PRAYING FOR WHAT WE DON'T EXPECT.
I was once staying with a gentleman, a very religious kind of a man; and he began the day with a long prayer, that we might be kept from sin, that we might have a Christ-like spirit and the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and that we might have the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us. A beautiful prayer it was; and I thought what a good man he must be! But about an hour after, I heard him hallooing and scolding and finding fault with everything and everybody. When I came into the house with him he began again. Nothing was right, and he was impatient and quick tempered. “It is very provoking to be annoyed in this way, Daniel. I don't know what servants in these times are good for but to worry and vex one with their idle, slovenly ways.” I did not say anything for a minute or two, and then I said, “You must be very much disappointed, sir.” “I thought you were expecting to receive a very valuable present this morning, and I see it has not come.” “Present, Daniel?”—and he scratched his head, as much as to say, “What can the man be talking about?” “I certainly heard you speak of it,” I said, quite coolly. He was getting angry now, so I thought I would explain. “You know this morning you prayed for a Christ-like spirit, the mind that was in Jesus, and the love of God shed abroad in your heart.” “Oh! that's what you mean, is it?” and he spoke as though that was nothing at all. “Now, sir, would you not be rather surprised if your prayer was to be answered?—if you were to feel a gentle, loving spirit coming down upon you, all patient and forgiving and kind? Would you not be quite frightened, and come in and sit down in a faint, thinking you must be going to die, because you felt so heavenly-minded?” He did not like it much; but I delivered my testimony, and learned a lesson for myself too. We should stare very often if the Lord was to answer our prayer.—Daniel Quorum and his Religious Notions.