LETTER X. PRAYER. I WISH, my dear friend, to bring distinctly and definitely before your mind at this time the subject of Prayer; for, if I am not mistaken, the "want of a steady and true progression in the Christian spirit and life," of which you complain, arises, in part at least, from erroneous views of the true nature and object of this important duty and privilege. Apart from any other consideration, if you look merely at the teachings of Jesus on this subject, from the commencement of his ministry, when crowds gathered around him and the poor and forsaken listened to his loving words of entreaty, when, with the chosen few, he withdrew to the calm stillness of Olivet, or uttered his teachings in that beloved home-circle which his presence has for ever sanctified to human thought, until in the shades and agony of Gethsemane, with the sorrows and sins of a world borne upon his heart, he turned yet again to the wearied and grief-stricken disciples, and in the solemn emphasis of that dark hour of woe, and as the last fervent utterance of earnest entreaty, bade them "watch and pray,”—you cannot but feel that there is a solemnity and a reality connected with this duty, a power and a spiritual influence brought to bear upon the soul through the faithful use of this privilege, which you have hitherto regarded in too general and cursory a manner. It is true that you have formed the habit of daily prayer, and on no account would remit it, for there is a general, indistinct feeling in your soul that good in some way will result from it; but your thoughts, if definitely expressed, would sometimes utter themselves in this form: "All events and purposes are clearly known to God; to him the future is present, no less than the past. He reads at a glance my whole inward being, my aims, desires, and intentions; he knows my secret sins and weaknesses, my strength of resistance and power of progress. As a God of love, of justice, and of power, he will impart to my soul all that it needs; he will give strength and grace, though I ask not for it; the circumstances of my outward life will of course be all ordered according to his infinite wisdom, and no thought or prayer of mine can change his fixed, unsearchable decrees. I will pray still, because somehow I feel as if neglecting a duty in omitting the stated exercises of devotion, and yet I really feel as if little positive good resulted from them. "It is seldom that I feel that my prayers are directly answered, and when I read of, or meet with, those who seem to derive such actual comfort and hope from this spiritual communion with the unseen, there is a meaning in their words and expressions of trust which I have not yet fathomed. I acknowledge that there is an efficacy in lifting the soul to God, so far as it thus becomes more deeply impressed with a sense of its own sinfulness and dependence, and with God's perfect holiness and love, — so far as it learns more truly its own power of progress and advancement, and, through such self-excitation, is led to holier aims and desires; but more than this, I often cannot admit. It is true, that in seasons of sudden danger or deep anxiety I invoke the aid of God as by a natural impulse, and yet I know that my feeble prayers cannot change his fixed and general laws in the government of the world. There are moments, too, when my heart glows with love and holy gratitude to the great Giver of all good, and gladly do I utter my fervent thanksgiving and praise; but such an utterance can work no effect on the heart of the Infinite One. As a Christian duty, indeed, I still purpose and wish to continue the habit of prayer; but it is not a confiding, rejoicing act, or one from which I can trace any actual good results." You may think, my friend, that I have over stated the case; but could you listen to the free utterances of some, calling themselves Christians, you would feel that even this is but a meagre outline of the actual condition of many hearts, of the want in many souls of any true, realizing faith in the efficacy of prayer. These words may not all apply to your individual condition; but, if I am not mistaken, such feelings, only half acknowledged to yourself, and perhaps never actually expressed in words, have been the cause of many of your inward difficulties, have hindered your true progress, and kept you from those higher spiritual communings and enjoyments promised through Christ to every sincere seeker. I would ask you, then, first of all, putting aside all mere philosophical speculations, and all endeavors to comprehend, with your limited and feeble capacities, the counsels of the Infinite God, to turn again to the simple teachings of Christ, to the words of him who came as the manifestation of the Father, and whose instructions you regard as of Divine authority. Reading such words, is there not some strange delusion in your mind, some perversion of feeling, that has led you to doubt and question the simple assurance of Christ? Have you not been led away by some fatal self-deception, debarring you from your true inheritance, and depriving you of your oft-desired peace and strength? "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy spirit to them that ask him! Pray that ye enter not into temptation. Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do. Ask and receive, that your joy may be full. Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Can language be more emphatic than this? It is true. there are two conditions annexed to this promised answer to prayer, but they are such as lie within the control of every sincere seeker, such as no true soul need fail of fulfilling. - As I have before said, God has not promised to give us the best gifts of his grace unless we seek and ask for them. It is not enough that we merely wish, or hope, or languidly desire them; but we must ask, ask with earnestness, with sincerity, with a deep conviction of our need, with an intense longing to receive the petitions offered, ask with the childlike earnestness that cannot be refused, unless the desired blessing be inconsistent with the soul's highest good. And we must ask, believing that we shall receive. There must be an entire faith and reliance on the simple promise of God, on his power, his willingness, his desire to grant to the soul all that it needs, all that a Father can bestow of love and blessing upon the heart of his child. When the disciples were astonished at the exhi |