A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 • SECTION 139

148 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.

← Expository Thoughts on the Gospels — St. Mark

Godless, Christless, and hopeless, and has to learn the very rudiments of religion. Let him awake, and call upon God.

But do we pray for ourselves ? Then let us take heed that we pray for others also. Let us beware of selfish prayers — prayers which are wholly taken up with our own affairs, and in which there is no place for other souls be- side our own. Let us name all whom we love before God continually. Let us pray for all — the worst, the hard- est, and the most unbelieving. Let us continue praying for them year after year, in spite of their continued un- belief. God's time of mercy may be a distant one. Our eyes may not see an answer to our intercession. The answer may not come for ten, fifteen, or twenty years. It may not come till we have exchanged prayer for praise, and are far away from this world. But while we live, let us pray for others. It is the greatest kindness we can do to any one, to speak for him to our Lord Jesus Christ. The day of judgment will show that one of the greatest links in drawing some souls to God, has been the intercessory prayer of friends.

Public-domain historical edition (1857). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.

Project Gutenberg source record →