莱尔主教upper_room-第94章
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call the Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honourable； and shalt
honour Him； not doing thine own ways； nor finding thine own pleasure；
nor speaking thine own words： then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord； and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth〃
（Isa。 58：13…14）。 And one thing is very certain；your feelings about
the Sabbath will always be a test and criterion of your fitness for
heaven。 Sabbaths are a foretaste and fragment of heaven。 The man who
finds them a burden and not a privilege； may be sure that his heart
stands in need of a mighty change。
（5） For another thing； resolve that wherever you are； you will pray。
Prayer is the life…breath of a man's soul。 Without it； we may have a
name to live； and be counted Christians； but we are dead in the sight
of God。 The feeling that we must cry to God for mercy and peace is a
mark of grace； and the habit of spreading before Him our soul's wants
is an evidence that we have the spirit of adoption。 And prayer is the
appointed way to obtain the relief of our spiritual necessities。It
opens the treasury； and sets the fountain flowing。 If we have not； it
is because we ask not。
Prayer is the way to procure the outpouring of the Spirit upon our
hearts。 Jesus has promised the Holy Ghost； the forter。 He is ready
to e down with all His precious gifts； renewing； sanctifying；
purifying； strengthening； cheering； encouraging； enlightening；
teaching； directing； guiding into all truth。 But then He waits to be
entreated。
And here it is； I say it with sorrow； here it is that men fall short so
miserably。 Few indeed are to be found who pray： many who go down on
their knees； and say a form perhaps； but few who pray； few who cry unto
God； few who call upon the Lord； few who seek as if they wanted to
find； few who knock as if they hungered and thirsted； few who wrestle；
few who strive with God earnestly for an answer； few who give Him no
rest； few who continue in prayer； few who watch unto prayer； few who
pray always without ceasing； and faint not。 Yes： few pray！ It is just
one of the things assumed as a matter of course； but seldom practised；
a thing which is everybody's business； but in fact hardly anybody
performs。
Young men； believe me； if your soul is to be saved； you must pray。 God
has no dumb children。 If you are to resist the world； the flesh； and
the devil； you must pray： it is in vain to look for strength in the
hour of trial； if it has not been sought for。 You may be thrown with
those who never do it； you may have to sleep in the same room with some
one who never asks anything of God；still； mark my words； you must
pray。
I can quite believe you find great difficulties about it； difficulties
about opportunities； and seasons； and places。 I dare not lay down too
positive rules on such points as these。 I leave them to your own
conscience。 You must be guided by circumstances。 Our Lord Jesus Christ
prayed on a mountain； Isaac prayed in the fields； Hezekiah turned his
face to the wall as he lay upon his bed； Daniel prayed by the
river…side； Peter； the Apostle； on the house…top。 I have heard of young
men praying in stables and hay…lofts。 All that I contend for is this；
you must know what it is to 〃enter into your closet〃 （Matt。 6：6）。 There
must be stated times when you must speak to God face to face；you must
every day have your seasons for prayer。 You must pray。
Without this； all advice and counsel is useless。 This is that piece of
spiritual armour which Paul names last in his catalogue； in Eph。 6。；
but it is in truth first in value and importance。 This is that meat
which you must daily eat； if you would travel safely through the
wilderness of this life。 It is only in the strength of this that you
will get onward towards the mount of God。 I have heard it said that the
needle…grinders of Sheffield sometimes wear a magnetic mouthpiece at
their work； which catches all the fine dust that flies around them；
prevents it entering their lungs； and so saves their lives。 Prayer is
the mouthpiece that you must wear continually； or else you will never
work on uninjured by the unhealthy atmosphere of this sinful world。 You
must pray。
Young men； be sure no time is so well spent as that which a man spends
upon his knees。 Make time for this； whatever your employment may be。
Think of David； king of Israel： what does he say？ 〃Evening； and
morning； and at noon will I pray and cry aloud； and He shall hear my
voice〃 （Ps。 55：17）。 Think of Daniel He had all the business of a
kingdom on his hands； yet he prayed three times a day。 See there the
secret of his safety in wicked Babylon。 Think of Solomon。 He begins his
reign with prayer for help and assistance； and hence his wonderful
prosperity。 Think of Nehemiah。 He could find time to pray to the God of
heaven； even when standing in the presence of his master； Artaxerxes。
Think of the example these godly men have left you； and go and do
likewise。
Oh that the Lord may give you all the spirit of grace and supplication！
〃Wilt thou not from this time cry unto God； My Father； Thou art the
guide of my youth？〃 （Jer。 3：4）。 Gladly would I consent that all this
address should be forgotten； if only this doctrine of the importance of
prayer might be impressed on your hearts。
V。 Conclusion。
And now I hasten towards a conclusion。 I have said things that many
perhaps will not like； and not receive； but I appeal to your
consciences； Are they not true？
Young men； you have all consciences。 Corrupt and ruined by the fall as
we are； each of us has a conscience。 In a corner of each heart there
sits a witness for God；a witness who condemns when we do wrong； and
approves when we do right。 To that witness I make my appeal this day；
Are not the things that I have been saying true？
Go then； young men； and resolve this day to remember your Creator in
the days of your youth。 Before the day of grace is past；… before your
conscience has bee hardened by age； and deadened by repeated
trampling under foot；… while you have strength； and time； and
opportunities； go and join yourself to the Lord in an everlasting
covenant not to be forgotten。 The Spirit will not always strive。 The
voice of conscience will bee feebler and fainter every year you
continue to resist it。 The Athenians said to Paul； 〃We will hear thee
again of this matter；〃 but they had heard him for the last time （Acts
17：32）。 Make haste； and delay not。 Linger and hesitate no more。
Think of the unspeakable fort you will give to parents； relations；
and friends； if you take my counsel。 They have expended time； money；
and health to rear you； and make you what you are。 Surely they deserve
some consideration at your hands。 Who can reckon up the joy and
gladness which young people have it in their power to occasion？ Who can
tell the anxiety and sorrow that sons like Esau； and Hophni； and
Phinehas； and Absalom may cause？ Truly indeed does Solomon say； 〃A wise
son maketh a glad father； but a foolish son is the heaviness of his
mother〃 （Prov。 10：1）。 Oh； consider these things； and give God your
heart！ Let it not be said of you at last； as it is of many； that your
〃youth was a blunder； your manhood a struggle； and your old age a
regret。〃
Think of the good you may be the instruments of doing to the world。
Almost all the most eminent saints of God sought the Lord early。 Moses；
Samuel； David； Daniel； all served God from their youth。 God seems to
delight in putting special honour upon young servants；remember the
honour He placed upon our own young king； Edward the Sixth。 And what
might we not confidently expect； if young men in our own day would
consecrate the spring…time of their lives to God？ Agents are wanted now
in almost ever）〃 great and good cause； and cannot be found。 Machinery
of every kind for spreading truth exists； but there a
