Some Things Not to Be Done.
By J. L.
Don't make long prayers! Why? 1. Because "God is in Heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few." 2. Because "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." 3. Because short ones are better adapted to your wants; such as, "God be merciful to me a sinner;" "Save, Lord, or I perish;" "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me;" "Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation;" "Create in me a clean heart," etc. When these, with many others equally brief, come welling up from the heart as you go about your daily avocations, you will have learned the import of the admonition, "Pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks." Don't use big words. Doubtless "our Father" is omniscient, omnipresent, and almighty, but it is not necessary that you should remind him of it every time you pray. Time is short, your wants pressing; and, besides, to say from a full heart, as Jesus did, "Our Father," will bring you nearer his great heart than all the grandiloquent phrases ever invented. Don't pray in public merely because it is popular to do so. If you don't want anything for yourself, or anybody else, keep still, and commune with your own heart. It may be that while you muse the fire will burn, and you will think of a few things that are really wanted. Should this be the case, ask for them in the plainest, simplest language you can command, and believe that ye receive them. Don't undertake to pray with the widow and fatherless, when they are cold and hungry, and you have the ability to supply their need. That would be labor lost. Take a load of wood and a big basket of good food with you, and when the room is well warmed and the hungry ones fed, it will be just in place to return thanks to Him who cares for the destitute and afflicted, and sends his angels to their relief. If the poor one who said, "I would be an angel," had been content to do without wings, and run on errands for the Lord, the wish could have been realized. Don't offer any lackadaisical prayers for the afflicted, and expect the angel Gabriel to be sent from Heaven with a lot of second-hand clothing to answer them, or that he will slyly roll a barrel of flour into the houses of the poor. That isn't the way such things are managed. If you really pray for that poor, rheumatic, old saint, that stays in the cold, damp hut yonder, you would better have a good warm blanket or two rolled up all ready, for the good Father may want to answer your prayer immediately, and perhaps send just such an angel as you are with the answer. If you pray for that poor old man that stands shivering at the side of his little peanut stand, you had better have that old coat that hangs in the clothes press brought down, and if it is not already "moth-eaten," put in order for immediate use; it may be that the good Father will want to answer your prayer on the instant, and if he does, don't refuse to be an angel when you have so good a chance. Just say to the old man, "The Lord sent it to you, because he careth for you." If you pray that the Lord will send out his light and truth, you better have your affairs so arranged that you can leave at short notice. The King's business may require haste. If you are not called to go, a good, round subscription ready for somebody that is. The good Father may want to send out his truth immediately. If you pray for the prosperity of the church in your place, and that "the Word" may have free course, don't pray so long that you can't get to meeting in good season, but hasten to answer your own prayer, in part, by being promptly at your post, to stay up the hands of the preacher and comfort the brethren by your presence, your words, and your acts. It may cost you something to pray in this manner, it generally does to get telegrams to and from far-off stations. Nevertheless, you will be getting richer all the time. If you pray for the prosperity of the papers that publish the glad tidings, it will be well to see that your subscription is fully paid up, and in addition, have a "money order" ready to send. Our Father sometimes works by means, and it may be that he will want you to assist in this matter. If, in seeming sympathy with our Lord, you pray that his people may be one, don't207immediately out and give the cold shoulder to some dear brother or sister because they don't happen to see things just as you do; it will look as though you didn't mean it when you prayed. It may be that they have not had time and opportunity to get as much light as you have. Be patient, the world was not made in a day. You may both get into the true light together sometime. Your differences of opinion don't give to the world any positive evidence of your discipleship in Christ, but your love for each other does. Let us, then, dear brethren and sisters, live and act in accord with the prayers we offer, so will the blessing of the good Lord rest upon us, and we shall be his children in deed and in truth.—J. L., in Bible Banner.