p. 186 | Prayer a Sign of Life

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1859

Prayer a Sign of Life.

"PRAYER," says John Fox, martyrologist, "is the breath of the new creature, and the sign of a spiritual life. Christians, let your prayers be secret, sincere, fervent, and constant." "The way to heaven," says a good man, "is through the closet," and they that have been eminent in piety have been excellent in prayer. David would not let a morning pass without prayer, yea, three times a day he was at his blessed duty. It was his constant employment. Your prayer must be fervent if it be effectual. Prayer without fervency is a bullet without powder, or as a bird without wings, that cannot mount up into the air. Holy fire must be put to the daily sacrifice. God answers by fire. He that looks upon the heart regards the manner of your prayers. Cold, slight murmuring over a few petitions, either out of custom or to stop the voice of conscience, will not avail. Christians, the time that you spend with God in secret, is the sweetest time and best improved. Therefore, if thou lovest thy life, be thou in love with prayer.

Dear reader, can Jesus say of you, "Behold he prayeth." Are you in earnest prayer? or are you cold, formal, and freezing? Stir up yourself every hour of the day to take hold of God, and wrestle, Jabob-like, for a blessing, until you as a prince have power with God and prevail. But be "praying in the Holy Ghost" and in faith, and let not your earnestness be the mere excitement of the flesh. "Then shall ye seek me and find me," says the Lord, "when ye shall seek after me with all your heart."—British Messenger.