Page images
PDF
EPUB

confessing it before God. Indeed it does argue a somewhat blunted spirituality when, at least in some measure, this is not done. The true, sensitive heart is uneasy till it has acknowledged its sin. The loving child feels burdened and uncomfortable till it has told its Father all. David experienced

this. While he kept silence, and left his sin -mark, it was a particular sin-unconfessed, his bones waxed old through his roaring all the day long. Day and night God's hand was heavy upon him; and his moisture was like the drought in summer. All the freshness and the freedom of his spirit were gone; the dewdrops were shaken off his heart; till the sin was confessed-"this evil in Thy sight," as he calls it in another psalm; and then he experienced the fulness of the joy of a heart forgiven. Blessed, O! how "blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered," Psa. xxxii. 1.

The imitation of this practice,—the cultivation of that spirit which feels disquieted at

the possession of a sin unconfessed to God-· will greatly aid us in knowledge of ourselves. We shall gain a deeper, clearer insight into the dark recesses of our own hearts; and though, doubtless, we shall be filled with fear and amazement at the discoveries of our own vileness, yet we are taking the right step to promote our own peace, and pursue the pathway of holiness; for we are gaining a knowledge of our own need, which will supply us with abundant materials for our prayers. While we do this, though we may be much discouraged and cast down by reason of our sins, we shall not, I think, have reason to complain of barrenness in prayer, or to lament that we have nothing to say, nothing to ask. Oh! may we realize this, and echo the prayer of the Psalmist for this deep self-knowledge. "Search me, O God, and

try the very ground of my heart, there be any wicked way in me, in the way everlasting."

and see if

and lead me

in

III. Selfishness in prayer.-Perhaps subordinate to the two we have spoken of, but certainly more or less connected with them, and influencing them, a spirit of selfishness prayer will lead to the sense of barrenness. By selfishness in prayer, I mean that spirit in prayer which confines all our supplications to our own individual need. I do not mean that we do not include by name many of our friends and relatives within the circle of our prayers. Of course we all of us do this. But even when we do so, is it not often done in a perfunctory way? Is not the spirit which yearns over them very far removed from us? Is there the presence of that feeling of the apostle, who described himself as travailing in birthpangs for those in whose hearts he desired to see Christ formed. And often God visits us with barrenness because we fail to grow in heart-sympathy and Christian longing for the welfare of others. It is the very law of Christ that His love should spread, as it is the law of hydrostatics that pressure

should circulate in all directions through a volume of water; and when we in a niggardly forgetfulness of others violate that law, we are met with the punishment of a straitening in ourselves.

Nor is it less a privilege than a law. What privilege greater than this, that we should ask, and God should give us life for them that sin not unto death. It is a privilege which God's children in all ages have joyously embraced: Abraham interceding for Lot; Moses for Israel; the church at Jerusalem for the imprisoned apostle. It is the privilege which Christian ministers have besought their people to make use of for them. "Brethren, pray for us," is the language not of St. Paul only, but of every labourer for Christ who knows his deep necessities. It is a privilege which Christ has not forgotten on behalf of us the wayfarers and pilgrims in this wilderness world,-seeing "He ever liveth to make intercession for us."

VIII.

Regularity in Prayer.

"OR if 'tis e'er denied thee

In solitude to pray,

Should holy thoughts come o'er thee, When friends are round thy way;

Even then the silent breathing

Of thy spirit raised above,

Shall reach His throne of glory, Who is Mercy, Truth, and Love."

H

« PreviousContinue »