78 HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT
Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my mind
By which such virtue may in me be bred
That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread;
The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind,
That I may have the power to sing of Thee,
And sound Thy praises everlastingly .^
II.
OuK Prayek.
1. Prayer. — Prayer must be regarded as twofold. It is a natural instinct, and it is an acquired art. It should be remembered, moreover, that the one depends closely upon the other ; for, whereas the former precedes the latter, it is only in proportion as the practice of prayer is persevered in and culti- vated that the ability of living in the atmosphere of prayer becomes possible.
This is what the Apostle means when he admonishes us to
pray without ceasing, and in such prayers all words and brisk
emotions of the heart are for the time in suspense. Such prayers
issue calmly forth, being in this respect like the solar light, whose
approach we cannot hear, but which is yet accompanied by a
warmth that testifies to its presence. Yes, there is a deep, hidden
colloquy of holy souls with God, which never ceases any more
than does the beating of the pulse in a living man. It consists
in an inward tending and aspiring of the soul towards its Source,
and, although calm and silent, it influences and governs all the
thoughts and volitions of him in whom it takes place. There are
instances of the earth sending up from its lowest depth a tepid
breath, which is scarcely perceptible to our senses, but which
permeates the waters upon its surface, and impregnates them with
medicinal virtues. And it is even so with the prayer peculiar
to the man of piety ; it hinders him in none of his avocations ;
rather, where it obtains, do these all thrive and prosper.
Day hath her hours told out, her toil for all, Her time of sunrise and of noon to keep;
Her hour of setting, and of dusky calm,
Her nightfall fragrant with the breath of sleep. * Wordsworth.
ROMANS VIII. 26 79
The lark he keepeth his appointed time, The linnet boasteth of her little span;
Fluff owlets render up their shrill account, And man hath seasons for his toil with man.
What is for God ? Are all His times bespoke ?
Kemaineth none undedicate to earth ? Are all impregnate with the dews of toil,
Hath Time forgotten in his age his birth ?
Abideth yet an hour, most still and grey,
Whose confines all are indeterminate; Nor to the sun nor stars pertaineth she,
But on the borders is content to wait.
One wing she poiseth on the lap of sleep.
One wing she reacheth to the bridegroom day;
Work is of God, but prayer forerunneth work — Even so, Father — let us pray!
Silence in Heaven for a space ; Amen !
The night shall certify, and the day tell — But one hour halloweth, with a voiceless speech:
Even so, Father : it is well ! ^
^ If thou wouldst acquire this peculiar kind of prayer which transcends both place and time, thou must begin with the humility of a child to pray at the particular place appointed by God for the purpose, which place is the sanctuary or the silent closet. Prayer is an art, and every art requires to be learned with pains. Do not therefore shrink from what may seem to thee the trouble of attending at the time and place which God has been pleased to assign. All art, however, by slow degrees, becomes at last a second nature ; and so likewise, as thou wilt find, does the art of prayer. And when thou shalt have attained to such proficiency, then thou wilt " neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father," but wilt raise the memorial of His name at any spot on the face of the eartL^
Soul, bid thy tossings cease !
Down in the deep profound, Sink to thy being's ground,
And there find peace.
' 0. C, Fiaser-Tytler. a A. Tholuck.
8o HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT
Thy God is at thy side !
Offshoot of Him thou art, And so with thee His heart
Must still abide.
2. The, art of praying as we ought. — " For we know not how to pray as we ought." This clause, depending on the principal one, — " The Spirit also helpeth our infirmity " — makes it clear that the weakness which the Spirit helps is due to our ignorance. In the Greek, the whole clause " how to pray as we ought " is the object of the verb " we know not." We are brought here, then, to a consideration of our ignorance in asking.
^ I heard lately of a beautiful instance of a poor man's trust in the sufficiency of God's understanding. A sudden storm had overtaken an East Coast fishing fleet, causing them to run for shelter. All got safely home except one boat belonging to an old man who was alone on board it. An anxious crowd gathered at the pier head, but there was no sign of the frail craft on the tumbling waters. At last, when hope had nearly died, it was discerned coming in, and in due time, amid a breathless suspense, reached haven. The old man was plied with questions as to how he had managed to win safely through, and some one asked, " Did ye pray ? " " Ay," said the old fisherman, " I prayed." " What did ye say ? " asked the questioner. " Weel," was the reply, " I hadna ony great wale o' words, but I just said to the Lord that surely He wouldna forget an auld man in an open boat in sic a sea as this." ^