February 9
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeEve of the Epiphany
. Lord, increase our faith. S. Luke 17:5.
"WANT of faith" blights and kills every spiritual act. There is no daily abiding sense of spiritual things, no constant realizing of the unseen world, no vivid practical consciousness of anything beyond what the body's eye and ear can see and hear. Faith must be won in hours of secret prayer and meditation. It is in secret prayer, when we have entered into our closet and shut the door, and are speaking to our Father Which is in secret, it is then that we learn our great lesson of faith; it is then that we can most effectually shut out the things temporal, and place ourselves in the very presence of the things eternal. It is in such an hour that we can best understand the power of prayer. We feel we are speaking from our heart to God. We cast off all deceit and pretences. Alone with God, we must (if we know we are so) be honest and sincere.
The prayer that flows from hearts sincere Is pleasing to the Lord above; While empty words offend His Ear, And His almighty vengeance move.
To walk as children of the day, To mark the precepts' holy light, To wage the warfare, watch and pray, Show who are pleasing in His sight.
Not words alone it cost the Lord To purchase pardon for His own, Nor will a soul by grace restored Return the Saviour words alone.
To us then, gracious Lord, impart A living faith that works by love, A faith that purifies the heart, And makes us meet for joys above.