007. ON SUITABLE DEVOTIONS.

CHAPTER III. ON SUITABLE DEVOTIONS.

IT may be well sometimes to vary the manner in which the quarter of an hour shall be spent.

While it will often be useful to devote it simply to that natural form of litany which each person’s own experience will suggest to him, praying for as many persons as can be remembered and classified, it will also be desirable at times to devote one’s self specially to more detailed prayer for a less extended sphere.

Litanies gathered out of Scripture are very serviceable for this purpose. Whilst our own knowledge of the world supplies us with materials drawn from the consideration of human neces sity, the word of God supplies us with materials drawn from the manifold excellences of the Divine bounty. We should at times chiefly endeavour to realize human necessity, considering how many there are who are in need and merely reflect, — “ God through Christ can supply all, and thus have mercy upon all.” We should at other times chiefly endeavour to realize the gifts of God in their manifold perfections, and merely reflect, — “ All mankind need them; some more, some less, in their degree of need, but all would be equally impotent without them” We may think either of the various needs of men, and form them into classes accordingly; or of the various graces of God ready to descend on all, and make the divisions of our prayer in reference to these. Whichever way we generalise, God can specify. We may either say, Give Thy grace to this person, and this, and this: or we may say, Give this grace, and this, and this to all. Let us realize what He has to give, and ask Him to give to each according to their need. We have helped an unconverted world if we have said heartily, ’• Have mercy upon us.” Appeal, there fore, to God, on behalf of all men, by enume rating the various tokens of His love. Consider the attributes of God; the details of the Life, and Passion, and Glorification of Christ; the manifold operations of the Holy Ghost: and In the strength of faith which each separate contemplation supplies, say for yourself, and for all who need to be drawn to God, “ Have mercy upon us.”

Again, the mind should be accustomed to an expanded application of the Psalter. It is most desirable to know what Psalma meet special wants of mankind. We should not rest in the mere form of words according to their first meaning. We should apply them spiritually. The Holy Spirit would have us use the Psalter as a divine yearning for the redemption of mankind, and the manifestation of the glory of the Re deemer. Try, then, and use the Psalms in this way,— pausing after each sentence, not for the purpose of meditation, but of application. Medi tate on the Psalter at other times, in order that you may apply it at this time.

If you do not see how any particular verse bears upon the subject of your intercession, pass on at once to the next: but try and gain a living fa miliarity with the Psalter, by a habit of applying it thus to the subject for which you intercede. In prayer for the unconverted, the Penitential Psalms will be especially suitable; but many others will suggest themselves to a thoughtful reader, suited to various needs of the human soul whilst under the bondage of sin.

Collects also out of the Prayer Book will be very useful in this way, if you have selected such as you think appropriate beforehand. They are treasures carefully gathered from the storehouse of Scripture, and should be used as having there forea specially Divine power.

Above all, familiarise yourself with an expanded, applicatory use of the Lord’s Prayer.

Develope each sentence into various particulars. The more you do so, the more you will find its efficacy. It may be done with more or less of detail. A most desirable — it might almost be said, a necessary — practice is to say the Lord’s Prayer daily, with simple pauses for a few seconds between each sentence, waiting upon God to reveal His own gracious intentions in the prayer which He Himself has given, and offering up all the powers of the soul along with each sentence to Him, in the consciousness that it contains more than the mind of man can fathom. In all prolonged prayer it is most important to remember, that it is not variety of words of magnificence of expression which God requires. The one thing needful for our prayer is simple earnestness; and this is probably better secured by attentive repetition of short forms, “ saying the same words “ (Matthew 26:44) over and over again, after the example of our Lord in His agony: not as if God needed to be persuaded, but in order to develope in ourselves, and make evident before Him, the earnestness of faith, which acknowledges its nothingness in childlike dependence upon God through Jesus Christ.

“According to your faith it shall be done unto you.” (Matthew 9:29.)

Consider the importunity in prayer counselled us by our Lord Jesus Christ himself in Luke 11:8. Consider, again, — with especial reference to the needs of the Church of Christ, by reason of the coldness and unconverted state of popu lations professedly Christian, — the parable of the unjust judge. If we really desire the conversion of the world round about us, we certainly are desiring what is according to God’s will; and “ this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” From this let us go on to the same conclusion to which S. John guides us: “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.” (1 John 5:15-16.)

We may ask for worldly things, and not get what we ask, by some mixed motive which destroys the sincerity of our prayer. If we apply ourselves really to seek spiritual blessings on behalf of others, we shall learn the more perfectly to pray at all times; we shall form a right spirit of prayer, and thus shall our temper be trained to the faith and submission which are requisite for successful prayer. “ Ye have not,” says S. James, “because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:3-8.) We must draw nigh to God as representa tives of our fellow-men for whom we pray, who know not how far off from Him they are. We must resist the devil on behalf of our fallen men; sympathising with’th emas partakers of a common humanity, fallen under the dominion of sin, but redeemed by the Blood of Christ, and sanctified by His grace. “ Ellas was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruits.” So let us pray for the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on dry and deadened hearts, that they may be made fruitful. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:17-20.) The spread of immorality in some classes of society, and of unbelief elsewhere, should rouse us to try the power of fervent prayer. If the prayer of a righteous man availeth much of old, much more shall the prayer of the Christian avail which puts in operation all the meritorious righteousness of the Man Christ Jesus, our Divine Mediator. Let us bear in constant remembrance His own words: “ Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13.) And again, “ Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” Until His passion no prayer had been offered in Christ’s name; but now He bids us “ask and receive, that our joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24.)

“The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it can not save, nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1.) Let us therefore come to Him on behalf of our brethren, and He will accept our petitions.

“ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of Thy holiness and of Thy glory, where is Thy zeal and Thy strength, the sounding of Thy bowels and of Thy mercies towards me? are they restrained f Doubtless Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy name is from everlasting.” (Isaiah 43:15-16) A LIST OF COLLECTS Which may appropriately be used in prayer for the Unconverted.

Advent 1. That we and they may rise from darkness to light.

Ash- Wednesday. That we and they may have true repentance.

Holy Innocents. That we and they may be purified from all vices.

Advent 4. That we and they may be delivered from the corruption of nature.

Trinity 1. That we and they may be delivered from the weakness of nature.

Trinity 12. That we and they may be delivered from the penalty of sin.

Trinity 21. That we and they may be delivered from the stain of sin.

Trinity 24. That we and they may be delivered from the bondage of sin.

Good Friday. That we and they may be delivered from ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of God’s word.

S. Andrew. That we and they may be delivered from hesitation.

S. John Baptist. That we and they may be delivered from timidity.

S. James. That we and they may be delivered from worldly affections.

S. Matthew. That we and they may be delivered from covetousness.

Lent 2. That we and they may be delivered from impurity.

Epiphany 4. That we and they may have sup port amidst temptation.

Trinity 18. That we and they may have goodwill to resist temptation.

Trinity 8,15. That we and they may be kept from outward impediments.

Easter 3. That we and they may eschew what is contrary to Christian profession.

Easter-even. That we and they may be dead to the world.

Circumcision. That we and thoy may walk in obedience.

Advent 3. That we and they may profit by the ordinances of grace.

Epiphany 6. That we and they may realize our divine hope.

Easter 4. That we and they may strive after the promises of God.

Easter 5. That we and they may have guidance to fulfil God’s law.

Trinity 9. That we and they may have strength to fulfil God’s law.

Whit-Sunday. That we and they may be taught by the Holy Ghost.

Trinity 19. That we and they may be ruled by the Holy Ghost.

Ascension. That we and they may accend in heart to heaven.

Trinity 7. That we and they may delight in the covenant of God.

Trinity 6. That we and they may love God above fl. il things. THE FOLLOWING SHOET FOEM IS IN DAILY USE BY MANY.

Ant. Turn us, God our Saviour, and let Thine anger cease from us.

O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end, But guide Thou the just.

ALMIGHTY GOD, we beseech Thee to hear us. our prayers for such as sin against Thee, or neglect to serve Thee {especially those in... and others for whom our prayers are desired" that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to bestow upon them true repentance, and an earnest longing for Thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.