is mentioned dogmatically, but it
+will be illustrated by the following testimonials.
+
+One writer who evidently has been reared to believe sincerely in
+"emotional religion," who shouts and groans and wrings his hands at any
+devotional meeting, but whose probity and strong good sense are the
+admiration of his friends, states that he knows "that his Redeemer
+liveth, by the direct assurance of the Spirit." He claims that when a
+man tells him a lie he feels the presence of evil. He testifies that in
+his most exalted moments following a season of fervent prayer he knows
+what it is to realize the fact that he lives and moves and has his being
+in God.
+
+There are thousands of men and women whose wild behavior in religious
+meetings is only the natural evidence of a disordered mind. The negro
+camp meeting and the whirling of the Egyptian dervishes seem to be much
+alike in their manner of working up a religious excitement. The
+unbalanced mental condition of some truly honest worshipers causes
+distrust of others whose good sense in other matters is never
+questioned.
+
+Other writers tell of their experience of some overpowering emotion
+which came so logically in answer to their prayer that they cannot doubt
+that such was truly the fact. A man prayed that he might be protected
+through the night. He awakened from sleep, moved by an "inward impulse"
+irresistible, and went to the barn to find, as he opened the stable
+door, a little blaze creeping toward the haymow. It was easily
+extinguished then, but ten minutes later would have been entirely beyond
+control. The fire was caused by a lighted cigar dropped carelessly on
+the stable floor near the horses. Another writes that he is naturally
+emotional and dares not trust himself on any pinnacle, as he always
+feels when on any high place a strange desire to leap off in suicide.
+He states that the sensitiveness of his emotional nature becomes most
+acute in religious gatherings, and that he has never found himself
+mistaken when he has followed the leadings of that spirit. His wife
+writes that he had, for years, planted the crops which he "felt like
+planting" after attending a religious meeting. She adds that while, at
+first, she had regarded his "moods" as accidental emotions, she had
+learned that his crops planted in those moods were always profitable
+investments. Another who had been trained in the Friends' meeting to
+wait for the Spirit to move him went so far as to wait for the same
+impulse in all his undertakings. He tried to lay his business ventures
+before the Lord in silent prayer and then go in the direction the Spirit
+indicated. He related how, when once he was lost in a thick forest on a
+cloudy day, he prayed until his "sense of direction" became so clear
+that he started with closed eyes to take the direction toward which his
+inward impression impelled him.
+
+Another acted always on the impulse of the moment in speaking to a
+friend or to a stranger upon religious matters. Another wrote that she
+had observed for many years that the praying housekeepers were guided in
+their work by the most trustworthy intuitions. Few is the number of
+women who guide their domestic affairs by the rules of cold science, and
+the larger part of a mother's movements in the care of her children are
+the unconscious results of special intuition. She claims that in the
+intuitional nature of the human soul there is such nearness to the
+divine nature that the especially sensitive soul "feels impulses from
+across the border."
+
+Here, again, after a day's study of the many accounts concerning the
+impulses awakened by prayer, we lay down the correspondence with a sigh
+of regret that nothing absolutely conclusive for or against prayer is to
+be found. We must still believe or disbelieve according to the measure
+of faith. In the courts of law attorneys often establish their cases by
+the use of what is termed "cumulative evidence," where they secure the
+testimony of many witnesses to the same fact. If that custom be applied
+to the establishment of the fact that emotions and impulses are sent in
+answer to prayer the number in its favor would be overwhelming. Down in
+the subcellar of the mind there may be a tunnel leading through to the
+palace of God. Millions believe that is a fact. No one can prove it is
+not so. Therefore, with the reasonable student, the testimony of the
+many will still be considered trustworthy. The soul of God speaketh
+often to the soul of man. A great writer on secular subjects confirmed
+the general impression when he forcibly wrote, "You can get almost
+anything you want, if you only want it hard enough, and long enough, and
+with faith enough."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IV
+
+Praying for Visions of Heaven
+
+
+A sturdy young farmer's boy who had inherited a strong body, a clear
+mind, and a good family name sat under a maple tree in the hayfield at
+the hot noontide. He was eating a cold lunch and at the same time
+reading an article in the weekly paper. The editor had written an
+editorial on the romantic history of the poor country boys who had risen
+to world-wide fame and to enormous riches. When he had reread the
+article he tossed the paper aside, lay back on the odorous new-mown
+grass, looked up at the deep-blue sky, and watched the passing of a
+pure-white cloud. A vision of what the world might be to him came in a
+dreamy way. Other boys as poor as he had graduated from college, had
+made great scientific discoveries, had married rich and beautiful women,
+had traveled in far countries, had feasted with kings, had held high
+office, and had written great books. Why could not he follow their
+example? It seemed impossible, and with a deep sigh he arose and seized
+his scythe.
+
+But the vision could not be obscured. As his strong muscles drove the
+sharp blade through the thick grass he kept muttering to himself,
+debating pro and con the possibility of an ignorant farmer, living far
+away from city civilization, and too far from a railroad to hear the
+whistle, to become powerful in national affairs. How did they start?
+What did they do first? When his return swath brought him again near the
+shade of the tree where he had eaten his lunch he caught up the weekly
+paper and read again the editorial. Then he left his scythe in the grass
+and went into the shade, leaned against the gnarled trunk of the old
+tree, and, wholly engrossed in earnest thought, forgot his work. He
+reviewed his own simple life and examined his own plans and ambitions.
+He had expected to marry some one of the strong, sensible, country
+girls and bring her home to live with the old folks, as his father had
+done. He had a dim idea that he would inherit the old, stony farm some
+day. He had a latent ambition to raise more corn than his father had
+raised and to clear a large piece of woodland which for centuries had
+hidden the mountain side. He would build an addition to the stable and
+put in a new pair of bars near the brook where the cattle went to drink
+in winter. He had also a half-formed purpose to join the local church,
+and perhaps some day he would be an elder.
+
+At last he aroused himself and, with a half-angry impulse, he began to
+strike the grass with his scythe as if the grass were some sneaking
+enemy. He could not arouse again the sweet content of the forenoon. He
+had caught a glimpse of that far-away land, and while he did not hope
+ever to enter it, yet the thought disturbed him.
+
+The next Sunday the echo of the old church bell, along the narrow, but
+beautiful, Berkshire valleys, called him to church. The cows were milked
+and fed, the old horse curried, and the chores hastily finished when he
+ran down the road to overtake the old folks. But the grand forest, the
+sheening, cascading brook, and the brown fields were not the same to him
+that they were the day before. The cows and horses in the pastures near
+the road had lost their fascination and value. The hills seemed lower
+and the grain fields more narrow, the cottages seemed shrunken, and the
+old church was but an awkwardly built bungalow. All had changed. His
+clothing was coarser woven and the most attractive girls in their Sunday
+attire were rude specimens of country verdancy.
+
+As if by a preconceived purpose to accelerate his sweeping mental
+changes the preacher that morning took his text from the Proverbs of
+Solomon, wherein he stated that wisdom is more valuable than gold or
+rubies. The speaker illustrated his sermon by showing the value of an
+education. He mentioned the happiness of the men and women who knew the
+structure of vegetation, of animals, and the laws which control their
+life. He mentioned cases of self-made men who had read good books and
+whose minds could walk with God through his wonderful natural creations.
+He spoke of the uselessness or curse of possessions which the owner
+cannot enjoy for lack of knowledge. He said that the discipline of
+obtaining wisdom was in itself of great value and that God promised
+riches, and honor to the man who would earn them. He also said that the
+Lord started many of us into life with nothing for the loving purpose of
+developing our capacity and inclination to know and enjoy more. The
+happiest boy is the one who makes his own toys. The application of the
+sermon brought forth the exhortation to read instructive books, to
+examine more closely the works of nature and the laws which control our
+being. "Learn something every day," said the preacher, and he closed
+with the quotation from Luther, "Not a day without learning another
+verse" ("_Nulla dies sine versu_").
+
+The young farmer was an only son. But his parents had wisely kept him
+from selfishness and egotism. He had been taught to work and to be
+grateful for the necessities of life. He had a loyal disposition and
+loved his parents with a half-worshipful devotion. He had been
+contented, industrious, careful, and honest. His only pride seemed to be
+in the distance he could see and in the large burden he could shoulder
+or carry. He had left school because his father needed him on the farm
+and he had abandoned the expectation of further education. But on that
+Sunday he held a long conference with his mother and father concerning
+his ambition to be something more than a country farmer. He read to them
+the editorial which had so moved him, and tearfully said: "I want to be
+great like them! I must improve my mind. I must increase my skill. I
+must have more influence and do more good. I must get more wisdom and
+more understanding. This farm is too small a place for me. I will stay
+at home if I can, or as long as I can, but I must begin to study
+to-morrow, and never thereafter lose a day. God helping me, I will be
+something worth while." His parents, with sad hearts, saw the
+reasonableness of his ambition and gave their consent to his proposed
+education. He began to read selected books at home, but he soon saw the
+great advantage of academic instruction in some well-equipped
+institution. He attended a high school in a near-by village and an
+academy in another part of the country. He was the leader of his classes
+and a close student of languages and natural science. He had obtained a
+glimpse of the world of knowledge and was fascinated with the idea of a
+university education. Beyond the university, he occasionally saw himself
+a multimillionaire with a palace and a brilliant retinue of servants. He
+had chosen for his life mate a brilliant young woman who was a teacher
+in a kindergarten school connected with the academy. They were to be
+married when he should graduate from the university. All seemed hopeful
+and promised a most noble and notable career.
+
+But while he was spending his vacation at the old home in the Hampshire
+Highlands of the Berkshire Hills, helping his old father in gathering
+the usual crops, he received an invitation from a rich uncle living near
+San Francisco, inviting him to visit his estate. The uncle had not often
+corresponded with the young man's parents and they had taken no interest
+in his history. They had heard that he was a wealthy manufacturer and a
+railroad director. So the brother, and the sister who was the student's
+mother, had lost all acquaintance with each other in the fifty years of
+their separation. The young man gladly accepted his uncle's invitation
+to visit him, and the uncle sent on a railroad pass to bring him to
+California and return.
+
+The estate of the uncle was on the shore of the Pacific, occupying a
+gentle slope with wide lawns, evergreen trees fancifully trimmed, and
+gushing fountains. Hedges of lilies, acres of poppies, roses of every
+perennial variety, and shade trees in long rows, decorated the great
+plateau. Orchards of luscious and rare fruits stretched away in great
+lanes from the back gardens. The house was a mansion built for show,
+with a front largely Grecian in design, and a rear porch and veranda of
+the Old Colony style. Carpets, paintings, mirrors, and a hundred curious
+and costly decorations made an exhibition of lavish wealth. Fine horses
+and extravagantly furnished carriages in great variety filled the
+stables. Servants' quarters were really fine cottages and the
+gatekeeper's lodge cost an extravagant sum. To this New England nephew
+who had spent his youth in the simplicity and poverty of a back-country
+farm, all this display of wealth was bewildering. The great library of
+costly volumes, few of which had ever been opened, seemed to him a great
+opportunity for his uncle to learn almost everything. The food was so
+various and so delicious. The wines which he had never tasted were
+sweetly stimulating and had been made on the estate. His uncle
+entertained him royally and introduced him to a number of handsome young
+ladies of fascinating manners, who volunteered to teach him to dance.
+Every kind of musical invention seemed to be stored in the mansion, and
+quartets from the university near by came in often to entertain and to
+be entertained at the uncle's evening socials. The uncle was a widower
+and childless, and seemed to be most pathetically lonely. He was pleased
+with his nephew and was proud of his apparently sterling character and
+manly appearance.
+
+The evening before the nephew's departure on his return journey his
+uncle talked with him until late in the night and told him frankly that
+he was going to make the young man his sole heir. But he made his nephew
+promise repeatedly not to tell any person, not even his parents, what
+the uncle had decided to do.
+
+The return of that young man, when viewed in the light of subsequent
+events, must have been a startling experience to his dear, patient,
+plodding old parents. His manners, his thoughts, his estimation of
+values had undergone a violent change. The old farmhouse seemed to him
+to be smaller than ever, the furniture was rude and cheap, the food was
+coarse and unpalatable, the horse was shamefully old, his father's
+overalls were disgracefully stained, and his mother's old apron was fit
+only for rags! The home was lonesome and uncomfortable. He sat by the
+fire on the cool evenings, silently picturing in his wild imagination
+what he would do with his millions, and sometimes he admitted, for an
+instant, the hope that his uncle would die very soon. He abandoned the
+idea of going on with his college education. He reasoned that money can
+buy anything and assured himself that he could hire men to think for him
+if he should need them. Letters from his fiancee became a bore. She was
+too plain and too unsophisticated to adorn his future mansion. He could
+not think of marrying a woman of whom he would be ashamed in that
+fashionable group to which he would be attached. He finally broke the
+engagement, telling her that he had discovered that he did not love her
+enough sincerely to marry her. The lady became ill and was suddenly
+killed in an accident in the sanitarium. The young man would not work.
+He refused to help his father on the old place and bluntly refused to
+help his mother when she was about her household tasks alone. All was
+changed. He was no longer their son. The father felt the impression of
+mystery about the son's strange behavior and suggested to his wife that
+the boy showed symptoms of insanity. Not many months passed before the
+son left his home to take an easy position as a clerk in Boston. But he
+soon left that and went to sea in a steamer, where he acted as assistant
+to the steward. At Bordeaux, France, he made the acquaintance of two
+American young men whose wealthy parents supplied them with funds to
+travel, but evidently did so to keep the rascals away from home. Then
+his downward course became a reckless race.
+
+A few years later the uncle heard or read that his nephew was sentenced
+to three months in the workhouse for drunkenness, and he changed his
+will, leaving all his estate to benevolent institutions. From that time
+the unrepentant prodigal disappeared from the knowledge or care of his
+old neighbors. Both his parents went down to the grave in bitter sorrow
+before his reform. The death of the mother was only a few weeks later
+than the death of the father.
+
+    God pity them both, God pity us all
+    Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
+    Of all sad words of tongue or pen
+    The saddest are these, "It might have been."
+    Ah, well for us all some sweet hope lies
+    Deeply hidden from human eyes,
+    And in the hereafter the angels may
+    Roll the stone from the grave away.
+
+The friend who reads this account of that young man's broken life may
+ask what this biographical sketch has to do with the subject of
+"unanswered prayer." It has much to do with it. Such experiences, which
+must have been seen in millions of cases, show a reasonable explanation
+why so many prayers for a view of heaven are denied. At almost every
+funeral the loved ones ask if the departed is still living and why God
+does not permit them to come back and tell us about their spirit life.
+"What are they doing in heaven?" is a question on the lips of millions.
+
+But in the letters herein mentioned the records of unanswered prayers
+included many who prayed for visions of heaven or who wished to see the
+angels or the face of the Saviour. One brother prayed continually, "Oh,
+for one view of the holy city!" and another seemed never to leave out of
+his daily prayer, "Lord, open my eyes to see the faces of the dear ones
+hovering about me!" But our eyes are still holden. Our pleading hearts
+are unsatisfied. We are not permitted to see our future home nor catch
+more than a glimpse of the angels' wings. When, however, we seek an
+explanation of this divine arrangement, this separation of this life
+from the other, the faithful believer in God's wisdom and love can
+easily set up a reasonable theory concerning it. He will see that God
+has placed us on this earth to grow in knowledge, to get necessary
+spiritual discipline for his heavenly service. To obtain that training
+we must keep our attention on the duties of our daily tasks and do them
+well. We cannot reap rye with heaven in actual view. It is not
+consistent to think after the Apostle John saw the holy city at Patmos
+he could devote himself as readily to catching fish. When that
+California uncle showed his nephew all that luxury, beauty, and wealth,
+and told him that he would some day own it all, it was a foolish
+act--almost criminal. The young man's mental and moral development was
+stopped then and there. The young man lost far more than the estate
+could be worth. Suddenly acquired riches are ever harmful.
+Dissatisfaction with this life is a fatal sin. God commands us to be
+content and toil. He, therefore, does not himself do so destructive and
+discouraging an act as to show us heaven's glories and fill us with a
+suicidal anxiety to get out of this world at once and speedily to enter
+the other where there is no more pain or sorrow or dying. A prayer for a
+view of heaven seems, therefore, to be an unreasonable request. This
+conclusion satisfies many who have been denied communication with the
+departed dear ones, and they take up their toil, content to labor and to
+wait. God does not interfere with the healthful exercise of our free
+will by holding bribes before our eyes or by forcing our discipline by
+awful fears.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter V
+
+Great Prayers
+
+
+Men talk and write of "great prayers" as though such petitions could be
+weighed or measured. They appear to think that sacred feelings can find
+a standard of comparison. But even the rightfully esteemed Lord's Prayer
+presents no universal standard by which to measure our varying appeals.
+One old saint writes that he often gets out of patience when the Lord's
+Prayer is intoned or recited, as none of its paragraphs fitly or
+adequately expresses his "soul's sincere desire."
+
+Prayer is necessarily as varying in its moods and objects as a
+kaleidoscope. Jesus said, "after this manner pray ye." And we must pray
+"after this manner." But person, time, place, hearers, sharers,
+emotions, ideas, desires, and needs all enter into the conditions of
+earnest prayer. To call on God in your own way, with your own motives
+and your own emotions and your own language, or without words, will be a
+clear fulfillment of the command to pray. The Lord understands every
+language and knows all that the heart would express if it could find an
+adequate form of speech.
+
+The books, except the Bible, most frequently quoted in these letters
+include volumes by St. Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Whitfield, Spurgeon,
+Moody, Fosdick, Nicoll, Campbell, Whittle, and Finney. In the quotations
+the idea is ever present that there are _great_ prayers. That place is
+given most frequently to the printed petitions of Spurgeon. But it is
+misleading to attempt to place a valuation on any of them. The most
+effective prayer recorded was the appeal of the Publican as he smote his
+breast; and Christ's long prayer at the Last Supper was the most
+comprehensive. But in the following circumstances, having trustworthy
+witnesses, no two of the marvelously effective petitions were
+alike--_viz._, the English boy's prayer for his blind sister's
+restoration to sight; Muller's prayer for a food supply for his
+orphanage; Doctor Cullis's appeal to God for his Consumptive Home;
+Doctor Kincaid's petition for protection for the converts of Ava; the
+Brooklyn child's prayer for her shipwrecked father; the groans of John
+Hall's praying, but starving, mother; the prayer of President Garfield's
+mother at the washtub when her boy was lost in the forest; the silent
+wish of Carey, the pioneer missionary; John Daniel Loest's prayer for
+money to pay his mortgage the next day; Spurgeon's prayer for his
+pastors' college in dire need; Moody's prayer for the establishment of a
+Bible school in Northfield; Luther's prayer for Melancthon; Halderman's
+prayer, in the Fulton Street daily prayer meeting, for the lost ship
+_Leviathan_; the petition of the mother of Doctor Talmage, asking that
+her son be made to decide at that moment to come home; Miss Lyon's
+prayer in the field for a seminary for women; and the prayer of the
+Dock child of Stockton who claimed that God had told him "in his heart"
+that his sister would immediately recover. To these may be added an
+almost innumerable number of cases where the prayers brought direct
+results, although there was no attempt to use any special form of words.
+
+This principle or truth is probably accepted by all thinking worshipers,
+including most extreme ritualists. As, however, true prayer requires a
+devotional state of mind there can be no denial of the statement that
+the forms, ceremonials, scenic effects, and processions of the different
+creeds and races have a most potent effect on the devotional natures of
+their supporters. Whatever awakens a spirit of devotion is more or less
+useful; but when a strong desire for communion with God has been aroused
+by music, exhortation, processions, or scenery the most effective method
+appears to be to then leave each soul alone with God in silent prayer.
+"Resting in Christ" has a meaning to the devout which no other can
+understand. Love only can understand love. To be "alone with the loved
+one" is ever a holy and soul-brightening experience. But to be "alone
+with God" is, by far, the most holy of all emotions. The testimony of
+nearly all those at the Baptist Temple who report an answer to prayer,
+mention the fact that their prayers seemed to be the most productive of
+results when offered in the silent moments at the close of some
+inspiring service.
+
+It is clearly impossible for one finite mind to shape a petition which
+will include and express all the desires of the multitude. Neither can
+an uninspired writer in one age fully appreciate and comprehend the
+conditions and needs of another age. Hence, while the petitions of
+friends, priests, or pastors have a strong influence with the Creator,
+the one vital necessity in making acceptable appeals to God is that each
+petitioner should ask for himself. No character can be changed from the
+outside. No wicked heart can be made pure without its own consent, and
+the Lord seems to have limited himself so that he never crosses the
+threshold of the soul unless he is sincerely invited by that individual
+householder. God does not convert any soul by force. Therefore, all who
+would be blessed by him must voluntarily and individually go to him.
+There can be no substitute in that case. Even Christ, a mediator, may
+take on himself our punishment, but he cannot do our praying for us. He
+makes intercession for us, but that is of no use without our
+co-operation.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VI
+
+Use of the Bible in Prayer
+
+
+It will be useful to any seeker after God to examine the agencies which
+have helped those whose prayers have been conspicuously answered. Among
+the many helps which, seemingly, have had especial potency in developing
+or awakening a devout spirit there is none so general in use as the
+Bible. The petitions which have been preserved from the ancient Fathers
+often quote the Scriptures; and when they do not quote directly, the
+language used shows a close familiarity with the Sacred Word. The Gospel
+truth is wonderfully condensed in this prayer of Thomas a Kempis:
+
+     O, Most merciful Lord, grant me thy grace, that it may be with me,
+     and labor within me, and persevere with me, even to the end. Grant
+     that I may always desire and will that which is to thee most
+     acceptable, and most dear. Let thy will be mine, and my will ever
+     follow thine and agree perfectly with it. Grant to me, above all
+     things that can be desired, to rest in thee, and in thee to have my
+     heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, thou its only
+     rest; out of thee all things are hard and restless. In this very
+     peace, that is, in thee the one Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep
+     and rest.
+
+     Amen.
+
+The following prayer by St. Augustine is a good example of the influence
+of the Bible on the trend of his thought:
+
+     O, thou full of compassion, I commit and commend myself unto thee,
+     in whom I am, and live, and know. Be thou the goal of my
+     pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from
+     the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of thy
+     wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in
+     thee, O God. Thou bounteous giver of all good gifts, give to him
+     who is weary refreshing food; gather our distracted thoughts and
+     powers into harmony again; and set the prisoner free. See, he
+     stands at thy door and knocks; be it opened to him, that he may
+     enter with a free step, and be quickened by thee. For thou art the
+     wellspring of life, the light of eternal brightness, wherein the
+     just live who love thee. Be it unto me according to thy word. Amen.
+
+When looking outside of the local list of petitioners to which this
+volume is so closely confined it can be seen clearly that those whose
+petitions were the most surely answered were familiar with the Bible. It
+is also interesting to notice the quotations which were used as mottoes
+or the favorite extracts from the Bible by the most saintly of the
+heroes, martyrs, and victors in the Christian Church. Out of many
+hundreds of Scripture quotations the following are selected with the
+hope that some one of them may be of especial helpfulness to some one
+who desires to pray successfully:
+
+     Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged
+     me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer
+     (Psalm iv:1).
+
+     My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning
+     will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm v:3).
+
+     The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my
+     prayer (Psalm vi:9).
+
+     Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my
+     supplication (Psalm lv:1).
+
+     Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting
+     up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm cxli:2).
+
+     I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
+     intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (Tim.
+     ii:1).
+
+     For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are
+     open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them
+     that do evil (I Peter iii:12).
+
+     And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that
+     Eli marked her mouth (I Sam. i:12).
+
+     Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his
+     supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
+     prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day (I Kings
+     viii:28).
+
+     And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and
+     the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before
+     the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was
+     speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the
+     vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me
+     about the time of the evening oblation (Dan. ix:20-21).
+
+     And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any;
+     that your Father, also which is in heaven, may forgive you your
+     trespasses (Mark xi:25).
+
+     And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the
+     time of incense (Luke i:10).
+
+     Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus
+     also being baptized, and praying, the heaven opened (Luke iii:21).
+
+     And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were
+     with him (Luke ix:18).
+
+     I was in a city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a
+     certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from
+     heaven by four corners; and it came even to me (Acts xii:5).
+
+     I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
+     also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
+     understanding also (I Cor. xiv:15).
+
+     Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
+     watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication (Eph.
+     vi:18).
+
+     Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and
+     might perfect that which is lacking in your faith (I Thes. iii:10).
+
+     And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy
+     people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear
+     thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive
+     (I Kings viii:30).
+
+     Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
+     against them day and night, because of them (Neh. iv:9).
+
+     Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and
+     thou shalt pay thy vows (Job xxii:27).
+
+     He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their
+     prayer (Psalm cii:17).
+
+     The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the
+     prayer of the upright is his delight (Prov. xv:8).
+
+     And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and
+     supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.... (Dan.
+     ix:3).
+
+     ... and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind
+     goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matt. xvii:21).
+
+     But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the
+     ministry of the word (Acts vi:4).
+
+     And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where
+     prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the
+     women which resorted thither (Acts xvi:13).
+
+     Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and
+     supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
+     God.
+
+     And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
+     your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. iv:6-7).
+
+     And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
+     raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
+     him (James v:15).
+
+     Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
+     ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
+     availeth much (James v:16).
+
+     ... be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (I Peter iv:7).
+
+     Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any
+     man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own
+     sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this
+     house;
+
+     Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
+     render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou
+     knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of
+     men....) (II Chron. vi:29-30).
+
+     And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God;
+     and the prisoners heard them (Acts xvi:25).
+
+     And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain
+     apart to pray (Matt. xiv:23).
+
+     Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and
+     saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder
+     (Matt. xxvi:36).
+
+     Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit
+     indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. xxvi:41).
+
+     Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
+     presently give me more than twelve legions of angels (Matt.
+     xxvi:53).
+
+     Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye
+     pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark
+     xi:24).
+
+     And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always
+     to pray, and not to faint (Luke xviii:1).
+
+     I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou
+     hast given me; for they are thine.
+
+     I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
+     thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
+
+     Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
+     believe on me through their word.... (St. John xvii:9, 15, 20).
+
+     Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not
+     what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh
+     intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom.
+     viii:26).
+
+     Pray without ceasing (I Thess. v:17).
+
+     And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
+     whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
+     coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Thess. v:23).
+
+     Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
+     worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his
+     goodness, and the work of faith with power (II Thess. i:11).
+
+     That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
+     rooted and grounded in love,
+
+     May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
+     length, and depth, and height.... (Eph. iii:17-18).
+
+     And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
+     commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight
+     (I John iii:22).
+
+     And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
+     thing according to his will, he heareth us;
+
+     And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
+     have the petitions that we desired of him (II John v:14-15).
+
+     But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God
+     will give it thee (St. John xi:22).
+
+     And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
+     Father may be glorified in the Son (St. John xiv:13).
+
+     If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (St. John
+     xiv:14).
+
+     If ye love me, keep my commandments (St. John xiv:15).
+
+     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
+     men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
+
+     But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (James i:5-6).
+
+     Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.... (James iv:3).
+
+     There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but
+     God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
+     are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
+     that ye may be able to bear it (I Cor. x:13).
+
+     Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
+     you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy
+     (Jude i:24).
+
+     But when ye pray, use not vain repetition, as the heathen do: for
+     they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
+
+     Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what
+     things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
+
+     After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
+     heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
+
+     Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
+
+     Give us this day our daily bread.
+
+     And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
+
+     And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For
+     thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen
+     (Matt. vi:7-13).
+
+     Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,
+     and verily thou shalt be fed (Psalm xxxvii:3).
+
+     Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring
+     it to pass (Psalm xxxvii:5).
+
+     Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.... (Psalm xxxvii:7).
+
+     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm xxiii:1).
+
+     Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
+     will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
+     comfort me (Psalm xxiii:4).
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII
+
+Conclusions
+
+
+As one lays aside the last letter of this collection and leans back in
+his chair for meditation on all these heart revelations he asks, most
+anxiously, What is the conclusion of the whole matter?
+
+Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, our faith remains unmoved.
+A general view of the field of prayer shows that the great fundamental
+facts remain undisturbed. God is. God answers prayer. The Bible is the
+inspired work of the Spirit of God. Jesus is the Son of God. The Christ
+is the Saviour of a sinful world. "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"
+Entering upon this investigation with a firm determination to hold an
+unbiased mind and trying to examine the evidence as an impartial judge
+there were moments of doubt as to the wisdom of setting one's mind so
+free. It seemed sometimes as if it was wrong, even for a day, to stand
+outside of the circle of earnest believers and be a neutral critic of
+sacred things. But the risk was taken. A tremor came with the suggestion
+that the lovely structure of our lifelong faith might be shattered, and
+only dust be left of the religious building which we had so fondly
+believed was a building that had indestructible foundations, "Eternal in
+the heavens."
+
+But not one pillar has moved, not a rent or seam in any of the old walls
+has appeared. The fear that faith might be lost has increased our
+estimate of its everlasting value. The faith of our fathers stands
+secure. The testimony of unbalanced minds to the Sonship of Christ did
+not defeat the Saviour in his day, and they cannot do so now. The
+mistakes, errors, and superstitions of the extremists and deceivers have
+not made more than a ripple in the current of Christian faith. The tide
+comes back. The love for the Holy Bible revives. The prodigal will come
+to himself and come back. The spirit of the Christian religion is a
+necessity to human progress and human happiness. The world needs it. It
+may come slowly, but, nevertheless, it will come surely. The spirit will
+awaken. The winter cannot last forever. Prayer is as necessary to the
+spirit of man as breath is to his body. The soul's sincere desire will
+ever seek expression. The seeker after God will surely find him when he
+shall truly seek him with all his heart. Hundreds testified to the facts
+that their prayers were answered where only a score or less asserted
+that they did not know whether their requests were heard or not. The
+millions who never tried to pray cannot be accepted as witnesses on
+either side. But the great majority of those who have tried the matter
+testify to its effectiveness.
+
+The doubters, who quibble and stumble over the parables and miracles,
+find that whether the believer accepted them as literal history or as
+spiritual illustrations, they all teach the truth; and to believe in
+them can do no harm. The consensus of religious opinion among the common
+people is decidedly in favor of trusting more and, consequently,
+doubting less. "We will be no more children, tossed to and fro and
+carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and
+cunning craftiness." We have put away childish things and here we stand,
+men and women, saved by grace, and "Who can separate us from the love of
+Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword? I am
+persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
+nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, not height, not
+depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love
+of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
+
+    Right is Right, since God is God,
+      And right the day will win;
+    To doubt would be disloyalty,
+      To falter would be sin.
+
+Ye saints, with your faith of steel, pray on. Ye faltering sinners,
+smite your breast and pray on. Ye doubtful critics, pray on. Ye
+sorrow-stricken ones, pray on. In due time every petitioner shall reap
+if he or she faints not.
+
+Oh, the rest, the peace, the joy of this settled conviction, that the
+faith in the Messiahship of Jesus Christ need be no more disturbed! "Now
+unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you
+faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the
+only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
+both now and forever. Amen."
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+
+    1. This volume is continuation of the preceding two: Health, Healing
+    and Faith and Praying for Money.
+
+    2. The troublesome subject/verb agreement in chapter I has been
+    retained as in the original ("Such servants of God can offer prayer
+    which avail much more than the frightened call of the worldly
+    minded...").
+
+    3. Preposition "in" was added in chapter VI ("...and in thee to have
+    my heart at peace").
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Subconscious Religion, by Russell H. Conwell
+
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