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And I do not know any answer
But God's love shining high,
And falling down in the glory

Of light from His own glad sky.'

See there the stars through the blossom,
Another, another one;
Come over the bridge, little Maidie,
A good-night kiss to the sun.

I'

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

H. W.

N asking how we should pray, I do not refer to the posture of our bodies in prayer; for if the heart is right, it is of little consequence into what position we put our bodies. We may pray standing, like Solomon before the Altar of the Lord (1 Kings viii. 22); or kneeling, like Paul and the elders of the Ephesian church on the sea shore at Miletus (Acts xx. 36); or lying prostrate, like Joshua before Jericho (Joshua v. 14); even in walking along a crowded street our hearts may rise in prayer to God, for God looks upon the heart and not the attitude of our bodies. But, as apart from any rule, we feel that the position of our bodies should testify as to the humility and reverence with which we approach the High and the Holy one, I think that, whenever it is convenient to do so, we should pray kneeling. This has always been the favourite attitude with God's people, and it is one that is most becoming for a creature in the presence of his Creator.

It is to the spirit in which we should pray, however, rather than to the attitude, that I refer; and probably as good a rule as any is that which Solomon gives: 'Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few.' (Eccles. v. 2).

If you look into the Bible you will find a great many answers to our question. It tells us, for example, that we should pray

with the heart, with the whole heart, with a true heart, with preparation of heart, in faith, in full assurance of faith, in the Holy Ghost, in a forgiving spirit, with confidence in God, with a desire to be heard and with a desire to be answered. Indeed, it would take a large page to hold all that the Scriptures say about how we should pray, and I know you would like a shorter answer. Well, you will pray in the right spirit if you remember the three looks.'

I. Look into your heart and see what you need.

That will lead you to pray,

1. With humility. When Manasseh was brought to a right mind and looked into his heart, he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.' We cannot look into our hearts without feeling that 'it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed.' It is told of John Newton, that two or three years before his death, when his sight was so dim that he could not see to read, a friend called on him to breakfast, which was followed, as usual, by family prayer. It was the good man's custom to make a few remarks upon the passage read. The portion for that day in

Bogatzky's Golden Treasury' was, 'By the grace of God, I am what I am.' After the reading of this text he paused for some moments and then said, 'I am not what I ought to be! Ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be! I am not what I hope to be! Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can heartily join with the apostle and say, the grace of God, I am what I am! Yes, he who has looked most attentively into his own heart, will be the readiest to say,

'I am lowest of those who love Him,
I am weakest of those who pray;
But I came as He has bidden,

And He will not say me nay.'

by

2. With sincerity. By looking into our hearts we know what we want and feel our

need of it, and so our hearts will go up with our prayers. The prayers of many are mere words. As one has said, 'in praying they aim at nothing and hit it.' They pray for what they do not feel they need, and ask for what they do not expect. By looking into your heart, however, before praying, your prayer will be your soul's sincere desire.

3. With importunity. I have read of a Sabbath school teacher, in New York, who was the means of winning to Jesus the members of three classes, which she taught in succession. She was known to be very affectionate and earnest in dealing with her scholars, but the real secret of her success was not discovered till after her death, when her friends found the following resolution in her private journal, Resolved, that I will pray once each day, for each of my class by name, and agonize in prayer.' There was the secret; she wrestled in prayer, as Jacob wrestled with the angel, and she would not cease till she received the blessing on which her heart was set. Oh! if you would only look into your heart and see how black and how full of sin it is, you would not cease praying that God would give you a new heart and renew a right spirit within you.

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it when I prayed that I might say it.' Now, if this girl had known her Bible, she would have known that God would not help her unless she helped herself. By looking into the Bible we know exactly what God has promised, and the conditions on which He will hear us.

1

2. With confidence. We are commanded to ask in faith; but in praying, many are like those mischievous boys who knock at people's doors and then run away; they knock at the door of mercy but they do not wait till it is opened. They forget that “ 'prayer is the key of heaven, and faith is the hand that turns it.' An answer to their prayers would surprise them. They have not the faith of that little boy who once said to his teacher, 'I wish my sister could be got to read the Bible; she never reads it.'. Why, Johnny,' asked his teacher, 'should your sister read the Bible?'-'Because, if she would once read it, I am sure it would do her good, and she would be converted and be saved; and,' he added, 'I wish the next time there's a prayer meeting that you would ask the folk to pray for my sister, that she may read the Bible.' The teacher promised to do this, and accordingly at the next meeting he announced that a little boy was very anxious that prayer should be offered on behalf of his sister, that she

God has promised.

That will lead you to pray,

Do

1. With intelligence. A girl in a boarding school near London was noted for repeating her lessons well. A school companion, who was idly inclined, said to her one day, 'How is it that you always say your lessons so perfectly?' She replied, 'I always pray that I may say my lessons well. you?' replied the other, then I'll pray too.' But alas! next morning she could not say one word of her lesson. Very much confounded, she ran to her friend and said, 'I prayed, but I could not say one word of my lesson.'—' Perhaps,' rejoined the other, 'you took no pains to learn it.''-'Learn it! I did not learn it at all. I did not know that I needed to learn

prayer began, the little boy rose and walked out. His teacher thought this rude of him, and going to him next day, he asked why he had disturbed the meeting by walking out during the prayer which he himself had asked. 'Oh sir!' said the lad, 'I did not mean to be rude; but I thought I should first like to go home and see my sister reading her Bible for the first time.' That little boy had looked into his Bible and had read, Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do,' and he was sure that God would keep His word. That is the true way to pray. Put your finger upon a promise and plead it-plead it, not as though God were unwilling to grant your request, but assured that He will do 'exceeding abundantly' above what you ask or think.

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III. Look up to God and tell Him what you want.

That will lead you to pray,

1. Reverently. When a Roman gentleman invited Augustus Cæsar to supper, and provided but a mean entertainment, Cæsar took him up with an, 'Friend, how came you and I to be so familiar?' Now, there is a danger of forgetting the due respect which we owe to God, and the reverence with which we should draw near to Him. We are apt to go to our knees sometimes, without duly considering the greatness and the majesty of Him into whose presence we are going. This is a reason why Adoration should occupy the first part in all our prayers; it will solemnise our minds and lead us to draw near with reverence and godly fear, if we ascribe unto God the glory and the majesty, and acknowledge Him as the the High and Holy One. Look up then, before you lift

which would hurt us, He, like a wise Father, will refuse to give it.

If asked then, How we should pray? you will remember the three looks-look into your heart to see what you need-into the Bible to see what is promised—and up to God to tell Him what you want.

AN HOUR IN MOTHER'S ROOM.

better to pray to Him reverently.

2. Deliberately. It was said of John Bradford that he had a peculiar art in prayer; and when asked his secret, he said,

When I know what I want, I always stop on that prayer until I feel that I have pleaded it with God. I never go on to another petition till I have gone through the first.'

Alas! how often do we forget the commands given in our text, 'be not rash with thy mouth' and 'let thy words be few.' How often do we rush through our petitions as if prayer were a task that cannot be accomplished too quickly! We have need to consider well, not only how we shall appear before Him, but what we shall say when we do appear in that awful presence.

3. Submissively. But how will looking up to God enable us to pray submissively? Because by looking up we are reminded that He is wiser than we-that He knows what is really good for us and what will turn out to our profit in the end-that He wills only what is for our good and, therefore, that we can leave all with Him, knowing that if we should ask anything

the whole house. It was large and bright. The west windows were deep and wide, displaying a pleasant landscape. Far away to the edge of the horizon ran a line of hills, and nearer lay the smooth meadowland through which flowed the shining waters of Cedar Creek. The cows loved to stand in its cool waters on hot days, and lazily move their sleepy bodies back and forth with enjoyment. Beside this brook grew the gnarled trunks of old sycamores, and the drooping boughs of the weeping willow, and one tall, straight poplar, that stood out all alone against the sky like a church spire. This poplar was mother's favourite tree. She said it looked to her like a sentinel keeping guard over the hills and fields and brook.

My mother was a great sufferer for many long years. I cannot remember when she was strong and well. But through all the years of my childhood, I do not recall one cross, complaining, or even impatient word. She was always gentle, always cheerful, always loving. Everybody was welcome in mother's room. Everybody went there when they wanted a cool, quiet, delightful

place to rest. My brother Rob and I went every day to bid our mother good morning, and to say 'Our Father' at her knee. I can well remember how she would take our faces between her small hands and, looking into our eyes, she would tell us how she loved and trusted her two men,' and how she prayed every day that we might grow into noble manhood. It seemed to me it would be impossible for me to do a low, mean act, or even think a vile thought, and then receive my mother's pure kisses. It was a rule at our house that Rob and I were to sit for an hour every day with our mother. During this hour she read to us or taught us a short poem or some Bible verses, and sometimes she prepared little talks that were full of the truths that give the principles of Christianity. One of these talks I recall with great clearness.

It was a dark day in November, about a year before my mother's death. She was not as well as usual that day, so she was lying on her cot when Rob and I tapped softly at her door. She had us draw two footstools beside her, and, seating ourselves, mother questioned us about our studies. Then she closed her eyes, and lay very still awhile. Rob and I looked at each other in fear and silence. Presently she again opened her eyes, and taking from her table a new magazine, she opened it and pointed to the table of contents printed on the first page. She explained to us

that whatever we saw named in that table of contents, we would find on the inside of the magazine. She told us that we

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selfishness, cowardice, vulgarity, and rudeness. Mother said that every noble act, every pure thought, every polite kindness, printed the lines on our faces deeper and plainer. And just the same way with every low, vulgar thought, every dishonest deed, every rude unkindness, the face grew more and more degraded, the eyes more sullen and downcast, and every feature gradually became that of an outcast and a ruffian.

She told us how all was written more plainly on the heart and soul than even on the face, and that this soul is what God looks at and judges men by. Mother said she once saw a criminal who had committed murder. In the fight he had received a deep gash between the eyes. Nothing could ever hide that white glaring scar. No matter how you looked at his face, the mark of his sin was plainly visible. Having once seen it, you could never forget it. But our mother said the stain of blood on the prisoner's soul was more terrible and more plainly seen by God's eye than the scar on his face.

Many a year have the rains and winds and sunshine swept over my sweet mother's grave. Long ago strangers filled her quiet room, and no more am I a boy, with all a boy's temptations; but through all these years the teachings of that gentle voice have lived in my heart, and can only be forgotten when life ends, and I go to join that lost mother, and be with the Christ she taught me to trust in and worship, and whom she loved so well. B. S. LUCKETT.

said there would be an article, sometimes several pages long, sometimes shorter, written under the title given in the table. Mother then went on to tell us how a boy's face is a table of contents as to what is written on the heart. She told us how easily people could read on the boy's facehonour, courage, truth, gentleness, politeness, and all that spoke of the refinement of a truly good and noble heart. But if the character be wicked and vicious, as plainly are written the signs of dishonesty

THREE Prizes are offered for the largest number of correct answers to the Questions during 1882. The Competition is limited to those under 14 years of age. The answers to be sent to the Rev. Dr. KAY, 7 Argyll Place, Edinburgh, by the 25th of each month.

22 What command given by Jesus teaches that we should never suffer any thing to be wasted?

23 Where have we an example of waste leading to want?

24 Where are we told that idleness is allied to wastefulness?