p. 45 | Prayer by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1873

Prayer.

By Jos. Clarke

“PRAY without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17; 2 Tim. 1:3.

Too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of prayer. Next to the duty of watchfulness comes that of prayer. But it often happens that both may be practiced at the same time; and it is by prayer that we attain the power and the disposition to watch. By prayer we obtain the blessing of God; and, with this, every earthly blessing. Although many a hypocrite maintains the form of prayer, yet no Christian ever existed any length of time without this form. The more earnestly and sincerely we pray, the greater and more numerous our blessings.

In times of danger on the sea, and on the field of battle, wicked men often pray with zeal, only to despise themselves for their childishness (as they term it) when they are out of danger. Yet how often does God answer such prayers as these and rescue the shipwrecked mariner, who only employs his lengthened life in blaspheming the Being to whom he prayed.

Neglect of prayer brings, first, a dearth of spirituality; next, worldly-mindedness; next, forgetfulness of God, coldness, indifference to the work of God; next, enmity, hatred, covetousness, and every sin, and, final apostasy.

Prayer overcomes sin and difficulty; strengthens faith, love, and every Christian grace; prompts to a putting on of the whole armor of God; and sets a watch at every avenue of the heart and mind. Prayer unlocks the treasure-house of the word of God, and sets the soul traveling toward Heaven; stimulates meditation, and anchors the soul by faith to the throne of God. Prayer should become a fixed habit of the soul. It should be continually rising from the soul, as heat rises from the fire, always accompanied with thanksgiving and praise.

Jos. CLARKE.