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diff --git a/old/61883-0.txt b/old/61883-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 45788ef..0000000 --- a/old/61883-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4438 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?, by -Dwight Lyman Moody - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It? - -Author: Dwight Lyman Moody - -Release Date: April 21, 2020 [EBook #61883] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PREVAILING PRAYER *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Wilson, MWS, David E. Brown, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - PREVAILING PRAYER: - - _WHAT HINDERS IT_? - - - BY - - D. L. MOODY. - - - CHICAGO: - F. H. REVELL, 148 AND 150 MADISON STREET. - _Publisher of Evangelical Literature._ - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by - FLEMING H. REVELL, - In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - _ALL RIGHTS RESERVED._ - - - Printed and bound by J. L. REGAN & CO., Chicago. - - - - -PREFATORY NOTE. - - -The two first and essential means of grace are the Word of God and -Prayer. By these comes conversion; for we are born again by the Word of -God, which liveth and abideth forever; and whosoever shall call upon -the name of the Lord shall be saved. - -By these also we grow; for we are exhorted to desire the sincere milk -of the Word that we may grow thereby, and we cannot grow in grace and -in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ except we also speak to Him -in Prayer. - -It is by the Word that the Father sanctifies us; but we are also bidden -to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. - -These two means of grace must be used in their right proportion. If we -read the Word and do not pray, we may become puffed up with knowledge, -without the love that buildeth up. If we pray without reading the Word, -we shall be ignorant of the mind and will of God, and become mystical -and fanatical, and liable to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. - -The following chapters relate especially to Prayer; but in order that -our prayers may be for such things as are according to the will of -God, they must be based upon the revelation of His own will to us; for -of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things; and it is only by -hearing His Word, in which we learn His purposes toward us and towards -the world, that we can pray acceptably, praying in the Holy Ghost, -asking those things which are pleasing in His sight. - -These Addresses are not to be regarded as exhaustive, but suggestive. -This great subject has been the theme of Prophets and Apostles, and of -all good men in all ages of the world; and my desire in sending forth -this little volume is to encourage God’s children to seek by prayer “to -move the Arm that moves the world.” - - [Illustration: D. L. Moody. signature] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - CHAPTER I. - THE PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE 7 - - CHAPTER II. - ADORATION 19 - - CHAPTER III. - CONFESSION 25 - - CHAPTER IV. - RESTITUTION 41 - - CHAPTER V. - THANKSGIVING 51 - - CHAPTER VI. - FORGIVENESS 59 - - CHAPTER VII. - UNITY 71 - - CHAPTER VIII. - FAITH 79 - - CHAPTER IX. - PETITION 90 - - CHAPTER X. - SUBMISSION 102 - - CHAPTER XI. - ANSWERED PRAYERS 111 - - - - -Prayer. - - - Prayer was appointed to convey - The blessings God designs to give; - Long as they live should Christians pray, - For only while they pray they live. - - And shall we in dead silence lie, - When Christ stands waiting for our prayer? - My soul, thou hast a Friend on high; - Arise and try thy interest there. - - If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress; - If cares distract, or fears dismay; - If guilt deject, if sin distress; - The remedy’s before thee--Pray! - - Depend on Christ, thou canst not fail; - Make all thy wants and wishes known. - Fear not; His merits must prevail; - Ask what thou wilt; it shall be done! - - --_Joseph Hart._ - - - - -PREVAILING PRAYER. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE. - - -Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin-cursed earth -have been men and women of prayer. You will find that PRAYER has been -the mighty power that has moved not only God, but man. Abraham was a -man of prayer, and angels came down from heaven to converse with him. -Jacob’s prayer was answered in the wonderful interview at Peniel, that -resulted in his having such a mighty blessing, and in softening the -heart of his brother Esau; the child Samuel was given in answer to -Hannah’s prayer; Elijah’s prayer closed up the heavens for three years -and six months, and he prayed again and the heavens gave rain. - -The Apostle James tells us that the prophet Elijah was a man “subject -to like passions as we are.” I am thankful that those men and women who -were so mighty in prayer were just like ourselves. We are apt to think -that those prophets and mighty men and women of old time were different -from what we are. To be sure they lived in a much darker age, but they -were of like passions with ourselves. - -We read that on another occasion Elijah brought down fire on Mount -Carmel. The prophets of Baal cried long and loud, but no answer came. -The God of Elijah heard and answered his prayer. Let us remember that -the God of Elijah still lives. The prophet was translated and went up -to heaven, but his God still lives, and we have the same access to Him -that Elijah had. We have the same warrant to go to God and ask the fire -from heaven to come down and consume our lusts and passions--to burn up -our dross, and let Christ shine through us. - -Elisha prayed, and life came back to a dead child. Many of our children -are dead in trespasses and sins. Let us do as Elisha did; let us -entreat God to raise them up in answer to our prayers. - -Manasseh, the king, was a wicked man, and had done everything he could -against the God of his father; yet in Babylon, when he cried to God, -his cry was heard, and he was taken out of prison and put on the throne -at Jerusalem. Surely if God gave heed to the prayer of wicked Manasseh, -He will hear ours in the time of our distress. Is not this a time of -distress with a great number of our fellow-men? Are there not many -among us whose hearts are burdened? As we go to the throne of grace, -let us remember that GOD ANSWERS PRAYER. - -Look, again, at Samson. He prayed; and his strength came back, -so that he slew more at his death than during his life. He was a -restored backslider, and he had power with God. If those who have been -backsliders will but return to God, they will see how quickly God will -answer prayer. - -Job prayed, and his captivity was turned. Light came in the place -of darkness, and God lifted him up above the height of his former -prosperity--in answer to prayer. - -Daniel prayed to God, and Gabriel came to tell him that he was a man -greatly beloved of God. Three times that message came to him from -heaven in answer to prayer. The secrets of heaven were imparted to him, -and he was told that God’s Son was going to be cut off for the sins of -His people. We find also that Cornelius prayed; and Peter was sent to -tell him words whereby he and his should be saved. In answer to prayer -this great blessing came upon him and his household. Peter had gone up -to the house-top to pray in the afternoon, when he had that wonderful -vision of the sheet let down from heaven. It was when prayer was made -without ceasing unto God for Peter, that the angel was sent to deliver -him. - -So all through the Scriptures you will find that when believing -prayer went up to God, the answer came down. I think it would be a -very interesting study to go right through the Bible and see what has -happened while God’s people have been on their knees calling upon him. -Certainly the study would greatly strengthen our faith--showing, as it -would, how wonderfully God has heard and delivered, when the cry has -gone up to Him for help. - -Look at Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi. As they prayed and -sang praises, the place was shaken, and the jailer was converted. -Probably that one conversion has done more than any other recorded -in the Bible to bring people into the Kingdom of God. How many have -been blessed in seeking to answer the question--“What must I do to -be saved?” It was the prayer of those two godly men that brought the -jailer to his knees, and that brought blessing to him and his family. - -You remember how Stephen, as he prayed and looked up, saw the heavens -opened, and the Son of Man at the right hand of God; the light of -heaven fell on his face so that it shone. Remember, too, how the face -of Moses shone as he came down from the Mount; he had been in communion -with God. So when we get really into communion with God, He lifts up -His countenance upon us; and instead of our having gloomy looks, our -faces will shine, because God has heard and answered our prayers. - -I want to call special attention to Christ as an example for us in all -things; in nothing more than in prayer. We read that Christ prayed -to His Father for everything. Every great crisis in His life was -preceded by prayer. Let me quote a few passages. I never noticed till -a few years ago that Christ was praying at His baptism. As He prayed, -the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended on Him. Another -great event in His life was His Transfiguration. “As He prayed, the -fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and -glistering.” - -We read again: “It came to pass in those days that He went out into a -mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” This is -the only place where it is recorded that the Savior spent a whole night -in prayer. What was about to take place? When He came down from the -mountain He gathered His disciples around Him, and preached that great -discourse known as the Sermon on the Mount--the most wonderful sermon -that has ever been preached to mortal men. Probably no sermon has done -so much good, and it was preceded by a night of prayer. If our sermons -are going to reach the hearts and consciences of the people, we must be -much in prayer to God, that there may be power with the word. - -In the Gospel of John we read that Jesus at the grave of Lazarus lifted -up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast -heard Me; and I know that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the -people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast -sent Me.” Notice, that before He spoke the dead to life He spoke to -His Father. If our spiritually dead ones are to be raised, we must -first get power with God. The reason we so often fail in moving our -fellow-men is that we try to win them without first getting power with -God. Jesus was in communion with His Father, and so He could be assured -that His prayers were heard. - -We read again, in the twelfth of John, that He prayed to the Father. I -think this is one of the saddest chapters in the whole Bible. He was -about to leave the Jewish nation and to make atonement for the sin of -the world. Hear what He says: “Now is My soul troubled, and what shall -I say? Father, save Me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto -this hour.” He was almost under the shadow of the Cross; the iniquities -of mankind were about to be laid upon Him; one of His twelve disciples -was going to deny Him and swear he never knew Him; another was to sell -Him for thirty pieces of silver; all were to forsake Him and flee. His -soul was exceeding sorrowful, and He prays; when His soul was troubled, -God spake to Him. Then in the Garden of Gethsemane, while He prayed, -an angel appeared to strengthen him. In answer to His cry, “Father, -glorify Thy Name,” He hears a voice coming down from the glory--“I have -both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” - -Another memorable prayer of our Lord was in the Garden of Gethsemane: -“He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down and -prayed.” I would draw your attention to the recorded fact that four -times the answer came right down from heaven while the Savior prayed to -God. The first time was at His baptism, when the heavens were opened, -and the Spirit descended upon Him in answer to His prayer. Again, on -the Mount of Transfiguration, God appeared and spoke to Him. Then -when the Greeks came desiring to see Him, the voice of God was heard -responding to His call; and again, when He cried to the Father in the -midst of His agony, a direct response was given. These things are -recorded, I doubt not, that we may be encouraged to pray. - -We read that His disciples came to Him, and said, “Lord, teach us to -pray.” It is not recorded that He taught them how to preach. I have -often said that I would rather know how to pray like Daniel than to -preach like Gabriel. If you get love into your soul, so that the -grace of God may come down in answer to prayer, there will be no -trouble about reaching the people. It is not by eloquent sermons that -perishing souls are going to be reached; we need the power of God in -order that the blessing may come down. - -The prayer our Lord taught his disciples is commonly called the Lord’s -Prayer. I think that the Lord’s prayer, more properly, is that in the -seventeenth of John. That is the longest prayer on record that Jesus -made. You can read it slowly and carefully in about four or five -minutes. I think we may learn a lesson here. Our Master’s prayers were -short when offered in public; when He was alone with God that was a -different thing, and He could spend the whole night in communion with -His Father. My experience is that those who pray most in their closets -generally make short prayers in public. Long prayers are too often not -prayers at all, and they weary the people. How short the publican’s -prayer was: “God be merciful to me a sinner!” The Syrophenician woman’s -was shorter still: “Lord help me!” She went right to the mark, and she -got what she wanted. The prayer of the thief on the cross was a short -one: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom!” Peter’s -prayer was, “Lord, save me, or I perish!” So, if you go through the -Scriptures, you will find that the prayers that brought immediate -answers were generally brief. Let our prayers be to the point, just -telling God what we want. - -In the prayer of our Lord, in John xvii, we find that He made seven -requests--one for Himself, four for His disciples around Him, and two -for the disciples of succeeding ages. Six times in that one prayer -He repeats that God had sent Him. The world looked upon Him as an -imposter; and He wanted them to know that He was heaven-sent. He speaks -of the world nine times, and makes mention of His disciples and those -who believe on Him fifty times. - -Christ’s last prayer on the Cross was a short one: “Father, forgive -them for they know not what they do.” I believe that prayer was -answered. We find that right there in front of the Cross, a Roman -centurion was converted. It was probably in answer to the Savior’s -prayer. The conversion of the thief, I believe, was in answer to that -prayer of our blessed Lord. Saul of Tarsus may have heard it, and the -words may have followed him as he traveled to Damascus; so that when -the Lord spoke to him on the way, he may have recognized the voice. -One thing we do know; that on the day of Pentecost some of the enemies -of the Lord were converted. Surely that was in answer to the prayer, -“Father, forgive them!” - -Hence we see that prayer holds a high place among the exercises of a -spiritual life. All God’s people have been praying people. Look, for -instance, at Baxter! He stained his study walls with praying breath; -and after he was anointed with the unction of the Holy Ghost, sent -a river of living water over Kidderminster, and converted hundreds. -Luther and his companions were men of such mighty pleading with God, -that they broke the spell of ages, and laid nations subdued at the -foot of the Cross. John Knox grasped all Scotland in his strong arms -of faith; his prayers terrified tyrants. Whitefield, after much holy, -faithful closet-pleading, went to the Devil’s fair, and took more -than a thousand souls out of the paw of the lion in one day. See a -praying Wesley turn more than ten thousand souls to the Lord! Look at -the praying Finney, whose prayers, faith, sermons and writings, have -shaken this whole country, and sent a wave of blessing through the -churches on both sides of the sea. - -Dr. Guthrie thus speaks of prayer and its necessity: “The first true -sign of spiritual life, prayer, is also the means of maintaining it. -Man can as well live physically without breathing, as spiritually -without praying. There is a class of animals--the cetaceous, neither -fish nor sea-fowl--that inhabit the deep. It is their home, they never -leave it for the shore; yet, though swimming beneath its waves, and -sounding its darkest depths, they have ever and anon to rise to the -surface that they may breathe the air. Without that, these monarchs of -the deep could not exist in the dense element in which they live, and -move, and have their being. And something like what is imposed on them -by a physical necessity, the Christian has to do by a spiritual one. It -is by ever and anon ascending up to God, by rising through prayer into -a loftier, purer region for supplies of Divine grace, that he maintains -his spiritual life. Prevent these animals from rising to the surface, -and they die for want of breath; prevent the Christian from rising to -God, and he dies for want of prayer. ‘Give me children,’ cried Rachel, -‘or else I die.’ ‘Let me breathe,’ says a man gasping, ‘or else I die.’ -‘Let me pray,’ says the Christian, ‘or else I die.’” - -“Since I began,” said Dr. Payson when a student, “to beg God’s blessing -on my studies, I have done more in one week than in the whole year -before.” Luther, when most pressed with work, said, “I have so much -to do that I cannot get on without three hours a day praying.” And -not only do theologians think and speak highly of prayer; men of all -ranks and positions in life have felt the same. General Havelock rose -at four o’clock, if the hour for marching was six, rather than lose -the precious privilege of communion with God before setting out. Sir -Matthew Hale says: “If I omit praying and reading God’s Word in the -morning, nothing goes well all day.” - -“A great part of my time,” said McCheyne, “is spent in getting my heart -in tune for prayer. It is the link that connects earth with heaven.” - -A comprehensive view of the subject will show that there are nine -elements which are essential to true prayer. The first is Adoration; -we cannot meet God on a level at the start. We must approach Him as -One far beyond our reach or sight. The next is Confession; sin must be -put out of the way. We cannot have any communion with God while there -is any transgression between us. If there stands some wrong you have -done a man, you cannot expect that man’s favor until you go to him and -confess the fault. Restitution is another; we have to make good the -wrong, wherever possible. Thanksgiving is the next; we must be thankful -for what God has done for us already. Then comes Forgiveness, and then -Unity; and then for prayer, such as these things produce, there must -be Faith. Thus influenced, we shall be ready to offer direct Petition. -We hear a good deal of praying that is just exhorting, and if you did -not see the man’s eyes closed, you would suppose he was preaching. -Then, much that is called prayer is simply finding fault. There needs -to be more _petition_ in our prayers. After all these, there must come -Submission. While praying, we must be ready to accept the will of God. -We shall consider these nine elements in detail, closing our inquiries -by giving incidents illustrative of the certainty of our receiving, -under such conditions, Answers to Prayer. - - - - -The Hour of Prayer. - - - “Lord, what a change within us one short hour - Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make! - What heavy burdens from our bosoms take; - What parched grounds refresh as with a shower. - - “We kneel--and all around us seems to lower; - We rise--and all, the distant and the near, - Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear; - We kneel: how weak!--we rise: how full of power! - - “Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong, - Or others--that we are not always strong? - That we are ever overborne with care; - That we should ever weak or heartless be, - Anxious or troubled, while with us is prayer, - And joy, and strength, and courage, are with Thee?” - - _Trench._ - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -ADORATION. - - -This has been defined as the act of rendering Divine honor, including -in it reverence, esteem and love. It literally signifies to apply the -hand to the mouth, “to kiss the hand;” in Eastern countries this is one -of the great marks of respect and submission. The importance of coming -before God in this spirit is great, therefore it is so often impressed -upon us in the Word of God. - -The Rev. Newman Hall, in his work on the Lord’s Prayer, says: “Man’s -worship, apart from revelation, has been uniformly characterized by -selfishness. We come to God either to thank Him for benefits already -received, or to implore still further benefits: food, raiment, health, -safety, comfort. Like Jacob at Bethel, we are disposed to make the -worship we render to God cor-relative with ‘food to eat, and raiment to -put on.’ This style of petition, in which self generally precedes and -predominates, if it does not altogether absorb, our supplications, is -not only seen in the votaries of false systems, but in the majority of -the prayers of professed Christians. Our prayers are like the Parthian -horsemen, who ride one way while they look another; we seem to go -toward God, but, indeed, reflect upon ourselves. And this may be the -reason why many times our prayers are sent forth, like the raven out -of Noah’s ark, and never return. But when we make the glory of God the -chief end of our devotion, they go forth like the dove, and return to -us again with an olive branch.” - -Let me refer you to a passage in the prophecies of Daniel. He was one -of the men who knew how to pray; his prayer brought the blessing of -heaven upon himself and upon his people. He says: “I set my face unto -the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and -sackcloth, and ashes; and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my -confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the -covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His -commandments!” - -The thought I want to call special attention to is conveyed in the -words, “O Lord, the great and dreadful God!” Daniel took his right -place before God--in the dust; he put God in His right place. It was -when Abraham was on his face, prostrate before God, that God spoke to -him, Holiness belongs to God; sinfulness belongs to us. - -Brooks, that grand old Puritan writer, says: “A person of real -holiness is much affected and taken up in the admiration of the -holiness of God. Unholy persons may be somewhat affected and taken with -the other excellences of God; it is only holy souls that are taken and -affected with His holiness. The more holy any are, the more deeply are -they affected by this. To the holy angels, the holiness of God is the -sparkling diamond in the ring of glory. But unholy persons are affected -and taken with anything rather than with this. Nothing strikes the -sinner into such a damp as a discourse on the holiness of God; it is -as the handwriting on the wall; nothing makes the head and heart of -a sinner to ache like a sermon upon the Holy One; nothing galls and -gripes, nothing stings and terrifies unsanctified ones, like a lively -setting forth of the holiness of God. But to holy souls there are no -discourses that do more suit and satisfy them, that do more delight and -content them, that do more please and profit them, than those that do -most fully and powerfully discover God to be glorious in holiness.” So, -in coming before God, we must adore and reverence His name. - -The same thing is brought out in Isaiah: - -“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a -throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it -stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his -face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. -And one cried unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of -hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” - -When we see the holiness of God, we shall adore and magnify Him. Moses -had to learn the same lesson. God told him to take his shoes from off -his feet, for the place whereon he stood was holy ground. When we hear -men trying to make out that they are holy, and speaking about their -holiness, they make light of the holiness of God. It is His holiness -that we need to think and speak about; when we do that, we shall be -prostrate in the dust. You remember, also, how it was with Peter. When -Christ made Himself known to him, he said, “Depart from me, for I am -a sinful man, O Lord!” A sight of God is enough to show us how holy He -is, and how unholy we are. - -We find that Job too, had to be taught the same lesson. “Then Job -answered the Lord, and said: Behold I am vile; what shall I answer -Thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.” - -As you hear Job discussing with his friends you would think he was -one of the holiest men who ever lived. He was eyes to the blind, and -feet to the lame; he fed the hungry, and clothed the naked. What a -wonderfully good man he was! It was all I, I, I. At last God said to -him, “Gird up your loins like a man, and I will put a few questions to -you.” The moment that God revealed Himself, Job changed his language. -He saw his own vileness, and God’s purity. He said, “I have heard of -Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee; wherefore -I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” - -The same thing is seen in the cases of those who came to our Lord in -the days of His flesh; those who came aright, seeking and obtaining -the blessing, manifested a lively sense of His infinite superiority to -themselves. The centurion, of whom we read in the eighth of Matthew, -said: “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof;” -Jairus “worshiped Him,” as he presented his request; the leper, in -the Gospel of Mark, came “kneeling down to Him;” the Syrophenician -woman “came and fell at His feet;” the man full of leprosy “seeing -Jesus, fell on his face.” So, too the beloved disciple, speaking -of the feeling they had concerning Him when they were abiding with -Him as their Lord, said: “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the -only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” However intimate -their companionship, and tender their love, they reverenced as much as -they communed, and adored as much as they loved. - -We may say of every act of prayer as George Herbert says of public -worship: - - “When once thy foot enters the church, be bare; - God is more than thou; for thou art there - Only by His permission. Then beware, - And make thyself all reverence and fear. - Kneeling ne’er spoiled silk stocking; quit thy state. - All equal are within the church’s gate.” - -The wise man says: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, -and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they -consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let -not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in -heaven, and thou upon earth--therefore let thy words be few.” - -If we are struggling to live a higher life, and to know something of -God’s holiness and purity, what we need is to be brought into contact -with Him, that He may reveal Himself. Then we shall take our place -before Him as those men of old were constrained to do. We shall hallow -His Name--as the Master taught His disciples, when He said, “Hallowed -be Thy Name.” When I think of the irreverence of the present time, it -seems to me that we have fallen on evil days. - -Let us, as Christians, when we draw near to God in prayer, give Him His -right place. “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, -with reverence and Godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire.” - - - - -The Trinity. - - - “Thou dear and great mysterious Three, - For ever be adored, - For all the endless grace we see - In our Redeemer stored. - - “The Father’s ancient grace we sing, - That chose us in our Head; - Ordaining Christ, our God and King, - To suffer in our stead. - - “The sacred Son, in equal strains, - With reverence we address, - For all His grace, and dying pains, - And splendid righteousness. - - “With tuneful tongue the Holy Ghost - For His great work we praise, - Whose power inspires the blood-bought host - Their grateful voice to raise. - - “Thus the Eternal Three in One - We join to praise, for grace - And endless glory through the Son, - As shining from His face.” - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -CONFESSION. - - -Another element in true prayer is Confession. I do not want Christian -friends to think that I am talking to the unsaved. I think we, as -Christians, have a good many sins to confess. - -If you go back to the Scripture records, you will find that the men -who lived nearest to God, and had most power with Him, were those who -confessed their sins and failures. Daniel, as we have seen, confessed -his sins and those of his people. Yet there is nothing recorded against -Daniel. He was one of the best men then on the face of the earth, yet -was his confession of sin one of the deepest and most humble on record. -Brooks, referring to Daniel’s confession, says: “In these words you -have seven circumstances that Daniel useth in confessing of his and -the people’s sins; and all to heighten and aggravate them. First, ‘We -have sinned;’ secondly, ‘We have committed iniquity;’ thirdly, ‘We have -done wickedly;’ fourthly, ‘We have rebelled against thee;’ fifthly, -‘We have departed from Thy precepts;’ sixthly, ‘We have not hearkened -unto Thy servants;’ seventhly, ‘Nor our princes, nor all the people -of the land.’ These seven aggravations which Daniel reckons up in his -confession are worthy our most serious consideration.” - -Job was no doubt a holy man, a mighty prince, yet he had to fall in -the dust and confess his sins. So you will find it all through the -Scriptures. When Isaiah saw the purity and holiness of God, he beheld -himself in his true light, and he exclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am -undone, because I am a man of unclean lips!” - -I firmly believe that the Church of God will have to confess her own -sins, before there can be any great work of grace. There must be a -deeper work among God’s believing people. I sometimes think it is about -time to give up preaching to the ungodly, and preach to those who -profess to be Christians. If we had a higher standard of life in the -Church of God, there would be thousands more flocking into the Kingdom. -So it was in the past; when God’s believing children turned away from -their sins and their idols, the fear of God fell upon the people round -about. Take up the history of Israel, and you will find that when they -put away their strange gods, God visited the nation, and there came a -mighty work of grace. - -What we want in these days is a true and deep revival in the Church of -God. I have little sympathy with the idea that God is going to reach -the masses by a cold and formal church. The judgment of God must begin -with us. You notice that when Daniel got that wonderful answer to -prayer recorded in the ninth chapter, he was confessing his sin. That -is one of the best chapters on prayer in the whole Bible. - -We read: “While 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, while I was -speaking in my 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. And he informed me, and talked with -me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and -understanding.” - -So also when Job was confessing his sin, God turned his captivity and -heard his prayer. God will hear our prayer and turn our captivity -when we take our true place before Him, and confess and forsake our -transgressions. It was when Isaiah cried out before the Lord, “I am -undone,” that the blessing came; the live coal was taken from the -altar and put upon his lips; and he went out to write one of the most -wonderful books the world has ever seen. What a blessing it has been to -the church! - -It was when David said, “I have sinned!” that God dealt in mercy -with him. “I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I -not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and -Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Notice how David made a very -similar confession to that of the prodigal in the fifteenth of Luke: “I -acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against -Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight!” There -is no difference between the king and the beggar when the Spirit of God -comes into the heart and convicts of sin. - -Richard Sibbes quaintly says of confession: “This is the way to give -glory to God: when we have laid open our souls to God, and laid as much -against ourselves as the devil could do that way, for let us think -what the devil would lay to our charge at the hour of death and the -day of judgment. He would lay hard to our charge this and that--let -us accuse ourselves as he would, and as he will ere long. The more -we accuse and judge ourselves, and set up a tribunal in our hearts, -certainly there will follow an incredible ease. Jonah was cast into -the sea, and there was an ease in the ship; Achan was stoned, and the -plague was stayed. Out with Jonah, out with Achan; and there will -follow ease and quiet in the soul presently. Conscience will receive -wonderful ease. - -“It must needs be so; for when God is honored, conscience is purified. -God is honored by confession of sin every way. It honors His -omniscience, that He is all-seeing; that He sees our sins and searches -our hearts--our secrets are not hid from Him. It honours His power. -What makes us confess our sins, but that we are afraid of His power, -lest He should execute it? And what makes us confess our sins, but that -we know there is mercy with Him that He may be feared, and that there -is pardon for sin? We would not confess our sins else. With men it is, -Confess, and have execution; but with God, Confess, and have mercy. -It is His own protestation. We should never lay open our sins but for -mercy. So it honors God; and when He is honored, He honors the soul -with inward peace and tranquillity.” - -Old Thomas Fuller says: “Man’s owning his weakness is the only stock -for God thereon to graft the grace of His assistance.” - -Confession implies humility, and this, in God’s sight, is of great -price. - -A farmer went with his son into a wheat field, to see if it was ready -for the harvest. “See, father,” exclaimed the boy, “how straight these -stems hold up their heads! They must be the best ones. Those that -hang their heads down, I am sure cannot be good for much.” The farmer -plucked a stalk of each kind and said: “See here, foolish child! This -stalk that stood so straight is light-headed, and almost good for -nothing; while this that hung its head so modestly is full of the most -beautiful grain.” - -Outspokenness is needful and powerful, both with God and man. We need -to be honest and frank with ourselves. A soldier said in a revival -meeting: “My fellow-soldiers, I am not excited; I am _convinced_--that -is all. I feel that I ought to be a Christian; that I ought to say -so, to tell you so, and to ask you to come with me; and now if there -is a call for sinners seeking Christ to come forward, I for one shall -go--not to make a show, for I have nothing but sin to show. I do not -go because I want to--I would rather keep my seat; but going will be -telling the truth. I ought to be a Christian, I want to be a Christian; -and going forward for prayers is just telling the truth about it.” More -than a score went with him. - -Speaking of Pharaoh’s words, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away -the frogs from me,” Mr. Spurgeon says: “A fatal flaw is manifest -in that prayer. _It contains no confession of sin._ He says not, ‘I -have rebelled against the Lord; entreat that I may find forgiveness!’ -Nothing of the kind; he loves sin as much as ever. A prayer without -penitence is a prayer without acceptance. If no tear has fallen upon -it, it is withered. Thou must come to God as a sinner through a Savior, -but by no other way. He who comes to God like the Pharisee, with, -‘God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are,’ never draws near -to God at all; but he who cries, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner,’ has -come to God by the way which God has Himself appointed. There must be -confession of sin before God, or our prayer is faulty.” - -If this confession of sin is deep among believers, it will be so among -the ungodly also. I never knew it to fail. I am now anxious that God -should revive His work in the hearts of His children, so that we may -see the exceeding sinfulness of sin. There are a great many fathers and -mothers who are anxious for the conversion of their children. I have -had as many as fifty messages from parents come to me within a single -week, wondering why their children are not saved, and asking prayer for -them. I venture to say that, as a rule, the fault lies at our own door. -There may be something in our life that stands in the way. It may be -there is some secret sin that keeps back the blessing. David lived in -the awful sin into which he fell for many months before Nathan made his -appearance. Let us pray God to come into our hearts, and make His power -felt. If it is a right eye, let us pluck it out; if it is a right hand, -let us cut it off; that we may have power with God and with man. - -Why is it that so many of our children are wandering off into the -drinking saloons, and drifting away into infidelity--going down -to a dishonored grave? There seems to be very little power in the -Christianity of the present time. Many Godly parents find that their -children are going astray. Does it arise from some secret sin clinging -around the heart? There is a passage of God’s Word that is often -quoted, but in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred those who quote it -stop at the wrong place. In the fifty-ninth of Isaiah we read: “Behold, -the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear -heavy, that it cannot hear.” There they stop. Of course God’s hand is -not shortened, and His ear is not heavy; but we ought to read the next -verse: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and -your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. For your -hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips -have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” As Mathew -Henry says, “It was owing to themselves--they stood in their own light, -they shut their own door. God was coming toward them in the way of -mercy, and they hindered Him. ‘_Your iniquities have kept good things -from you._’” - -Bear in mind that if we are regarding iniquity in our hearts, or living -on a mere empty profession, we have no claim to expect that our prayers -will be answered. There is not one solitary promise for us. I sometimes -tremble when I hear people quote promises, and say that God is bound to -fulfil those promises to them, when all the time there is something in -their own lives which they are not willing to give up. It is well for -us to search our hearts, and find out why it is that our prayers are -not answered. - -That is a very solemn passage in Isaiah: - -“Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the -law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the -multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord. I am full of the -burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I delight not -in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come -to speak before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My -courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto -Me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot -away with--it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.” - -“Even the solemn meeting!”--think of that. If God does not get our -heart-services, He will have none of it; it is an abomination to Him. - -“Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth; they are a -trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your -hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, -I will not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you -clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease -to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, -judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason -together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall -be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as -wool.” - -Again we read in Proverbs: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing -the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Think of that! It may -shock some of us to think that our prayers are an abomination to God, -yet if any are living in known sin, this is what God’s Word says about -them. If we are not willing to turn from sin and obey God’s law, we -have no right to expect that He will answer our prayers. Unconfessed -sin is unforgiven sin, and unforgiven sin is the darkest, foulest thing -on this sin-cursed earth. You cannot find a case in the Bible where a -man has been honest in dealing with sin, but God has been honest with -him and blessed him. The prayer of the humble and the contrite heart is -a delight to God. There is no sound that goes up from this sin-cursed -earth so sweet to His ear as the prayer of the man who is walking -uprightly. - -Let me call attention to that prayer of David, in which he says: -“Search me, O, God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, -and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way -everlasting!” I wish all my readers would commit these verses to -memory. If we should all honestly make this prayer once every day there -would be a good deal of change in our lives. “_Search_ ME”--not my -neighbor. It is so easy to pray for other people, but so hard to get -home to ourselves. I am afraid that we who are busy in the Lord’s work, -are very often in danger of neglecting our vineyard. In this Psalm, -David got home to himself. There is a difference between God searching -me and my searching myself. I may search my heart, and pronounce it all -right, but when God searches me as with a lighted candle, a good many -things will come to light that perhaps I knew nothing about. - -“_Try me._” David was tried when he fell by taking his eye off from -the God of his father Abraham. “_Know my thoughts._” God looks at the -thoughts. Are our thoughts pure? Have we in our hearts thoughts against -God or against His people--against any one in the world? If we have, -we are not right in the sight of God. Oh, may God search us, every one! -I do not know any better prayer that we can make than this prayer of -David. One of the most solemn things in the Scripture history is that -when holy men--better men than we are--were tested and tried, they were -found to be as weak as water away from God. - -Let us be sure that we are right. Isaac Ambrose, in his work on “Self -Trial,” has the following pithy words: “Now and then propose we to our -hearts these two questions: 1. ‘Heart, how dost thou?’--a few words, -but a very serious question. You know this is the first question and -the first salute that we use to one another--How do you do? I would to -God we sometimes thus spoke to our hearts: ‘Heart, how dost thou? How -is it with thee, for thy spiritual state?’ 2. ‘Heart, what wilt thou -do?’ or, ‘Heart, what dost thou think will become of thee and me?’--as -that dying Roman once said: ‘Poor, wretched, miserable soul, whither -art thou and I going--and what will become of thee, when thou and I -shall part?’ - -“This very thing does Moses propose to Israel, though in other terms, -‘Oh that they would consider their latter end!’--and oh that we would -put this question constantly to our hearts, to consider and debate -upon! ‘Commune with your own hearts,’ said David; that is, debate -the matter betwixt you and your hearts to the very utmost. Let your -hearts be so put to it in communing with them, as that they may speak -their very bottom. Commune--or hold a serious communication and clear -intelligence and acquaintance--with your own hearts.” - -It was the confession of a divine, sensible of his neglect, and -especially of the difficulty of this duty: “I have lived,” said he, -“forty years and somewhat more, and carried my heart in my bosom all -this while, and yet my heart and I are as great strangers, and as -utterly unacquainted, as if we had never come near one another. Nay, I -know not my heart; I have forgotten my heart. Alas! alas! that I could -be grieved at the very heart, that my poor heart and I have been so -unacquainted! We are fallen into an Athenian age, spending our time -in nothing more than in telling or hearing news. How go things here? -How there? How in one place? How in another? But who is there that -is inquisitive? How are things with my poor heart? Weigh but in the -balance of a serious consideration, what time we have spent in this -duty, and what time otherwise; and for many scores and hundreds of -hours or days that we owe to our hearts in this duty, can we write -fifty? Or where there should have been fifty vessels full of this duty, -can we find twenty, or ten? Oh, the days, months, years, we bestow upon -sin, vanity, the affairs of this world, while we afford not a minute in -converse with our own hearts concerning their case!” - -If there is anything in our lives that is wrong, let us ask God to show -it to us. Have we been selfish? Have we been more jealous of our own -reputation than of the honor of God? Elijah thought he was very jealous -for the honor of God; but it turned out that it was his own honor after -all--self was really at the bottom of it. One of the saddest things, -I think, that Christ had to meet with in His disciples was this very -thing; there was a constant struggle between them as to who should be -the greatest, instead of each one taking the humblest place and being -least in his own estimation. - -We are told in proof of this, that “He came to Capernaum; and being in -the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves -by the way? But they held their peace, for by the way they had disputed -among themselves, who should be the greatest. And He sat down, and -called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, -the same shall be the last of all, and servant of all. And He took a -child, and set him in the midst of them; and when He had taken him -in His arms, He said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such -children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, -receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me.” - -Soon after “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto Him, -saying, Master, we would that Thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we -shall desire. And He said unto them, What would ye that I should do -for you? They said unto Him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy -right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory. But Jesus -said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask; can ye drink of the cup that -I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? -And they said unto Him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall -indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I -am baptized withal shall ye be baptized; but to sit on My right hand -and on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it shall be given to them -for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be -much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Him, and -saith unto them: Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the -Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise -authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever -will be great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever of you -will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man -came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a -ransom for many.” - -The latter words were spoken in the third year of His ministry. Three -years the disciples had been with Him; they had listened to the words -that fell from His lips; yet they had failed to learn this lesson of -humility. The most humiliating thing that happened among the chosen -twelve occurred on the night of our Lord’s betrayal, when Judas sold -Him, and Peter denied Him. If there was any place where there should -have been an absence of these thoughts, it was at the Supper-table. -Yet we find that when Christ instituted that blessed memorial there -was a debate going on among His disciples who should be the greatest. -Think of that!--right under the Cross, when the Master was “exceeding -sorrowful, even unto death;” was already tasting the bitterness of -Calvary, and the horrors of that dark hour were gathering upon His soul. - -I think if God searches us, we will find a good many things in our -lives for us to confess. If we are tried and tested by God’s law, there -will be many, many things that will have to be changed. I ask again: -Are we selfish or jealous? Are we willing to hear of others being used -of God more than we are? Are our Methodist friends willing to hear of a -great revival of God’s work among the Baptists? Would it rejoice their -souls to hear of such efforts being blessed? Are Baptists willing to -hear of a reviving of God’s work in the Methodist, Congregational, or -other churches? If we are full of narrow, party and sectarian feelings, -there will be many things to be laid aside. Let us pray to God to -search us, and try us, and see if there be any evil way in us. If these -holy and good men felt that they were faulty, should we not tremble, -and endeavor to find out if there is anything in our lives that God -would have us get rid of? - -Once again, let me call your attention to the prayer of David contained -in the fifty-first Psalm. A friend of mine told me some years ago -that he repeated this prayer as his own every week. I think it would -be a good thing if we offered up these petitions frequently; let them -go right up from our hearts. If we have been proud, or irritable, or -lacking in patience, shall we not at once confess it? Is it not time -that we began at home, and got our lives straightened out? See how -quickly the ungodly will then begin to inquire the way of life! Let -those of us who are parents set our own houses in order, and be filled -with Christ’s Spirit; then it will not be long before our children will -be inquiring what they must do to get the same Spirit. I believe that -to-day, by its lukewarmness and formality, the Christian Church is -making more infidels than all the books that infidels ever wrote. I do -not fear infidel lectures half so much as the cold and dead formalism -in the professing church at the present time. One prayer-meeting like -that the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, would shake the whole -infidel fraternity. - -What we want is to get hold of God in prayer. You are not going to -reach the masses by great sermons. We want to “move the Arm that moves -the world.” To do that, we must be clear and right before God. “For if -our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all -things, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence -toward God; and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep -His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” - - - - -Confession. - - - “No, not despairingly - Come I to Thee; - No, not distrustingly - Bend I the knee; - Sin hath gone over me, - Yet is this still my plea, - Jesus hath died. - - “Ah, mine iniquity - Crimson has been; - Infinite, infinite, - Sin upon sin; - Sin of not loving Thee, - Sin of not trusting Thee. - Infinite sin. - - “Lord, I confess to Thee - Sadly my sin; - All I am, tell I Thee, - All I have been. - Purge Thou my sin away, - Wash Thou my soul this day; - Lord, make me clean!” - - --_Dr. H. Bonar._ - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -RESTITUTION. - - -A third element of successful prayer is RESTITUTION. If I have at -any time taken what does not belong to me, and am not willing to -make restitution, my prayers will not go very far toward heaven. It -is a singular thing, but I have never touched on this subject in my -addresses, without hearing of immediate results. A man once told me -that I would not need to dwell on this point at a meeting I was about -to address, as probably there would be no one present that would need -to make restitution. But I think if the Spirit of God searches our -hearts, we shall most of us find a good many things have to be done -that we never thought of before. - -After Zaccheus met with Christ, things looked altogether different. -I venture to say that the idea of making restitution never entered -into his mind before. He thought, probably, that morning that he was a -perfectly honest man. But when the Lord came and spoke to him, he saw -himself in an altogether different light. Notice how short his speech -was. The only thing put on record that he said was this: “Behold, Lord, -the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything -from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” A short -speech; but how the words have come ringing down through the ages! - -By making that remark he confessed his sin--that he had been dishonest. -Besides that, he showed that he knew the requirements of the law of -Moses. If a man had taken what did not belong to him, he was not only -to return it, but to multiply it by four. I think that men in this -dispensation ought to be fully as honest as men under the Law. I am -getting so tired and sick of your mere sentimentalism, that does not -straighten out a man’s life. We may sing our hymns and psalms, and -offer prayers, but they will be an abomination to God, unless we are -willing to be thoroughly straightforward in our daily life. Nothing -will give Christianity such a hold upon the world as to have God’s -believing people begin to act in this way. Zaccheus had probably more -influence in Jericho after he made restitution than any other man in it. - -Finney, in his lectures to professing Christians, says: “One reason -for the requirement, ‘Be not conformed to this world,’ is the immense, -salutary, and instantaneous influence it would have, if everybody would -do business on the principles of the Gospel. Turn the tables over, and -let Christians do business one year on Gospel principles. It would -shake the world! It would ring louder than thunder. Let the ungodly -see professing Christians in every bargain consulting the good of the -person they are trading with--seeking not their own wealth, but every -man another’s wealth--living above the world--setting no value on the -world any further than it would be the means of glorifying God; what do -you think would be the effect? It would cover the world with confusion -of face, and overwhelm them with conviction of sin.” - -Finney makes one grand mark of genuine repentance to be restitution. -“The thief has not repented who keeps the money he stole. He may have -conviction, but no repentance. If he had repentance, he would go and -give back the money. If you have cheated any one, and do not restore -what you have taken unjustly; or if you have injured any one, and do -not set about to undo the wrong you have done, as far as in you lies, -you have not truly repented.” - -In Exodus we read--“If a man steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, -or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep -for a sheep.” And again: “If a man shall cause a field or vineyard -to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another -man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own -vineyard shall he make restitution. If fire break out, and catch in -thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, -be consumed therewith, he that kindled the fire shall surely make -restitution.” - -Or turn to Leviticus, where the law of the trespass-offering is laid -down--the same point is there insisted on with equal clearness and -force. - -“If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto -his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, -or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor; or -have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth -falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein; then -it shall be, because he hath sinned and is guilty, that he shall -restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he -hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or -the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he hath sworn -falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the -fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, -in the day of his trespass offering.” - -The same thing is repeated in Numbers, where we read--“And the Lord -spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, When a -man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass -against the Lord, and that person be guilty; then they shall confess -their sin which they have done; and he shall recompense his trespass -with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, -and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. But if the man -have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be -recompensed unto the Lord, even to the priest, beside the ram of the -atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made of him.” - -These were the laws that God laid down for His people, and I believe -their principle is as binding to-day as it was then. If we have taken -anything from any man, if we have in any way defrauded a man, let us -not only confess it, but do all we can to make restitution. If we have -misrepresented any one--if we have started some slander, or some false -report about him--let us do all in our power to undo the wrong. - -It is in reference to a practical righteousness such as this that God -says in Isaiah--“Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite -with the fist of wickedness; ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to -make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have -chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his -head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt -thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this -the fast that I have chosen--to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo -the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break -every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou -bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the -naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine -own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine -health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go -before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou -call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here -I am.” - -Trapp in his comment on Zaccheus, says: “Sultan Selymus could tell his -councillor Pyrrhus, who persuaded him to bestow the great wealth he had -taken from the Persian merchants upon some notable hospital for relief -of the poor, that God hates robbery for burnt-offering. The dying Turk -commanded it rather to be restored to the right owners, which was done -accordingly, to the great shame of many Christians, who mind nothing -less than restitution. When Henry III of England had sent the Friar -Minors a load of frieze to clothe them, they returned the same with -this message, ‘that he ought not to give alms of what he had rent from -the poor; neither would they accept of that abominable gift.’ Master -Latimer saith, ‘If ye make no restitution of goods detained, ye shall -cough in hell, and the devils shall laugh at you.’ Henry VII, in his -last will and testament, after the disposition of his soul and body, -devised and willed restitution should be made of all such moneys as had -unjustly been levied by his officers. Queen Mary restored again all -ecclesiastical livings assumed to the crown, saying that she set more -by the salvation of her own soul, than she did by ten kingdoms. A bull -came also from the Pope, at the same time, that others should do the -like, but none did. Latimer tells us that the first day he preached -about restitution, one came and gave him £20 to restore; the next day -another brought him £30; another time another gave him £200. - -“Mr. Bradford, hearing Latimer on that subject, was struck in the heart -for one dash of the pen which he had made without the knowledge of his -master, and could never be quiet till, by the advice of Mr. Latimer, -restitution was made, for which he did willingly forego all the private -and certain patrimony which he had on earth. ‘I, myself,’ saith Mr. -Barroughs, ‘knew one man who had wronged another but of five shillings, -and fifty years after could not be quiet till he had restored it.’” - -If there is true repentance it will bring forth fruit. If we have done -wrong to some one, we should never ask God to forgive us until we are -willing to make restitution. If I have done any man a great injustice -and can make it good, I need not ask God to forgive me until I am -willing to do so. Suppose I have taken something that does not belong -to me. I cannot expect forgiveness until I make restitution. I remember -preaching in an Eastern city, and a fine-looking man came up to me at -the close. He was in great distress of mind. “The fact is,” he said, -“I am a defaulter. I have taken money that belonged to my employers. -How can I become a Christian without restoring it?” “Have you got the -money?” He told me he had not got it all. He had taken about 1,500 -dollars, and he still had about 900. He said, “Could I not take that -money and go into business, and make enough to pay them back?” I told -him that was a delusion of Satan, that he could not expect to prosper -on stolen money; that he should restore all he had, and go and ask his -employers to have mercy upon him, and forgive him. “But they will put -me in prison,” he said. “Can you not give me any help?” “No; you must -restore the money before you can expect to get any help from God.” -“It is pretty hard,” he said. “Yes, it is hard; but the great mistake -was in doing the wrong at first.” His burden became so heavy that it -was, in fact, unbearable. He handed me the money--950 dollars and some -cents--and asked me to take it back to his employers. I told them the -story, and said that he wanted mercy from them, not justice. The tears -trickled down the cheeks of these two men, and they said, “Forgive him! -Yes, we will be glad to forgive him.” I went down stairs and brought -him up. After he had confessed his guilt and been forgiven, we all fell -down on our knees and had a blessed prayer-meeting. God met us and -blessed us there. - -There was another friend of mine who had come to Christ and was trying -to consecrate himself and his wealth to God. He had formerly had -transactions with the Government, and had taken advantage of them. -This thing came to memory, and his conscience troubled him. He had a -terrible struggle; his conscience kept rising up and smiting him. At -last he drew a check for 1500 dollars, and sent it to the Treasury of -the Government. He told me he received such a blessing after he had -done it. That is bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. I believe a -great many men are crying to God for light; and they are not getting it -because they are not honest. - -A man came to one of our meetings, when this subject was touched upon. -The memory of a dishonest transaction flashed into his mind. He saw at -once how it was that his prayers were not answered, but “returned into -his own bosom,” as the Scripture phrase puts it. He left the meeting, -took the train, and went to a distant city, where he had defrauded his -employer years before. He went straight to this man, confessed the -wrong, and offered to make restitution. Then he remembered another -transaction, in which he had failed to meet the just demands upon him; -he at once made arrangements to have a large amount repaid. He came -back to the place where we were holding the meetings, and God blessed -him wonderfully in his own soul. I have not met a man for a long time -who seemed to have received such a blessing. - -Some years ago, in the north of England, a woman came to one of the -meetings, and appeared to be very anxious about her soul. For some -time she did not seem to be able to get peace. The truth was, she was -covering up one thing that she was not willing to confess. At last, the -burden was too great; and she said to a worker: “I never go down on -my knees to pray, but a few bottles of wine keep coming up before my -mind.” It appeared that years before, when she was housekeeper, she had -taken some bottles of wine belonging to her employer. The worker said: -“Why do you not make restitution?” The woman replied that the man was -dead; and besides, she did not know how much it was worth. “Are there -any heirs living to whom you can make restitution?” She said there -was a son living at some distance; but she thought it would be a very -humiliating thing, so she kept back for some time. At last she felt as -if she must have a clear conscience at any cost, so she took the train, -and went to the place where the son of her employer resided. She took -five pounds with her, she did not exactly know what the wine was worth, -but that would cover it at any rate. The man said he did not want the -money, but she replied, “I do not want it; it has burnt my pocket long -enough.” So he agreed to take the half of it, and give it to some -charitable object. Then she came back; and I think she was one of the -happiest mortals I have ever met with. She said she could not tell -whether she was in the body or out of it--such a blessing had come to -her soul. - -It may be that there is something in our lives that needs straightening -out; something that happened perhaps twenty years ago, and that has -been forgotten till the Spirit of God brought it to our remembrance. If -we are not willing to make restitution, we cannot expect God to give us -great blessing. Perhaps that is the reason so many of our prayers are -not answered. - - - - -Perfect Cleansing. - - - “Who would be cleansed from every sin, - Must to God’s holy altar bring - The whole of life--its joys, its tears, - Its hopes, its loves, its powers, its years, - The will, and every cherished thing! - - “Must make this sweeping sacrifice-- - Choose God, and dare reproach and shame, - And boldly stand in storm or flame - For Him who paid redemption’s price; - Then trust (not struggle to believe), - And trusting wait, nor doubt, but pray - That in His own good time He’ll say, - ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; now receive.’ - - “His time is when the soul brings all, - Is all upon His altar lain; - When pride and self-conceit are slain, - And crucified with Christ, we fall - Helpless upon His word, and lie; - When, faithful to His word, we feel - The cleansing touch, the Spirit’s seal, - And know that He does sanctify.” - - _A. T. Allis._ - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THANKSGIVING. - - -The next thing I would mention as an element of prayer is THANKSGIVING. -We ought to be more thankful for what we get from God. Perhaps -some of you mothers have a child in your family who is constantly -complaining--never thankful. You know that there is not much pleasure -in doing anything for a child like that. If you meet with a beggar who -is always grumbling, and never seems to be thankful for what you give, -you very soon shut the door in his face altogether. Ingratitude is -about the hardest thing we have to meet with. The great English poet -says: - - “Blow, blow, thou winter wind-- - Thou art not so unkind - As man’s ingratitude; - Thy tooth is not so keen, - Because thou art not seen, - Although thy breath be rude.” - -We cannot speak too plainly of this evil, which so demeans those who -are guilty of it. Even in Christians there is but too much of it to be -seen. Here we are, getting blessings from God day after day; yet how -little praise and thanksgiving there is in the Church of God! - -Gurnall, in his _Christian Armor_, referring to the words, “In -everything give thanks,” says: “‘Praise is comely for the upright.’ -‘An unthankful saint’ carries a contradiction with it. Evil and -Unthankful are twins that live and die together; as any one ceaseth -to be evil, he begins to be thankful. It is that which God expects at -your hands; He made you for this end. When the vote passed in heaven -for your being--yea, happy being in Christ!--it was upon this account, -that you should be a name and a praise to Him on earth in time, and -in heaven to eternity. Should God miss this, He would fail of one -main part of His design. What prompts Him to bestow every mercy, but -to afford you matter to compose a song for His praise? ‘They are My -people, children that will not lie; so He was their Savior.’ - -“He looks for fair dealing at your hands. Whom may a father trust with -his reputation, if not his child? Where can a prince expect honor, if -not among his favorites? Your state is such that the least mercy you -have is more than all the world besides. Thou, Christian, and thy few -brethren, divide heaven and earth among you! What hath God that He -withholds from you? Sun, moon and stars are set up to give you light; -sea and land have their treasures for your use; others are encroachers -upon them; you are the rightful heirs to them; they groan that any -others should be served by them. The angels, bad and good, minister -unto you; the evil, against their will, are forced like scullions when -they tempt you, to scour and brighten your graces, and make way for -your greater comforts; the good angels are servants to your heavenly -Father, and disdain not to carry you in their arms. Your God withholds -not Himself from you; He is your portion--Father, Husband, Friend. God -is His own happiness, and admits you to enjoy Him. Oh, what honor is -this, for the subject to drink in his prince’s cup! ‘Thou shalt make -them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.’ And all this is not the -purchase of your sweat and blood; the feast is paid for by Another, -only He expects your thanks to the Founder. No sin-offering is imposed -under the Gospel; thank-offerings are all He looks for.” - -Charnock, in discoursing on Spiritual Worship, says: “The praise of -God is the choicest sacrifice and worship, under a dispensation of -redeeming grace. This is the prime and eternal part of worship under -the Gospel. The Psalmist, speaking of the Gospel times, spurs on to -this kind of worship: ‘Sing unto the Lord a new song; let the children -of Zion be joyful in their King; let the saints be joyful in glory; -let them sing aloud upon their beds; let the high praises of God be in -their mouth.’ He begins and ends both Psalms with _Praise ye the Lord!_ -That cannot be a spiritual and evangelical worship that hath nothing -of the praise of God in the heart. The consideration of God’s adorable -perfections discovered in the Gospel will make us come to Him with more -seriousness, beg blessings of Him with more confidence, fly to Him -with a winged faith and love, and more spiritually glorify Him in our -attendances upon Him.” - -There is a great deal more said in the Bible about praise than prayer; -yet how few praise-meetings there are! David, in his Psalms, always -mixes praise with prayer. Solomon prevailed much with God in prayer at -the dedication of the temple; but it was the voice of _praise_ which -brought down the glory that filled the house; for we read: “And it -came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place (for -all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then -wait by course; also the Levites, which were the singers, all of them -of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, -being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals, and psalteries, and -harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and -twenty priests, sounding with trumpets); it came even to pass, as the -trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in -praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice -with the trumpets, and cymbals, and instruments of music, and praised -the Lord, saying, ‘For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever;’ -that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the -Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the -cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.” - -We read, too, of Jehoshaphat, that he gained the victory over the -hosts of Ammon and Moab through praise, which was excited by faith and -thankfulness to God. - -“And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness -of Tekoa; and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, -O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your God, -so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper;’ -and when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto -the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went -out before the army, and to say, ‘Praise the Lord; for His mercy -endureth for ever,’ And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord -set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, -which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” - -It is said that in a time of great despondency among the first settlers -in New England, it was proposed in one of their public assemblies to -proclaim a fast. An old farmer arose; spoke of their provoking heaven -with their complaints, reviewed their measures, showed that they had -much to be thankful for, and moved that instead of appointing a day of -fasting, they should appoint a day of thanksgiving. This was done; and -the custom has been continued ever since. - -However great our difficulties, or deep even our sorrows, there is room -for thankfulness. Thomas Adams has said: “Lay up in the ark of thy -memory not only the pot of manna, the bread of life; but even Aaron’s -rod, the very scourge of correction, wherewith thou hast been bettered. -Blessed be the Lord, not only giving, but taking away, saith Job. God -who sees there is no walking upon roses to heaven, puts His children -into the way of discipline; and by the fire of correction eats out the -rust of corruption. God sends trouble, then bids us call upon Him; -promiseth our deliverance; and lastly, the all He requires of us is to -glorify Him. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, -and thou shalt glorify Me.” Like the nightingale, we can sing in the -night, and say with John Newton-- - - “Since all that I meet shall work for my good, - The bitter is sweet, the medicine food; - Though painful at present, ’twill cease before long, - And then--oh, how pleasant!--the conqueror’s song.” - -Among all the apostles none suffered so much as Paul; but none of -them do we find so often giving thanks as he. Take his letter to the -Philippians. Remember what he suffered at Philippi; how they laid -many stripes upon him, and cast him into prison. Yet every chapter -in that Epistle speaks of rejoicing and giving thanks. There is that -well-known passage: “Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by -prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made -known unto God.” As some one has said, there are here three precious -ideas: “Careful for nothing; prayerful for everything; and thankful -for anything.” We always get more by being thankful for what God has -done for us. Paul says again: “We give thanks to God, the Father of our -Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” So he was constantly giving -thanks. Take up any one of his Epistles, and you will find them full of -praise to God. - -Even if nothing else called for thankfulness, it would always be an -ample cause for it that Jesus Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us. -A farmer was once found kneeling at a soldier’s grave near Nashville. -Some one came to him and said: “Why do you pay so much attention to -this grave? Was your son buried here?” “No,” he said. “During the war -my family were all sick, I knew not how to leave them. I was drafted. -One of my neighbors came over and said: ‘I will go for you; I have no -family.’ He went off. He was wounded at Chickamauga. He was carried to -the hospital, and there died. And, sir, I have come a great many miles, -that I might write over his grave these words, ‘_He died for me._’” - -This the believer can always say of his blessed Savior, and in the fact -may well rejoice. “By Him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of -praise continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to -His name.” - - - - -The Praise of God. - - - “Speak, lips of mine! - And tell abroad - The praises of my God. - Speak, stammering tongue! - In gladdest tone, - Make His high praises known. - - “Speak, sea and earth! - Heaven’s utmost star, - Speak from your realms afar! - Take up the note, - And send it round - Creation’s farthest bound. - - “Speak, heaven of heavens! - Wherein our God - Has made His bright abode. - Speak, angels, speak! - In songs proclaim - His everlasting name. - - “Speak, son of dust! - Thy flesh He took - And heaven for thee forsook. - Speak, child of death! - Thy death He died, - Bless thou the Crucified.” - - --_Dr. Bonar._ - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -FORGIVENESS. - - -The next thing is perhaps the most difficult of all to deal -with--FORGIVENESS. I believe this is keeping more people from having -power with God than any other thing--they are not willing to cultivate -the spirit of forgiveness. If we allow the root of bitterness to spring -up in our hearts against some one, our prayer will not be answered. It -may not be an easy thing to live in sweet fellowship with all those -with whom we come in contact; but that is what the grace of God is -given to us for. - -The disciples’ prayer is a test of sonship; if we can pray it all from -the heart we have good reason to think that we have been born of God. -No man can call God Father but by the Spirit. Though this prayer has -been such a blessing to the world, I believe it has been a great snare; -many stumble over it into perdition. They do not weigh its meaning, -nor take its facts right into their hearts. I have no sympathy with -the idea of universal sonship--that all men are the sons of God. The -Bible teaches very plainly that we are adopted into the family of God. -If all were sons God would not need to adopt any. We are all God’s by -creation; but when people teach that any man can say, “Our Father which -art in heaven,” whether he is born of God or not, I think that is -contrary to Scripture. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they -are the sons of God.” Sonship in the family is the privilege of the -believer. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children -of the devil,” says the Apostle. If we are doing the will of God, that -is a very good sign that we are born of God. If we have no desire to do -that will, how can we call God “Our Father?” - -Another thing. We cannot really pray for God’s kingdom to come until -we are in it. If we should pray for the coming of God’s kingdom -while we are rebelling against Him, we are only seeking for our own -condemnation. No unrenewed man really wants God’s will to be done on -the earth. You might write over the door of every unsaved man’s house, -and over his place of business, “God’s will is not done here.” - -If the nations were really to put up this prayer, all their armies -could be discharged. They tell us there are some twelve millions of men -in the standing armies of Europe alone. But men do not want God’s will -done on earth as it is in heaven; that is the trouble. - -Now let us come to the part I want to dwell upon: “Forgive us our -trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.” This is the -only part of the prayer that Christ explained. - -“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also -forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will -your Father forgive your trespasses.” - -Notice that when you go into the door of God’s kingdom, you go in -through the door of forgiveness. I never knew of a man getting a -blessing in his own soul, if he was not willing to forgive others. -If we are unwilling to forgive others, God cannot forgive us. I do -not know how language could be more plain than it is in these words -of our Lord. I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered -because we are not willing to forgive some one. Let your mind go back -over the past, and through the circle of your acquaintance; are there -any against whom you are cherishing hard feelings? Is there any root -of bitterness springing up against some one who has perhaps injured -you? It may be that for months or years you have been nursing this -unforgiving spirit; how can _you_ ask God to forgive you? If I am not -willing to forgive those who may have committed some single offence -against me, what a mean, contemptible thing it would be for me to ask -God to forgive the ten thousand sins of which I have been guilty! - -But Christ goes still further. He says: “If thou bring thy gift to -the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against -thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be -reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” It may be -that you are saying: “I do not know that I have anything against any -one.” Has any one anything against you? Is there some one who thinks -you have done them wrong? Perhaps you have not; but it may be they -think you have. I will tell you what I would do before I go to sleep -to-night; I would go and see them, and have the question settled. You -will find that you will be greatly blessed in the very act. - -Supposing you are in the right and they are in the wrong; you may -win your brother or sister. May God root out of all our hearts this -unforgiving spirit. - -A gentleman came to me some time ago, and wanted me to talk to his -wife about her soul. That woman seemed as anxious as any person I -ever met, and I thought it would not take long to lead her into the -light; but it seemed that the longer I talked with her, the more her -darkness increased. I went to see her again the next day, and found her -in still greater darkness of soul. I thought there must be something -in the way that I had not discovered, and I asked her to repeat with -me this disciples’ prayer. I thought if she could say this prayer -from the heart, the Lord would meet her in peace. I began to repeat -it sentence after sentence, and she repeated it after me until I came -to this petition: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that -trespass against us.” There she stopped. I repeated it the second time, -and waited for her to say it after me; she said she could not do it. -“What is the trouble?” She replied, “There is one woman I never will -forgive.” “Oh,” I said, “I have got at your difficulty; it is no use my -going on to pray, for your prayers will not go higher than my head. God -says He will not forgive you unless you forgive others. If you do not -forgive this woman, God will never forgive you. That is the decree of -heaven.” She said, “Do you mean to say that I cannot be forgiven until -I have forgiven her?” “No, I do not say it; the Lord says it, and that -is far better authority.” Said she, “Then I will never be forgiven.” I -left the house without having made any impression on her. A few years -after, I heard that this woman was in an asylum for the insane. I -believe this spirit of unforgiveness drove her mad. - -If there is some one who has aught against you, go at once, and be -reconciled. If you have aught against any one, write to them a letter, -telling them that you forgive them, and so have this thing off your -conscience. I remember being in the inquiry-room some years ago; I was -in one corner of the room, talking to a young lady. There seemed to be -something in the way, but I could not find out what it was. At last -I said, “Is there not some one you do not forgive?” She looked up at -me, and said, “What made you ask that? Has anyone told you about me?” -“No,” I said; “but I thought perhaps that might be the case, as you -have not received forgiveness yourself.” “Well,” she said, pointing -to another corner of the room, where there was a young lady sitting, -“I have had trouble with that young lady; we have not spoken to each -other for a long time.” “Oh,” I said, “it is all plain to me now; you -cannot be forgiven until you are willing to forgive her.” It was a -great struggle. But then you know, the greater the cross the greater -the blessing. It is human to err, but it is Christ-like to forgive and -be forgiven. At last this young lady said: “I will go and forgive her.” -Strange to say, the same conflict was going on in the mind of the lady -in the other part of the room. They both came to their right mind about -the same time. They met each other in the middle of the floor. The one -tried to say that she forgave the other, but they could not finish; -so they rushed into each other’s arms. Then the four of us--the two -seekers and the two workers--got down on our knees together, and we -had a grand meeting. These two went away rejoicing. - -Dear friend, is this the reason why your prayers are not answered? Is -there some friend, some member of your family, some one in the church, -you have not forgiven? We sometimes hear of members of the same church -who have not spoken to each other for years. How can we expect God to -forgive when this is the case? - -I remember one town that Mr. Sankey and myself visited. For a week -it seemed as if we were beating the air; there was no power in the -meetings. At last I said one day that perhaps there was some one -cultivating this unforgiving spirit. The Chairman of our committee, who -was sitting next to me, got up and left the meeting right in view of -the audience. The arrow had hit the mark, and gone home to the heart -of the Chairman of the committee. He had had trouble with some one -for about six months. He at once hunted up this man and asked him to -forgive him. He came to me with tears in his eyes, and said: “I thank -God you ever came here.” That night the inquiry-room was thronged. The -Chairman became one of the best workers I have ever known, and he has -been active in Christian service ever since. - -Several years ago the Church of England sent a devoted missionary to -New Zealand. After a few years of toil and success, he was one Sabbath -holding a communion service in a district where the converts had not -long since been savages. As the missionary was conducting the service, -he observed one of the men, just as he was about to kneel at the rail, -suddenly start to his feet and hastily go the opposite end of the -church. By and by he returned, and calmly took his place. After service -the clergyman took him on one side, and asked the reason for his -strange behavior. He replied: “As I was about to kneel I recognized in -the man next to me the chief of a neighboring tribe, who had murdered -my father, and drunk his blood; and I had sworn by all the gods that -I would slay that man at the first opportunity. The impulse to have -my revenge, at the first almost overpowered me, and I rushed away, as -you saw me, to escape the power of it. As I stood at the other end of -the room and considered the object of our meeting, I thought of Him -who prayed for His own murderers: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know -not what they do.’ And I felt that I could forgive the murderer of my -father, and came and knelt down at his side.” - -As one has said: “There is an ugly kind of forgiveness in the world--a -kind of hedgehog forgiveness, shot out like quills. Men take one -who has offended, and set him down before the blow-pipe of their -indignation, and scorch him, and burn his fault into him; and when they -have kneaded him sufficiently with their fists, then they forgive him.” - -The father of Frederick the Great, on his death-bed, was warned by -M. Roloff, his spiritual adviser, that he was bound to forgive his -enemies. He was quite troubled, and after a moment’s pause said to the -Queen: “You, Feekin, may write to your brother (the King of England) -_after I am dead_, and tell him that I forgave him, and died at peace -with him.” “It would be better,” M. Roloff mildly suggested, “that -your majesty should write at once.” “No,” was the stern reply. “Write -after I am dead. That will be safer.” - -Another story tells of a man who, supposing he was about to die, -expressed his forgiveness to one who had injured him, but added: “Now -you mind, if I get well, the old grudge holds good.” - -My friends, that is not forgiveness at all. I believe true forgiveness -includes forgetting the offence--putting it entirely away out of our -hearts and memories. - -As Matthew Henry says: “We do not forgive our offending brother aright -nor acceptably, if we do not forgive him from the heart, for it is that -God looks at. No malice must be harbored there, nor ill-will to any; no -projects of revenge must be hatched there, nor desires of it, as there -are in many who outwardly appear peaceful and reconciled. We must from -the heart desire and seek the welfare of those who have offended us.” - -If God’s forgiveness were like that often shown by us, it would not be -worth much. Supposing God said: “I will forgive you, but I will never -forget it; all through eternity I will keep reminding you of it;” we -should not feel that to be forgiveness at all. Notice what God says: “I -will remember their sin no more.” In a passage in Ezekiel it is said -that not one of our sins shall be mentioned; is not that like God? I do -like to preach this forgiveness--the sweet truth that sin is blotted -out for time and eternity, and shall never once be mentioned against -us. In another Scripture we read: “Their sins and iniquities will I -remember no more.” Then when you turn to the eleventh chapter of the -Hebrews, and read God’s roll of honor, you find that not one of the -sins of any of those men of faith is mentioned. Abraham is spoken of -as the man of faith; but it is not told how he denied his wife down in -Egypt; all that had been forgiven. Moses was kept out of the Promised -Land because he lost patience; but this is not mentioned in the New -Testament, though his name appears in the Apostle’s roll of honor. -Samson, too, is named, but his sins are not brought up again. Why, we -even read of “righteous Lot;” he did not look much like a righteous -man in the Old Testament story, but he has been forgiven, and God has -made him “righteous.” If we are once forgiven by God, our sins will be -remembered against us no more. This is God’s eternal decree. - -Brooks says of God’s pardon granted to His people: “When God pardons -sin, He takes it sheer away; that if it should be sought for, yet it -could not be found; as the prophet Jeremiah speaks: ‘In those days, and -in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought -for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not -be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve.’ As David, when he saw -in Mephibosheth the features of his friend Jonathan, took no notice of -his lameness, or any other defect or deformity; so God, beholding in -His people the glorious image of His Son, winks at all their faults and -deformities, which made Luther say, ‘Do with me what thou wilt, since -Thou hast pardoned my sin.’ And what is it to pardon sin, but not to -mention sin?” - -We read in the Gospel of Matthew: “Moreover, if thy brother shall -trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him -alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Then a -little further on we read that Peter comes to Christ and says: “How -oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven -times?” Jesus replied, “I say not unto thee, until seven times; but -until seventy times seven.” Peter did not seem to think that _he_ was -in danger of falling into sin; his question was, How often should I -forgive my brother? But very soon we hear that Peter has fallen. I can -imagine that when he did fall, the sweet thought came to him of what -the Master had said about forgiving until seventy times seven. The -voice of sin may be loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder. - -Let us enter into David’s experience, when he said: “Blessed is he -whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the -man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there -is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring -all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; my -moisture is turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin -unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my -transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my -sin.” - -David could look below, above, behind and before; to the past, present, -and future; and know that all was well. Let us make up our mind, that -we will not rest until this question of sin is for ever settled, so -that we can look up and claim God as our forgiving Father. Let us be -willing to forgive others, that we may be able to claim forgiveness -from God, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said: “If ye -forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive -you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your -Father forgive your trespasses.” - - - - -Pardon. - - - “Now, oh joy! my sins are pardoned! - Now I can and do believe! - All I have, and am, and shall be, - To my precious Lord I give; - He roused my deathly slumbers, - He dispersed my soul’s dark night; - Whispered peace, and drew me to Him - Made Himself my chief delight. - - “Let the babe forget its mother, - Let the bridegroom slight his bride; - True to him, I’ll love none other, - Cleaving closely to His side. - Jesus, hear my soul’s confession; - Weak am I, but strength is Thine; - On Thine arms for strength and succor, - Calmly may my soul recline!” - - _Albert Midlane._ - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -UNITY. - - -The next thing we need to have, if we would get our prayers answered, -is--UNITY. If we do not love one another we certainly shall not have -much power with God in Prayer. One of the saddest things in the present -day is the division in God’s Church. You notice that when the power -of God came upon the early church, it was when they were all of one -accord. I believe the blessing of Pentecost never would have been given -but for that spirit of unity. If they had been divided and quarreling -among themselves, do you think the Holy Ghost would have come, and -those thousands been converted? I have noticed in our work, that if we -have gone to a town where three churches were united in it, we have had -greater blessing than if only one church was in sympathy. And if there -have been twelve churches united, the blessing has multiplied fourfold; -it has always been in proportion to the spirit of unity that has been -manifested. Where there are bickerings and divisions, and where the -spirit of unity is absent, there is very little blessing and praise. - -Dr. Guthrie thus illustrates this fact; he says: “Separate the atoms -which make the hammer, and each would fall on the stone as a snowflake; -but welded into one, and wielded by the firm arm of the quarry man, -it will break the massive rocks asunder. Divide the waters of Niagara -into distinct and individual drops, and they would be no more than the -falling rain, but in their united body they would quench the fires of -Vesuvius, and have some to spare for the volcanoes of other mountains.” - -History tells us that it was agreed upon by both armies of the Romans -and the Albans to put the trial of all to the issue of a battle betwixt -six brethren--three on the one side, the sons of Curatius, and three -on the other, the sons of Horatius. While the Curatii were united, -though all three sorely wounded, they killed two of the Heratii. The -third began to take to his heels, though not hurt at all; and when he -saw them follow slowly, one after another, because of wounds and heavy -armor, he fell upon them singly, and slew all three. It is the cunning -sleight of the devil to divide us that he may destroy us. - -We ought to endure much and sacrifice much, rather than permit discord -and division to prevail in our hearts. Martin Luther says: “When two -goats meet upon a narrow bridge over deep water, how do they behave? -Neither of them can turn back again, neither can pass the other, -because the bridge is too narrow; if they should thrust one another -they might both fall into the water and be drowned. Nature, then, has -taught them that if the one lays himself down and permits the other to -go over him, both remain unhurt. Even so people should rather endure to -be trod upon than to fall into debate and discord one with another.” - -Cawdray says: “As in music, if the harmony of tones be not complete -they are offensive to the cultivated ear; so if Christians disagree -among themselves they are unacceptable to God.” - -There are diversities of gifts--that is clearly taught--but there is -one Spirit. If we have all been redeemed with the same blood, we ought -to see eye to eye in spiritual things. Paul writes: “Now there are -diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of -administrations, but the same Lord.” - -Where there is union I do not believe any power, earthly or infernal, -can stand before the work. When the church, the pulpit, and the pew, -get united, and God’s people are all of one mind, Christianity is like -a red-hot ball rolling over the earth, and all the hosts of death and -hell cannot stand before it. I believe that men will then come flocking -into the Kingdom by hundreds and thousands. “By this,” says Christ, -“shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to -another.” If only we love one another, and pray for one another, there -will be success. God will not disappoint us. - -There can be no real separation or division in the true Church of -Christ; they are redeemed by one price, and indwelt by one Spirit. If -I belong to the family of God, I have been bought with the same blood, -though I may not belong to the same sect or party as another. What -we want to do is to get these miserable sectarian walls taken away. -Our weakness has been in our division; and what we need is that there -should be no schism or division among those who love the Lord Jesus -Christ. In the First Epistle to the Corinthians we read of the first -symptoms of sectarianism coming into the early church-- - -“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, -that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among -you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and -in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my -brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are -contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, -I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is -Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the -name of Paul?” - -Notice how one said, “I am of Paul;” and another, “I am of Apollos;” -and another, “I am of Cephas.” Apollos was a young orator, and the -people had been carried away by his eloquence. Some said Cephas, or -Peter, was of the regular Apostolic line, because he had been with -the Lord, and Paul had not. So they were divided, and Paul wrote this -letter in order to settle the question. - -Jenkyn, in his commentary on the Epistle of Jude, says: “The partakers -of a ‘common salvation,’ who here agree in one way to heaven, and who -expect to be hereafter in one heaven, should be of one heart. It is the -Apostle’s inference in Ephesians. What an amazing misery is it, that -they who agree in common faith should disagree like common foes! That -Christians should live as if faith had banished love! This common faith -should allay and temper our spirits in all our differences. This should -moderate our minds, though there is inequality in earthly relations. -What a powerful motive was that of Joseph’s brethren to him to forgive -their sin, they being both his brethren, and the servants of the God -of his fathers! Though our own breath cannot blow out the taper of -contention, oh, yet let the blood of Christ extinguish it!” - -What a strange state of things Paul, Cephas, and Apollos would find if -they would come to the world to-day! The little tree that sprang up at -Corinth has grown up into a tree like Nebuchadnezzar’s, with many of -the fowls of heaven gathered into it. Suppose Paul and Cephas were to -come down to us now, they would hear at once about our Churchmen and -Dissenters. “A Dissenter!” says Paul, “what is that?” “We have a Church -of England, and there are those who dissent from the Church.” “Oh, -indeed! Are there two classes of Christians here, then?” “I am sorry to -say there are a good many more divisions. The Dissenters themselves are -split up. There are Wesleyans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Independents, -and so on; even these are all divided up.” “Is it possible,” says Paul, -“that there are so many divisions?” “Yes; the Church of England is -pretty well divided itself. There is the Broad Church, the High Church, -the Low Church, and the High-Lows. Then there is the Lutheran Church; -and away in Russia they have the Greek Church, and so on.” I declare -I do not know what Paul and Cephas would think if they came back to -the world; they would find a strange state of things. It is one of the -most humiliating things in the present day to see how God’s family is -divided up. If we love the Lord Jesus Christ the burden of our hearts -will be that God may bring us closer together, so that we may love one -another and rise above all party feeling. - -In repairing a church in one of the Boston wards, the inscription upon -the wall behind the pulpit was covered up. Upon the first Sabbath after -repairs, “little five-year-old” whispered to her mother: “I know why -God told the paint men to cover that pretty verse up. It was because -the people did not love one another.” The inscription was; “A new -commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.” - -A Boston minister says he once preached on “The Recognition of Friends -in the Future,” and was told after service by a hearer, that it would -be more to the point to preach about the recognition of friends here, -as he had been in the church twenty years, and did not know any of its -members. - -I was in a little town some time ago, when one night as I came out of -the meeting, I saw another building where the people were coming out. I -said to a friend, “Have you got two churches here?” “Oh yes.” “How do -you get on?” “Oh, we get on very well.” “I am glad to hear that. Was -your brother minister at the meeting?” “Oh no, we don’t have anything -to do with each other. We find that is the best way.” And they called -that “getting on very well.” Oh, may God make us of one heart and of -one mind! Let our hearts be like drops of water flowing together. Unity -among the people of God is a sort of foretaste of heaven. There we -shall not find any Baptists, or Methodists, or Congregationalists, or -Episcopalians; we shall all be one in Christ. We leave all our party -names behind us when we leave this earth. Oh that the Spirit of God -may speedily sweep away all these miserable walls that we have been -building up! - -Did you ever notice that the last prayer Jesus Christ made on earth, -before they led Him away to Calvary, was that His disciples might all -be one? He could look down the stream of time, and see that divisions -would come--how Satan would try to divide the flock of God. Nothing -will silence infidels so quickly as Christians everywhere being united. -Then our testimony will have weight with the ungodly and the careless. -But when they see how Christians are divided, they will not believe -their testimony. The Holy Spirit is grieved; and there is little power -where there is no unity. - -If I thought I had one drop of sectarian blood in my veins, I would let -it out before I went to bed; if I had one sectarian hair in my head, I -would pull it out. Let us get right to the heart of Jesus Christ; then -our prayers will be acceptable to God, and showers of blessings will -descend. - - - - -Union. - - - “Let party names no more be known - Among the ransomed throng; - For Jesus claims them for His own; - To Him they all belong. - - “One in their covenant Head and King, - They should be one in heart; - Of one salvation all should sing, - Each claiming his own part. - - “One bread, one family, one rock, - One building, formed by love, - One fold, one Shepherd, yea, one flock, - They shall be one above.” - - _Joseph Irons._ - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -FAITH. - - -Another element is FAITH. It is as important for us to know how to -pray as it is to know how to work. We are not told that Jesus ever -taught His disciples how to preach, but He taught them how to pray. He -wanted them to have power with God; then He knew they would have power -with man. In James we read: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of -God ... and it shall be given him; but let him ask in faith, nothing -wavering.” So faith is the golden key that unlocks the treasures of -heaven. It was the shield that David took when he met Goliath on -the field; he believed that God was going to deliver the Philistine -into his hands. Some one has said that faith could lead Christ about -anywhere; wherever He found it He honored it. Unbelief sees something -in God’s hand, and says, “I cannot get it.” Faith sees it, and says, “I -will have it.” - -The new life begins with faith; then we have only to go on building on -that foundation. “I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye -pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” But bear -in mind, we must be in earnest when we go to God. - -I do not know of a more vivid illustration of the cry of distress for -help going up to God, in all the earnestness of deeply realized need, -than the following story supplies: - -Carl Steinman, who visited Mount Hecla, Iceland, just before the great -eruption, in 1845, after a repose of eighty years, narrowly escaped -death by venturing into the smoking crater against the earnest entreaty -of his guide. On the brink of the yawning gulf he was prostrated by a -convulsion of the summit, and held there by blocks of lava upon his -feet. He graphically writes: - -“Oh, the horrors of that awful realization! There, over the mouth of a -black and heated abyss, I was held suspended, a helpless and conscious -prisoner, to be hurled downward by the next great throe of trembling -Nature! - -“‘Help! help! help!--for the love of God, help!’ I shrieked, in the -very agony of my despair. - -“I had nothing to rely upon but the mercy of heaven; and I prayed to -God as I had never prayed before, for the forgiveness of my sins, that -they might not follow me to judgment. - -“All at once I heard a shout, and, looking around, I beheld, with -feelings that cannot be described, my faithful guide hastening down the -sides of the crater to my relief. - -“‘I warned you!’ said he. - -“‘You did!’ cried I, ‘but forgive me, and save me, for I am perishing!’ - -“‘I will save you, or perish with you!’ - -“The earth trembled, and the rocks parted--one of them rolling down the -chasm with a dull, booming sound. I sprang forward; I seized a hand -of the guide, and the next moment we had both fallen, locked in each -other’s arms, upon the solid earth above. I was free, but still upon -the verge of the pit.” - -Bishop Hall, in a well-known extract, thus puts the point of -earnestness in its relation to the prayer of faith. - -“An arrow, if it be drawn up but a little way, goes not far; but, if it -be pulled up to the head, flies swiftly and pierces deep. Thus prayer, -if it be only dribbled forth from careless lips, falls at our feet. -It is the strength of ejaculation and strong desire which sends it to -heaven, and makes it pierce the clouds. It is not the arithmetic of -our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how -eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; -nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the logic -of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our -prayers, how orderly they may be; nor even the divinity of our prayers, -how good the doctrine may be;--which God cares for. He looks not for -the horny knees which James is said to have had through the assiduity -of prayer. We might be like Bartholomew, who is said to have had a -hundred prayers for the morning, and as many for the evening, and all -might be of no avail. Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.” - -Archbishop Leighton says: “It is not the gilded paper and good -writing of a petition that prevails with a king, but the moving sense -of it. And to that King who discerns the heart, heart-sense is the -sense of all, and that which He only regards. He listens to hear what -that speaks, and takes all as nothing where that is silent. All other -excellence in prayer is but the outside and fashion of it. This is the -life of it.” - -Brooks says: “As a painted fire is no fire, a dead man no man, so a -cold prayer is no prayer. In a painted fire there is no heat, in a dead -man there is no life; so in a cold prayer there is no omnipotency, no -devotion, no blessing. Cold prayers are as arrows without heads, as -swords without edges, as birds without wings; they pierce not, they cut -not, they fly not up to heaven. Cold prayers do always freeze before -they get to heaven. Oh that Christians would chide themselves out of -their cold prayers, and chide themselves into a better and warmer frame -of spirit, when they make their supplications to the Lord!” - -Take the case of the Syrophenician woman. When she called to the -Master, it seemed for a time as if He were deaf to her request. The -disciples wanted her to be sent away. Although they were with Christ -for three years, and sat at His feet, yet they did not know how full of -grace His heart was. Think of Christ sending away a poor sinner who had -come to Him for mercy! Can you conceive such a thing? Never once did it -occur. This poor woman put herself in the place of her child. “Lord, -help me!” she said. I think when we get so far as that in the earnest -desire to have our friends blessed--when we put ourselves in their -place--God will soon hear our prayer. - -I remember, a number of years ago at a meeting, I asked all those who -wished to be prayed for to come forward and kneel or take seats in -front. Among those who came was a woman. I thought by her looks that -she must be a Christian, but she knelt down with the others. I said: -“You are a Christian, are you not?” She said she had been one for so -many years. “Did you understand the invitation? I asked those only who -wanted to become Christians.” I shall never forget the look on her face -as she replied, “I have a son who has gone far away; I thought I would -take his place to-day, and see if God would not bless him.” Thank God -for such a mother as that! - -The Syrophenician woman did the same thing--“Lord help _me_!” It was -a short prayer, but it went right to the heart of the Son of God. -He tried her faith, however. He said: “It is not meet to take the -children’s bread and cast it to dogs.” She replied: “Truth, Lord; yet -the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” “O -woman, great is thy faith!” What a eulogy He paid to her! Her story -will never be forgotten as long as the church is on the earth. He -honored her faith, and gave her all she asked for. Every one can say, -“Lord, help me!” We all need help. As Christians, we need more grace, -more love, more purity of life, more righteousness? Then let us make -this prayer to-day. I want God to help me to preach better and to live -better, to be more like the Son of God. The golden chains of faith link -us right to the throne of God, and the grace of heaven flows down into -our souls. - -I do not know but that woman was a great sinner; still, the Lord heard -her cry. It may be that up to this hour you have been living in sin; -but if you will cry, “Lord help me!” He will answer your prayer, if -it is an honest one. Very often when we cry to God we do not really -mean anything. You mothers understand that. Your children have two -voices. When they ask you for anything, you can soon tell if the cry -is a make-believe one or not. If it is, you do not give any heed to -it; but if it is a real cry for help, how quickly you respond! The cry -of distress always brings relief. Your child is playing around, and -it says, “Mamma, I want some bread;” but it goes on playing. You know -that it is not very hungry; so you let it alone. But, by and by, the -child drops the toys, and comes tugging at your dress. “Mamma, I am so -hungry!” Then you know that the cry is a real one; you soon go to the -pantry, and get some bread. When we are in earnest for the bread of -heaven, we will get it. This woman was terribly in earnest; therefore -her petition was answered. - -I remember hearing of a boy brought up in an English almshouse. He had -never learned to read or write, except that he could read the letters -of the alphabet. One day a man of God came there, and told the children -that if they prayed to God in their trouble, He would send them help. -After a time, this boy was apprenticed to a farmer. One day he was sent -out into the fields to look after some sheep. He was having rather a -hard time; so he remembered what the preacher had said, and he thought -he would pray to God about it. Some one going by the field heard a -voice behind the hedge. They looked to see whose it was, and saw the -little fellow on his knees, saying, “A, B, C, D,” and so on. The man -said, “My boy, what are you doing?” He looked up, and said he was -praying. “Why, that is not praying; it is only saying the alphabet.” -He said he did not know just how to pray, but a man once came to the -poor-house, who told them that if they called upon God, He would help -them. So he thought that if he named over the letters of the alphabet, -God would take them and put together into a prayer, and give him what -he wanted. The little fellow was really praying. Sometimes, when your -child talks, your friends cannot understand what he says; but the -mother understands very well. So if our prayer comes right from the -heart, God understands our language. It is a delusion of the devil to -think we cannot pray; we can, if we really want anything. It is not -the most beautiful or the most eloquent language that brings down the -answer; it is the cry that goes up from a burdened heart. When this -poor Gentile woman cried out, “Lord, help me!” the cry flashed over the -divine wires and the blessing came. So you can pray if you will; it is -the desire, the wish of the heart, that God delights to hear and to -answer. - -Then we must _expect_ to receive a blessing. When the centurion wanted -Christ to heal his servant, he thought he was not worthy to go and ask -the Lord himself, so he sent his friends to make the petition. He sent -out messengers to meet the Master, and say, “Do not trouble yourself -to come; all you have to do is to speak the word, and the disease will -go.” Jesus said to the Jews, “I have not found so great faith, no, not -in Israel.” He marvelled at the faith of this centurion; it pleased -Him, so that he healed the servant then and there. Faith brought the -answer. - -In John we read of a nobleman whose child was sick. The father fell -on his knees before the Master, and said, “Come down, ere my child -die.” Here you have both earnestness and faith; and the Lord answered -the prayer at once. The nobleman’s son began to amend that very hour. -Christ honored the man’s faith. - -In his case there was nothing to rest upon but the bare word of Christ, -but this was enough. It is well to bear always in mind, that the object -of faith is not the creature, but the Creator; not the instrument, but -the Hand that wields it. - -Richard Sibbes puts it for us thus: “The object in believing is God, -and Christ as Mediator. We must have both to found our faith upon. We -cannot believe in God, except we believe in Christ. For God must be -satisfied by God; and by Him that is God must that satisfaction be -applied--the Spirit of God--by working faith in the heart, and for -raising it up when it is dejected. All is supernatural in faith. The -things we believe are above nature; the promises are above nature; the -worker of it, the Holy Ghost, is above nature; and everything in faith -is above nature. There must be a God in whom we believe, and a God -through whom we may know that Christ is God--not only by that which -Christ hath done, the miracles, which none could do but God, but also -by what is done to Him. And two things are done to Him, which show that -He is God--that is, faith and prayer. We must believe only in God, -and pray only to God; but Christ is the object of both these. Here He -is set forth as the object of faith, and of prayer in that of Saint -Stephen, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And, therefore, He is God; -for that is done unto Him which is proper and peculiar only to God. -Oh, what a strong foundation, what bottom and basis our faith hath! -There is God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and Christ the Mediator. -That our faith may be supported, we have Him to believe on who supports -heaven and earth. - -“There is nothing that can lie in the way of the accomplishment of any -of God’s promises, but it is conquerable by faith.” - -As Samuel Rutherford says, commenting on the case of the Syrophenician -woman: “See the sweet use of faith under a sad temptation; faith -trafficketh with Christ and heaven in the dark, upon plain trust and -credit, without seeing any surety of dawn: Blessed are they that have -not seen, and yet have believed. And the reason is because faith is -sinewed and boned with spiritual courage; so as to keep a barred city -against hell, yea, and to stand under impossibilities; and here is a -weak woman, though not as a woman, yet as a believer, standing out -against Him who is ‘the Mighty God, the Father of Ages, the Prince of -Peace.’ Faith only standeth out, and overcometh the sword, the world, -and all afflictions. This is our victory, whereby one man overcometh -the great and vast world.” - -Bishop Ryle has said of Christ’s intercession as the ground and -sureness of our faith: “The bank-note without a signature at the -bottom is nothing but a worthless piece of paper. The stroke of a pen -confers on it all its value. The prayer of a poor child of Adam is -a feeble thing in itself, but once indorsed by the hand of the Lord -Jesus, it availeth much. There was an officer in the city of Rome who -was appointed to have his doors always open, in order to receive any -Roman citizen who applied to him for help. Just so the ear of the Lord -Jesus is ever open to the cry of all who want mercy and grace. It is -His office to help them. Their prayer is His delight.” Reader, think of -this. Is not this encouragement? - -Let us close this chapter by referring to some of our Lord’s own words -concerning faith in its relation to prayer: - -“And when He saw a fig-tree in the way, He came to it, and found -nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it: Let no fruit grow -on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig-tree withered -away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon -is the fig-tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, -Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not -only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also if ye shall say -unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, -it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, -believing, ye shall receive.” - -So again our Lord says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that -believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater -works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And -whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may -be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will -do it.” And further: “If ye abide in Me, and my words abide in you, -ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” “Verily, -verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, -He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name; ask, -and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” - - - - -“Have Faith in God.” - - - “Have faith in God, for He who reigns on high - Hath borne thy grief, and hears the suppliant’s sigh; - Still to His arms, thine only refuge, fly, - Have faith in God! - - “Fear not to call on Him, O soul distressed! - Thy sorrow’s whisper woos thee to His breast; - He who is oftenest there is oftenest blest. - Have faith in God! - - “Lean not on Egypt’s reeds; slake not thy thirst - At earthly cisterns. Seek the Kingdom first. - Though man and Satan fright thee with their worst, - Have faith in God! - - “Go, tell Him all! The sigh thy bosom heaves - Is heard in heaven. Strength and peace He gives, - Who gave Himself for thee. Our Jesus lives; - Have faith in God!” - - _Anna Shipton._ - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -PETITION. - - -The next element in prayer that I notice is PETITION. How often we go -to prayer-meetings without really asking for anything! Our prayers go -all round the world, without anything definite being asked for. We do -not expect anything. Many people would be greatly surprised if God did -answer their prayers. I remember hearing of a very eloquent man who was -leading a meeting in prayer. There was not a single definite petition -in the whole. A poor, earnest woman shouted out: “Ask Him summat, man.” -How often you hear what is called prayer without any asking! “Ask, and -ye shall receive.” - -I believe if we put all the stumbling-blocks out of the way, God will -answer our petitions. If we put away sin and come into His presence -with pure hands, as He has commanded us to come, our prayers will have -power with Him. In Luke’s Gospel we have as a grand supplement to the -“Disciples’ Prayer,” “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall -find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Some people think God -does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The -only way to trouble God is not to come at all. He encourages us to come -to Him repeatedly, and press our claims. - -I believe you will find three kinds of Christians in the church to-day. -The first are those who _ask_; the second those who _seek_; and the -third those who _knock_. - -“Teacher,” said a bright, earnest-faced boy, “why is it that so many -prayers are unanswered? I do not understand. The Bible says, ‘Ask, -and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be -opened unto you;’ but it seems to me a great many knock and are not -admitted.” - -“Did you never sit by your cheerful parlor fire,” said the teacher, -“on some dark evening, and hear a loud knocking at the door? Going -to answer the summons, have you not sometimes looked out into the -darkness, seeing nothing, but hearing the pattering feet of some -mischievous boy, who knocked but did not wish to enter, and therefore -ran away? Thus is it often with us. We ask for blessings, but do not -really expect them; we knock, but do not mean to enter; we fear that -Jesus will not hear us, will not fulfil His promises, will not admit -us; and so we go away.” - -“Ah, I see,” said the earnest-faced boy, his eyes shining with the new -light dawning in his soul: “Jesus cannot be expected answer _runaway_ -knocks. He has never promised it. I mean to keep knocking, knocking, -until He _cannot help opening the door_.” - -Too often we knock at mercy’s door, and then run away, instead of -waiting for an entrance and an answer. Thus we act as if we were afraid -of having our prayers answered. - -A great many people pray in that way; they do not wait for the answer. -Our Lord teaches us here that we are not only to ask, but we are to -wait for the answer; if it does not come, we must seek to find out the -reason. I believe that we get a good many blessings just by asking; -others we do not get, because there may be something in our life that -needs to be brought to light. When Daniel began to pray in Babylon for -the deliverance of his people, he sought to find out what the trouble -was, and why God had turned away His face from them. So there may be -something in our life that is keeping back the blessing; if there is, -we want to find it out. Some one, speaking on this subject, has said: -“We are to ask with a beggar’s humility, to seek with a servant’s -carefulness, and to knock with the confidence of a friend.” - -How often people become discouraged, and say they do not know whether -or not God does answer prayer! In the parable of the importunate widow, -Christ teaches us how we are not only to pray and seek, but to find. If -the unjust judge heard the petition of the poor woman who pushed her -claims, how much more will our Heavenly Father hear our cry! A good -many years ago an Irishman in the State of New Jersey was condemned to -be hung. Every possible influence was brought to bear upon the Governor -to have the man reprieved; but he stood firm, and refused to alter -the sentence. One morning the wife of the condemned man, with her ten -children, went to see the Governor. When he came to his office, they -all fell on their faces before him, and besought him to have mercy on -the husband--the father. The Governor’s heart was moved; and he at once -wrote out a reprieve. The importunity of the wife and children saved -the life of the man, just as the woman in the parable, who, pressing -her claims, induced the unjust judge to grant her request. - -It was this that brought the answer to the prayer of blind Bartimeus. -The people, and even the disciples, tried to hush him into silence; but -he only cried out the louder, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” - -Prayer is hardly ever mentioned in the Bible alone; it is prayer and -earnestness; prayer and watchfulness; prayer and thanksgiving. It is an -instructive fact that throughout Scripture prayer is always linked with -something else. Bartimeus was in earnest, and the Lord heard his cry. - -Then the highest type of Christian is the one who has got clear beyond -asking and seeking, and keeps knocking till the answer comes. If we -knock, God has promised to open the door and grant our request. It may -be years before the answer comes; He may keep us knocking; but He has -promised that the answer will come. - -I will tell you what I think it means to knock. A number of years ago, -when we were having meetings in a certain city, it came to a point -where there seemed to be very little power. We called together all the -mothers, and asked them to meet and pray for their children. About -fifteen hundred mothers came together, and poured out their hearts -to God in prayer. One mother said: “I wish you would pray for my two -boys. They have gone off on a drunken spree; and it seems as if my -heart would break.” She was a widowed mother. A few mothers gathered -together, and said: “Let us have a prayer-meeting for these boys.” -They cried to God for these two wandering boys; and now see how God -answered their prayer. - -That day these two brothers had planned to meet at the corner of the -street where our meetings were being held. They were going to spend the -night in debauchery and sin. About seven o’clock the first one came to -the appointed place; he saw the people going into the meeting. As it -was a stormy night, he thought he would go in for a little while. The -word of God reached him, and he went into the inquiry-room, where he -gave his heart to the Savior. - -The other brother waited at the corner until the meeting broke up, -expecting his brother to come; he did not know that he had been in the -meeting. There was a young men’s meeting in the church near by, and -this brother thought he would like to see what was going on; so he -followed the crowd into the meeting. He also was impressed with what -he heard, and was the first one to go into the inquiry-room, where he -found peace. While this was happening, the first one had gone home to -cheer his mother’s heart with the good news. He found her on her knees. -She had been knocking at the mercy-seat. While she was doing so, her -boy came in and told her that her prayers had been answered; his soul -was saved. It was not long before the other brother came in and told -his story--how he, too, had been blessed. - -On the following Monday night, the first to get up at the young -converts’ meeting was one of these brothers, who told the story of -their conversion. No sooner had he taken his seat, than the other -jumped up and said: “All that my brother has told you is true, for I -am his brother. The Lord has indeed met us and blessed us.” - -I heard of a wife in England who had an unconverted husband. She -resolved that she would pray every day for twelve months for his -conversion. Every day at twelve o’clock she went to her room alone and -cried to God. Her husband would not allow her to speak to him on the -subject; but she could speak to God on his behalf. It may be that you -have a friend who does not wish to be spoken with about his salvation; -you can do as this woman did--go and pray to God about it. The twelve -months passed away, and there was no sign of his yielding. She resolved -to pray for six months longer; so every day she went alone and prayed -for the conversion of her husband. The six months passed, and still -there was no sign, no answer. The question arose in her mind, could -she give him up? “No,” she said; “I will pray for him as long as God -gives me breath.” That very day, when he came home to dinner, instead -of going into the dining-room he went upstairs. She waited, and waited, -and waited; but he did not come down to dinner. Finally she went to -his room, and found him on his knees crying to God to have mercy upon -him. God convicted him of sin; he not only became a Christian, but the -Word of God had free course, and was glorified in him. God used him -mightily. That was God answering the prayers of this Christian wife; -she knocked, and knocked, till the answer came. - -I heard something the other day that cheered me greatly. Prayer had -been made for a man for about forty years, but there was no sign of any -answer. It seemed as though he was going down to his grave one of the -most self-righteous men on the face of the earth. Conviction came in -one night. In the morning he sent for the members of his family, and -said to his daughter: “I want you to pray for me. Pray that God would -forgive my sins; my whole life has been nothing but sin--sin.” And all -this conviction came in one night. What we want is to press our case -right up to the throne of God. I have often known cases of men who came -to our meetings, and although they could not hear a word that was said, -it seemed as though some unseen power laid hold of them, so that they -were convicted and converted then and there. - -I remember at one place where we were holding meetings, a wife came to -the first meeting and asked me to talk with her husband. “He is not -interested,” she said, “but I am in hopes he will become so.” I talked -with him, and I think I hardly ever spoke to a man who seemed to be so -self-righteous. It looked as though I might as well have talked to an -iron post, he seemed to be so encased in self-righteousness. I said to -his wife that he was not at all interested. She said, “I told you that, -but I am interested for him.” All the thirty days we were there that -wife never gave him up. I must confess she had ten times more faith for -him than I had. I had spoken to him several times, but I could see no -ray of hope. The last night but two the man came to me and said: “Would -you see me in another room?” I went, aside with him, and asked him -what was the trouble. He said, “I am the greatest sinner in the State -of Vermont.” “How is that?” I said, “Is there any particular sin you -have been guilty of?” I must confess I thought he had committed some -awful crime, which he was covering up, and that he now wanted to make -confession. “My whole life,” he said, “has been nothing but sin. God -has shown it to me to-day.” He asked the Lord to have mercy on him, -and he went home rejoicing in the assurance of sins forgiven. There -was a man convicted and converted in answer to prayer. So if you are -anxious about the conversion of some relative, or some friend, make up -your mind that you will give God no rest, day or night, till He grants -your petition. He can reach them, wherever they are--at their places of -business, in their homes, or anywhere--and bring them to His feet. - -Dr. Austin Phelps, in his “Still Hour,” says: “The prospect of gaining -an object will always affect thus the expression of intense desire. -The feeling which will become spontaneous with a Christian under the -influence of such a trust is this: ‘I come to my devotions this morning -on an errand of real life. This is no romance, and no farce. I do not -come here to go through a form of words; I have no hopeless desires to -express. I have an object to gain; I have an end to accomplish. This is -a business in which I am about to engage. An astronomer does not turn -his telescope to the skies with a more reasonable hope of penetrating -those distant heavens, than I have of reaching the mind of God by -lifting up my heart at the throne of grace. This is the privilege of my -calling of God in Christ Jesus. Even my faltering voice is now to be -heard in heaven; and it is to put forth a new power there, the results -of which only God can know, and only eternity can develop. Therefore, -O Lord, Thy servant findeth it in his heart to pray this prayer unto -Thee!’” - -Jeremy Taylor says: “Easiness of desire is a great enemy to the success -of a good man’s prayer. It must be an intent, zealous, busy, operative -prayer; for consider what a huge indecency it is that a man should -speak to God for a thing that he values not! Our prayers upbraid our -spirits when we beg tamely for those things for which we ought to die, -which are more precious than imperial sceptres, richer than the spoils -of the sea, or the treasures of Indian hills.” - -Dr. Patton, in his work on “Remarkable Answers to Prayer,” says: -“Jesus bids us seek. Imagine a mother seeking a lost child. She looks -through the house, and along the streets, then searches the fields -and woods, and examines the river-banks. A wise neighbor meets her -and says: ‘Seek on, look everywhere; search every accessible place. -You will not find, indeed; but then seeking is a good thing. It puts -the mind on the stretch; it fixes the attention; it aids observation; -it makes the idea of the child very real. And then, after a while, -you will cease to want your child.’ The words of Christ are, ‘Knock, -and it shall be opened unto you.’ Imagine a man knocking at the door -of a house, long and loud. After he has done this for an hour, a -window opens, and the occupant of the house puts out his head and -says: ‘That is right, my friend; I shall not open the door, but keep -on knocking--it is excellent exercise, and you will be the healthier -for it. Knock away till sundown; and then come again, and knock all -to-morrow. After some days thus spent you will attain to a state of -mind in which you will no longer care to come in.’ Is this what Jesus -intended us to understand, when He said--‘Ask, and ye shall receive; -seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you?’ No -doubt one would thus soon cease to ask, to seek, and to knock; but -would it not be from disgust?” - -Nothing is more pleasing to our Father in heaven than direct, -importunate, and persevering prayer. Two Christian ladies, whose -husbands were unconverted, feeling their great danger, agreed to spend -one hour each day in united prayer for their salvation. This was -continued for seven years, when they debated whether they should pray -longer, so useless did their prayers appear. They decided to persevere -till death, and, if their husbands went to destruction, it should -be laden with prayers. In renewed strength, they prayed three years -longer, when one of them was awakened in the night by her husband, who -was in great distress for sin. As soon as the day dawned, she hastened, -with joy, to tell her praying companion that God was about to answer -their prayers. What was her surprise to meet her friend coming to her -on the same errand! Thus ten years of united and persevering prayer was -crowned with the conversion of both husbands on the same day. - -We cannot be too frequent in our requests; God will not weary of -His children’s prayers. Sir Walter Raleigh asked a favor of Queen -Elizabeth, to which she replied, “Raleigh, when will you leave off -begging?” “When your Majesty leaves off giving,” he replied. So long -must we continue praying. - -Mr. George Muller, in a recent address given by him in Calcutta, said -that in 1844 five individuals were laid on his heart, and he began -to pray for them. Eighteen months passed away before one of them was -converted. He prayed on for five years more, and another was converted. -At the end of twelve years and a half, a third was converted. And -now for forty years he had been praying for the other two, without -missing one single day on any account whatever; but they were not yet -converted. He felt encouraged, however, to continue in prayer; and he -was sure of receiving an answer in relation to the two who were still -resisting the Spirit. - - - - -“To See His Face.” - - - “Sweet is the precious gift of prayer, - To bow before a throne of grace; - To leave our every burden there, - And gain new strength to run our race; - To gird our heavenly armor on, - Depending on the Lord alone. - - “And sweet the whisper of His love, - When conscience sinks beneath its load, - That bids our guilty fears remove, - And points to Christ’s atoning blood; - Oh, then ’tis sweet indeed to know - God can be just and gracious too. - - “But oh, to see our Savior’s face! - From sin and sorrow to be freed! - To dwell in His divine embrace-- - This will be sweeter far indeed! - The fairest form of earthly bliss - Is less than nought, compared with this.” - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -SUBMISSION. - - -Another essential element in prayer is SUBMISSION. All true prayer must -be offered in full submission to God. After we have made our requests -known to Him, our language should be, “Thy will be done.” I would a -thousand times rather that God’s will should be done than my own. I -cannot see into the future as God can; therefore, it is a good deal -better to let Him choose for me than to choose for myself. I know His -mind about spiritual things. His will is that I should be sanctified; -so I can with confidence pray to God for that, and expect an answer to -my prayers. But when it comes to temporal matters, it is different; -what I ask for may not be God’s purpose concerning me. - -As one has well put it: “Depend upon it, prayer does not mean that -I am to bring God down to my thoughts and my purposes, and bend His -government according to my foolish, silly, and sometimes sinful -notions. Prayer means that I am to be raised up into feeling, into -union and design with Him; that I am to enter into His counsel, and -carry out His purpose fully. I am afraid sometimes we think of prayer -as altogether of an opposite character, as if thereby we persuaded -or influenced our Father in heaven to do whatever comes into our -own minds, and whatever would accomplish our foolish, weak-sighted -purposes. I am quite convinced of this, that God knows better what is -best for me and for the world than I can possibly know; and even though -it were in my power to say, ‘_My_ will be done,’ I would rather say to -Him, ‘_Thy_ will be done.’” - -It is reported of a woman, who, being sick, was asked whether she was -willing to live or die, that she answered, “Which God pleases.” “But,” -said one, “if God should refer it to you, which would you choose?” -“Truly,” replied she, “I would refer it to Him again.” Thus that man -obtains his will of God, whose will is subjected to God. - -Mr. Spurgeon remarks on this subject, “The believing man resorts to God -at all times, that he may keep up his fellowship with the Divine mind. -Prayer is not a soliloquy, but a dialogue; not an introspection, but -a looking toward the hills, whence cometh our help. There is a relief -in unburdening the mind to a sympathetic friend, and faith feels this -abundantly; but there is more than this in prayer. When an obedient -activity has gone to the full length of its line, and yet the needful -thing is not reached, then the hand of God is trusted in to go beyond -us, just as before it was relied upon to go with us. Faith has no -desire to have its own will, when that will is not in accordance with -the mind of God; for such a desire would at bottom be the impulse of -an unbelief which did not rely upon God’s judgment as our best guide. -Faith knows that God’s will is the highest good, and that anything -which is beneficial to us will be granted to our petitions.” - -History informs us that the Tusculani, a people of Italy, having -offended the Romans, whose power was infinitely superior to theirs, -Camillus, at the head of a considerable army, was on his march to -subdue them. Conscious of their inability to cope with such an enemy, -they took the following method to appease him: They declined all -thoughts of resistance, set open their gates, and every man applied -himself to his proper business, resolving to submit where they knew -it was in vain to contend. Camillus, entering their city, was struck -with the wisdom and candor of their conduct, and addressed himself to -them in these words: “You only, of all people, have found out the true -method of abating the Roman fury; and your submission has proved your -best defense. Upon these terms, we can no more find in our heart to -injure you than upon other terms you could have found power to oppose -us.” The chief magistrate replied: “We have so sincerely repented of -our former folly, that in confidence of that satisfaction to a generous -enemy, we are not afraid to acknowledge our fault.” - -In view of the difficulty of bringing our hearts to this complete -submission to the Divine will, we may well adopt Fenelon’s prayer: “O -God, take my heart, for I cannot give it; and when Thou hast it, keep -it; for I cannot keep it for Thee; and save me in spite of myself.” - -Some of the best men the world has ever seen have made great mistakes -on this point. Moses could pray for Israel, and could prevail with -God; but God did not answer his petition for himself. He asked that -God would take him over Jordan, that he might see Lebanon; and after -the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness, he desired to go into -the Promised Land; but the Lord did not grant his desire. Was that -a sign that God did not love him? By no means. He was a man greatly -beloved of God, like Daniel; and yet God did not answer this prayer of -his. Your child says, “I want this or that,” but you do not grant the -request, because you know that it will be the ruin of the child to give -him everything he wants. Moses wished to enter the Promised Land; but -the Lord had something else in store for him. As some one has said, -God kissed away his soul, and took him home to Himself. “God buried -him”--the greatest honor ever paid to mortal man. - -Fifteen hundred years afterward God answered the prayer of Moses; He -allowed him to go into the Promised Land, and to get a glimpse of the -coming glory. On the Mount of Transfiguration, with Elijah, the great -prophet, and with Peter, James, and John, he heard the voice come from -the throne of God, “This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him.” That was -better than to have gone over Jordan, as Joshua did, and to sojourn for -thirty years in the land of Canaan. So when our prayers for earthly -things are not answered, let us submit to the will of God, and know -that it is all right. - -When one inquired of a deaf and dumb boy why he thought he was born -deaf and dumb, taking the chalk he wrote upon the board, “Even so, -Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.” - -John Brown, of Haddington, once said. “No doubt I have met with trials -like others; but yet so kind has God been to me, that I think if He -were to give me as many years as I have lived in the world, I would not -desire one single circumstance in my lot changed, except that I wish -there had been less sin. It might be written on my coffin, ‘Here lies -one of the cares of Providence, who early lost both father and mother, -and yet never wanted for the care of either.’” - -Elijah was mighty in prayer; he brought fire down from heaven on his -sacrifice, and his petitions brought rain on the thirsty land. He stood -fearlessly before King Ahab in the power of prayer. Yet we find him -sitting under a juniper-tree like a coward, asking God that He would -let him die. The Lord loved him too well for that; He was going to take -him up to heaven in a chariot of fire. So we must not allow the devil -to take advantage of us, and make us believe that God does not love -us because He does not grant all our petitions in the time and way we -would have Him do. - -As Moses takes up more room in the Old Testament than any other -character, so it is with Paul in the New Testament, except, perhaps, -the Lord Himself. Yet Paul did not know how to pray for himself. He -besought the Lord to take away “the thorn in the flesh.” His request -was not granted; but the Lord bestowed upon him a greater blessing. -He gave him more grace. It may be we have some trial--some thorn in -the flesh. If it is not God’s will to take it away, let us ask Him to -give us more grace, in order to bear it. We find that Paul gloried in -his reverses and his infirmities, because all the more the power of -God rested upon him. It may be there are some of us who feel as if -everything is against us. May God give us grace to take Paul’s platform -and say: “All things work together for good to them that love God.” So -when we pray to God we must be submissive, and say, “Thy will be done.” - -In the Gospel of John we read: “If ye” (that “if” is a mountain to -begin with), “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall -ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” The latter part is -often quoted, but not the first. Why, there is very little abiding in -Christ now-a-days! You go and visit Him once in a while; but that is -all. If Christ is in my heart, of course I will not ask anything that -is against His will. And how many of us have God’s Word abiding in us? -We must have a warrant for our prayers. If we have some great desire, -we must search the Scriptures to find if it be right to ask it. There -are many things we want that are not good for us; and many other things -we desire to avoid are really our best blessings. A friend of mine was -shaving one morning, and his little boy, not four years old, asked him -for his razor, and said he wanted to whittle with it. When he found he -could not get it, he began to cry as if his heart would break. I am -afraid that there are a great many of us who are praying for razors. -John Bunyan blessed God for that Bedford jail more than for anything -else that happened to him in this life. We never pray for affliction; -and yet it is often the best thing we could ask. - -Dyer says: “Afflictions are blessings to us when we can bless God for -afflictions. Suffering has kept many from sinning. God had one Son -without sin; but He never had any without sorrow. Fiery trials make -golden Christians; sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.” - -Rutherford beautifully writes, in reference to the value of sanctified -trial, and the wisdom of submitting in it to God’s will: “Oh, what -owe I to the file, to the hammer, to the furnace of my Lord Jesus, who -hath now let me see how good the wheat of Christ is that goeth through -His mill and His oven, to be made bread for His own table! Grace tried -is better than grace; and it is more than grace; it is glory in its -infancy. I now see that Godliness is more than the outside, and this -world’s passments and their bushings. Who knoweth the truth of grace -without a trial? Oh, how little getteth Christ of us, but that which -He winneth (to speak so) with much toil and pains! And how soon would -faith freeze without a cross! How many dumb crosses have been laid upon -my back, that had never a tongue to speak the sweetness of Christ, as -this hath! When Christ blesseth His own crosses with a tongue, they -breathe out Christ’s love, wisdom, kindness, and care for us. Why -should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on -my soul? I know that He is no idle husbandman; He purposeth a crop. Oh -that this white, withered lea-ground were made fertile to bear a crop -for Him, by whom it is so painfully drest, and that this fallow ground -were broken up! Why was I (a fool!) grieved that He put His garland and -His rose upon my head--the glory and honor of His faithful witnesses? -I desire now to make no more pleas with Christ. Verily He hath not put -me to a loss by what I suffer; He oweth me nothing; for in my bonds how -sweet and comfortable have the thoughts of Him been to me, wherein I -find a sufficient recompense of reward! How blind are my adversaries -who sent me to a banqueting house, to a house of wine, to the lovely -feasts of my lovely Lord Jesus, and not to a prison, or place of exile!” - -We may close our remarks on this subject by a reference to the words -of the Prophet Jeremiah, in Lamentations, where he says: “The Lord is -good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is -good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of -the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He -sitteth alone and keepeth silence; because he hath borne it upon him. -He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. He giveth -his cheek to him that smiteth him; he is filled full with reproach. -For the Lord will not cast off forever; but though He cause grief, yet -will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For -He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.... Who -is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it -not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? -Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his -sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let -us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” - - - - -Submission. - - - “Hear me, my God, and if my lip hath dared - To murmur ’neath Thy Hand, oh, teach me now - To feel each inmost thought before Thee bared, - And this rebellious will in faith to bow. - Though I wept wildly o’er the ruined shrine, - Where earthly idols held Thy place alone, - Now purify and make this temple Thine, - And teach me, Lord, to say, ‘Thy will be done!’ - - “What can I bring to offer that is mine? - A youth of sorrow, and a life of sin. - What can I lay upon Thy hallowed shrine, - One hope of pardon for the past to win? - While thus a suppliant at Thy feet I bow, - Still dare I lift to Thee my tearful eyes, - I plead the promise of Thy word, that Thou - A broken, contrite heart will not despise. - - “What shall I bring? A bruised spirit, Lord, - Worn with the contest, pining now for rest, - And yearning for Thy peace, as some poor bird, - ’Mid the wild tempest, seeks its mother’s breast, - My sacrifice, the Lamb who died for me; - I plead the merits of Thy sinless Son; - I bring Thy promises; I trust in Thee; - In love Thou smitest; Lord, ‘Thy will be done!’” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -ANSWERED PRAYERS. - - -In the fifteenth chapter of John and the seventh verse, we find who -have their prayers answered--“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in -you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Now in -the fourth chapter of James, in the third verse, we find some spoken of -whose prayers were not answered: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye -ask amiss.” There are a great many prayers not answered because there -is not the right motive; we have not complied with the Word of God; we -ask amiss. It is a good thing that our prayers are not answered when we -ask amiss. - -If our prayers are not answered, it may be that we have prayed -without the right motive; or that we have not prayed according to the -Scriptures. So let us not be discouraged, or give up praying, although -our prayers are not answered in the way we want them. - -A man once went to George Muller and said he wanted him to pray for -a certain thing. The man stated that he had asked God a great many -times to grant him his request, but He had not seen fit to do it. Mr. -Muller took out his note-book, and showed the man the name of a person -for whom, he said, he had prayed for twenty-four years. The prayer, -Mr. Muller added, was not answered yet; but the Lord had given him -assurance that that person was going to be converted, and his faith -rested there. - -We sometimes find that our prayers are answered right away while we -are praying; at other times the answer is delayed. But especially -when men pray for mercy, how quickly the answer comes! Look at Paul, -when he cried, “O Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” The answer -came at once. Then the publican who went up to the temple to pray--he -got an immediate answer. The thief on the cross prayed, “Lord, -remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom!” and the answer came -immediately--then and there. There are many cases of a similar kind in -the Bible, but there are also others who prayed long and often. The -Lord delights in hearing His children make their requests known unto -Him--telling their troubles all out to Him; and then we should wait for -His time. We do not know when that is. - -There was a mother in Connecticut who had a son in the army, and it -almost broke her heart when he left, because he was not a Christian. -Day after day she lifted up her voice in prayer for her boy. She -afterward learned that he had been taken to the hospital, and there -died, but she could not find out anything about how he had died. Years -passed, and one day a friend came to see some member of the family on -business. There was a picture of the soldier boy upon the wall. He -looked at it, and said, “Did you know that young man?” The mother said, -“That young man was my son. He died in the late war.” The man replied, -“I knew him very well; he was in my company.” The mother then asked, -“Do you know anything about his end?” The man said, “I was in the -hospital, and he died a most peaceful death, triumphant in the faith.” -The mother had given up hope of ever hearing of her boy; but before she -went hence she had the satisfaction of knowing that her prayers had -prevailed with God. - -I think we shall find a great many of our prayers that we thought -unanswered answered when we get to heaven. If it is the true prayer -of faith, God will not disappoint us. Let us not doubt God. On -one occasion, at a meeting I attended, a gentleman pointed out an -individual and said, “Do you see that man over there? That is one -of the leaders of an infidel club.” I sat down beside him, when the -infidel said, “I am not a Christian. You have been humbugging these -people long enough, and making some of these old women believe that you -get answers to prayer. Try it on me.” I prayed, and when I got up, the -infidel said with a good deal of sarcasm, “I am not converted; God has -not answered your prayer!” I said, “But you may be converted yet.” Some -time afterwards I received a letter from a friend, stating that he had -been converted and was at work in the meetings. - -Jeremiah prayed, and said: “Ah, Lord God! Behold Thou hast made the -heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched-out Arm, and -there is nothing too hard for Thee.” Nothing is too hard for God; -that is a good thing to take for a motto. I believe this is a time of -great blessing in the world, and we may expect great things. While the -blessing is falling all around, let us arise and share in it. God has -said, “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and -mighty things which thou knowest not.” Now let us call on the Lord; and -let us pray that it may be done for Christ’s sake--not our own. - -At a Christian convention a number of years ago, a leading man got up -and spoke--his subject being “For Christ’s Sake”--and he threw new -light upon that passage. I had never seen it in that way before. When -the war broke out the gentleman’s only son had enlisted, and he never -saw a company of soldiers but his heart went right out after them. -They started a Soldiers’ Home in the city where that gentleman lived, -and he gladly went on the committee, and acted as President. Some time -afterward he said to his wife, “I have given so much time to these -soldiers that I have neglected my business,” and he went down to his -office with the fixed determination that he would not be disturbed by -any soldiers that day. The door opened soon after, and he saw a soldier -entering. He never minded him, but kept on writing; and the poor fellow -stood for some time. At last the soldier put down an old soiled piece -of paper on which there was writing. The gentleman observed that it -was the handwriting of his son, and he seized the letter at once and -read it. It was something to this effect: “Dear father, this young -man belongs to my company. He has lost his health in defense of his -country, and he is on his way home to his mother to die. Treat him -kindly for Charlie’s sake.” The gentleman at once dropped his work and -took the soldier to his house, where he was kindly cared for until -he was able to be sent home to his mother; then he took him to the -station, and sent him home with a “God bless you, for Charlie’s sake!” - -Let our prayers, then, be for Christ’s sake. If we want our sons and -daughters converted, let us pray that it be done for Christ’s sake. -If that is the motive, our prayers will be answered. If God gave up -Christ for the world, what will He not give us? If He gave Christ to -the murderers and blasphemers, and the rebels of a world lying in -wickedness and sin, what would He not give to those who go to Him for -Christ’s sake? Let our prayer be that God may advance His work, not for -our glory--not for our sake--but for the sake of His beloved Son whom -He hath sent. - -So let us remember that when we pray we ought to expect an answer. -Let us be looking for it. I remember at the close of a meeting in one -of our Southern cities near the close of the war, a man came up to -me weeping and trembling. I thought something I had said had aroused -him, and I began to question him as to what it was. I found, however, -that he could not tell a word of what I had said. “My friend,” said I, -“what is the trouble?” He put his hand into his pocket, and brought out -a letter, all soiled, as if his tears had fallen on it. “I got that -letter,” he said, “from my sister last night. She tells me that every -night she goes on her knees and prays to God for me. I think I am the -worst man in all the Army of the Cumberland. I have been perfectly -wretched to-day.” That sister was six hundred miles away, but she had -brought her brother to his knees in answer to her earnest, believing -prayer. It was a hard case, but God heard and answered the prayer of -this Godly sister, so that the man was as clay in the hands of the -potter. He was soon brought into the Kingdom of God--all through his -sister’s prayers. - -I went off some thirty miles to another place, where I told this story. -A young man, a lieutenant in the army, sprang to his feet and said, -“That reminds me of the last letter I got from my mother. She told me -that every night as the sun went down she prayed for me. She begged -of me, when I got her letter, to go away alone, and yield myself to -God. I put the letter in my pocket, thinking there would be plenty of -time.” He went on to say that the next news that came from home was -that that mother was gone. He went out into the woods alone, and cried -to his mother’s God to have mercy upon him. As he stood in the meeting -with his face shining, that lieutenant said: “My mother’s prayers are -answered; and my only regret is that she did not live to know it; but I -will meet her by-and-by.” So, though we may not live to see the answer -to our prayers, if we cry mightily to God, the answer will come. - -In Scotland, a good many years ago, there lived a man with his wife and -three children--two girls and a boy. He was in the habit of getting -drunk, and thus losing his situation. At last, he said he would take -Johnnie, and go off to America, where he would be away from his old -associates, and where he could commence life over again. He took the -little fellow, seven years old, and went away. Soon after he arrived -in America, he went into a saloon and got drunk. He got separated from -his boy in the streets, and he has never been seen by his friends -since. The little fellow was placed in an institution, and afterward -apprenticed in Massachusetts. After he had been there some time, he -became discontented, and went off to sea; finally, he came to Chicago -to work on the lakes. He had been a roving spirit, had gone over sea -and land, and now he was in Chicago. When the vessel came into port, -one time, he was invited to a Gospel meeting. The joyful sound of the -Gospel reached him, and he became a Christian. - -After he had been a Christian a little while, he became very anxious to -find his mother. He wrote to different places in Scotland, but could -not find out where she was. One day he read in the Psalms--“No good -thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” He closed his -Bible, got down on his knees, and said: “O God, I have been trying to -walk uprightly for months past; help me to find my mother.” It came -into his mind to write back to the place in Massachusetts from which he -had run away years before. It turned out that a letter from Scotland -had been waiting for him there for seven years. He wrote at once to -the place in Scotland, and found that his mother was still living; the -answer came back immediately. I would like you to have seen him when he -got that letter. He brought it to me; and the tears flowed so that he -could scarcely read it. His sister had written on behalf of the mother; -she had been so overcome by the tidings of her long-lost boy that she -could not write. - -The sister said that all the nineteen years he had been away, his -mother had prayed to God day and night that he might be saved, and that -she might live to know what had become of him, and see him once more. -Now, said the sister, she was so overjoyed, not only that he was alive, -but that he had become a Christian. It was not long before the mother -and sisters came out to Chicago to meet him. - -I mention this incident to show how God answers prayer. This mother -cried to God for nineteen long years. It must have seemed to her -sometimes as though God did not mean to give her the desire of her -heart; but she kept praying, and at last the answer came. - -The following personal testimony was publicly given at one of our -meetings lately held in London, and may serve to help and encourage -readers of these pages. - - -A PRAYER-MEETING TESTIMONY. - -“I want you to understand, my friends, that what I state is not what I -did, but what God did. _God only could have done it!_ I had given it -up as a bad job, long before. But it is of God’s great mercy that I am -standing here to-night, to tell you that Christ is able to save _to the -uttermost_ all that come to God through Him. - -“The reading of those ‘requests’ [for the salvation of inebriates] -touched me very deeply indeed. They seemed to be an echo of many a -request for prayer which has been made for me. And, from my knowledge -of society generally, and of human nature, I know that in a very great -number of families there is need of some such request. - -“Therefore if what I may tell you will cheer any Christian heart, -encourage any Godly father and mother to go on praying for their sons, -or assist any man or woman who has felt himself or herself beyond the -reach of hope, I shall thank God for it. - -“I had very good opportunities. My parents loved the Lord Jesus, and -did their best to train me up in the right path; and for some time -I thought myself that I should be a Christian. But I got away from -Christ, and turned further and further away from God and all good -influences. - -“It was at a public school where I first learned to drink. Many a time -at seventeen I drank to excess, but I had an amount of self-respect -that kept me from going thoroughly to the bad till I was about -twenty-three; but from then till I was twenty-six, I went steadily down -hill. At Cambridge I went on further and further in drinking, until I -lost all self-respect, and voluntarily chose the worst of companions. - -“I strayed further and further from God, until my friends, those who -were Christians and those who were not, considered, and told me that -there was very little hope for me. I had been pleaded with by all sorts -of people, but I ‘hated reproof.’ I hated everything that savored of -religion, and I sneered at every bit of good advice, or any kind word -offered me in that way. - -“My father and mother both died without seeing me brought to the Lord. -They prayed for me all the time they lived, and at the very last my -mother asked me if I would not follow her to be with her in heaven. -To quiet and soothe her, I said I would. But I did not mean it; and I -thought, when she had passed away, that she knew now my real feelings. -After her death I went from bad to worse, and plunged deeper and deeper -into vice. Drink got a stronger hold of me, and I went lower and lower -down. I was never ‘in the gutter,’ in the acceptation in which that -term is generally understood; but I was as low in my soul as any man -who lives in one of the common lodging-houses. - -“I went from Cambridge first to a town in the north, where I was -articled to a solicitor; and then to London. While I was in the north, -Messrs. Moody and Sankey came to the town I lived in; and an aunt of -mine, who was still praying for me after my mother’s death, came and -said to me, ‘I have a favor to ask of you.’ She had been very kind to -me, and I knew what she wanted. She said, ‘It is to go and hear Messrs. -Moody and Sankey.’ ‘Very good,’ I said; ‘it is a bargain. I will go -and hear the men; but you are never to ask me again. You will promise -that?’ ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I do.’ I went, and kept, as I thought, most -religiously my share of the bargain. - -“I waited until the sermon was over, and I saw Mr. Moody coming down -from the pulpit. Earnest prayer had been offered for me, and there -had been an understanding between my aunt and him that the sermon -should apply to me, and that he would come and speak to me immediately -afterward. We met Mr. Moody in the aisle, and I thought that I had done -a very clever thing when I walked round my aunt, before Mr. Moody could -address me, and out of the building. - -“I wandered further from God after that; and I do not think that I -bent my knees in prayer for between two and three years. I went to -London, and things grew worse and worse. At times I tried to pull up. -I made any number of resolutions. I promised myself and my friends not -to touch the drink. I kept my resolutions for some days, and, on one -occasion, for six months; but the temptation came with stronger force -than ever, and swept me further and further from the pathway of virtue. -When in London I neglected my business and everything I ought to have -done, and sank deeper into sin. - -“One of my boon companions said to me, ‘If you don’t pull up, you will -kill yourself.’ ‘How is that?’ I asked. ‘You are killing yourself, for -you can’t drink so much as you used to.’ ‘Well,’ I replied, ‘I can’t -help it, then.’ I got to such a state that I did not think there was -any possible help for me. - -“The recital of these things pains me; and as I relate them, God forbid -that I should feel anything but shame. I am telling you these things -because we have a Savior; and if the Lord Jesus Christ saved even me, -He is able also to save you. - -“Affairs went on in this manner until, at last, I lost all control over -myself. - -“I had been drinking and playing billiards one day, and in the evening -I returned to my lodgings. I thought that I would sit there awhile, -and then go out again, as usual. Before going out, I began to think, -and the thought struck me, ‘How will all this end?’ ‘Oh,’ I thought to -myself, ‘what is the use of that? I know how it will end--in my eternal -destruction, body and soul!’ I felt I was killing myself--my body; -and I knew too well what would be the result to my soul. I thought -it impossible for me to be saved. But the thought came to me very -strongly, ‘Is there any way of escape?’ ‘No,’ I said; ‘I have made any -number of resolutions. I have done all I could to keep clear of drink, -but I can’t. It is impossible.’ - -“Just at that moment the words came into my mind, from God’s own -Word--words that I had not remembered since I was a boy: ‘With men -this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.’ And then I -saw, in a flash, that what I had just admitted, as I had done hundreds -of times before, to be an impossibility, was the one thing that God -had pledged Himself to do, if I would go to Him. All the difficulties -came up in my way--my companions, my surroundings of all sorts, and my -temptations; but I just looked up and thought, ‘It is possible with -God.’ - -“I went down on my knees there and then, in my room, and began to -ask God to do the impossible. As soon as I prayed to Him, with very -stammering utterance--I had not prayed for nearly three years--I -thought, ‘Now, then, God will help me.’ I took hold of His truth, I -don’t know how. It was nine days before I knew how, and before I had -any assurance, or peace and rest, to my soul. I got up, there and then, -with the hope that God would save me. I took it to be the truth, and I -ultimately proved it; for which I praise God. - -“I thought the best thing I could do would be to go and get somebody -to talk to me about my soul, and tell me how to be saved; for I was a -perfect heathen, though I had been brought up so well. I went out and -hunted about London; and it shows how little I knew of religious people -and places of worship, that I could not find a Wesleyan chapel. My -mother and father were Wesleyans, and I thought I would find a place -belonging to their denomination; but I could not. I searched an hour -and a half; and that night I was in the most utter, abject misery of -body and soul any man can think of or conceive. - -“I came home to my lodgings and went upstairs, and thought to myself, -‘I will not go to bed till I am saved.’ But I was so ill from -drinking--I had not had my usual amount of food in the evening; and the -reaction was so tremendous, that I felt I must go to bed (although I -dared not), or I should be in a very serious condition in the morning. - -“I knew how I should be in the morning, thinking, ‘what a fool I was -last night!’ when I would wake up moderately fresh, and go off to -drink again, as I had often done. But again I thought, ‘God can do the -impossible. He will do that which I cannot do myself.’ And I prayed to -the Lord to let me wake up in much the same condition as that in which -I went to bed, feeling the weight of my sins and my misery. Then I -went to sleep. The first thing in the morning, as soon as I remembered -where I was, I thought, ‘Has the conviction left me?’ No; I was more -miserable than before, and--it seemed strange, though it was natural--I -got up, and thanked the Lord because He had kept me anxious about my -soul. - -“Have you ever felt like that? Perhaps after some meeting or -conversation with some Christian, or reading the Word of God, you have -gone to your room miserable and ‘almost persuaded.’ - -“I went on for eight or nine days seeking the Lord. On the Saturday -morning I had to go and tell the clerks. That was hard. I did it with -the tears running down my cheeks. A man does not like to cry before -other men. Anyway, I told them I wanted to become, and meant to -become, a Christian. The Lord helped me with that promise, ‘With God -all things are possible.’ - -“A sceptic dropped his head, and said nothing. Another fellow, with -whom I played billiards, said, ‘I wish I had the pluck to say so -myself!’ My words were received in a different way from what I thought -they would be. But the very man who had told me that I was killing -myself with drink, spent an hour and a half trying to get me to drink, -saying, that I ‘had the blues, and was out of sorts; and that a glass -of brandy or whisky would do me good.’ He tried to get me to drink; and -I turned upon him at last, and said, ‘You remember what you said to me; -I am trying to get away from drink, and not to touch it again.’ When I -think of that I am reminded of the words of God Himself: ‘The tender -mercies of the wicked are cruel.’ - -“And now the Lord drew me on until the little thread became a cable, -by which my soul could swing. He drew me nearer; until I found that He -was my Savior. Truly He is ‘able to save to the uttermost all that come -unto God by Him.’ - -“I must not forget to tell you that I went down before God in my -misery, my helplessness, and my sin, and owned to Him that it was -impossible that I should be saved; that it was impossible for me to -keep clear of drink; but from that night to this moment, I have never -had the slightest desire for drink. - -“It was a hard struggle indeed to give up smoking. But God in His -great wisdom, knew that I must have come to grief if I had to fight -single-handed against the overwhelming desire I had for drink; and He -took that desire, too, clean away. From that day to this the Lord has -kept me away from drink, and made me hate it most bitterly. I simply -said that I had not any strength; nor have I now; but it is the Lord -Jesus who ‘is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto -God by Him.’ - -“If there is any one hearing me who has given up all hope, come to the -Savior! That is His name, for ‘He shall save His people from their -sins.’ Wherever I have gone, since then, I have found Him to be my -Savior. God forbid that I should glory! It would be glorying in my -shame. It is to my shame that I speak thus of myself; but oh, the -Savior is able to save, and He will save! - -“Christian friends, continue to pray. You may go to heaven before your -sons are brought home. My parents did; and my sisters prayed for me for -years and years. But now I can help others on their way to Zion. Praise -the Lord for all His mercy to me! - -“Remember, ‘with God all things are possible.’ And then you may say -like St. Paul, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth -me.’” - - - - -“Look Up.” - - - “O soul most desolate, look up! For thee - One faithful voice doth promise sure relief. - Whate’er thy sin, whate’er thy sorrow be, - Tell all to Jesus. He looketh where - The weary-hearted weep, and draweth near - To listen fondly to the half-formed prayer, - Or read the silent pleading of a tear. - Lose not thy privilege, O silent soul; - Pour out thy sorrow at thy Savior’s feet. - What outcast spurns the hand that gives the dole? - Oh, let Him hear thy voice; to Him thy voice is sweet.” - - _A. S._ - - =NOTICE.=--All former books (before this series), issued in - Mr. Moody’s name, have been mere compilations - from newspaper reports of his sermons, - issued without his consent and - notwithstanding his protest. - - - - - WORKS BY - - MR. D. L. MOODY, - - PUBLISHED BY - - F. H. REVELL, 148 & 150 MADISON ST., - CHICAGO. - -_The following Books sent postpaid on receipt of -price._ - - -Over 350,000 copies of these works have already been sold, the greater -portion within the last three years. - - - =To the Work! To the Work!= By D. L. MOODY. Exhortations to Christians. - - Tinted covers, 30c.; cloth boards, gilt dies, 60c. - - Just published. - - This new work by Mr. Moody is in the line of his most successful - efforts, that of stirring Christians to active, personal, aggressive - work for the Master. Mr. Moody has frequently been heard to say that - it was much better to set 100 men to work than to do the work of 100 - men. This little volume will we confidently believe be a means of - inspiring not hundreds, but _thousands_ to more efficient effort in - Christian life. - - - =Secret Power=, or The Secret of Success in Christian Life and - Christian Work. By D. L. MOODY. Fifty-fifth Thousand. - - This work, so full of inspiration and suggestion, has been reprinted - in England, and has also been translated into French and Italian. - Through the kindness of a consecrated lady, a copy of the book has - been presented to every Protestant minister in Italy, while another - friend sends the English edition to every Presbyterian minister in - Ireland. - - Every page is full of stimulating thought for Christian - workers.--_Christian Commonwealth._ - - It is a good statement of the secret of success in Christian Life, by - one who has some claim to speak on such a theme.--_The Outlook._ - - This series of earnest and solemn Addresses bear throughout that stamp - of honest, eager earnestness, which is so striking a characteristic of - the writer’s labors as a preacher.--_Clerical World._ - - - =Prevailing Prayer, What Hinders it?= By D. L. MOODY. - - Cloth, uniform with “To the Work,” “Heaven,” &c., 60c. - - Paper covers, 30c. - - An earnest and solemn work, full of helpful hints on the aids and - hindrances to prevailing prayer. - - “This great subject has been the theme of apostles and prophets, and - of all good men in all ages of the world; and my desire in sending - forth this little volume is to encourage God’s children to seek - by prayer ‘to move the arm that moves the world.’”--_Extract from - Preface._ - - - =Heaven=; Where It Is; Its Inhabitants, and How to Get There. By D. L. - MOODY. 88th Thousand. - - While adapted to the humble capacity, it will command the attention of - the mature and thoughtful.--_National Presbyterian._ - - Mr. Moody is sure of an audience, and well deserves a large one for - this book.--_Presbyterian Witness._ - - Mr. Moody’s unfaltering faith and rugged enthusiasm are manifested on - every page.--_Christian Advocate._ - - Eminently scriptural, earnest and impressive, will be welcomed by - thousands.--_Zion’s Herald._ - - Characterized by his apt, homely illustrations and not a few pithy - anecdotes, such as few can equal.--_The Advance._ - - A most acceptable monogram in its author’s own short, pointed, - monosyllabic, Anglo-saxon style.--_Herald of Truth, California._ - - Abounds in apt and telling illustrations.--_The Standard, Chicago._ - - Anything from the pen of this renowned evangelist will be read with - interest.--_Index, Atlanta, Ga._ - - The clear, Scriptural, common sense treatment of this subject by Mr. - Moody has been commended in the highest terms by leading theologians - in Europe and America, while the common people have heard them - everywhere with gladness.--_Central Baptist._ - - - =Twelve Select Sermons.= By D. L. MOODY. 110th Thousand. - - This volume contains those special sermons, which have appeared to be - most useful, and under which there have been the greatest results. - - Carefully revised by Mr. Moody, they present a volume of choice and - striking addresses, sure to command a large sale. - - With the effect of these addresses when _spoken_, the whole land is - acquainted, and now that they are _written_, they will tend to keep in - force the impressions they have already made.--_Methodist._ - - Mr. Moody’s happy style, abounding in striking anecdote and - illustration, make it a most readable and convincing volume.--_The - Watchman._ - - Full of earnest enthusiasm which characterizes everything Mr. Moody - does, and will be read with interest.--_Detroit Free Press._ - - There are few who heard any one of these sermons who will fail to be - delighted with this opportunity of making a calm acquaintance with it - again.--_Daily Review._ - - This book is one of pre-eminent interest, as containing an authorized - record of the teaching under which, along with other means, such great - and extensive religious impressions have been recently produced in - this country.--_The Messenger._ - - Will be read by thousands with memorable interest.--_Record._ - - - =The Way to God, and How to Find it.= Fifty-fifth Thousand. - - It consists of nine chapters of the kind only D. L. Moody can - write. The little volume contains the most convincing argument ever - framed for the use of common people. It is a good book to drop into - the sachel of your boy or girl; good to send to some friend at a - distance in whom you have an interest, and good upon your own study - table.--_Inter Ocean._ - - “The Way to God” is a theme upon which the Evangelist has been wont - to dwell. Here in nine chapters he grasps together words of advice - regarding that path which it is the happy privilege of the minister to - continually make plain.--_Chicago Standard._ - - They are characterized by his usual simplicity, directness, fervor and - exceptional power of vivid illustration.--_Christian Herald._ - - They are sharply to the point, plainly practical, and orthodox in a - good, simple and true sense.--_Christian Advocate._ - - It will lead sinners to trust in God, and fire the hearts of layman - and minister to noble works for the Master.--_Baptist Reflector._ - - It puts the way so plain that he who runs may read.--_Religious - Telescope._ - - It is an excellent manual for the soul winners, and for the awakened - seeker, and we trust will be the means of leading thousands to - Christian hope and heaven.--_Zion’s Herald._ - - Very earnest and powerful, abounding in apt illustrations, striking - thoughts, and helpful, encouraging words. This book is written in the - same plain, simple and pointed style that lends such force to his - spoken words. The volume should find many readers. Those that buy it - will not be disappointed.--_National Baptist._ - - - =Daniel, the Prophet.= An Amplification and Extension of Mr. Moody’s - various Lectures on the Life of Daniel. - - Tinted covers, 20c.; cloth, 40c. - - A small book; but big as regards the truth it contains. Every worker - in the Lord’s vineyard would be helped by reading it.--_Railway - Signal._ - - - =The Way and The Word.= By D. L. MOODY. Forty-fifth Thousand. - - Paper, 15c.; cloth, 25c. - - This little work contains a very clear statement on the important - subject, _Regeneration_, to which is added Mr. Moody’s valuable hints - on Bible Reading. - - Mr. Moody has used this book by the thousand, placing them in the - hands of young converts at the close of his meetings. - - - =The Second Coming of Christ.= By D. L. MOODY. Fortieth Thousand. - Tinted covers, 10c. - - “The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus is coming back - again to receive His followers to Himself, this world loses its - hold upon him. Gas stocks and water stocks, and stocks in banks and - railroads, are of very much less consequence to him then. His heart is - free, and he looks for the blessed appearing of the Lord, who at His - coming, will take him into His blessed Kingdom.”--_Extract._ - - - =How to Conduct Inquiry Meetings.= By D. L. MOODY, and =The Use of the - Bible in Inquiry Meetings=. By D. W. WHITTLE. - - 40 pages and cover. Price 15c. - - - - -A SELECTION FROM THE CATALOGUE - -OF - -FLEMING H. REVELL, - -_Publisher of Evangelical Literature_ - -148 & 150 MADISON STREET, CHICAGO. - -_The Following Books sent Post-paid on Receipt of Price._ - - -HELPS IN BIBLE STUDY. - - - =Notes and Suggestions for Bible Readings.= _Seventeenth thousand._ - Compiled by S. R. BRIGGS and J. H. ELLIOTT. Acknowledged to be the - very best help for Bible readings in print. Containing, in addition to - twelve introductory chapters on plans and methods of Bible study and - Bible readings, over six hundred outlines of Bible readings by many of - the most eminent Bible students of the day. - - Large 12mo, 262 pages, with complete index, cloth, fine library style, - $1.00; Flexible cloth, travelers’ edition, 75c; Cheap edition, paper - covers, 50c. - - This is a book which every Bible student should possess. Those who - conduct Bible readings will find it most suggestive.--_Christian - Progress._ - - - =Symbols and Systems in Bible Readings.= By Rev. W. F. CRAFTS. - - Giving a plan of Bible reading, with fifty verses definitely assigned - for each day, the Bible being arranged with much labor in the order of - its events. The entire symbolism of the Bible also explained concisely - and clearly. 100 hints upon Bible markings and Bible readings are - added. - - A year of work upon such a system would yield rich harvests of Bible - knowledge and spiritual experience.--_S. S. World._ - - - =The True Tabernacle.= A series of lectures on the Jewish Tabernacle - and its typical signification. By GEORGE C. NEEDHAM. Illustrated, - cloth, neat, 75c. - - - =“C. H. M.’s” Notes.= By C. H. MCINTOSH. Genesis, 75c; Exodus, 75c; - Leviticus, 75c; Numbers, 75c; Deuteronomy, 2 vols., each, 75c. - - The notes breathe a very sweet and reverential spirit, and the author - shows wonderful insight into the heart of truths.--_Evangelist._ - - Mr. D. L. Moody says of these books: “They have been to me a very key - to the Scriptures.” - - Major D. W. Whittle says: “Under God they have blessed me more than - any books, outside of the Bible itself, that I have ever read, and - have led me to a love of the Bible that is proving an unfailing source - of profit.” - - - =Life and Times of David, King of Israel=; or, The Life of Faith - Exemplified. By “C. H. M.” Third edition, revised. 12mo, 200 pp. - Cloth, 60c. - - - =The Gospel According to Moses=, as seen in the Tabernacle and its - Various Services. By GEORGE ROGERS. New edition, enlarged 16mo, 124 - pp. Paper, 50c; Cloth, 75c. - - No preacher or teacher should be ignorant of the truth which this - small volume very simply but forcibly enunciates.--_The Record._ - - - =Outline of the Books of the Bible.= By Rev. J. H. BROOKES, D. D. - Invaluable to the young student of the Bible as a “First Lessons” in - the study of the Bible. 180 pp., cloth, 50c; Paper covers, 25c. - - - =Ruth, the Moabitess=; or, Gleanings in the Book of Ruth. By HENRY - MOOREHOUSE. A characteristic series of Bible readings, full of - suggestions and instruction. - - Neat 16mo, paper covers, 20c; cloth, gilt stamped, 40c. - - Contains many fresh and original remarks, all tending to - practical usefulness; a capital bit of commenting on a favorite - book.--_Spurgeon’s Sword and Trowel._ - - - =Bible Readings.= By HENRY MOOREHOUSE. A series of eleven sermons of - comment and exposition, by one pre-eminently the man of one book--an - incessant, intense, prayerful student of the Bible. - - Neat, 16mo, paper covers, 30c; cloth, gilt stamped, 60c. - - - =Current Discussions in Theology.= By the Professors of Chicago - Theological Seminary. Vol. I, cloth, 12mo, 248 pp., $1.00; paper - covers, 50c. Vol. II, 328 pp., cloth, $1.50. - - There is nothing in our language of this kind. The American student - has had to choose between the exhaustive and unremitting labors which - are the price of first-hand knowledge, and reviews which rarely fail - of being colored with partiality or prejudice. The volume before us is - a helpful, fair and trustworthy statement of the present position and - recent movements of theology.--_The Independent._ - - It may be safely said that from no one book in the English language - can ministers gather so much recent information concerning the topics - treated.--_Presbyterian Witness._ - - - =The Date of Our Gospels.= A critical argument and examination of - evidences, particularly regarding their authenticity and authorship. - By SAMUEL IVES CURTISS, D. D., Union Park Theological Seminary, - Chicago. - - Sq. 16mo, neat, flexible cloth, 50c; paper edition, 25c. - - The argument is winnowed of superfluous words, and presents a luminous - and brief case.--_New York Independent._ - - - =A New Catechism.= By Rev. J. T HYDE. A manual of instruction for - students and other thoughtful inquirers. - - Cloth, 12mo, $1.00. - - -AIDS IN CHRISTIAN WORK. - - - =Children’s Meetings and How to Conduct Them.= By LUCY J. RIDER and - NELLIE M. CARMAN. Introduction by Rev. J. H. VINCENT, D. D. Contains - contributions from over forty well-known workers among children, and - gives the cream of their experience. The outline lessons (over sixty - in number), diagrams, and music will especially commend it to the - thoughtful teacher. Pp. 208, cloth, net $1.00. - - It is a good book, that suggests something in addition to that which - it conveys.--_Journal and Messenger._ - - The volume will be heartily welcomed by many having this most - important part of the religious instruction of the young in - hand.--_Zion’s Herald._ - - - =Secret Power=; or, the Secret of Success in Christian Life and - Christian Work. By D. L. MOODY. _Fifty-fifth thousand._ 12mo volume, - 116 pp., rich gilt and black stamp, cloth, 60c; cheap edition, paper - cover, 30c. - - Every page is full of stimulating thought for Christian - workers.--_Christian Commonwealth._ - - - =The Work of Preaching Christ.= By Bishop CHARLES PETTITT MCILVAINE. A - revised edition of an important little work. Paper covers, 15c. - - - =The Prayer Meeting and Its Improvement.= By Rev. LEWIS O. THOMPSON, - with introduction by Rev. A. E. KITTREDGE, D. D. Sixth edition. - Revised. An attractive volume. 12mo, pp. 256, $1.25. - - A valuable, because a very suggestive book.--_S. S. Times._ - - * * * “This is so good a book that we wish we could afford to give a - copy of it to every young minister. Revive your prayer meetings and - the churches will be revived. Mr. Thompson says some capital things in - a telling manner, and, as his pages are full of fire and gunpowder, - we hope certain old, worn-out things among us will be exploded, and - good things set on fire. A brother who has this book handy will be - helped to lead lively meetings, conducting them in varied ways, and - expatiating on different topics, so as to keep up freshness, and avoid - monotony and dullness.”--_C. H. Spurgeon._ - - - =Revivals=; Their Place and Power. By Rev. HERRICK JOHNSON, D. D. - Cloth, flexible, 25c. - - An admirable discussion of the subject.--_Interior._ - - We know of no publication that covers the ground so briefly and - satisfactorily.--_Baltimore Presbyterian._ - - Dr. Johnson’s experience has qualified him to speak upon this - subject.--_Independent._ - - - =To the Work! To the Work!= By D. L. MOODY. Exhortations to - Christians. Paper covers, 30c; Cloth boards, gilt dies, 60c. Just - published. - - This new work by Mr. Moody, is in the line of his most successful - efforts, that of stirring Christians to active, personal, aggressive - work for the Master. Mr. Moody has frequently been heard to say that - it was much better to set 100 men to work than to do the work of 100 - men. This little volume will, we confidently believe, be a means of - inspiring not hundreds but _thousands_ to more efficient effort in - Christian life. - - -PRE-MILLENNIAL LITERATURE. - - - =Pre-Millennial Essays.= A series of papers on prophetical subjects by - eminent writers. Edited by NATHANIEL WEST, D. D. Issued in one large - 12mo volume of 500 pages, $1.50. - - Those who desire to have, within the compass of a single volume, all - that is necessary to an intelligent consideration of the subject, will - find it here in a very readable form. It is certainly the ablest work - that has appeared on the pre-millennial side.--_Canada Presbyterian._ - - The best treatment of this subject from the pre-millennial side that - has ever been published.--_The Standard._ - - It is pious, elaborate and fraternal. We are pleased with the - forcible, yet candid style of argumentation.--_Zion’s Herald._ - - - =Maranatha=; or, the Lord Cometh. By Rev. J. H. BROOKES, D. D. Pp. - 445, cloth, $1.25; paper, 50c. - - - =Present Truth=; being the Testimony of the Holy Ghost on the Second - Coming of the Lord, the Divinity of Christ, and the Personality of the - Holy Ghost. By Rev. J. H. BROOKES, D. D. 250 pp., fine cloth, 75c. - Cheap edition, paper cover, 25c. - - - =Second Coming of Christ.= By Rev. J. H. BROOKES, D. D. Price, 15c. - - - =The Blessed Hope=; or, The Glorious Coming of the Lord. By WILLIS - LORD, D. D. New and cheaper edition. A practical treatise; a volume - well adapted to lead to a more joyous Christian life. 250 pp., cloth, - $1.00. Cheap edition, for circulation, paper covers only, 25c. - - - =Second Coming of Christ.= By GEORGE MULLER, of Bristol, Eng. A neat - little tract of 32 pages, suitable for circulation. Per dozen, 40c; - 100 copies, $2.50. - - - =Jesus Is Coming.= By W. E. B. A most popular hand book. _Sixteenth - thousand._ Giving seven arguments in favor of the pre-millennial - coming--stating the distinction between the Rapture and the - Revelation, and between the Church and the Kingdom--and containing a - diagram, with explanations. New, enlarged edition, 160 pp., cloth, - 50c; paper covers, 15c. - - - =Twenty Reasons for Believing= that the Second Coming of the Lord is - Near. 34 pages and cover, neat, 15c. Per dozen, $1.00. - - - =Epiphainia.= A study in Prophecy. By E. J. EDGREN, Professor of - Biblical Interpretation in the Morgan Park Theological Seminary. 16mo, - 112 pp., cloth, neat, 75c. - - Dr. Edgren writes as one who both loves and reveres the Sacred Word. - He has altogether made a book creditable in a literary not less than - in an evangelical point of view.--_Chicago Standard._ - - - =Waiting for the Morning=, and Other Poems. By the author of “Twenty - Reasons for Believing the Coming of the Lord is Near.” Sq. 16mo, pp. - 54, red line, cloth, elegant, 50c. Cheap edition, paper covers, neat, - 25c. - - - =The Second Coming of Christ.= By D. L. MOODY. Revised. _Forty-second - thousand._ 32 pp. and cover, 10c. Per dozen, $1.00. - - -HELPS FOR INQUIRERS. - - - =Grace and Truth= Under Twelve Different Aspects. By W. P. MACKAY, M. - A. _Forty-eighth thousand_ of American edition. The English edition - has reached a sale of over two hundred thousand, besides being - translated into German, Spanish, Swedish, Arabic, Italian, Dutch, - Gaelic and Welsh. 12mo, pp. 282, paper, 35c; cloth, fine, 75c. - - Mr. Moody says of this work: “I know of no book in print better - adapted to aid in the work of him who would be a winner of souls, or - to place in the hands of the unconverted.” - - - =My Inquiry Meeting=; or Plain Truths for Anxious Souls. By ROBERT - BOYD, D. D. Being the experience of a pastor during many years of - personal dealing with anxious and careless souls. Pp. 64, 15c. - - For simplicity, clearness, and force of statement we have met with - nothing that equals this little volume. We can think of no better - service a pastor could render to Sunday-school teachers, and other - guides of souls, than to secure their reading of these pages. Nor - could inquirers have any better help in their search for truth.--_The - Interior._ - - - =Glad Tidings.= By ROBERT BOYD, D. D. A book for inquirers. 12mo, pp. - 100, cloth, neat, 50c. Cheap edition, for circulation, 25c. - - This book has been used largely in connection with the great revival - meetings both in Great Britain and this land. - - - =The Soul and Its Difficulties.= By H. W. SOLTAU. Paper, pp. 108, 8c. - - - =How to Be Saved=; or, the Sinner Directed to the Saviour. By J. H. - BROOKES, D. D. Pp. 120, paper cover, 25c; cloth, 50c. - - - =The Way to God and How to Find It.= By D. L. MOODY. _Fifty-fifth - thousand._ A book for the inquirer and Christian worker. Cloth, rich - black and gold stamp, 60c; paper, tinted covers, 30c. - - The way of salvation is made as clear as simple language and forcible, - pertinent illustration can make it. In two features it is equal to - anything that Mr. Moody has produced--in close adherence to the Word - of God, and in profound earnestness--while in simplicity, directness - of appeal and originality it is superior. It is a great matter to - send such a work, so full of Christ, all over the churches, where - it may, by the work of the Spirit, arrest the careless and move the - ungodly.--_Lutheran Observer._ - - - =God’s Way of Salvation.= By ALEXANDER MARSHALL. A brief statement of - the Way of Life, with answers to popular objections. Each brief page - complete in itself, and containing a sermon in a nutshell. 48 pages - and covers, 5c. Per hundred. $2.50. - - - =Doubts Removed.= By CÆSAR MALAN, D. D. Paper covers, 5c; per dozen, - 50c. - - “It contains the clearest statements and illustrations on the subject - treated we have ever read.” - - - =Welcome to Jesus.= By Rev. C. H. SPURGEON. A series of 4 page - tracts, with first page in attractive, illuminated designs, etc. Four - different series, each containing 32 assortments. Price, per package, - 25c. - - -POPULAR DEVOTIONAL BOOKS. - - - =Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?= By D. L. MOODY. Cloth, uniform - with To the Work! Heaven, etc., 60c; paper covers, 30c. - - An earnest and solemn work, full of helpful hints on the aids and - hindrances to prevailing prayer. - - “This great subject has been the theme of apostles and prophets, and - of all good men in all ages of the world; and my desire in sending - forth this little volume is to encourage God’s children to seek - by prayer ‘to move the arm that moves the world.’”--_Extract from - Preface._ - - - =The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.= By HANNAH WHITALL SMITH; - author of “A Happy Life.” Revised edition, from entirely new plates. - 12mo, 240 pp., cloth, black and gold stamp, $1.00; paper cover, 50c. - - A book we unhesitatingly recommend. We have not for years read a book - with more delight and profit.--_Southwestern Christian Advocate._ - - We are delighted with the book. It reaches the very core of Christian - experience.--_Baptist Weekly._ - - Worthy of universal circulation.--_Christian Union._ - - - =Life Warfare and Victory.= By Maj. D. W. WHITTLE. Cloth, neat, 124 - pp., 60c; paper, 30c. - - This book has been prepared in the midst of evangelistic work, to - meet the wish often expressed to the writer--that instruction given - in Bible readings to young converts might be made available for their - more careful study and permanent use.--_Extract from Preface._ - - - =Christ and the Scriptures.= By Rev. ADOLPH SAPHIR. Cloth, 16mo, neat, - 75c. - - To all disciples of Jesus this work commends itself at once by its - grasp of truth, its insight, the life in it, and its spiritual - force.--_Christian Work._ - - “In these days of doubt and hypercriticism such a volume, breathing a - spirit of earnest devotion, lifting the mind to a better conception of - the immeasureable worth of the Person and the Word, and written, too, - by a son of Israel, cannot but be welcome and helpful.” - - - =The Holy Life.= A book for Christians seeking the “Rest of Faith.” - By Rev. EVAN H. HOPKINS. _Fifth thousand_, 18mo, 115 pages, cloth, - beveled edge, 60c. - - - =Walking Worthy of God.= A reprint from the works of Rev. JOHN - FLAVELL, with an introduction by (and published at the request of) - Maj. D. W. Whittle. A valuable book for circulation--an incentive to - Christian living. - - Sq. 16mo, pp. 43, 15c. - - - =Gems from Northfield.= A Record of the Best Thoughts exchanged at the - Conference for Bible Study, convened at Northfield, by D. L. MOODY. - - 12mo, pp. 116. Price $1.00. - - The thoughts and expositions of Scripture which are presented in this - volume are of rare practical value.--_Herald and Presbyter._ - - - =My Morning Word.= A book of texts for every day in the year. - - Cloth, plain, 75c; Cloth, gilt edges, $1.00; Calf, flexible, gilt, - $1.75. - - The several texts for every day each contain the “Morning Word,” this - single word being the key-word by means of which the texts are called - to mind. - - - =Birth-Day Memorial Text-Book.= - - A handsome little volume with a short text for every day in the year, - with blank space opposite for autographs. Especially attractive for - children. - - 32mo, cloth, black and gold stamp, 25c; per dozen, $2.50. - - - =The Practice of the Presence of God.= By “Brother LAWRENCE.” - - Being a small collection of remarkable letters and “conversations” of - a monk. - - Pp. 64, 24mo, paper cover, 10c; per dozen, 75c. - - - =Grace Sufficient.= By Rev. HENRY ROISSY. An extremely helpful work - for the closet, with counsel and comfort for the Way of Life. Pp. 265, - cloth, $1.25. - - - =Clifton Springs Bible Readings.= Containing the Bible Readings and - Addresses given at the Conference of Believers at Clifton Springs, - N. Y., by Messrs. Brookes, Erdman, Whittle, Needham, Parsons, Clark, - Marvin and others. - - Sq. 16mo, 144 pp., cloth, fine, 50c; paper covers, 25c. - - - =The Scarlet Line.= A most suggestive tract upon Joshua II and VI, - showing the close connection between the type of the Old Testament and - the Antitype of the New. - - 36 pages and cover, 5c; per hundred, $3.00. - - - =Envelope Series of Tracts.= By H. W. S., from “The Christian’s Secret - of a Happy Life,” comprising the following: - - How to Enter into the Life. - Difficulties Concerning Consecration. - Difficulties Concerning Guidance. - Difficulties Concerning Faith. - Faith: What it is. - Is God in Everything? - The Joy of Obedience. - Practical Results. - - Sold only in packets of one dozen copies. May be had either assorted - or all of the same kind. Price, per packet, 20c. - - “They will form an excellent collection of tracts for distribution - by those who wish their friends to share the ‘Life that is hid with - Christ.’” - - - =Words of Worth=, from the Chicago Christian Convention. A verbatim - report of the addresses before the Convention of October, 1882. - - 12mo, pp. 134, paper, 25c. - - The addresses by such men as Rev. Marcus Rainsford, Rev. Chas. - Spurgeon, Dr. W. P. Mackay, Rev. A. T. Pierson, D. D., and others, - will be welcomed by many. - - _CHICAGO: F. H. REVELL, 148 & 150 MADISON ST._ - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Emboldened text is surrounded by equals signs: =bold=. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?, by -Dwight Lyman Moody - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PREVAILING PRAYER *** - -***** This file should be named 61883-0.txt or 61883-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/8/8/61883/ - -Produced by Brian Wilson, MWS, David E. 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