April 18

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.—I PETER iii, 12.

More things are wrought by prayer

Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice

Rise like a fountain for me night and day.

For what are men better than sheep and goats,

That nourish a blind life within the brain,

If knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer,

Both for themselves and those who call them friend?

For so, the whole round earth is every way

Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

LORD TENNYSON.

If you have any trial which seems intolerable, pray— pray that it be relieved or changed. There is no harm in that. We may pray for anything, not wrong in itself, with perfect freedom, if we do not pray selfishly. One disabled from duty by sickness may pray for health, that he may do his work; or one hemmed in by internal impediments may pray for utterance, that he may serve better the truth and the right. Or, if we have a besetting sin, we may pray to be delivered from it, in order to serve God and man, and not be ourselves Satans to mislead and destroy. But the answer to the prayer may be, as it was to Paul, not the removal of the thorn, but, instead, a growing in- sight into its meaning and value. The voice of God in our soul may show us, as we look up to Him, that His strength is enough to enable us to bear it.

J. F. CLARKE.