the heavenly tabernacle and temple (Rev. xxi. 3). Above all things, seek to be in tlie b1tilding which God is rearing for his habitation, and for an everlasting monu- ment to his praise.-D. Vera. 9-13. (SHILOH.)-E.ffectital prayer. Prayer is converse with God. The general principles which are necessary that it may be acceptable and effectual were exemplified by Hannah in the prayer which she offered at the porch of the tabernacle in Shiloh, whilst other and more special principles were contained therein. She was possessed •of great intelligence, sensibility, meekness, and spirituality of mind, and embodied the noblest spiritual element existing amongst her people, even as she was a type of their history ( ever rising out of weakness and distress through humiliation, faith, and prayer, into strength, and joy, and triumph). Consider her prayer as- I. B•JRN OF DEEP SORROW. "She was in bitterness of soul, and wepteore" (ver.10). Seemingly forgotten· of God, an object of reproach and scorn, without indulging feelings of resentment, unable to tell her trouble to any one else, she betook herself to him who is " a Refuge for the oppressed in times of trouble." Prayer is the best resource at such times; and grief of heart, together with the loneliness which it usually·causes, often lead to "the pouring out of the soul before the Lord." What a beneficent power is sorrow in a world like this 1 And how blessed are the fruits. which, 'through Divine grace, it produces I (Ps. Iv. 22 ; Hosea ii. 15; 1 Pet. v. 7). II. UTTERED ONLY IN THE HEART (ver. 13). The first recorded instance of silent or mental prayer. The ordinary worshippers at the tabernacle prayed with audible words, and significant gestures ; and in the East to this day the people pray in the · same manner, and have ·little or no idea of praying only in the mind. They arr, more demonstrative than ourselves. "Mental prayer is a lifting up of the mind to God in actual or virtual supplication for what we desire." It is-1. Frequently a; necessity; inasmuch as it would not be always proper to express in the presence of others the desires of the heart. 2. Presumptively sincere; inasmuch as it consists of direct intercourse ·with the Invisible and Omniscient One, and cannot spring from a desire to be seen or heard of men. 3. Highly beneficial ,· inasmuch as it serves to strengthen the spirit of prayer, and is heard of God (Neh. ii. 4). Even wben it· does not shape itself in words within the mind, but consists of aspirations and "groanings which cannot be uttered," "he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit" therein (Rom. viii. 27). III. EXPRESSl\'E OF FERVENT DESIRE. Desire is the soul of prayer. It arises from~ and is proportionate to, the sense of need. Its intensity is not always manifested by audible words; for sometimes ·its strength is dispersed and exhausted thereby, wh~reas silence condenses and increases it. "Deepest waters still.est flow." Our de.sires cannot be too fervent, or our requests too importunate, provided they be for thmgs which are according to the will of God (Rom. xii. 12; 1 John v. 14, 15). " Fervent love And lively hope with violence assail The kingdom of the heavens, and overcome The will of the Most High ; not in such sort As man P,revails o'er man ; but conquers it Because tis willing to be conquer'd; still, Though conquer'd, by its mercy conquering." Dante, 'Div. Com.,' Pe.r. u. IV. ExHJDITING GENUINE FAITH. "0 Lord of hosts," &c. (ver. 11). Like Abra- ham, she "believed in the Lord" (Gen. xv. 6); trusted, leant on him, as a child rests ?n tme ~os~~ of a paren~. She had exalted conceptions of his character; believed 1~ (1) Ins )1vmg personality, supreme dominion, power, goodness, faithfulness (Heb. x_1. 6) ; relied on (2) his promises, summed up in the assurance, "I will be your God" (Ex?d. vi. 7; Levit. xxvi. 12); and (3) although she had no express promise oE the parti~ular blessing which she desired, yet, inwardly taught, she applied the gen0rnl ~rom1se to herself, and had" confidence respecting things hoped for" (Heh. x.i. 1). Vhen express promises are wanting, it behoves us to seek particular blessings with l Iie utmost dependence and submission ; but, so far from being prohibited from o2 20 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. I. 9-28,
1,eeki:ng t,]iC'm, we a_re encouraged to _do so by the unlimited range of such directions as t]ns: Whal t/ungs soevei· ye desire, when ye pray," &c. (Mark xi. 24). ,, . DI~TINGUJSHED DY ENTIRE SELF-SURRENDER. Once and ag·ain she called herself the "hamlmaid" of the Lord, as belonging to him, and wholly devoted to his service. Her :'-ill she freely offered up in sacrifice to his, and made a fresh surrender of her- self m her solemn engagement to render back to him the g·ift he might beBtow. She sought not her own gratification, but his glory and the welfare of his people. " The vow of t~e. N azarite em1?odied the yearning of the better part of the nation for a moral and_ rehg10us reformation, as the only hope of Israel. It symbolised Israel's perfect callmg of volui:itary self-_surrende_r to God" (Edersheim). When we seek ~ot our own_, but mak~ ~t subservient to lugher and larger good, we place ourselves m a lme with the Divme purposes, and may entertain sure and steadfast hope of success. VI.. OFFERED WITH STEADFAST PERSEVERANCE. "She continued praying before the ~ord" (,·er. 12). It was not a momentary ebullition of feeling, but the fixed direc- t10I! of her whole soul (Gen. xxxii. 26; Luke xi. 8; xviii. 1; Eph. vi. 18). vII. FOLLOWED BY AN ABUNDANT BLESSING. The benediction of the high priest (yer. 17) was to her an oracle of God, to be in due time fulfilled ; whilst the imme- diate effect on her heart was peace and gladness, and "she went away, and did eat, and ~er countenance was no more sad." "Prayer is heart's ease to the gracious isoul. -D. " 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 I " (Trench).