p. 277 | The Fresh Hour by T. L. Cuyler, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 18.

The Fresh Hour.

By T. L. Cuyler, D. D.

EVERY day should be commenced with God. The busiest and the best man in Jerusalem was wont to say, 'In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up;' 'I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning.' Daniel too saluted his God with prayer and praise at early dawn. We begin the day unwisely and at a great risk to ourselves if we leave our chamber without a secret conference with our Almighty Friend. Every Christian, when he puts on his clothes, should also put on his spiritual armor. Before the day's march begins he should gather up a portion of heavenly manna to feed the inner man. As the oriental traveler sets out for the sultry journey over burning sands by loading up his camel under the palm tree's shade, and fills his water flagons from the crystal fountain which sparkles at its roots, so does Christ's pilgrim draw his morning supplies from his exhaustless spring.

Morning is the golden hour for prayer and praise. The mind is fresh; the mercies of the night, and the new resurrection of the dawn both prompt a devout soul to thankfulness. The buoyant heart takes its earliest flight, like the lark, towards the gate of Heaven. One of the finest touches in Bunyan's immortal allegory is his description of Christian in the Chamber of Peace, who 'awoke and sang,' while his window looked out to the sun-rising. If even the stony statue of old heathen Memnon made music when the first rays of the dawn kindled on its flinty brow, surely no Christian heart should be dumb when God causes the outgoings of the morning to rejoice.—T. L. Cuyler, D. D.