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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT
This book is under no circumstances to be
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form 410
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THE
PRAYER-MEETING
ITS IMPROVEMENT. "^
BY
REV. L E :W r,S^ p. ' T H O M P S O N,
PASTOR SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CRTJR'IJH, PEORIA, ILL.
• ■> ' ' */ ;' '
WITH AN ITsl^BODTIOO'ION BY
REV. A. E. KITTREDGE.
Let all things be done unto edifying.
QhICAGO :
W. G. HOLMES
77 MADISON STREET.
im:: : .. .v^ york
PUBL!. LIBRARY
657469
AS^OR. L^NOX AND
TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
R i»i* . L
, < OOyYUjViHTv 1G78> BY* I *,
8KEEN & STUABT,
PKINTEBS,
77 MADISON ST., CHICAGO.
TO THE CONGREGATION
OF THE
f^ , ^PEpIiFjA, ILL.,'' , . >f > ^
IS AFFEOTIONA'^KliY J'S 8 tlilBiiX) BY
THEIR PASTOR
PREFACE.
This book is designed as a go-between, between pastor and peo-
ple, to call their combined attention to some hints and principles
that would enlarge the efficiency of the prayer-meeting, and to as-
sure those to whom public speaking is a burden, that their experi-
ence is common to the majority of mankind, and should give them
no uneasiness, beyond spurring them on until they acquire the habit
of extempore speech.
If the prayer-meeting is to be more than a mere side-show to
the church, if it is to rise into one of the great departments of suc-
cessful Christian work, there must be as much thought, prayer and
effort given to it,- as io-eithjer. of the SahJb&tU services or the Sabbath
school. What i5 ^^e{ld4 «in man)* cases !5 "^'ufth a method for its
conduct, and such a h/^a^-ty co-operatii3i^ of all in that method, as
shall make the prayer-KT,eet;irig„' tiqw. in mterest and attendance, an
undoubted success. ',•'*' ' *'«,**'.,
May the Lord blecs 'Vo'r. go'od Wha.t4lvei* of truth these chapters
contain, and make them instrumental in stirring up the zeal of the
churches to untiring labor and faithful prayer in the advancement
of His cause.
Go little book — if God shall be pleased to commission thee —
from church to church as an evangelist in the cause of the Prayer-
Meeting and its Improvement.
LEWIS O. THOMPSON.
Peoria, III.
CONTENTS.
Chapter Page
I. The Prayer-Meeting as a Subject of Study, - - 11
II. The People's Meeting, 16
III. The Need of Preparation, .-..._ 22
IV. The Daily Cultivation of Piety, .... 33
V. The Topics, 42
VI. The Topics Illustrated, --.--. 49
VIII. One Method for the Selection of Topics, - - 67
IX. Bible Headings for the Prayer-Meeting, - - - 75
X. Illustrations of Bible Readings, - - . - 82
XI. A Plan for Each Meeting, 93
XII. Variety in Successive Meetings, . . - . . 104
XIII. The Importance of the Prayer-Meeting, - - 110
XIV. How to Make Prayer-Meetings Interesting, - - 116
XV. Uniform Topics, ---._-.. 122
XVI. Steps Towards Uniformity, - 131
XVII. Helps to Speaking in Public, 145
XVIII. How to Secure Attendance, 159
XIX. How Prayer-Meetings are Kept at a White Heat. 168
XX. Treatment of the Monthly Concert, . _ . 172
XXI. Laying Out Work, 176
XXII. Hints New and Old, - - 186
XXIII. Daily Prayer-Meeting Topics, - - . . _ 196
INTRODUCTION
It is impossible to over-estimate the value of the prayer-
meeting, as it stands related to the life and usefulness of the
Church of Christ. In fact, no other service can be compared
with this in importance — not even the Sabbath preaching, nor the
instruction in the Sunday-school — for without a live prayer-meet-
ing the church will be spiritually cold, the Sabbath services will
be formal, and the children will be fed with husks instead of pro-
visions from the Master's table.
The weekly prayer-meeting is the pulse of the church, — one of
the most encouraging signs of the times, in the religious world, is
the increased interest manifested by pastors and churches in this
topic, and the new life and power which now are found in many
of these hallowed circles of united prayer and praise. Some of us
can remember the prayer-meetings of our childhood, when the num-
ber present ranged from ten to twenty or thirty, and most of these
were the female members — when the leader occupied most of the
hour in cold, doctrinal remarks, and then remarked : " Brethren
the meeting is open," after which came the solemn pauses, only
broken by this and that good deacon taking pity on the meeting,
and making a few forced and uninteresting remarks. Oh ! how
cold those meetmgs were ! cold enough to freeze up any longings
to be a Christian, in the breast of a sinner who might have
chanced to happen in. How we children used to dread being com-
pelled to attend, preferring even to go to bed earlier than usual,
rather than to sit for an hour in that spiritual refrigerator. Such
prayer-meetings are, we trust, seldom founa now, for with the
increased interest in the Sabbath-school, the weekly meeting has
been steadily growing in importance, in the estimation of Chris-
tians of all denominations.
Now, upon whom shall we lay the blame for a lifeless prayer-
INTRODUCTION. Vll.
meeting ? The safest course is to distribute it all round, for
usually pastor and church members are all at fault — the pastor for a
lack of preparation, the people for a lack of co-operation. By
lack of preparation we do not mean as regards careful thought
upon the chapter to be read, for we hold most firmly that one of
the chilling influences in such a meeting is the lengthy and
elaborate " opening " by the pastor, leaving nothing for the
brethren to say, and dampening all enthusiasm to speak. The
pastor should simply open the meeting, and read the chapter, say-
ing nothing, unless it be a single thought to give direction to the
thoughts of others. His remarks will come in better at the close'
when he can occupy five minutes in gathering up the suggestions
which have been uttered, and, perhaps, add one or more prac-
tical lessons not mentioned by others.
Then the pastor's opening remarks are apt to be more theologi-
cal than experimental, and they serve to seal the lips of those
whose theological education may be deficient, but whose experi -
ence of the preciousness of Christ may be very rich.
Then, again, the pastor has an opportunity twice on the
Sabbath to instruct the church on theological truths, but the
prayer-meeting belongs peculiarly to the people, — it is their
hour, not his^ and therefore, it is stealing from them their
property, when one-half of the time is occupied by the pastor,
who should simply lead and control the exercises. But the
pastor may prepare for this meeting by a wise selection of two or
three persons, to whom he will state the chapter to be read, so
that they will be ready to speak as soon as he takes his seat, thus
avoiding pauses which kill a prayer-meeting, and making sure the
interest of the remarks made. It may happen that these selected
speakers will have no chance to speak — so much the better — but
they will be ready to fill any possible gap, and their earnest words
will kindle an inspiration in other hearts and will open other lips-
In this selection, the same persons should not be often called on ;
and there should be a difference of age between them, so that the
young, as well as the older, will feel that the pastor looks to
them for the support of the meeting. The wisdom of such a
Vlll. INTRODUCTION.
course will be apparent when we remember that our business
men come to the evening meeting from the cares and anxieties of
the counting-room, and it can hardly be expected that they will
be ready to speak at once on spiritual matters, unless they have
been able to prepare their minds, by a knowledge of the passage
to be read.
Then, in regard to the exercises of the hour, we often err in
running our prayer-meetings in a stereotyped form so that they
become dry and uninteresting — the same thing week after week.
There should be plenty of singing, — not an entire hymn, but a
verse thrown in between the prayers and remarks. Our people
love to sing, and while but few may be able to speak, all can
praise God in song. Dispense with the instrument, if possible,
but if it is used, do not let precious moments be occupied by play-
ing the melody all through, or by interludes, which are always a
serious infliction on the people. Insist that the remarks be very
brief, not more than three minute%, and if the brother is burdened
to say more, let him keep it carefully for another time. Three
minutes are long enough for the utterance of one thought, and
this is all that any one person should give in a meeting of only
one hour's duration. Have more praying than talking. IVl any
a so-called prayer-meeting is no />?'ayer-meetir\g at all, but is
all talk, talk, talk — and it is no wonder they are dull and
powerless. The purpose of these gatherings of the church is to
gain spiritual strength, and prayer is the grand channel through
which this strength can be received ; and, therefore, make the
hour /u// of prayer — short prayers, earnest, simple prayers but a
great many of them. But we are exceeding the limits of an
introductory article, and close with urging upon all who love the
Church of Christ, and desire its spiritual health and purity and
power, to love the prayer-meeting, to seek its increasing interest,
so that it shall be the grand spiritual armory of believers, and the
very gate of heaven to many, many souls.
May this little book have a blessed mission among the
churches !
A. E. KITTREDGE.
THE PRAYER-MEETING
AND ITS IMPROVEMENT.
CHAPTER I.
The Prayer-Meeting as a Subject of Study.
How to improve the prayer-meeting may not seem
so serious a question to our large and prosperous city
churches. Evidently it is easier for them to conduct
the meetings to general satisfaction and edification
than for some of the smaller country churches. They
have a membership running up to many hundreds,
and out of that number many who are fluent speakers,
both by culture and profession ; whilst in the country
the conditions are less favorable, both because the
membership is often below a hundred, and there are
not in that number more than half a dozen who are
in the habit of taking a part in the exercises of the
meeting. Now, under such circumstances, the charge
and improvement of the prayer-meeting becomes a
serious question.
It is almost an axiom that the successful prayer-
meeting will make the successful church; and it is
equally true that if the prayer-meeting is not a success,
it can be made so. There are principles which apply
12 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
to its conduct, just as well as to successful business or
school-keeping. As a matter of course, I would look
for no success which is not connected with the Bible
and with Bible methods, and which does not depend
upon the Holy Spirit for its inspiration.
It may be true, also, that the j^recise method which
would insure success to one church, might not, with-
out some modification, do the same for another.
There are differences in culture between different
congregations. But whatever the method pursued, it
should be such, that while it is continuously improv-
ing the prayer-meeting, it shall at the same time im-
prove the intellectual and spiritual condition of the
church.
The prayer-meeting is all too generally a place to
which many laymen go " with fear and trembling."
With many it is a comfortless thing; for they are
fearing all the time that their pastor will see them and
call upon them: "Well, Brother Blank, how is it
with you? I hope you will testify. Haven't you got
a word to say? Or, will you not lead us in prayer? "
I think I know why there are more women to attend
prayer-meeting than men. They do not have to
speak, and for them, doubtless, there is peace and
comfort in the exercises. I have known men who
have sat through a prayer-meeting in a sort of cold
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 3
chill, with nerves unstrung, wishing the minister
would omit them ; looking solemn and anxious, until
the benediction descended upon them with a joy
almost indescribable. There are men so constituted
that a call upon them to speak or pray seems to send
every idea they ever had to the four quarters of the
compass; and when, in obedience to the call, they do
arise, though it be the coldest kind of weather, the
sweat starts and runs in rivulets. " Why, sir," said
one of the best men in the world, " if I was to under-
take to repeat the Lord's Prayer when called upon in
meeting, I don't think I could do it; and yet I know
it as well as my own name." A man of a very ner-
vous and sensitive temperament would almost as soon
have a tooth pulled as to attend prayer-meeting and
sit through the terrible ordeal. In such cases, attend-
ance upon a prayer- meeting becomes more a duty
than a pleasure.
Nor is it anything against a man that may be bash-
ful, timid, or unused to public speaking, if his first
trials should prove failures. There have been able
men and profound thinkers who have been unable to
think and speak fluently before an audience. Indeed,
it is a matter of history that some of the most brilliant
orators in their " maiden speeches " have completely
failed.
14 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
And then, besides this, there is another thing to be
borne in mind, and that is this: the pubHc does not
have the same knowledge of our mental states that
we ourselves possess. Some men judge of the effect
of their remarks or prayers by their own feelings, and
because these are depressed, they think they cannot
speak to edification, and so had better keep still.
Their thoughts, while they are on their feet, seem to
be flying about in utter confusion, like flakes in a
snow-storm, and they feel that others must be as pain-
fully conscious of their agitation as they themselves
are.
How, then, can we assist such men as these to take
part with greater pleasure to themselves and profit to
others? How can we assure the timid that practice
will soon confirm their nerves, and give them a more
orderly command of their thoughts while upon their
feet, and in the presence of the terrifying audience?
How can we conduct the meetings so as to make
them comfortable for all, and cause them to abound in
spiritual refreshment and Christian fellowship? How
can we discover just the method for our particular
charges, that will wake up the mind of all, stimulate
Bible reading and research, as well as stir up their
zeal to renewed activity in all departments of Chris-
tian work? How can we make available for the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 5
good of the church just such talent as our members
now possess? How can we secure the attendance of
all the membership upon the prayer-meeting? In a
word, how can we make our prayer-meeting " The
Model Prayer-Meeting?"
The cause of Christ and the welfare of the church
at large emphasize these and related questions, and
demand from every minister that he make their solu-
tion the subject of special study, and the improve-
ment of the prayer-meeting a matter of prayerful and
untiring endeavor. The following pages are offered
as a series of hints in this direction.
CHAPTER II.
The People's Meeting.
The prayer-meeting on some evening of the
week is the people's meeting. The Sabbath is the
day for the ministration of the pastor. They each
have their day. If it is not wise for the people to
conduct the services of the Sabbath, neither is it
wise for the pastor to monopoHze the exercises of
the week-day meeting. If it is true that the active
piety of a church rises no higher than it manifests
itself in the prayer-meeting, so that here, as on a
barometer, all changes in spiritual life are faithfully
recorded, then certainly too much attention cannot
be given by both pastor and people to the conduct
of the prayer-meeting.
The people need just such a meeting as the week-
day meeting is, and ought to be, and what it can be
made to be, if it is not already. There is so little
place given in our churches on Sunday for the par-
ticipation of the people in its services; and hence so
many have come to regard the day as an entertain-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 7
ment in eloquence and music. If these are wanting,
if they cannot hear a fine sermon from one end of
the church, and be soothed by sweet music from the
other, they will not go to church — no, not they.
But offer them a lecture and a concert agreeably
combined, they may consent to go. Where this
idea prevails, the people have forgotten that on
Sunday they are to publicly appear before God, to
render unto Him worship, prayer, praise and
thanksgiving, with the confession of their sins and
the earnest supplication for new supplies of ^race;
and all this they can do, though the sermon be
never so feeble and the singing never so poor.
But the people need a meeting in which to tell their
experience, comfort one another, pray for one
another, and, where the case requires it, bear one
another's burdens. Life in the market and the
domestic circle, in the shop and the store, in the
kitchen and the school-room, in the street and the
field, at home and abroad, has its trials and burdens,
its anxieties and sorrows, its temptations and defeats,
as well as its joys and triumphs. Griefs are lessened
and joys are multiplied when others share them
with us.
" Thoughts shut up want air,
And spoil, Uke bales unopened to the sun."
1 8 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
How precious, then, is the privilege that admits us
to the circle of congenial friends and steadfast com-
panions on the road from earth to heaven. Here
they meet to " rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep ; " and so, by mutual
vows and endeavors and sympathies, fainting hearts
are made resolute, and the tread of uncertain feet
firm and victorious.
"As bees mix'd nectar draw from fragrant flow'rs,
So men from friendship, wisdom and delight."
How eagerly the fainting Israelite gathered the
freshly-fallen manna! With what alacrity did not
the thirsty tribes bound forward as the majestic
palm-trees arose before them in the distance — seventy
palm-trees, as they clustered around the twelve
springs of Elim, and fed their roots around these
living fountains — how joyously, we may imagine,
did not the air resound with shouts of "Water!
water! there is water at the roots of the palm-
trees!" When the traveler is about to sink beneath
the heat and the thirst of his journey through the
arid wastes, he sees just before him the green oasis,
and starts forward with renewed hope to reach its
shade and refreshment. When the summer's heat
is oppressive, and to breathe is burdensome, how
gladly mankind seeks the cooling beach of lake or
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 9
sea, or the green swards, the cooling glens, and the
shady trees, rich in leaf and fruit, as these may be
found amid the lawn, the field and the forest.
Ought not the prayer-meeting on the midday of
the week to be all this to the Christian, who, having
set his face Zionward, is making the journey to the
celestial city; yes, more than all these to him, whose
feet cannot rest till they walk in safety thy golden
streets, O Jerusalem! Ought not the prayer-meeting
to be the tree with fruit and foliage — the common on
which feet are cooled as they walk and sink into
the grassy carpet — the oasis with its refreshment —
Elim with its seventy palm-trees and twelve foun-
tains of water that never run dry — the company of
friends where words may be opened to the sun,
where criticism shall be disarmed, and what we
desire to say shall be better understood than what we
do say, if for any reason our words are inadequate ?
And just an instance to show what freedom and
friendliness characterize the prayer circle may not
be out of place here. Not long ago I attended a
prayer meeting in Chicago. Both pastor and people
were strangers to me. As the meeting was nearing
its close, a convert g^ot up to speak. He was full of
love and zeal, as all converts are, but he was evid-
ently unused to public speaking. His hands were
20 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
kept flying constantly and all about his head as
if fighting an imaginary wasp's nest, whilst his
body kept bobbing up and down all the time in a
ludicrous manner. Most certainly he satisfied that
rule of eloquence which makes it consist in a
threefold action; and besides all this, his English
was quite broken, and so rapidly spoken that it was
diflicult to catch word and sense. Did they laugh?
Not exactly; a srhile or two may have been sup-
pressed, but that was all. Anywhere else he would
have been greeted with uproarious laughter. Here
however, we all felt like going up to the brother
to thank him for his remarks and bid him God-speed
in his efforts. It is more fit that criticism should
sleep in the prayer circle than the members. Who-
ever feels called upon to pray or speak, may do so
in the feeling that all will be kindly received, and
that nothing but generous sympathy awaits him.
The prayer-meeting, then, is the people's meeting,
and they support its exercises. Here they witness
for Christ; here they renew their consecration; here
is the place where much good may be done and
much good received by words of encouragement and
sympathy; and as such the people should relish
its opportunities and not neglect its privileges. Had
not Thomas been absent from just one meeting of
the disciples, he would have received, eight days
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 21
earlier than he did, the proof he required to save him
from skepticism; and had he absented himself con-
tinuously, he might have died in unbelief.
People are to put themselves in the way of
receiving the blessings of God ; for the church in its
ordinances is the channel of grace, and our spiritual
wants will be best ministered unto when we are
most constant in our attendance upon all the meet-
ings. And it may prove in our case as in that of
Thomas, that the meetings we miss are the very
ones which contain the thoughts, the prayers, the
songs, and the experiences for lack of which our
souls are famishing, and we are subjected to those
temptations which weaken rather than confirm our
faith.
"I've found a glad hosanna
For every woe and wail ;
A handful of sweet manna
When grapes of Eshcol fail ;
I've found a Rock of Ages
When desert wells are dry ;
And after weary stages,
I've found an Elim nigh.
My Saviour, Thee possessing,
I have found the joy, the balm,
The healing and the blessing,
The sunshine and the psalm ;
The promise for the fearful,
The Elim for the faint ;
The rainbow for the tearful.
The glory for the saint!"
CHAPTER III.
Preparation.
The pastor does not presume to enter the pulpit
Sabbath after Sabbath without proper preparation.
He has a very low view of his duty, the dignity of
the pulpit, as well as of the privilege and pleasure of
preaching, who thinks anything is good enough for
the pulpit, and is willing to rush before his people, as
the horse to battle, with stray scraps of thought.
When Dr. Beecher once preached to the students of
Andover, and was asked how long it took him to
prepare that sermon, he replied in his peculiar way,
" Twenty years." The full sermon comes from the
full preparation and years of study lying back of it.
The pastor cannot rely upon inspiration to take
the place of study, nor look for a miracle to supply
him text and thought at the time he is to preach.
It is true that the disciples were to take no thought
as to what they should say when brought before
magistrates, for in the same hour they should be
told what to say. Emergencies and exceptional
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 23
cases will often arise when the preacher will have to
rely upon God for his sermon entirely; and then the
sermon comes to him not as a substitute for his
fidelity but in connection with it, and because more
will be accomplished by it than by that which
could have been premeditated. At one of the places
in which Rev. C. C. Finney was holding revival
services, an infidel club was formed, it is said, for
the purpose of opposing Christian work. The
leader was a physician, who, on one occasion,
slipped into the church and seated himself in the
choir. Mr. Finney, coming in, and, as usual, glanc-
ing about his audience, saw this man, and at once
changed his text, and preached that morning a
powerful sermon on the plan of salvation, taking
as his text: "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever be-
lieveth on Him should not ^Derish, but have ever-
lasting life." In the afternoon the Doctor came
again, and the sermon, on the text, " How shall we
escape if we neglect so great salvation? " seemed to
be the logical sequence of the morning's sermon.
In the evening the Doctor was again present, and
the sermon was a conclusion of the whole matter,
from the text, " But they made light of it." A lady
spoke to the Doctor at the close of the service:
24 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
"Doctor, you've heard the truth; now, are you
gouig away to-night to make hght of it?" "No,
ma'am, I am not," was his reply. That night
he tried to sleep, but at midnight rose and paced
the room, until he cried to his wife: "Wife, I can't
live so, and I won't live so." The next day he
stood up in the meeting, his powerful frame quiv-
ering with emotion, and said : " Look at me !
What's this? It's God, and I'm a sinner!" Riding
that day, he met one of his infidel friends on the
road and stopped him. " Whedon," said he, "do
you think there are any good men ? " " Yes, of
course I do." "Whedon, do you think all men
are good?" "Yes, I do." "Whedon, don't you
think there are some wicked men? " " No, I don't."
"Whedon, you lie^ and you know you lie;" and
then the Doctor rode rapidly on."
Now, as Mr. Finney was in the habit of going
from place to place to labor as an evangelist,
he no doubt had a number of sermons prepared
for this especial work, and the inference is a
fair one that these sermons had the logical sequence
which study and perhaps previous use had given
them, and having many arrows in his quiver, he
would naturally select those that would be best
adapted to reach certain persons in his audience.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 25
The example of the disciples is exceptional, of
course; for they had a particular promise to rely
upon. In their missionary labors they would en-
counter dangers and difficulties too great for human
prudence and premeditation to remove, and there-
fore the promise of the Holy Spirit to assist them
gave peace and quiet to their minds, and sent them
forward in their labors with hope and courage.
God will supply all need in the hour of emergency ;
" for without Me ye can do nothing " — but God
does not promise to do for us what He designs
we shall do for ourselves. As relates to diligence,
study and preparation, their need is well expressed
in that Cromwellian motto, " Trust in God, but keep
your jDOwder dry."
But as the prayer-meeting, in the main, is the
people's meeting, it is hardly necessary to ask if
they need preparation for its exercises? And to
give this pointed application, we may ask ourselves,
" For what purpose do we attend the prayer-meet-
ing?" When we clearly understand its object, we
shall better see to what extent preparation is neces-
sary.
This meeting: is needed in order that the relig^ious
life of the church may find public expression by the
people themselves. Soldiers come together that they
3
26 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
may drill and perfect themselves in the manual of
arms. Soldiers who cannot execute the commands
of the officer with alacrity and uniformity would
make a sorry army, and but little headway a2:ainst
an enemy well-officered and in a state of splendid
discipline. The people should come together, that
like comrades they may stand shoulder to shoulder,
and by the expression of their trials and victories,
their confessions and their aspirations, and their
words of prayer and praise, they may go through
the exercises of the spiritual manual, and learn how
good a thing fellowship is, and what a blessed
privilege the communion of saints forms for us
here below; and in thus sharing our experiences
of joy and sorrow, of faith, hope and love, they
may learn the better to keep step together in
the Christian life, and make our conflict with
the world, the flesh and the devil more victorious.
The people need this meeting as an aid to growth
in grace. The experience of every Christian will
show that his seasons of most rapid progress in
the Christian walk and in the attainment of the
Christian graces coincide with the seasons when
he was faithful in the use of means, regular in
attendance upon the ordinances of God's house
and the prayer-mccting, and when his voice was
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 27
lifted up to praise God in company with his
brethren. Times of backsliding and hd-:ewarm
indifference will be found to have been those in
which he neglected the means of grace, and when
what he considered of more importance kept him
from the prayer-meeting. Guerilla warfare does
not equal that service which is regular and sys-
tematic.
The people need the prayer-meeting for the
cultivation of the devotional spirit. Songs of praise
acquire a power when tuned by many voices, and
especially so if they are sung with the spirit
and the understanding. Words of prayer, how-
ever simple, if heartfelt, possess a reflex influence
and a new power from the assenting presence of
the brethren. When " amen," either audibly or
silently, is added to the prayer, it becomes the
prayer of all, and receives force from that very
circumstance. God does not judge the prayer by
the graces of rhetoric and the rules of grammar,
but by its faith and sincerity. " Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought; but
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered." Words with-
out heart in them, however eloquent otherwise,
28 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
never find their way to heaven, but rise about as
high as the head. We are blessed in the attend-
ance of those meetings — our faith is confirmed, our
love is warmed, and our hope is encouraged — the
whole life is progressively sanctified — which are
marked by the absence of formal praise and stilted
prayers. From such meetings, where our hearts
have melted under divine love, where our souls
have been refreshed with heavenly manna and
water flowing from the living Rock, one does
not think of rushing to places of frivolity and
worldly amusement.
When Moses was coming down from the mount
where he had communed with God during forty
days, and the wicked and thoughtless frivolity and
idolatry of his people met his gaze, his soul was
filled with righteous indignation, and the two
tables of stone were dashed in pieces at his feet.
The contrast was too great and too sudden — com-
munion with God in its power and sweetness on
the one hand, and gross superstition and naked
idolatry on the other.
The peoj^le need the prayer- meeting that they
may have an opportunity, in the sph'it of Heb.
lo : 24, 25, to study each other with special reference
to temperment and j^cculiarities, and that so they
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 29
may be abU' more readily to provoke each the other
unto love and to good works. Such provocation
as shall make the fruit of the Spirit grow and ripen
is not only permissible, but even commendable.
The Christian is to regard his brethren as text-books
for studv, with the view of constantly improving
them in the nurture of every needed grace and
virtue.
And if the pastor should ask, how can I do more
than I am already doing, it might be suggested
that he give a whole day to planning and preparing
for each meeting. Monday is generally considered
a " blue " day with ministers. It would seem that
this day might be turned to good account in many
ways. Suppose he spend this day in visiting his
people, and following up a little the impressions
produced by his Sabbath ministrations. He would
receive many a stimulating word and suggestion
that would help him in his work for the next Sab-
bath; and while the iron is thus hot, he might make
some good hits for the coming prayer-meeting, and
get a limited number to promise and come especially
prepared with reference to a given topic. As he
visits from house to house there will arise sj^ecial
cases of spiritual need and sympathy ; formulate such
cases as these and make each one the toj^ic for special
30 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
prayer. Ask some one to come and pray for one
who may be sick; another one to pray for one
peculiarly tempted; another to pray for himself that
he may receive grace and strength to labor for the
salvation of some friend w^ith w^hom he may have
especial influence. In this vs^ay not only particular
cases of need in a congregation w^ill be prayed for,
and doubtless w^ith the most beneficial results; but
also new topics for special prayer will constantly
arise to keep pace with the steady and healthy
growth in grace, of the whole church, and enlarge
the sphere of its influence and usefulness.
Finally, let each one that the pastor asks to take
a part come early to the meeting, and as sooji as he
gets a chance^ after the introducto?y services^ arise
and pray ^ or offer remarks. In this way there will
be a rapid movement in the meeting like the tramp
of an army on the march, and with something of the
rapid scenes which characterizes the Gospel of St.
Mark who takes us from " the beginning of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ" on until "the Lord was
received up into heaven," in sixteen chapters. Upon
such a church as this, — a church realizing that it is
" not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,"
and earnestly seeking to know the mind of the
Spirit — God will pour, according to His promise,
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 3 I
a burden of prayer, and guide it into such a path of
success as shall keep it in constant revival.
Now it may be that prayer-meetings are not
more largely attended and more generally successful
because both pastor and people allow them to take
care of themselves, with the feeling that the odds
and ends of thought — the apple-parings and peach
stones — gathered from second-hand experience will
be good enough for the week-day meeting. Life,
experience, and the best thoughts from the history
which each one is writing of himself is what we
want for the prayer-meeting, and such songs as shall
express our faith, love and aspiration. If this field is
to bear a large harvest, it must be faithfully worked.
He who spends the most time in the cultivation of
his farm, who uses the best seed with a liberal sowing
is the one that secures the best harvest and the
largest income. Weeds are about the only things
that need no cultivation.
Nor should this chapter be closed without pre-
senting the need of continuous prejoaration on the
part of all. The people should be diligent and
life-long students of the Bible that they may be
accumulating a treasury from which, like the prudent
housekeeper, to "bring forth things both new and
old." They ought to be constant in the use of secret
32 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
prayer, and all the stated means of grace which God
has provided for the support and growth of
spiritual life. " When thou wast under the fig tree
I saw thee." They ought likewise to endeavor every
day to lead a consistent and victorious Christian life.
This will give dejDth and flavor to their experience,
and make prayer and praise the joyful expression of
their daily life.
And when you go to the prayer-meeting go to it
from your knees w^ith the earnest petition that God
will hear and answer. " Be filled with the Spirit."
CHAPTER IV.
TiiE Daily Cultivation of Piety.
There are some who seem to hate religion. They
will not enter the Kingdom themselves, nor permit
others to enter it, if they can prevent it by their
words and ojDposition. There are some who seem
indifferent about religion. It does not matter to
them, one way or another, whether Christianity is
true or false. Life in the present is so busy and so
full of cares that if they can only make a living
now, they will let the life in the hereafter take care
of itself. They will run their chances. There are
some who have a great respect for religion. They
give liberally to the support of the Gospel. If their
children are converted and unite with the church,
they are glad. They know their children will grow
up to be better men and women if they become
religious. Such are like " Noah's carj^entcrs," — they
help to build the ark, but neglect to enter it them-
selves. Some are willing that their wives shall be
religious, but their own case is such they cannot
34 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
attend to religion just now. They are in pursuit of
wealth, or pleasure, or ambition. If they should
become religious, it would require a change in their
business; or if not that, at least a change in the
manner of conducting it. For the present, you must
have them excused. When they have a convenient
season they will send for you.
There are others who profess religion, but do not
prosecute it with any zeal. Their religion is for
Sunday. They attend church regularly, but when
the doors of the church are closed, their hearts are
closed also, and during the week they give themselves
up to the worldly spirit. There are others who add
company religion to this Sunday religion. Such are
not anxious to entertain ministers or earnest Chris-
tians at their homes during the holding of religious
meetings and conventions; because this requires of
them that they should have family worship morning
and evening. But they are hospitable, and so, for the
time being, they dust their Bibles, oil their knees, and
kindle a fire upon the family altar. And there are
others, also, whose religion is a proxy religion. They
are reverential; they daily bend the knees at family
worship, and are constant in attendance upon all the
ordinances of God's house; but they never pray
themselves. Others do the praying for them in the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 35
family, in the prayer-meeting, and in the church.
They may silently or audibly say " Amen," but
as for themselves, they neither pray in public, in
private, nor in secret. They are prayerless Christians.
Why is it that religion is not relished more than
appears to be the case? Why, in so many cases, is it
that Christian life is so feeble? Is it because religion
has come to be merely professional ? Let a physician
be called, and though he be ever so kind and gentle,
yet he is apt from long practice to look at the patient
and his disease from a professional standpoint, rather
than enter fully into sympathy with him as a man
and a brother.
During the late civil war it became my oppor-
tunity, as a member of the Sanitary Commission, to
attend upon some wounded soldiers, as they were
being taken by steamboat from White House Land-
ing, Va., to Washington. There were some fifteen
of us to take care of 405 men. Two surgeons of the
regular army accompanied us. I became greatly in-
terested in the case of a poor fellow whose wound
was in a bad condition, and needed skillful and
instant attention. I endeavored to get one of the
doctors to do something for him. He came, and
after making some experiments to ascertain the extent
of the injury, he stated that he could not do anything
36 THE FRAYER-MEETING.
for him, as he was in need of a particuhir instrument.
You must wait till you get to Washington. Now
there was something in the manner so heartless and
indifferent that I was astonished. For myself, I could
get no sleep during those sixty hours that we \vere on
that boat. We \vho had volunteered to take care of
those men, felt their sufferings to be a terrible strain
upon our nervous system. We were unused to such
sights and sufferings, and the amount of sympathy
called for was almost more than we could endure.
Now, it may be that something like this takes place
in our religious experience. After a while we lose its
early fervor. Our religion ceases to be new, fresh,
emotional and inspirational; it becomes professional.
I remember during a revival at college when I first
began to feel the new life in its preciousness — in its
fullness of promise, hope and inheritance — how near
the Saviour seemed to be. As I was going to my
room after one of the evening meetings, everything
appeared to be new. "Old things are passed away;
behold all things are become new." It was a lovely
evening. I looked up into the sky, and the stars
were twinkling with a friendly lustre I had never
noticed before. The thought that all these things are
mine, because I am His, took possession of my soul.
"All are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 37
God's." If the child of nature in a moment of
enthusiasm can say, as he looks up at the sun, its
rays glittering from the leaves of the over-arching
trees in the grove, " This is my air, my sunshine, my
earth ; " how much more truly may not the child of
God, as he beholds the works of his Father's hand,
exclaim, " My air, my stars, my earth! "
Now, how can we return to a state like this of ten-
der susceptibility, if we have lost it? I can never
forget how deeply I was impressed, during my school
days, by the example of a devout Christian, whose
heart seemed so full of love, that he never could men-
tion the name of the Saviour without a tear starting
from his eyes and his lips quivering with emotion.
How can we live so as to enjoy religion every hour
of the day? Can the answer be otherwise than by
the daily and careful cultivation of piety? Set apart
half an hour every day for secret prayer and the
devotional study of God's Word. I should like to
ask for an entire hour; but I ask for half an hour in
the hope that when that much has been given, the
season will be so fully relished and found so precious
that a full hour will be gladly taken. Such daily
habit will prevent the religious life from becoming
" stale, flat, unprofitable " and professional merely.
Seek to be alone at such a time ; " When thou
2,S THE PRAYER-MEETING.
prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father, which is in
secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
reward thee openly." And let it be the first half-
hour in the day ; for " the morning hour has gold in
its mouth." Let the first half hour of the day " be-
fore food, before family, before daily avocation, be
made sacred to the Lord."
God has given us three most valuable gifts — His
Word, His Son and His Spirit. We need to study
the Word, because the Holy Spirit uses that as an
instrument to communicate God's Will, to convince
and convert, and to edify and sanctify our " whole
spirit, soul and body." The Holy Spirit glorifies
Christ in the Word. We need to study it therefore
and to pray over it. God is the object of our wor-
ship, Christ is the basis of our worship, the Holy
Spirit is the agency of our worship — our Guide,
Teacher and Comforter — and the Word is the Instru-
ment. And so the Word of God will furnish holy
themes for the "secret hour." Like fuel cast upon
fire, these will feed the flame of devotion, and cause it
to glow with a steady light.
And now the practice of spending such a season —
the first moments of the day — in secret prayer and
communion with God, has been a habit with many
emm'jnt nun and devoted Christians.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 39
*' It is said of one of our most eminent statesmen,
at a time when most responsible duties to the country
rested on him, that his morning hour was always
spent in imploring the help of the Great Ruler of the
Nations. A distinguished judge acknowledged his
success in his j^i'ofession as owing to the hour he daily
spent with God. General Havelock, though bur-
dened with the care of the army during the terrible
mutiny in India, managed to keep sacred for prayer a
long time in the morning of each day. Other names
might be added, as those of Bacon, and the great
astronomer Kepler, and the historian De Thou, of
whom it is related, every morning, he implored God
in private to purify his heart, to banish from it hatred
and flattery, to enlighten his mind, and to make
known to him the truth which so many passions and
conflicting interests had almost buried. This was also
the custom of one, guided by the Divine Spirit, for
David's resolution was: ' My voice shalt thou hear in
the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct
my prayer unto thee, and will look up.' The testi-
mony of that most godly man, Philip Henry, speak-
ing of one of his studying days, was : ' I forgot, when
I began, explicitly and expressly to crave help from
God, and the chariot-wheels drove accordingly. Lord
forgive my omission, and keep me in the way of duty!'
40 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
What higher example and encouragement could we
have for this practice ? " — Dr. Murphy.
And there are those who do not find the morning
season sufficient for the daily wants of the spiritual
life, after sucIt a practice has once become fixed. In
the Methodist Church Block in Chicago, before the
great fire, " there was a certain dark closet under a
stairway, used for the storage of wood and coal,"
which, as every other nook and corner of the build-
ing was occupied. Moody and his earnest co-laborers
used as a closet for secret prayer. There, alone or in
company, these devout Christians used to shut them-
selves up, and while the great business world rolled
around them, above and below, like the sea around
Jonah, they held sweet communinon with their
Lord. Rev. Chas. G. Finney states in his Auto-
biography, that he discovered while a guest in the
house of Anson G. Phelps, that this distinguished
merchant of New York was in the habit of arising,
after having taken a nap, to secretly hold commu-
nion with his God. " Seven times a day do I praise
thee," says the sweet singer of Israel. Three times
a day did Daniel kneel in his chamber with his " win-
dows open toward Jerusalem." Sir Thomas Browne
wrote in his journal as an admonition to himself, " to
be sure to let no day pass without calling upon God
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 4I
in a solemn-formed prayer seven times within the
compass thereof: that is, in the morning- and at night
and il v c times between."
Be sure to begin the day aright, and from such
daily cultivation of piety and the devotional spirit,
shall come the best preparation for all the active
duties of life. By such a habit the heart will be kept
in tune for every religious duty, and from its practice
will grow such a relish for the services of the prayer-
meeting as shall make the more special preparation
for its exercises a joy, and not a vexatious burden.
' ' More holiness give me,
More strivings within ;
More patience in suft* ring,
More sorrow for sin ;
More faith in my Saviour.
More sense of his care !
More joy in his service.
More purpose in prayer."
CHAPTER V.
The Topics.
But in addition to all this, it will be well to have a
topic for each meeting, with reference to which the
people as well as the pastor may make especial pre-
paration. It should be our endeavor to make each
meeting new, fresh and stimulating; both helpful and
hopeful. Prayer-meetings have come to be so pro-
verbially stale and unprofitable, because the excellent
brethren who take part week In and year out repeat
over and over the same remarks and the same prayers.
The daily cultivation of piety will give depth and
flavor to prayer and the religious life; and a given
topic previously announced will afford the people an
opportunity to arrange their thoughts with reference
to it, and to select such things from their experience
as shall illustrate the topic in an interesting manner
and on the principle of unity. When the people
assemble in ignorance of the subject and the line of
thought to be presented, it is not to be looked for that
all parts shall fit into their place, and tend to produce
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 43
a deep and abiding impression ; or, indeed, that they
shall speak at all to edification and to the point. Lord
Nelson had a carefully prepared plan for the battle of
Trafiilgar, in which each ship had its place assigned
in the line of action, and all together were so massed
that they should form a wedge, and sweep right
through the ranks of the enemy. As he planned, so
it proved. The victory was decisive, and placed him
in the front rank of great naval heroes. When the
exercises are so arranged that they have plan and
unity; when the chapter read, the hymns sung, the
remarks made, and the prayers offered are so directed
that they illustrate the given topic, and the special
needs of the church, each part will take its place in
the line to form the wedge, and no one will be able to
go away and say the meeting lacked purpose, point
and power.
Nor will it be found an easy matter to select just
the right kind of topics for the prayer-meeting. It
would not be surprising if ministers spent as much
time over this as over selecting the subject and text
for their sermons. In order to avoid this difficulty
and the loss of time many have chosen the topics of
the Sunday-school lesson, and made them the basis of
their remarks. Much might be said in favor of this;
it has the advantage of system and publicity; and so
44 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
gives opportunity to others beside the minister, to
make intelHgent remarks upon the subject. Speech,
to be most profitable needs to be premeditated as to
the substance of thought. Where both words and
thought are extempore, unless the man is inspired for
the occasion, it will be just as well if he kept silent.
There is one part, being all unstudied, that requires
no preparation — " you may do it extempore," for it is
nothing but roaring, and though he " aggravate his
voice," and roar as gently as the dove, or " 'twere any
nightingale," in the prayer-meeting, it is out of place,
and will hardly do any man's heart good or tend to
edification.
But the Sunday-school topics are selected more
with reference to the wants of a school than the needs
of a prayer-meeting and daily Christian life. If there
is a general attendance on the prayer-meeting and the
Sunday-school — as is desirable — it takes away from
the freshness of the theme, and the interest in it also,
to have the same topic presented twice, and, in con-
nection with the teachers' meeting, thrice in the same
week. The topics more especially needed for the
week-day meeting are such as grow out of the trials
and burdens of daily life, and should be so adapted to
them as to confer sympathy, bestow strength and
patience, and promote growth in grace. The prayer-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 45
meeting should give scope for such themes as are par-
ticularly adapted to edify the body of Christ, to con-
firm faith, to quicken love, to illustrate doctrine, and
to stimulate life in its various fields of useful labor.
Hence the more appropriate themes are such as make
plain our duty to God, to self, and to fellow-man.
The topics should be selected with reference to the
guidance of experience along " the path of the just,"
which " is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day."
And topics might also be selected occasionally to
bear some relevancy to the progress of time and the
chanoring- seasons. Thus, for a New Year's week we
might have a dedication service, on some such theme
as this, " Choose ye this day whom ye w^ll serve," or
" Mary's Choice," Luke 10: 38-42. For a Spring ser-
vice we might choose a topic like this, " Seed Time,"
Gal. 6:7; or we might arrange for a "Floral Ser-
vice," just as Spring is passing into Summer, and is
now standing in its pride and glory — " Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow," Matt. 6:28. "A
study on flowers" of this kind would teach valuable
lessons as well as give suitable opportunity to pray
for a blessing upon the sowing of the seed and
the increase of the material harvest in its season. A
promise meeting might be arranged for some time
46 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
during the progress of Summer, and opportunity
given for rehearsing the promises of God and their
unfailing fulfihnent in our experience. " A harvest
festival " would be appropriate for the Autumn and
the ingathering of grain and fruit. These w^ould find
their counterpart in the garniture of life's spiritual har-
vest, 2 Cor. 9:6, and Gal. 6: 8. Themes kindred
to this vs^ould be, " The Summer is ended," "Fruits
meet for repentance," " The fruit of the Holy Spirit,"
or " The fruit of the lips." And on Thanksgiving
week it would be very appropriate to have a general
praise meeting, m which the people may express what
they have to be thankful for; and such a meeting on
their part would prove a most excellent preparation
for the public observance of the Day of Thanksgiv-
ing. And for the close of the year we might have a
remembrance meeting, " Hitlterto hath the Lord
helped us," i Sam. 7:12. It would be very profitable
to review the signal providences of the year,
and apply the teachings of age to renewed fidelity;
for time is short and its flight rapid. Would not
such a meeting as this deepen our appreciation of the
90th psalm, and especially that devout petition, " So
teach us to remember our days that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom ! " Topic would suggest
topic as the seasons come and go, and in this way we
could appropriately arrange for evenings in which to
THk PRAYER-MEETING. 47
illustrate the various teachings of nature as they bear
upon life. We should find occasions in this way to
use the great phenomena of nature, and use them as
the Bible uses them, to illustrate life and its meanings.
In this way mountain, river, sea, storm, wind, rain,
dew, ice and snow could be used for the topics at such
times as would render them appropriate, but not so
frequently as to destroy freshness and render their
teachings " stale and unprofitable."
And this matter of set topics has already had the
trial of years and has been found most expedient by
those churches which have used them. There is be-
fore me among others the list that was used by the
Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, Ind., dur-
ing the last year of the pastorate of Dr. J. L. Withrow.
We insert it at the close of this chapter, both to com-
mend the method and to show the nature of the
topics, that in this way our hints may have the
benefit of example as well as precept.
TOPICS.
Jan. 6. Daily Benefits, . . . ' . Psalms 68 : ig
13. Suffering due to Sin, .... John 5 : 5
20. Refusing and the Results, . . . John 5 : 40
27. Bom Again, John 3 : 3
Feb. 3. Evidences of Sonship, . . Rom. 8 : 14
10. Resist the Devil, .... James 4 : 7
17. Meaning of ...... Col. 2: 10
24. Retribution, Rom. 2 : 6
Mar. 2. Sparing Begets Sparseness, . . .2 Cor. 9 : 6
48
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Mar. 9.
Lying, ......
Col. 3 : 9
16.
God Forgetting Sins, .
. Heb. 10 : 17
23-
Christ in Providence,
Heb. 1 : 3
30.
Number of the Blest Unknown,
Matt. 14 : 14
April 6.
Inspiration of the Scriptures, .
2 Tim. 3: 16
13-
Searching the Scriptures,
• ]o\-in 5 : 39
20.
Meaning of . . . .
Hab. 2: 4
27.
Cleansing Blood,
I John I : 7
May 4.
The good times of the Ungodly,
Psalms 73: 5
II.
Christ, the Leader,
Is. 55 : 4
18.
The Intercessor, ....
Heb. 7 : 25
25.
Believing all the Bible,
. John 5 : 47
June I.
Union of Faith and Everlasting Life,
John 6 : 47
8.
Faith Kneeling at His Feet,
. John II : 32
15-
How?
2 Cor. 5 : 21
22.
Meaning of Repentance,
. Acts 2: 38
29.
Sublimity of Unselfishness,
2 Cor. 12: 15
July 6.
Genuine Love, ....
I John 3: 18
13-
The Sin Bearer, ....
I Peter 2: 24
20.
Believing vs. Working,
Rom. 4 : 5
27.
The Living Fountain, .
Rev. 7 : 17
Aug. 3.
Evils of Indulgence, .
I Cor. 9: 25
10.
Refuge from Storm,
. Is. 25:4
17-
Friend of Friends,
Prov. 18 : 24
24.
Explain
. Rom. 6 : i
31-
Saved by Hope, ....
Rom. 8 : 24
Sept. 7.
Putting on Christ,
Rom. 13 : 14
14.
Safety, . . . . .
Psalms 91 : i
21.
All-Seeing Eye, ....
Prov. 15:3
28.
Full Satisfaction, ....
Psalms 17:15
Oct. 5.
In what Sense ? . . . .
Rom. 6: 18
12.
Foolishness of Preaching,
I Cor. 1 : 18
19.
Better than he Asked,
2 Cor. 12: 9
26.
Crowned with many Crowns,
Rev. 19: 12
Nov. 2.
Consulting Others' Weakness, .
. Rom. 15 : I
9'
Relation of Believers to the Saviour,
Col. 2: 7
t6.
Right kind of Righteousness,
Phil. 3 : 9
23-
Thanksgiving, ....
Eph. 5 : 20
30-
Harmonize, . . . Gal.
6 : 2 with 6 : 5
Dec. 7.
Gracious Promise, ....
. Mai. 4:2
14.
The Unborn Herald,
Mai. 4 : 5
21.
The Star,
Matt. 2 : 10
28.
The End
Psalms 39: 4
CHAPTER VI.
The Topics Illustrated.
It will prove quite stimulating, and an aid to the
fuller understanding of Scriptural truth, to draw
from the Bible suitable illustrations of the changing
seasons, and of striking events in the history of our
church, our community, our state, or our land, as
these are providentially unfolded. A few examples
have been selected as hints in this direction.
/. The Opening of the Tear.
(Luke 13 : 9).
In countries where the vine is cultivated, not by a
few wealthy proprietors with a view to an export
trade, but by each family on a small scale, with a
view to the food of the household, to plant some
trees of other kinds within the same enclosure is the
rule rather than the exception. ' Within this favored
spot the owner is willing to make room for one or
more fig-trees, for the sake of the fruit, which in
such favorable circumstances he expects them to bear.
When the tree had reached maturity, the owner
50 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
expected that it should bear fruit; but that year, the
next, and the third it continued barren. Having
waited a reasonable time, he gave orders that it
should be destroyed.
The dresser of the vineyard, as is quite natural, has
become attached to the tree, and w^hen the sentence
is pronounced against it, a sentiment akin to compas-
sion springs up. " Woodman, spare that tree," is a
species of intercession thoroughly natural and human.
A very significant exemplification of this parable is
found in an Arabian receipt for curing a palm-tree of
barrenness : " Thou must take a hatchet, and go to
the tree w^ith a friend, unto whom thou sayest, I will
cut down the tree, for it is unfruitful. He answers:
Do not so, this year it will certainly bear. But the
other says, It must needs be — it must be hewn down ;
and gives the stem of the tree blows with the back
of the hatchet. His friend restrains him, crying. Nay,
do it not, thou wilt certainly have fruit from it this
year; only have patience, and be not over hasty in
cutting it down; if it still refuses to bear fruit, then
cut it down."
The lesson of this parable is easily read; and when
read, it is unspeakably solemn and tender. God is
the owner of the vineyard and the fig-tree within its
walls. Abraham's seed, natural and mystical, are the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 5 I
fig-tree; and the Mediator between God and man is
the dresser of the vineyard, the intercessor for the
barren tree. The essential circumstances involved
in the fact that the fig-tree grew within the vine-
yard are: that in soil, south exposure, care and
defence, it was placed in the best possible position
for bearing fruit. The one fact that it was planted
in the vineyard indicates, and was obviously intended
to indicate, that the owner had done the best for his
fig-tree.
The three kinds of works whereof Scripture speaks
may all be illustrated from this parable : First, good
vs^orks (John 6 : 28; Tit. 2:7), when the tree having
been made good, bears fruit after its own kind; then
dead works (Heb. 9: 14; Gal. 2: 16), such as have a
fair outward appearance, but are not the genuine out-
growth of the renewed man — fruit as it were fastened
on externally, alms given that they may be gloried
in, prayers made that they may be seen; and lastly,
wicked works (i John 3:12; Rom. 13:12; Gal. 5:19),
when the corrupt tree bears fruit manifestly after its
own kind. Here it is those good fruits that are
sought, but of which none are found. And on that
command, " Cut it down," St. Basil beautifully bids
us note the love which breathes, even in the threaten-
ings of God. " This," he says, " is peculiar to the
52 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
clemency of God toward men, that He does not bring
in punishments silently or secretly; but by His
threatenings first proclaims them to be at hand, thus
inviting sinners to repentance." That grand old
proverb, w^hich so finely expresses the noiseless
approach of the divine judgments : " The gods have
feet of vsrool," true for others, is not true for those
w^ho have a listening ear. Before the hewing down
begins, the axe is laid at the root of the tree.
Christ, as the great Intercessor, pleads for men, yet
not that they may always continue unpunished in
their shis, but only that their sentence may for a
while be suspended; so to prove whether they will
turn and repent. The means of grace shall be multi-
plied, which is so often granted to men and nations
in the last period of their probation, and just before
those means are withdrawn from them forever.
Thus before the flood they had Noah, before the
great catastrophes of the Jewish people some of their
most eminent prophets, and before its final doom, the
ministry of Christ and of His Apostles. This last is
intended here ; that richer supply of grace, that freer
outpouring of the Spirit, which should follow on the
death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord. So
Theophylact: " Though they were not made better
by the law and the prophets, nor yielded fruit or
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 53
repentance, yet I will water them by my doctrines
and passion ; it may be that they will then yield fruits
of obedience." To us entering upon a new year the
door of repentance and improvement is left open
still : " If it bear fruit, well. If not, how shall we
escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
— Adapted from Arnot and Trench.
II. Seed-ti77ie. The Sower., the Seed and the Soil.
(Matt. 13 : i-io).
This parable represents the reception of the Word
of God in the world, and presents the causes of
failuie, and the requirements that are necessary in
order to secure an abundant and fruitful harvest.
The causes of failure are :
I. There is a want of spiritual perception. Some
of the seed fell by the wayside. There are persons
whose religion is all outside — it never penetrates
beyond the intellect. Duty is recognized in word —
not felt. They are regular at church, understand the
catechism and articles, consider the church a most
venerable institution, have a respect for religion, but
it never stirs the deeps of their being. They feel
nothing in it beyond a safeguard for the deccxicies
and respectabilities of social life. Truth of life is
subject to failure in such hearts, because it is trodden
54 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
down. Wheat dropped by a harvest-cart upon a
road, Hes outside. There comes a passenger's foot
and crushes some of it; then wheels come by, — the
wheel of traffic and the wheel of pleasure, — crushing
it grain by grain. And again, the seed finding no
lodgement, disappears. The fowls of the air come
and devour it. This is the picture, not of thought
crushed by degrees, but of thought dissipated, and
no man can tell when or how it went.
2. There is want of depth in character. Some
fell on stony ground, that is, into a thin layer of soil
upon a bed of rock. Shallow soil is like superficial
character. You meet such persons in life. There is
nothing deep about them ; it is all on the surface.
The superficial servant's work is done, but not
thoroughly — lazily, partially.
The superficial workman's labor will not bear
inspection. The very dress of such persons betrays
the incomplete character of their minds. With such,
religion shares the fate of everything else — it is
taken up in a superficial way. The seed sprang up
quickly; and then withered away as quickly, because
it had no depth of root. There are easily moved
susceptibilities that play upon the surface of the soul,
and then as rapidly pass away. In such persons
words are ever at command — voluble and im-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 55
passioned words. Such a man came to the Master, —
running, kneeling, full of warm expressions, engaging
gestures, and professed admiration, — he was ready
for anything. Well, go sell what thou hast. If you
wish to know what hollowness and heartlessness are,
you must seek for them in the world of light, elegant,
superficial fashion, where frivolity has turned the
heart into a rock-bed of selfishness.
3. Impressions come to nothing when the mind is
subjected to dissipating influences and yields to them.
There is nutriment in the ground for thorns, and
enough for wheat ; but not enough in any ground
for both wheat and thorns. The heart has a certain
power of loving, but love, dissipated on many objects,
concentrates itself on none. God or the world, not
both. " No man can serve two masters." " If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him." " The cares of this world, and the deceitful-
ness of riches, choke the word !" There is a way
God has of dealing with such, which is no pleasant
thing to bear. In agriculture it is called weeding^
and in gardening it is done by frti7ii?ig.
In the second place, the permanence of religious
impressions requires three things :
I. An honest and good heart is indispensable.
Earnestness is necessary for real success in everything.
56 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
'The miser sacrifices all to his single passion ; hoards
the pennies and dies possessed of wealth. Time and
pains will do anything. " The kingdom of heaven
sufFereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
Sow for time, and fi^obably you will succeed in time.
Sow the seed of Life, — humbleness, pure-heartedness,
love, — and in the long eternity which lies before the
soul, every minutest grain will come up again with an
Increase of thirty, sixty, or an hundred fold.
2. Meditation Is necessary. They keep the word
which they have heard. In meditation on religious
truth, if it be first loved, it will recur spontaneously
to the heart. And as It is dwelt on, it receives
innumerable applications ; is again and again brought
up to the sun and tried In various lights, and so
Incorporates itself with the realities of practical
existence. Meditation is done In silence. By It we
renounce our narrow individuality, and expatiate into
that which Is infinite. There Is a divine depth in
silence — we meet God alone.
3. Endurance likewise Is necessary. " They
bring forth fruit with patience." The patience for us
to cultivate Is to bear and to persevere. However
dark and profitless, however painful and weary
existence ma}^ have become ; however any man, like
Elijah, may be tempted to cast himself beneath the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 57
juniper-tree and say, " It is enough: now, O Lord !"
Life is not done, and our Christian character is not
won, so long as God has anything left for us to suffer,
or anything left for us to do. Patience is also
opposed to that restlessness which cannot wait. This
is one of the difficulties of spiritual life. We are
disappointed if the harvest do not come at once.
From all this it is evident that the causes of
failure cannot be attributed to the seed nor to the
sower, but entirely to the soil.
" Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing.
Learn to labor and to wait."
— Seltcted and abridged from Robertson.
III. A Summer Service. The Lesson of Flowers.
(Matt. 6 : 28).
We are now almost midway in the season of
flowers, between the coming of the early violet and
the late chrysanthemum, and are witnessing them in
their various phases of bloom, beauty, glory, and rapid
decay. Material things are the visible and transient
forms into which ideas have been cast, and a flower
forms one of the many words which God uses in the
language of symbolism for lessons of truth and
58 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
wisdom. We are too apt to think that the material
things of earth alone have permanence and reality,
and serve as the patterns of all thinking and experi-
ence, but this is the error of materialism. The truth
is on the other side. The pattern of things is unseen
and eternal. Thoughts are not the fleeting shadows
which matter casts ; but more correctly matter in its
various forms is their shadow (3 Cor. 4: 18; Col.
2:17; Heb. 8; 5; and 9: 33). What, then, are some
of the lessons which flowers teach?
1. From time immemorial the gift of a flower has
conveyed the language of esteem and friendship, and
in their use on Decoration Day they have come to be
emblematical of the aflfection entertained for those
who gave their lives to the service of their country.
Flowers form the symbolism of love and beauty,
as appears from such popular names as " forget-me-
not," " love-lies-bleeding," etc. And in a sick room
they are there with their fragrance and beauty to
remind the sick of the love we cherish for them, and
silently to preach of a beauty that fades not like their
own — immortal in the skies.
2. Their color, beauty and fragrance command
attention and are unrivalled. Christ called himself
" The Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Vallies."
(Cant. 2:1). The flowers of the field were intro-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 59
diiced into the Sermon on the Mount to illustrate a
variety of truths. Consider: Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
3. Their perfectibility. The breath of sin, the
blast of winter and the mildew of death fell upon
them when they were plucked out of Paradise and
scattered over the earth. That they suffered deteri-
oration is evident from the fact that kindly culture has
so greatly improved their bloom and multiplied their
variety. Flowers come to us from the paradise that
is past to tell us of a lost and faded beauty, and to
prophesy of a greater and grander beauty that shall
not, like their own, so soon pass away. Music is
another language of sentiment and emotion, which
seems to have come down to us from the paradise
above — a wave of melody that has burst through the
gates of heaven and overflowed its walls, that our
souls might be thrilled \vith the harmonies of the
endless life and the heavenly bliss, where God is
praised with unsinning hearts. Flowers and music
tell us of the " Paradise Lost " and the " Paradise
Regained," and prophesy of the beauty and harmony
that shall yet prove unending.
4. We are also to learn from flowers the shortness
of life and the corruptibility of all earthly glory.
Walk throuo^h the field in its beautv and fragfrance of
6o THE PRAYER-MEETING.
grass and flower. The glory of spring soon passes
into summer and fades away into the tints of autumn ;
or wither and die under the scorching heat of the sun
and the fiery blast, and it is all gone. David as he
tended his father's flocks had been impressed by it,
and when he wrote the 103d Psalm he remembered
it and said, the life of man is just like this. Like the
grass and flowers of the field, so he flourishes and so
he departs. ( Ps. 103 : 15, 16; also. Is. 40: 6-8, and i
Peter i : 24).
5. The rose is a sign of fertility. (Is. 35 : i).
6. Flowers preach a most impressive sermon on
Providence.
What a world of thought and care
Makes the tmy flower fair !
Destined to bloom for a day ; if God is so lavish here,
how much more shall not His love and care extend
to His creatures who have sentient life and are capa-
ble of loving Him. (Matt. 6 : 28-34). What a lesson
is here for the man that is fearful and desponding —
that is lacking in faith and hope. He ought to read
this lesson every day. God will not and does not
forget. If He take care of birds and flowers, how
much more will his thoughts extend to you, O ye of
little faith !
7. But life in its unfoldings here is so short — why
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 6l
should we grieve if we are subject to its harsh muta-
tions. There is nothing that more keenly tries char-
acter than the sudden gain or loss of wealth. By
that the poor man's head is oft made giddy ; by this
the rich man's heart is crushed, and his hope and am-
bition fly away with his riches. But why should it
be so ? Life is like the flower of the grass ; mutation
is its order. And besides we are tried thus sorely, in
order that character — the perpetual and enduring
fruit of the flower — may become firm and noble, and
may not be unhinged by these severe blasts that
sweep over it. Prosperity like adversity soon passes
away, and these distinctions perish in the tomb.
But what if he should miss the crown of life?
" Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for
when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love
him." (Jas. i:8-i3.)
— By the writer^ from the Interior
JV. A Topic for Autumn.
" We all do fade as a leaf." (IsA, 64 : 6.)
In the late autumn days, the saddest of the year,
Nature is preaching to us a solemn sermon from
the most solemn of all texts. This lesson is whis-
pered by every bleak wind that moans through the
62 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
waning wood; it is proclaimed in melancholy mur-
murs by every stream that wanders through the
valley, choked with the relics of former beauty and
luxuriance; it is painted in brown and sombre hues
on every part of the landscape. The burden of every
sound we hear, the moral of every sight we see, is
the old, old truth, which finds a ready response in
every human bosom, " We all do fade as a leaf."
Leaves are beautiful objects — rich in color, graceful
in shape, simple in structure — they are among the
most exquisite productions of Nature's loom.
I. Leaves fade gradually. The whole foliage of a
tree does not fade and pass aw^ay at once. Some
leaves droop and wither even in Spring, when the
rest of the foliagfe is in its brightest and most luxuri-
ant beauty. Some are torn away in summer, while
green and full of sap, by sudden and violent storms.
The great majority fade and fall in autumn; while a
few cling to the branches all through the cold and
desolation of winter, and are at last pushed off by the
unfolding buds of the following spring. And is it
not so with every human generation? Generation
after generation will come and go; tree after tree will
fall and perish; forest after forest will disappear; and
thus it will continue until the cycle of man's existence
on earth be complete, and the angel shall come, and
THE PRAVEK-MEETING. 63
swear that Time shall be no longer, and death itself
shall die.
2. Leaves fade silently. As He veiled Hisw^on-y^^^
drous working for the Israelites at the Red Sea with
the cloud of night, and the dawn only revealed the
complete miracle, so in the field of nature, He reveals
to us not processes, but results. One by one the
leaves become discolored and drop off; but we cannot
trace the insidious progress of the blight from its
commencement to its consummation, and the first
notice we have of the change is the hectic hue upon
their surface. Who is to be the first to receive the
message to pass hence — we know not; an awful
uncertainty rests upon that. The veil that hides it
from our view is woven by the hand of mercy. But
certain it is that some must go first. The process of
decay has begun in some already.
'♦ Leaves have their time to fall ;
And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath:
But thou all seasons — all ;
Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O death !
We know when moons shall wane,
When summer birds from far shall cross the sea,
When autumn leaves shall tinge the golden grain:
But who shall teach us when to look for thee?"
3. Leaves fade differently. The autumnal foliage . -^^
is very varied. They all presented a uniform green-
64 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
ness in summer; but decay brings out their individual
character, and shows each of them in its true colors.
When death comes, the true character of each person
is made apparent. Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of His saints; precious and also beautiful.
" Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my
last end be like his."
4. Leaves fade characteristically. The foliage that
is gloomiest in its unfolding is most unsightly in its
decay; and the leaves that have the richest and ten-
derest shade of green in April, have the most brilliant
rainbow hues in October. And so it is with man:
he dies as he lives. A life of godliness ends in a
saintly death; and a career of worldliness and sin ter-
minates in impenitence and despair. The law of life
is, that the fruit shall be as the seed, and the end as
the beginning: unless, indeed, the higher law of
divine mercy interposes on a timely repentance. And
as the fading itself is characteristic, so also are the
results.
5. Leaves fade prejDaredly. No leaf falls from the
tree — unless wrenched off suddenly and unexpectedly
in early growth by external violence — without mak-
ing due preparation for its departure. Go to the
forest or the field, and examine every tree or flower
in this sad season of decay, and you will find to your
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 65
surprise and delight that " there is as much of Hfe as of
death in autumn " — that the elements of future resus-
citation and growth are provided for, amid tokens of
universal decadence and corruption. Already "another
year is hidden along the bough." As surely as the
leaf fades so shall we fade. We may imagine it dis-
tant. A thousand unforeseen foes, fatal to life, line
our path on either side, and we have to run the
gauntlet daily between them. We began to die the
moment we began to live. Our very life itself is
nothing else but a succession of dying; and every
day and every hour, in the changes within and with-
out which we experience, wears away a part of it.
Should we not then so count our days that we may
apply our hearts to heavenly wisdom? — the wisdom
of knowing, and loving, and serving Him who alone
can redeem our poor perishing life from its vanity,
and change it into the glory and blessedness of a life
hid with Christ in God. Apart from Him, the in-
dustry of a lifetime is but elaborate trifling, " the
costly embroidering of a shroud." United to Him our
labor is not in vain in the Lord, our works shall
endure and follow us. Every leaf on the tree of
humanity must fade ; but if we are grafted by a living
faith in Him whose name is the " Branch," His own
gracious promise becomes a living truth to us: •■' I am
66 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
the resurrection and the Hfe : he that beheveth in Me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever
liveth, and believeth in Me, shall never die."
• ' On the tree of life eternal,
Man, let all thy hopes be stayed,
Which, alone forever vemal.
Bears a leaf which shall not fade."
— Abridged from BiBLE TEACHINGS IN NATURE.
CHAPTER VII.
One Method for the Selection of Topics.
I gladly avail myself at this place of some judicious
remarks on the selection of topics, and insert them
here for their perixianent value, which were first
written for the Interior by the Rev. J. C. McClin-
tock, of Burlington, Iowa, and printed in that paper
last year, under the caption " Themes from the Pews."
A method like this, in the absence of uniform topics,
or the continuous study of the Scriptures, seems well
calculated to wake up the mind of the people, and
lead them to take a deeper interest in the prayer-
meeting and its spiritual improvement.
" n her delightfully suggestive article, Mrs. Cooper wonders
what sort of themes we preachers would talk upon if the pews gave
them to us. I have wondered, too; and I have often feared that
we missed the very subjects, sometimes, that our people most
needed. We, sitting in our studies, do not always get into full
sympathy with the daily life of our people. We come to them
with a sermon about the philosophy of religion, and they have
come to us to hear how to be patient when the children are cross,
and submissive to Providence when business is going all wrong.
I determined to try the experiment of letting- the people select
the themes that we would talk about in prayer-meeting, and to see
68 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
if in this way I could not get a little nearer to their every-day life
and wants. So I quietly asked a number of people, representing
the various classes in my church, to prepare a list of ten or fifteen
subjects, such as they would like to have explained and prayed
over, and hand them to me. I had a splendid response. To be
sure, the topics did not differ from those I would have chosen, as
much as I supposed; and I was glad of it. For it encouraged me
to think that the pulpit and the pews did understand each other
pretty well after all. But the topics were fresh; the passages of
Scripture chosen to illustrate them were very well selected, and I
felt sure the people who made the selection would be interested in
the study of their own topics. Out of the seventy or eighty handed
to me by different persons, there were enough duplicates to cut
down the total to about the number needed for a year. I arranged
those — and it was interesting to note how they covered nearly the
whole range of Christian experience, daily life, and vital doctrine,
and then I had them printed in neat shape and given to everybody
in the congregation.
We had such topics as : "The Helping Hand," Gal. 6: i-io;
"Out into the Highways," Luke 14: 16-24; "The Daily Walk,"
Eph. 5 : 1-21; '* Relationship to Christ," Matt. 12:46-50;
"Christ's Sympathy," John ii : 21-44; " My Duty to the Prayer-
meeting," Heb. 10: 19-29; "Christ's Death for Sin," Is. 53: 1-12;
" The Coming of Christ," Matt. 24: 37-51 ; " Planning our Busi-
ness," James 4 : 13-17; " Honesty in all Things," Prov.20: 10-23;
"How to be Saved," John 3:14-21; " The World for Christ,"
Ps. 2 : 1-12.
The result was so pleasing and profitable in every way, that I
have continued the plan. I am sure it has been a help to me, and
a great benefit to the people and the prayer-meeting.
Why might not our churches generally unite on some such list of
topics for the prayer-meeting, and get the help that comes from
united effort and prayer, even as we have in the Sunday-school ?
Some time since, a correspondent proposed this in your columns.
I don't know who it was, but I would like to shake his hand."
CHAPTER VIII.
The Bible and the Topics.
Is is our main design to present a variety of ways
in which the prayer-meeting may be conducted to
interest and edification. A great object will be
gained if we can secure a united and continuous study
of the Bible. " Search the Scriptures, for in them
ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which
testify of me." This can doubtless be secured by
selecting some book of the Bible, and letting a
paragraph or a section of it suggest the themes to be
considered in the prayer-meeting from week to week
until the book is finished. This method is at present
being followed by the Third Presbyterian Church of
Chicago, Dr. A. E. Kittredge, pastor. Just now, as
we learn, they are considering the Gospel of St. John.
It is scarcely necessary to say that the prayer-meeting
of this church is well known for its continued
interest, and a weekly attendance of from four to six
hundred persons the year around. It would be well
if, as in their case, the people were supplied with
yo THE PRAYER-MEETING.
copies of the Bible at the prayer-meeting, to follow
the reading and its exposition, or to take part in the
reading whenever that is desirable. In fact the
" Bible Reading " of our day is emphasizing the im-
portance of the people having copies of the Bible
.with them in all religious meetings, that they may
acquire readiness in turning from book to book and
chapter to chapter in search of Scriptural truth or
expositions of it, as well as acquire familiarity in the
use of the Bible and become mighty in the Scriptures.
In this way the truth will pass to the heart, not only
through the ear, but also through the eye, and such
assistance will prove valuable; for the greater the
number of senses we can employ in bringing home
the truth, the deeper will be its impressions, and the
more lasting its influence.
This method has its peculiar advantages that
recommend it in the absence of any plan that has
been systematized, with reference to a full knowledge
of Bible doctrine in its applications to daily needs and
a steady growth in grace. It has all the advantages
of expository preaching. Rev. F. W. Robertson,
soon after entering upon his ministry at Trinity
Chapel, Brighton, announced his intention of
expounding different books of the Bible on Sunday
afternoons that he might secure for himself greater
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 7 1
freedom, both in subject and in style, than the sermon
afforded. In this way he went through First and
Second Samuel, the Acts, Genesis, and the Epistles
to the Corinthians. In Samuel he was permitted to
expound " Hebrew national life, and, incidentally, the
experiences of particular individuals of that nation, —
in all of which he discerned lessons for the English
people, and for the men and women who sat before
him. Thus it occurred that topics of national policy,
so far as bearing on individuals, — questions of social
life — of morals, as they are connected with every-day
life, arose naturally, and were treated with unshrink-
ing faithfulness." And the Epistles to the Corin-
thians were selected more particularly, " because
they afford the largest scope for the consideration of a
great variety of questions in Christian casuistry,
which he thought it important to be rightly under-
stood."
By this method, too, a very large portion of
inspired truth will be presented at each meeting.
The subjects considered will grow out of the chapters
themselves, and will have such progressive move-
ment in thought, variety, and unity, as the book
itself possesses. In this way truths that might other-
wise be overlooked will receive proper and needful
attention, and the greater varietv of subjects thus con-
'^ . THE PRAYER-MEETING.
sidered will do much to relieve the successive meet-
ings, either from being too disjointed, or from being
mere repetitions of the same Hnes of thought.
"Preachers," it has been well said, " are too apt to get
the truth before their congregations, in one way
only — whatever one they find they have the greatest
facility for; and that is like playing .on one chord —
men get tired of the monotony. Whereas, preaching
should be directed to every element of human nature
that God has implanted in us — to the imaginative, to
the highly spiritual, to the moral, to that phase of the
intellectual that works up and toward the invisible,
and to the intellectual, that works down to the
material and tangible."
And in addition to all this, it may give opjDortunity
to handle certain subjects that may be particularly
needed in the way of rebuke, correction, or exhorta-
tion, without giving offence, or permitting it to be
said that the subjects in question had been selected
with particular reference to " hitting certain persons "
in the church.
And finally, we will name a small number of books
to be used in connection with this method, and in fact
with all study of the Bible, which will form in itself
a valuable library, or at least lay the foundation for
one, in the Christian household. These are: the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 73
Bible, a Bible Text-Book, a Concordance, a Diction-
ary of the Bible, a Bible Commentary, a Harmony of
the Gospels, a History of the Church, an Atlas of
Bible Lands, a History of Doctrines, a History of the
World, and Webster's Dictionary Unabridged.
And as an addition to this chajoter, though not in-
timately connected with it, we will give two illustra-
tions to show how geography and chronology may
be made the handmaids of Bible history, and serve as
"eyes" to the fuller understanding of scriptural truth.
" The physical and general geographical features of the Holy
Land should be fully comprehended. Palestine proper is but a
small country — not as large as Maryland and Delaware. The
plan we suggest is that a few of the most prominent places, repre-
senting the various parts of the land, be selected and fixed indelibly
on the memory. Their physical peculiarities, their distance and
direction, say from Jerusalem, and some historical event for which
they were each noted, might be studied, and this would help to
give them distinctness. Let us take a few places as, follows :
Beersheba, forty-two miles north-west of Jerusalem, the old home
of the patriarchs, on the borders of the desert ; Hebron, sixteen
miles south of Jerusalem, here Abraham purchased the cave of
Macpelah ; Samaria, thirty-eight miles north of Jerusalem, capital
of the kingdom of Israel, with its wicked kings; Capernaum,
eighty-one miles north of Jerusalem, the scene of so many of our
Lord's miracles and discourses; Dan, one hundred and nine miles
north of Jerusalem, on the northern extremity of Palestine, here
Jereboam setup the golden calf; Tyre, one hundred and six miles
north of Jerusalem, the great commercial city of antiquity; Acre,
eighty miles north-west of Jerusalem, ' the key of Syria,' famed in
many a war; Joppa, thirty-five miles westward from Jerusalem
6
74
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
and the port of that city; and Ramoth-Gilead, forty miles north-
east of Jerusalem, one of the cities of refuge, and the place where
King Ahab was slain. If these leading points are imprinted
permanently on the memory, and all scriptural incidents associated
with one or the other of them or with Jerusalem, then an
important key has been furnished for opening the sacred treasury.
God has seen fit to convey the knowledge of his will to us
largely through history. Accordingly in the Bible we have the
history of the way in which salvation was wrought out for
mankind, of God's providential dealings with both good and bad
men, of the condition of the race when its Creator was discarded,
and of the world both with and without religion. We would
suggest the following outline for sacred history :
EPOCH.
B.C.
NAME OF PERIOD.
1. Creation
2. Delu'^'e.
4004
2348
1921
1706
1491
1451
1095
975
587
397
GO
Antediluvian Period
1656
427
4. Descent into Egypt
5. Exodus . .
Patriarchal Period
215
Egyptian Period
215
6. Passage of the Jordan . .
7. Establishment of the
Monarchy
8. Division of the Monarchy
9. Capture of Jerusalem. . .
10. Close of Old Testament
History
11. Birth of Christ
Wilderness Period.
40
Period of the Judges
Period of United Monarchy
Period of Divided Monarchy . . .
Period of the Captivity
Period of the World Powers . . .
356
120
388
190
397
These divisions of time have been made with especial reference to
the history of the Bible. It will take but a very short time to
memorize these ten dates, and it is recommended that they be
repeated hundreds of times, if necessary, so as to become perfectly
indelible and familiar. The assertion is ventured that whoever
does this will be astonished and delighted at the assistance it will
afford in understanding the Bible history, at the order into which
it will reduce the various events, and at the light it will throw over
the whole book."
— Selected from Dr. Murphy.
CHAPTER IX.
Bible Readings for the Prayer Meeting.
A praying church will be a Bible-reading church,
and a Bible-reading church will be a praying church.
Either practice will induce the other. The revival
in Bible-reading which is so prominent a feature of
the Great Awakening in our day, shows its connec-
tion with vital godliness, and the importance to be
attached to it as a permanent instrumentality.
A Bible reading* may occasionally be introduced
into the prayer-meeting to great advantage, and be
made to take the place of the usual remarks. This
will be found, if rightly conducted, highly interesting
*Valuable assistance will be derived from two books lately issued :
"Hints on Bible Readings," by Rev. Jno. C.Hill, and "The
Hand-Book of Bible Readings," by H. B. Chamberlain; also,
•*The Hebraist's Vade Mecum," "Eadie's Analytical Concord-
ance," and " Inglis' Bible Text Encyclopedia." Nearly all
the so-called evangelists of our day give much attention to this
subject, and their preaching frequently is a Bible reading. And
even the pastors are beginning to give much attention to the
presentation of Gospel truth through the agency of v\hat is called
** Bible Reading." As testimony of this we may name Dr. J. H.
Brookes, Dr. A. T. Pierson, Dr. J.H. Vmcent, Dr. G. F. Pentecost,
Rev. Jno. C. Hill. Rev, W. J. Erdman, Rev. W. S. Rainsford,
Rev. H. M. Parsons, Rev. G. A. Hall, Rev. W. F. Crafts. Rev.
C. M. Whittelsey, Rev. T. B. Stephenson, and many others.
76 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
and profitable. God honors the instrumentality of
the Word; "for the Word of God is quick and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,,
piercing even to the dividins^ asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a dis-
cerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."—
Heb. 4.12.
To make the exercise a success, however, will
require considerable study on the ^^^I't of the leader;
perhaps fully as much time as he gives to the preparation,
of a sermon. But the time thus devoted to the study
of the Bible will amply reward him, and repay hinrii
much more than it costs. To read and study the
Word of God; to have the very words which the
Holy Spirit has inspired, — as not merely the basis of
our remarks, but the substance of our remarks, cannot
prove other than a great blessing.
In order to prepare for a Bible reading the leader
should select some important subject relating to
Biblical doctrine. Christian daily life and experience,,
the cultivation of piety, or the practical duties of
religion. Having chosen his theme, let him next
turn to his Concordance and hunt up all the Scripture
texts that really bear upon his topic. Help in the
selection may also be derived from Scripture text-
books, " Hitchcock's Analysis of the Bible,'*
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 'J^
*' Locke's Common-place Book of the Holy Bible,"
>**The Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Con-
cordance of the Old Testament," "The Englishman's
'Greek Concordance of the New Testament," and
such other books of a kindred nature as he may
have in his possession. He will find it very con-
venient to copy on separate slips of paper each
passage with the book and verse indicated from
•which it is taken. After he has written out all the
passages having chief relevancy to his topic, he will
then begin to compare Scripture with Scripture, in
■order to classify the texts and arrange them under
their more appropriate divisions. In this way he will
soon discover the harmony of Scriptures, and how
forcibly, as well as beautifully, they teach and
illustrate his subject. As each text is written in full,
and separate from the others, it can easily be
•changed from place to place until the appropriate
place and logical order for all have been discovered,
and now he can take a strip of paper and pin each
text in its place under its proper head and subdivision.
The list of texts is now ready to be numbered i, 2,
3, etc., in the order of sequence for the public
reading. If he finds that he has several texts of
like imjDort, he can select the one best adapted to
illustrate his subject and make a marginal reference to
yS THE PRAYER-MEETING.
the others without reading them. And between the
texts, if they are pinned somewhat apart, he can jot
down in outline such remarks and illustrations as will
connect the reading, and give it point and applica-
tion. It will not be enough to read detached portions
of Scripture, for in the rapid presentation of the
texts alone, the people might fail to catch their
import and relative bearing upon your subject.
Major Whittle has given a very serviceable caution
to those who have not as yet had much experience
with exercises of this sort, that we do well to heed.
" Be careful," he says, " not to make the reading too
long. Better to divide your topic into five or six
readings, and bring out the Scriptures upon each head
to your own satisfaction, than to crowd too many
heads into one reading. You will find the instruc-
tion thus given more easily apprehended and more
carelully retained. The fault with most of us lay
workers, who have been uninstructed in the logical
presentation of truth, is in the beginning of our
work to make our readings too cumbersome. My
first Bible reading on ' Faith ' contained some sixty
scriptural references. Before they were all read the
audience were tired, and it was a source of anxiety
and diflSculty for me to interest them. That same
Bible reading for one meeting has now developed
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 79
into seven^ given as a course, at seven successive
meetings, with seeming interest and appreciation on
the part of the people, and pleasure to myself."
If you have adopted a list of topics for the prayer-
meeting and running through the year, you can
select from this list such subjects, at suitable intervals
of time, as seem best adapted for exposition by a
Bible reading, and then give to its preparation such
study and prayer as shall serve to bring out its
truths into boldness and clearness of view.
" The very best of Bible readings are gotten up by
hard work," says the Rev. Jno. C. Hill — " searching
the Scriptures, many of them are long months in
making. In order to make these, you must search
the Scriptures daily, and at every turn you will find
something new; note it, and save it for future use.
A good plan is this: have a lot of large envelopes
the size of a note sheet, mark them on one corner
with a topic — e. g., love^ assurance, etc.; arrange
these in alphabetical order, and whenever you get an
idea, lose no time to note it on a slip and place it in its
proper envelope. File away your illustrations in the
same way. Scrap-books are not well adapted to this
work; too much time is lost in pasting and indexing,
and even then time is lost in gathering your material
scattered all through the book, while by the envelope
8o THE PRAYER-T^IEETING.
system you have all your scraps and verses before
you at a single glance. The lay evangelists, Moody,
Whittle, Cole, Moorehouse, and others, use this
method."
But as the people are to take part in this exercise,
the references may be read by them in concert from
their Bibles; or what will doubtless prove more
expeditious, by certain ones in the audience who are
good readers, and who, having received each a text
numbered on a slip of paper prepared for this purpose,
will promptly respond. And in case there should be
any delay in the reading, it will be best for the leader
to read it himself and not delay the meeting.
There are thus two methods* for reading and
studying the Bible.
I. To read it continuously. It would be well if
every Christian would read his Bible through once
every year. " I never heard of a man," says George
Rodgers, " who read it right through, and then said he
did not believe in it. Read it all through and it will be
sure to get hold of you somewhere; it will then get
*These methods may be particularized as follows : i. Reading
the word : (a) Daily devotional reading, (b) Social reading, (c)
Reading sacred biographies, (d) A book at a continuous reading.
2. Studying : (a) By topics, (b) By words, (c) By references.
(d) By books.
Presented by H. B. Chamberlaiu, at a Y. M. C. A. Conference, lately held
at Baldwinsville, N. Y.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 8 1
into the movement and become a necessity for your
being; you cannot after that do without it."
2. To read it topically so as to get its collected
and entire teaching on a particular subject. Such
Bible reading was not possible before the entire
volume was completed. During the 1500 years
■of its composition the Bible was incomplete and not
generally accessible; but now that the canon has
been closed and printing invented, the book is so
multiplied that every person may possess a copy in its
completeness, and read and study its pages both con-
nectedly and separately. And besides this, there are
various helps to focilitate his study and guide him to
a clearer understanding of the truth.
If the minister can succeed in making his church
into a sort of Biblical institute for the continuous and
the topical study of the Bible, his labors will be
greatly blessed both to them and to others, as well as
to himself. And if such reading of the Bible, as
has just been sketched, be occasionally made the
order for the prayer-meeting, it can hardly be
doubted that its influence and result shall be felt and
seen in all the departments of life and doctrine ; and
that the Church, which is the body of Christ, shall be
systematically edified, and the unsaved brought to
rejoice in the gracious knowledge and experience of
the truth.
CHAPTER X.
Illustrations of Bible Readings.
We have selected a number of Bible readings,
which as examples have peculiar relevancy to our
subject — the prayer-meeting. For these selections
we are mainly indebted to the two books mentioned
in a foot-note to the last chapter.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I. His Personality.
He is described in the Word of God as a person, and not as an
influence, John 14:16, 17, 25, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15.
Acts 8:29; 10: 19; 15: 28. The words he and him
should always be used, instead of the word it, when speak-
ing of the Spirit.
We are baptized into His name, and He is invoked in prayer,
showing that He is a person as truly as the Father and
the Son. Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 6:18.
Men are said to vex, to blaspheme, to resist, to grieve, to
to quench the Spirit, which they could not do unless He
is a person. Isaiah 63 : 10 ; Matt. 12:31; Acts 7: 51;
Eph. 4: 30; I Thess. 5: I9-
He does those things for us that can be done only by a person,
for it is He who regenerates, quickens, teaches, reproves,
helps and sanctifies the believer. John 3:5; 6 : 63 ;
16:8; Rom. 8:26; I Cor. 6:11.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. S^
Personal acts that could not be performed by an attribute or
influence are ascribed to Him, as when He is said to
know, to reveal, to bestow power, to love, to search the
deep things of God, and to distribute of His manifold
gifts "to every man severally as He will." John i6:
13, 14; Acts 1:8; Rom. 15:30; I Cor. 2:10, ir;
12: 8-11.
It is often affirmed in the Bible that the Spirit "said" and
"spake," proving conclusively that He is a person.
2 Sam. 23:2; Mark 12: 36; Acts 1 : 16; 13: 2; -21:11:
28 : 25 ; I Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:7; Rev. 3:7; 14:13;
22 : 17.
The visible manifestations of the Spirit show that He is a per-
son. Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:32; Acts
2 : 3, 4-
2. His Divinity.
He is called God. 2 Sam. 23:23; Isa. 6 : 8, 9, compared
with Acts 18: 25; Jer. 31: 31-34, compared with Heb,
10: 15 ; Acts 5:3, 4.
He possesses the perfections of God ; as omnipotence, om-
niscience, omnipresence, holiness, eternal existence. Job
26:13; Psalm 139: 7; Romans 1:4; I Cor. 2 : 10;
Heb. 9: 14.
He performs the works of God, Gen. 1:2; Ex. 31: 3; Job
33:4; Psa. 104: 30; Isa. 11:2; Rom. 8:11; 15:16,
I Cor. 2 : 14 ; 2 Peter 1:21; Rev. 11 : 11.
Sin against Him is sin against God. Mark 3: 28, 29: Acts
5:9; Heb. 4:7-9; 10:29.
He exercises the sovereignty and resistless will of God, Num,
9:26; 24:2; Jud. 14:6; I Sam. 10:6; Neh. 9: 20;
Isa. 11:13; Isa. 63: 10, II, 14; Mic. 2:7; Zech. 4:6;
Luke 12: II, 12; Acts 13:4; 16:6,7; 20:28;
I Cor. 12 : II.
We depend upon Him as upon God, Mark 13 : 11 ; John 3:5;
14:26; 16:7-14; Acts 4:31; 9:31; 10:19,20;
84
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Rom. 8 : 9-16, 26 ; 15:13; i Cor. 3 : 16, 17 ; i John,
4: 13.
We are required to recognize Him as God, Matt. 28 : 19;
Rom. 15:30; I Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:30;
I John 5 : 6-9 ; Rev. 3 : 22.
3. He is revealed in the Old Testament as filling men,
OR coming upon them, but not as abiding with them,
OR dwelling in them. The Old Testament saints, while
saved by the Holy Ghost through faith in the promised
Messiah, were not linked to a risen man at God's right hand ;
but corporately and dispensationally their place was on the
earth. Ex. 31:3; Num. 11:25-29; 24:2; Deut. 34:9;
Judges 3: 10; 6:34; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15 : 14; I Sam. 10:
6,10; it:6; 16:13,14; 2Chron. 15:1; 20:14; 24:20;
Mic. 3:8; Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 32:8; Isaiah
43 : 9, TO : Amos 3 : 2.
4. He is revealed in the New Testament after a new
manner and for a new purpose, and hence His coming
is said to depend upon the finished work of Christ. He is
present now in the world to gather out a people unto the name
of Jesus, to regenerate them, to abide with them forever, to
dwell in them, to sanctify them, to give them their place and
portion in the heavens, and to constitute them the body of
which the risen Saviour on the right hand of the Majesty on
high is the living Head. Acts 15 : 14 ; Matt. 3:11; John 3 ; 5 ;
7 : 39 ; 14 : 16, 17, 26 ; 15 : 26 ; 16:7; Acts 19 : 2 ; Rom. 5 : 5;
8:9:1 Cor. 6:19; 12:13: Eph. 2 : 22 ; 4:4; Hebrews 3:1;
10 : 34 ; I Peter i : 2 ; i John 4:17.
5. The Promise of the Comforter was fulfilled on the
DAY OF OUR Lord's Resurrection, which was also the day
of His ascension in behalf of his people ; but the promise of
the Spirit as the power of testimony and service was fulfilled
on the day of Pentecost, following His visible and final ascen-
sion to the right hand of God. The same two-fold relation of
Christ, first secretly to His own, and then openly in connection
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 85
with them to the world at large, runs all through the Scrip-
tures. He comes for His saints, and afterwards appears with
them. Compare John 20 : 22 with Gen. 2:7; John 20 : 17 with
Matt. 28 : 9 ; Acts 1:8; 2 : i, 17 with Joel 2 : 23-32. It shows a
lack of intelligence for Christians to pray for the Spirit as if He
were given occasionally, or as if He had taken His departure ;
but it is proper to pray for the increased manifestations of His
presence and power. John 14 ; 16, 17 ; Acts 2 : 33 : 4:31;
5:32; 6:5, 8; 7:55; 8:17, 29, 39; 9:31 ; 10:44; 11:24;.
13 : 2, 4 ; 15:8; 16 : 6, 7 ; 19 : 6 ; 20 : 28 ; 21 : 11 ; Eph. i : 17;
Rev. 22 : 16, 17 ; Malachi 4 : 6.
There is a striking analogy between the relations
OF THE Spiritual to the perfect human nature of
Christ, and His relations to those who are made
partakers of the divine nature. Christ as a man was
bom of the Spirit. Matt, i : 18-20 ; Luke 1:35; Heb. 10 : 5.
He was anointed and sealed with the Spirit. Matt. 3:16;.
Mark I : 10 ; Luke 3 : 22 ; John i : 32, 33 ; 6 : 27 ; Acts
10:38.
He was led by the Spirit. Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4 : i.
He acted in the power of the Spirit, Matt. 12 : 28 ; Luke 4 :
14-18 ; John 3 ; 34 ; Acts i : 2.
He was justified by the Spirit. Romans 1:4:1 Timothy 3 : 16.
He offered Himself by the Spirit. Hebrews 9 : 14.
He was raised up by the Spirit. Romans 8:11; i Peter 3:18.
See also Isaiah 11:2; Rev. 3 : i. So Christians are (a)
born of the Spirit. John 3 : 5, 6, 8 ; Titus 3 : 5. (^)
They are anointed and sealed with the Spirit, 2 Cor, 1 : 22 ;
5:5; Eph. 1:13: I John 2 : 27. (c) They are led by the
Spirit, Romans 8:4, 14 ; i Cor. 6 : 19, 20 ; Gal. 5 : 16-18.
(d) They act in the power of the Spirit. John 7 : 38, 39 ;
Acts 1:8; Romans 8 : 26. (e) They are justified by the
Spirit. I Cor. 6:11. (/) They offer themselves unto
God through the Spirit. Rom. 15:16; i Cor. 12:3-13;
Galatians 4:4-6; 5:25; i Peter 1:2, 22. (g) They
are raised up by the Spirit. Romans 8:11.
36 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
7. TiiK Offices of the Spjrit in connection with the
Believer,
He is the Seal. Many think of Him as the Sealer, and are in
confusion about the seal ; but He Himself is the seal.
2 Cor. 1 : 22 ; Eph. 1:13.
He testifies of Christ, and never turns our eyes to the work
done in us, but to the work done for us, as the ground of
our consolation. John 15: 26; 16:14.
He teaches in such a way that the humblest believer who is
subject to His guidance is in no need of human authority.
John 14 : 26 ; i Cor. 2.: 14 ; i John 2 : 27,
He bears witness by confirming to the heart the truth of God's
Word. Romans 8.: 15, 16.; Galatians 4:6; i John 5:6.
He dwells in those whom He has united to a risen Christ, and
builds them together ior an habitation of God. Romans
8 : 9.; I Cor. 6 : 19.; Eph. 2 : 22.
He is the author of revelation, and the bestower of all gifts and
graces. 2 Pet. 1:21; i Cor. 2:10-13; 12: 4-11 ; Gal
5 : 22, 23.
He is the Comforter and Helper of the saints, and the power
of their acceptable worship. John 14:16; Rom. 8:26;
Eph. 6:18; Philippians 3:3,; I John 3:24; Jude 20.
Believers are urged not to grieve or quench the Spirit.
while unbelievers are said to resist Him, and their sin is
demonstrated by His presence on the earth. Eph. 4:30;
I Thess. 5:19; Acts 7:51.; John 16:8. May we dwell
more upon the amazing love of the Spirit, Romans 15 • 30«
—Dr. J. II. Itookes.
Dr. Brookes is the editor of a valuable monthly. The Truth, a
publication which contains abundant illustrations of the Word and
Bible readings.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 87
II. HOW TO USE T?IE BIBLE WITH CHRISTIAN
WORKERS.
I. — Acquaint yourself with the Bible.
To use the Bible efficiently in your work, you must first be ac-
quainted with it. Jesus says (John 5 : 39) " Search the Scriptures,"
implying that you must go down beneath the surface to discover
the depths of the riches of the wisdom of God. In Acts 17:11 it
is written, " These were more noble than those in Thessalonica."
Notice the stamp of nobility which God recognizes. Is it nobility
of birth? social station? wealth? learning? No! Those were
noble men and women, ' ' in that they received the Word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether these
things were so." That is the title to nobility in God's estimation.
Last winter in St. Louis, when the snow was deep, a gentleman on
leaving a house one night to enter his sleigh dropped a diamond
ring. It sank in the snow. No casual search for it would answer.
He at once placed near the spot a large box, hired the policeman to
keep search during the night, and at the early dawn made persist-
ent watch until he found it. He did this because it was something
precious in his estimation. But what is a diamond compared with
the riches of grace and glory which will be found in this blessed
book ? Seek this acquaintance, because (i) By it we are born
again: James 1:18; i Peter i: 23. (2) It makes clean: John
15 • 3- (.3) It builds up. Paul says to the elders at Ephesus, "The
Word is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among
them which are sanctified." Also, i Peter 2 : 2. (4) It sanctifies
and saves. Jesus says (John 17:17), "Sanctify them through
thy truth ; thy Word is truth." So Paul, 2 Thess. 2 : 13. (5) It
accomplishes God's will: Is. 5:10, 11; Jer. 23:29, (6) It is all
powerful: 2 Cor. 10:4. In Ephesians 6:17, the one weapon
given for attack upon the foe is the '* Sword of the Spirit, which is
the Word of Godj," (7) It is all sufficient, as Jesus declares.
Lukef6 : 31, and in'^ohn ^5 : 10-13, we are told " He that believeth
not God hath made him a liar." Why? Simply because *'he
believeth not the record which God gave of his Sou."
88 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
II, — All Scripture is of God : 2 Tim. 3 : 16. From the first
word of Genesis to the last word of Revelation, all is inspired :
2 Peter i : 19-21. " We have a more sure word." More sure in
one sense than the brightest flashes of glory that were ever seen
upon the Mount of Transfiguration. A great many people think
prophecy is a dark place. God says here, it is "a light which
shines in a dark place." They "spake as they were moved," not
as they thought, not as they imagined, but as they were "moved
by the Holy Ghost." Hence Jesus in His charge to His disciples^
Matt. 10 : 19, 20, said : *' It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of
your Father which speaketh in you." See also Acts 3:21; 4:25;.
2 Sam. 23 : 2.
Moreover the Scripture is called : (i) The oracles of God : Rom.
3:1,2. (2) The Word of God : Mark 7:13. (3) The Word of
the Lord : Acts 8 : 25. (4) The Word of Truth : 2 Cor. 6 : 7. (5)
The Word of Life : John 6 : 68. (6) The Word of Christ : Col-
3 : 16. (7) The Word of Faith : Rom. 10 : 8, 9.
I want to press this text home upon any unsaved friends. The
Word is nigh you to-night ; nearer than when St. Paul wrote these
verses. An insane woman had shut herself up in a room with a
little child till both were nearly dead. When we burst into the
room, we found the child lying on the bed able only to whisper,
" water, water." When her little trembling hands pressed the
goblet to her lips she was scarcely able to hold it ; but, as it re-
freshed her, she seized it with a strong, nervous grasp. When
your perishing, thirsty soul receives the word of Faith, not the
strength of your grasp on it, but the divine power of the refreshing
Word will give consolation and strength.
III.— All Scripture is about Christ: John 5:39-46. He does
not say, Search part of them. Again, read Luke 4:21; also Luke
24 : 25-27. Now observe, that beginning at Moses and all the
prophets he expounded concerning Himself ; Luke 24 : 32. I do
not wonder that their hearts burned within them. Many of the
hearts of God's people have burned within them when they have
found Christ in the Old Testament, where they never thought of
discovering Him before. In Luke 24:44, 45, he says, ''All things
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 89
are written there about Me," in those three great divisions of the
Old Testament. Look at what is said in Matt. 2: 13-15, in the
light of which read Hosea 11 :i; Acts 17:2, 3. He did not
reason with them out of human science, human logic, or human
learning, but out of the Old Testament Scriptures. Remember this
when you are attacked as Christian workers by fallible science ; and
never study the Bible in the light of science, but study science in
the light of the Bible. If you want to make efficient workers, build
not on a metaphysical basis, but on the divine interpretation of
God's blessed Word. Apollos was mighty here ; Acts 18 : 28. In
the last chapter of Acts, 23d verse, we see Paul occupied all day
with the Old Testament Scriptures. How many of us find enough
in the Old Testament to occupy us all day ? Mr. Whittle told me
last summer of an unlettered man who had studied the Bible until
he had become convinced, without any outside suggestions, that the
last clause of Rom. 8: i, did not belong there. I believe that man
was taught that by the Holy Spirit.
IV. — All Scripture is for ourselves: Rom. 15:4; i Cor. 4:2.
Believe and act as if you believed that the Word of God is for you ;
become acquainted with its precious words, and gently lead the
lost into the palace of God: i Thess. 2:13. The poor empress
Carlotta had escaped from the palace. Her physician knew that a
rude shock would dethrone forever her tottering reason. Knowing
her fondness for flowers, he scattered them in her pathway, and
she, charmed like a child, was safely led back again. If you want
to become efficient workers for the Master, seek for and strew the
beautiful flowers of Scripture in paths of those who have wandered,
and lure them back to God.
V. — Cherish as Christian workers a feeling of dependence upon
the Holy Spirit. In John 8 : 38, 39, and Acts i : 8, Jesus inculcates
this dependence upon his disciples. In Acts 6 : 5, Stephen is "full
of the Holy Ghost," and in 8th verse, we find him "full of power."
We also receive the spirit of adoption : Rom. 8:15, and Gal. 4 : 6.
Until with child-like confidence we know God as our Father, we
cannot be efficient workers. Little May Newton three years old,
90 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
in her father s arms fired the explosion which opened Hell Gate to
commerce. And the child of God who is filled with His Spirit
finds nothing impossible to him : 2 Tim. i : 7.
VI. — To become efficient workers, make use of prayer in connec-
tion with the Word : Matt. 21 : 21 ; Luke 11:9; John 14 : 13, and
16 : 24. What hath God wrought in answer to prayer ? Jas. 5 :
17, 18.
VII. — In your work think of the value of the soul : Matt. 16 ; 27 ;
18 : 10, II, 14 ; and of the Lord's approval ; 2 Cor. 5 : 9.
—Dr. y. H. Brookes.
III. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.
1. Object in Study. — Find Christ. John 5 : 39 ; Luke 24 :
27, 44 ; Acts 28 : 23 ; 2 Tim. 3:16; John 6 : 63 ; Ps. 138 : 2 ;
John I 1-14; John 3 : 11-13, 34.
2. Life by the Word. — Jas. i : 18-21 ; i Pet. i : 23 ; Deut.
8:3; John 5 : 39 ; John 6 : 63 ; Ps. 119 : 130.
3. Growth. — Job 23:12; Jer. 15:16; John 6:35; Matt.
5 : 6 ; 2 Thess. 2 : 13 ; Eph. 5 ; 26. '°''"^'' ^'^•
4. Power. — Is. 40 : 8 ; Ps. 119 : 89 ; John 15:7; Eph. 6 : 17 ;
Heb. 4:12; Rom. 10 : 17.
5. Searching in Study. — John 5 : 39 ; 2 Tim. 2:15.
6. Dependence ON THE Holy Spirit. — John 1^^:13; ifi": 26 ;
Jude 20 ; Jas. i : 5 ; i Cor. 2 : 9, 10, 12, 13.
7. With the Whole Mind and PIeart. — i Chron. 28:9;
2 Chron. 15:2; Is. 26: 3.
8. Seek Light from any who are Taught by the
Spirit. — 2 Pet. i : 20, 21 ; i Tim. 4: 13-16.
9. After much Study have clear, positive Views. —
2 Tim. 1:8-13; Ps. 51: 12, 13.
Pray before reading ; read and pray ; search and pray ; review
and pray; hold fa^t. (2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Tim. 4:7). Look for
large results from the right study of the Word of God ; for a fuller
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 9 1
knowledge of God as Father, Son and Holy Ghost ; and for the
rich and abundant fruits of the Holy Spirit in daily life. (Gal. 5 :
22, 23). — Selected.
IV. THE PRAYER OF FAITH.
1. State of Heart. — Helplessness. Matt. 15 : 25. Need,
Matthew 14:30. Want, Acts 16:30. Distance, Luke 18:13.
Guilt, Luke 15:21. Condemnation, Ps. 51 : 4. Defilement, Luke
5:8.
2. Looking to the Lord. — To Jesus, the Person, Heb.
12 : 2. The able Saviour, Heb. 7 : 25. The willing Saviour,
Matt. 8:3. The near Saviour, Heb. 10:22. Jesus, our Sacrifice,
I Cor. 5 : 7. Jesus, our Substitute, 2 Cor. 5 : 21. Jesus, our Sanc-
tification, i Cor. i : 30.
3. Confession. — Of sin, Ps. 51 : 3. Of specific sirs, i John
1:9. Of besetting sins, Heb. 12 : i. Of past sins, Ps. 25 : 7. Of
presumptuous sins, Ps. 15 : 3. Of secret sins. Ps. 19: 12.
4. Supplication. — For pardon, Ps. 51:7. For purity, Ps.
51 : 10. For the Spirit, Eph. 3 : 16. For Christ's indwelling,
Eph. 3 : 17, first clause. For knowledge, Eph. 3 : 19. For saints,
Eph. 6 : 18. For fellowmen, Rom. 10 : i.
5. Intercession. — Of the Spirit, Rom. 8 : 26. For others,
I Tim. 2 : i. For the Word, 2 Thess. 3:1. For the Church,
Ps. 122:6. For ministers, Eph. 6:19. In the Spirit, Jude 20.
Through Christ, i John 2:1, 2.
6. Expectation of Faith. — Longing, Ps. 61 : i. Promise of
help, Ps. 91 : 14. Promise of deliverance, Ps. 91 : 15. Promise of
comfort, Ps. 60:15. Promise of rest. Matt. 11:28. Promibe of
gifts, Matt. 7 : 7. Satisfaction of all desires, Matt, ii : 24.
7. Importunity. — Constancy, 2 Chron. 15:2, last half. De-
light, Ps. 37 : 5. Complete confidence, Ps. 37 : 5. Continuance.
Luke iS : I ; i Thess. 5:17. Persistence, Gen. 32:26. Repeti-
tion, 2 Cor. 12:8, 9. Assurance, John 15:7.
— Rev. H. M. Parsons.
92 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
V. WHAT A PRAYER-MEETING SHOULD BE.
1. Regular and Punctual Attendance. — Heb. lo : 25.
2. Bring Others. — Num. 10:29.
3. Come Praying. — John 12 : 21 ; John 15:5.
4. Continue in Prayer. — Acts i : 4, 14.
5. Avoid Criticism. — Ps. 133 : i ; Rom. 12 : 10 ; J©ba-i7-L2^;
6. Participate promptly and heartily in the Exer- ^
I ciSES. — Col. 3:16; 2-Coft-i-;-i.L; Heb. 4 : 16.
7. Let all the Exercises be Brief. — Eccl. 5 : 2.
8. Keep in Mind that we Speak and Sing before God.
— 2 Cor. 12 : ig.
9. Christian Testimony. — Ps. 40:10; 51:15; 63:3-5;
119 : 171, 172 ; Isa. 43 : 10 ; Mai. 3 : 16, 17 ; Heb. 3:13; J^s. 5:6;
Matt. 10 : 32, 33 ; John 12 : 42 ; i Cor. 1:5; 2 Cor. 8:7 ; Rom.
10: 9, 10.
—Rev. W. F. Crafts.
CHAPTER XI.
A Plan for Each Meeting.
Those meetings will prove the most refreshing and
successful for which both pastor and people have
made suitable preparation. And just how to make
the meetings successful has been one of the important
subjects which the ministerial conventions held in
connection with the revival labors of Mr. Mood}' and
Major Whittle have discussed. As a result, the
attention of all the churches has been aroused to the
importance of the subject, and the matter has been
somewhat agitated by the religious press. And the
answer to the whole matter is this : if we are to have
successful prayer-meetings we must pray, work, and
plan for them — in a word have an intelligent ]Dlan for
each meeting.
" We published last week," says the Iiiterior^
** some pertinent suggestions by a contributor as
helps to prayer-meeting interest. We notice decided
progress in the attention everywhere given to the
question how to make meetings for prayer more in-
94
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
teresting. And pastors and churches are beginning
to plan for these meetings as they do for the Sunday-
school service or for the Week of Prayer. People
used to have an indefinite sort of idea that a prayer-
meeting w^as self-propelling. In some quarters there
has been a shrinking from studying and planning for
that meeting, as if it implied some lack of reliance on
the Holy Spirit. Just so the ranters used to decry
pulpit preparation, relying instead on the direct
operation of the Spirit. Such blind reliance spoils
the sermon.
" We are learning in all church vv^ork, he honors
God most who is most diligent in the use of all means
that tend to success. Therefore, let every method be
tried by which the vitality and power of the prayer-
meeting may be secured. Let us not be afraid of
having a little well-planned machinery, even in a
prayer-meeting. The idea that no prayer-meeting is
good which is not voluntary and extemporaneous in
the character of its exercises, should be discarded.
When all hearts are full and minds alert, it will be
sufficient to throw the meeting " open," though even
then there is always the hazard that it may be spoiled
by the very freedom which sometimes leads to high-
est success.
" But the responsibility for the prayer-meeting and
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 95
its right conduct by no means rests with ministers
alone. If every church member would hold his duty
to be at the prayer-meeting to be as sacred as his
business engagements, and being at the meeting,
would refuse to be merely a sponge to absorb, but
would communicate according to the gift that was in
him, the complaint about dry meetings would cease,
and the hour of prayer be, as it should be, the most
delightful of all the week."
But, perhaps the chief points which a definite plan
should include relate to reading of the Scriptures,
prayer, remarks, singing, voluntary parts, and the
leno^th of the meeting-.
I. Reading the Scriptures. The portion to be
read for the evening lesson should be selected with
care, and especial reference to the illustration of the
evening's subject. It is very desirable that the
people should follow the reading from their own
Bibles, and in this way get into full sympathy with
the truth to be presented as early as j^ossible. It is
often the case that a meeting does not fully wake up
until it is about time to be dismissed ; and so it has
been remarked. If we could only begin the next
meeting in the spirit and the enthusiasm with which
this one closed, we should all be ready to sing, speak
and pray. Do not slight the reading. The eloquent
g6 THE PRAYER-iMEETING.
McAll is reported to have said : " If the Lord had
appointed two offieers in His church, the one to
preach the Gospel, and the other to read the
Scriptures, and had given me the choice of these,
I should have chosen to be a reader of the inspired
Word of God." And in point of fact there is no
part of any religious service that can be slighted
with safety. We ought to feel that one part is as
important as another, and that God can bless even
the minutest particular to the conversion and edifica-
tion of souls. A venerable minister testified in a
clergyman's meeting that one of the most powerful
impressions produced on his early life was inade by
Asahel Nettleton, the noted revivalist, in his reading
the hymn,
."Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend."
The truths of that hymn went home to his heart
as nothing in his sermon did. He looked back over
fifty years of service to thank God that one clergy-
man had felt that the reading of the hymn was the
great thing in the service — zvhile the hymn was being
read.
2. It should never be forgotten that these meet-
ings are meetings for jDrayer ; and hence, undue
importance should not be given to speaking, nor
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 97
should the remarks be suffered to monopoHze the
order of exercises. Prayers should be brief, pointed
and fervent. The Bible contains over a hundred
prayers, and these as having been inspired by the
Holy Ghost should be our models. There are only
two or three prayers in the Bible that run up to five
minutes; of the rest, many of them are so brief as to
have been uttered in a single breath. When Peter
was sinking amid the angry waves, he did not have *
time for a general introduction and an eloquent per-
oration. No! he had barely time to cry out, with
intensity of purpose and need, "Lord, save me!"
Had he taken more time the waves had swallowed
him, and himself had been past all praying. It is
said that a minister over a certain charge in the East
found one of his prayer-meetings characterized by
delay and formalism, and so to remedy this, he took
out his watch and said, " Brethren, let us have sixty
prayers in sixty minutes." He got them, and that
meeting- came to be reg^arded as one of the most im-
portant meetings that that church had ever held.
And thus the element of time becomes very im-
portant. The interest and success of the meeting,
the number that can take part, and variety in the
exercises themselves, will all depend upon the num-
ber of minutes that each participant consumes. " In
98 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
the great noonday prayer-meetings, whose interest
and influence are unsurpassed, this is reckoned so
important, that none are allowed to occupy more
than three or five minutes. What is said should come
from the heart in earnest, telling words. Lengthy
exhortations are not effective, except in special cases.
A leaf from the day's or week's experience, new
light that has been shed upon some passage of God's
Word, the expression of a burden or a request — some
of these things that lie nearest and freshest in our
hearts, we may be sure will add much to the interest
and success of the prayer-meeting ; but beyond that,
we need to have the way pointed out very clearly if
we go. If we make a mistake in regard to the time,
let it be on the side of brevity."
At the opening of the meeting it would be very
appropriate to have a few brief prayers, with especial
supplications for the increased manifestations of the
Spirit's presence and power. " Nothing can make
up for His absence. But if He be there (and no one
is more ready to come) there is no estimating the
good every church may do in its weekly prayer-
meetings, do they but act up to their duty and their
privilege."
We have already indicated in Chapter HI. how
subjects of sjDCcial prayer may be discovered for each
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
99
meeting. As you visit your people, carry the inter-
est of the prayer-meeting with you, and be alert to
discover the spiritual wants of your people that are
just then most urgent; and formulate these into ap-
propriate requests for prayer, and either before or at
the time of the meeting, and in connection with any
written requests for prayer that may have been
handed in, ask some one to pray for each particular
case ; to the end that precious and useful lives may be
spared, that the erring may be restored, that the
tempted may be victorious, tliat the youth of the
church may be led to Christ, that unconverted ones
may find their Saviour, that " weak hands and feeble
knees " may be confirmed, and that grace and
strength may be imparted to each and to all for the
systematic growth in grace of the whole church, and
to the glory of God. " Pray for one another."
3. Remarks. Let us suppose that you have ar-
ranged a plan for the next meeting. You have
given out the subject, or it is already known from the
printed list, and you want several speakers. Very
well : go and ask those you want, and secure their
promise to be on hand and take the part assigned
them. And that there may be considerable variety
in the exercises, would it not be well to select two or
three elderly persons, two or three middle-aged, and
6574R*^>
lOO THE PRAYER-MEETING.
two or three young men, if you require that number
of speakers for each meeting ? In this way all classes
will be represented, and due prominence given to
each. And especially ought converts to be encour-
aged to openly confess and acknowledge Christ. It
is a critical period with them; if they now come in
to be silent inembers, the longer they continue silent,
the more difficult it will be for them to speak and
pray in public. At this time, it is comparatively easy
for them to take part, for their experience is new and
their hearts are full.
4. Singing. This is an important part of the
exercises in the successive meetings. Spiritual sing-
ing will prove half of the whole meeting in the way
of interest, profit, and success. The hymns should
have point and life, and such organic connection with
the progressive movement of the meeting, that they
shall fit into their place, and be " the genuine out-
growth of the state of feeling at that particular point
in the meeting." Hence the hymns cannot, except
in a general way, be selected in advance of the meet-
ing. A meeting may be made to drag^ and prove
tedious by the singing of long hymns, lengthened by
a chorus to each verse. Some have found it to be an
excellent rule not to sing more than two or three
verses at a time. '' Let us think," says Dr. W. M.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. lOI
Taylor, " of what the sacrifice of praise is designed to
do.' It prepares the way for the descent of the Holy
Spirit into the heart. Bring me a minstrel, said
Elisha, and while listening to the music, the Spirit of
the Lord came down, and he prophesied. Very
frequently, through the music of the song of praise,
the Spirit of God in His glory has come down and
filled the living temple of the human heart. I heard
the beautiful story about Toplady's conversion. He
went into a barn in Ireland, where he heard a primi-
tive Methodist mniister preach the Gospel. At the
close, the minister gave out the hymn, ' Come ye
sinners, poor and wretched.' It seemed to him then
that the whole company took up the appeal from the
minister's lips, and instead of one appeal there was
that of hundreds. Then he gave his heart to Christ,
and nobly did he honor the obligation in his later
life, by laying on the altar of Christ the hymn that
w^e are so fond of —
' Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.'
Then again, singing sustains the heart in trial. Very
often in this country we are in the habit of serenad-
ing our great men, but oh! no songs in the ear of
God are like the sounds which go up from the hearts
I02 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
of God's children in the night of trial. He comes
forth from His throne to speak words of comfort *and
cheer. Then again, it braces the heart for conflict.
After his last supper, Christ sang an hymn — the Lord
Jesus sang, and sang with Gethsemane in view, to
brace himself up for conflict with the prince of this
world. Who does not know, too, how Luther strung
himself up for his Reformation work by that noble
version of the forty-sixth Psalm, termed the Marseil-
laise of the Reformation." " Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to
the Lord."— Col. 3: i6.
5. Voluntary parts. It will be wise to have a
place in every meeting for voluntary remarks. It
should be our object to so conduct the meetings that
eventually all its parts shall become voluntary ; but in
the meantime, so long as we cannot realize that in
practice, there should be opportunity for every one
to use the privilege. There may be strangers pre-
sent, and these should be invited to take part; or
some one may feel that he has something especial to
say, and such should have the seasonable opportunity
in which to say it. With the utmost liberty of this
kind, no reasonable objection can be urged against
I
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 03
the selection of a plan, which aims to obtain continu-
ous movement in the parts of the meeting, and unity
and progress in all the exercises. "Let everything
be done decently and in order."
6. Length of meetings. Uniform experience has
limited the meeting to an " hour of prayer." Open
and dismiss promptly. Do not wait for the people to
come. Open promptly, even if you are the only one
there, and if no one else should come, why, as Spur-
geon says, " have it all to yourself; and if you are
asked how many were present, you can say, ' Four.'
'Four! how so?' 'Why, there was myself, and
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Ghost; and we had a rich and a real communion
together." And also be as prompt in dismissing as in
opening; so that the people may know just what to
expect, and how to govern their engagements of
friendship and business. If there is to be any varia-
tion, let it be in favor of a shorter rather than a longer
session. Send the people away unwearied and
they will come again.
Is it not evident, that such animated interest as
judicious planning, w^orking and praying — the united
effort of pastor and people — would create in behalf of
the prayer-meeting, would at once place and keep the
church on a revival basis ?
CHAPTER XII.
Variety in Successive Meetings.
Perhaps one reason "why prayer-meetings are not
more hirgcly attended and enjoyed is found in their
stereotype character. When you have attended one
prayer-meeting of the church, you can tell what the
rest will be like; for you have only to multiply by
fifty-two in order to get the result for a whole year.
In such cases it might be well to relieve the
monotony and introduce greater variety by means of
a chang-e in the successive meetino^s. And with this
end -in view it might not be inexpedient to leave the
people in doubt about the precise nature of the next
meeting as to its plan, that thus they may c»me to
it in a state of expectation. Variety in this respect
might do much to sustain an interest in the meetings
from week to week, and make them more generally
attractive. Happy is he who both excites an interest
and rewards it.
The continued interest in the temperance reform,
which, like a tidal wave, is sweeping over the land, is
due, first to the subject, and next to the method the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. IO5
leaders have adopted of introducing new speakers at
each meeting, and having as a rule short speeches
from each. Although it is the same subject, yet the
new speakers that are constantly coming forward
give novelty and freshness to the theme by their
varied experiences while under the power of drink
and its terrible temptations ; and in their confessions
and aspirations for a better life, they call for sympathy
and help. Truth is stranger than fiction, and noth-
ing is more interesting than life in its struggles,
defeats and victories. We might learn a valuable
lesson from their methods for the conduct of our
prayer-meetings.
Let us then enumerate some methods of variety for
the conduct of successive meetings, that from these
such selection may be made as circumstances require
and the topics themselves will permit.
1. Conduct the meeting in the usual way, and
make as much as possible out of a method endeared
by practice, and rendered valuable by the associations
of the past.
2. Let the next meeting be conducted as a Bible
Reading on some absorbing theme of life and doc-
trine. It will be necessary for the leader to carefully
collect and classify all the passages of Scripture bear-
ing upon the chosen subject and then assign the texts
8
I06 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
to the members, that they may be read in the order
in ^vhich they have been numbered. The leader
must secure a rapid movement for the readings and
connect them by such remarks and anecdotes as will
illustrate their application and teaching. At proper
places prayer and song may be introduced, that thus
the v^^hole may be joined together and have unity and
power.
3. Variety may still further be secured by the
announcement that the next meeting will be con-
ducted on the voluntary plan. The topic should be
announced, however, as nothing would be gained by
leaving this an open issue. It may be stated, then,
that on next week everything from first to last shall
be voluntary, as " the Spirit may give utterance " and
direction; and in connection with this, all should be
urged to come with the desire and the expectation of
taking part. Urge some to come with passages of
Scripture, or verses from devotional hymns, to read or
recite at a moment when there is danger of a " long
pause," and in this way the meeting will prove as
profitable and interesting as any that might be more
carefully arranged for.
4. After the voluntary plan has been tried, it
might be well to go to the other extreme and ar-
range for everything so far as designating the
speakers and those who are to pray are concerned.
THE PRAYER-MEETIING. IO7
The remarks should be directed to the topic, and
those asked to pray should be requested to pray with
special reference to the spiritual wants of the church,
for the pastor, for the Sunday school, for the prayer-
meeting, for the sick, for the afflicted, for the tried
and tempted, and such other and kindred themes
as the changing and growing needs of a community
would be continually suggesting. Of course, it is un-
derstood that the remarks and prayers are to be
extempore and under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. In all our proceedings we should seek the
presence of Christ, the love of God, and the teaching
and illuminating power of the Holy Spirit.
'* I need Thee every hour :
Teach me Thy will ;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill."
The prayer-meeting is not a debating society, but
a meeting of the household of Christ, gathered for
mutual sympathy, reciprocal Christian love, and the
formation of a noble character.
5. In some churches it might not be amiss to con-
duct a meeting occasionally in which the reading of
essays and correspondence shall take the place of set
remarks and exhortations. The best time for such an
order, would be the evening set apart to the "Monthly
Concert," when a missionary topic is under consid-
eration. It would not be difficult, perhaps, to secure
I08 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
correspondence from missionaries in foreign and
home fields, letters from members that are traveling
at home or abroad, and from former pastors and
members who have gone to other churches ; these
would doubtless be glad to send their greetings and
stir up the pure minds of the brethren to greater
zeal and activity, and such a method as this is entirely
Scriptural ; for Paul concludes his first letter to the
" Thessalonians " in these words : — " I charge you
by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy
brethren." ' See also Col. 4: i6.
And in addition to one or two letters that might be
secured in this way, members of the church — and the
lady members more particularly — might be asked to
prepare papers on the particular topic, to set forth the
extent of the work in the particular field under view,
the manners and customs of the people, their social
religious and political life, helps and hindrances to the
spread of the Gospel among them, their present
urgent need, and other related themes. The prepar-
ation for a meeting of this kind would tend to pro-
mote the reading of history, develop a valuable liter-
ary taste and lay the foundation for intellectual culture.
6. A change of leaders has been tried in some
churches with good results. Such method will de-
velop the lay talent in a church, make them feel that
the prayer-meeting is their meeting, and that they are
THE PRAYER-MEETING. IO9
responsible for its success, as well as create a confi-
dence in their ability to conduct a good meeting. It
will prevent the prayer-meeting from collapsing in
case the church is without a pastor, or in case the
pastor is absent on duties connected with his denomi-
nation, or the church at large. It will also serve to
run the prayer-meeting successfully through the
pastor's vacation; for unless the interest is kept up
continuously, the church too will take a vacation, and
when the pastor returns he will discover that his
church has not been growing in grace, but the rather
losing ground under the inroads of a worldly spirit.
7. Lastly, such special services as New Year's,
Praise, Promise and Memorial-meetings may be pro-
vided for in their appropriate season.
But whatever be the method, whether the same
plan is continuously followed or such variety is intro-
duced as this chapter contemplates, there is no plan
in itself that will guarantee success. That will depend
upon spiritual conditions, and the time, prayer, study
and effort which the leader shall give to the execution
of the plan, and such enthusiasm for his plans as he
may be able to awaken in his people. " Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth."
CHAPTER XIII.
The Importance of the Prayer-Meeting.
It is as important for the church in its collective
capacity, to sustain the prayer-meeting, as it is for the
individual believer to keep up his secret devotions.
The Christian cannot grow in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ;
in spirituality and in power, without daily com-
munion with God in prayer. This is the experience
of both laymen and preachers. " Whenever a
Christian backslides," says Spurgeon, " his wandering
commences in his closet. I speak what I have felt.
I have often gone back from God — never so as to fall
finally, I know, but I have often lost that savor of
His love which I once enjoyed. I have had to cry,
'Those peaceful hours I once enjoyed,
How sweet their memory still !
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.'
" I have gone up to God's house to preach, without
either fire or energy; I have read the Bible and
there has been no light upon it; I have tried to have
communion with God, but all has been a failure.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I I I
Shall I tell where that commenced ? It commenced
in my closet. I had ceased in a measure to pray.
Here I stand and do confess my faults ; I do
acknowledge that whenever I depart from God it is
there it doth begin. O, Christians, would you be
happy ? Be much in prayer. Would you be
victorious ? Be much in prayer.
' Restraining pra3'er, we cease to fight,
Prayei" makes the Christian's armor bright.'
" Mrs. Berry used to say, ' I would not be hired out
of my closet for a thousand worlds.' Mr. Jay said,
* If the twelve apostles were living near you, and you
had access to them, if this intercourse drew you from
the closet, they would prove a real injury to your
souls.' Prayer is the ship which bringeth home the
richest freight. It is the soil which yields the most
abundant harvest."
Nor can churches enjoy any great measure of
success in saving souls, unless they are praying
churches. Praying churches will be revival churches
— such will grow and prosper spiritually and
temporally. Would you have a successful church;
go and get them to pray ; go and get them
to cultivate the " power of the knees," not
only in their closets, but in their prayer-meet-
ings. " Sirs," says Spurgeon, " I have no opinion
112 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
of the churches of the present day that do
not pray. I go from chapel to chapel in this
metropolis, and I see pretty good congregations : but
I go to their prayer-meetings on a week evening, and
I see a dozen persons. Can God bless us, can He
pour out His Spirit upon us, while such things as
these exist ? He could, but it would not be accord-
ing to the order of His dispensations, for he says,
' When Zion travails she brings forth children.' Go
to your churches and chapels with this thought, that
you want more prayer. Go home and say to your
minister, ' Sir, we must have more prayer.' We
must have an outpouring of real devotion, or else
what is to become of many of our churches ? O !
may God awaken us all, and stir us up to pray, for
when we pray we shall be victorious. I should like
to take you this morning as Samson did the foxes,
tie the firebrands of prayer to you, and send you in
among the shocks of corn till you burn the whole
up. I should like to make a conflagration by my
words, and set all the churches on fire, till the whole
has smoked like a sacrifice up to God's throne."
And the reason for this is evident. The Spirit
is present with the believer as an unseen presence;
" foi he dwelleth with you and shall be in you."
The Spirit is given by measure to the believer
according: to the extent that the manifestation of His
THE PRAYER-MEETING. II3
presence and power has been sought in prayer. To
the Son God gave not His Spirit by measure, but
the Spirit abode with him in His infinite fuhiess.
With men, however, He dwells to the extent of their
earnest seeking and finite capacity. As the Holy
Spirit is already with the believer. His presence
with an assembl}'- or a prayer-meeting must mean that
each one receives a larger jDortion of the Spirit, so
that His presence is with power and demonstration..
Beneath this divine outpoural all hearts melt, and they
feel, with Jacob of old, " How dreadful is this place !
this is none other but the house of God, and this the
gate of heaven." It was after the apostles had con-
tinued with one accord in ^orayer and supplication,
that the day of Pentecost came with open manifesta-
tions of the Spirit's presence and power. The Spirit
is poured out upon the assembly either visibly as
at Penetcost (Acts 2: 33), or manifestly and feelingly
as at a subsequent time, when " the disciples had
prayed, the place was shaken where they were, and
they were all Jilled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness " (Acts 4: 31).
We have all doubtless attended meetings where we
felt the Spirit to be present with power and demon-
stration, that is, when He was poured out upon the
assembly in their collective capacity, and in answer to
prayer, (Luke 11:9-13), was present to convict,
114 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
convert and regenerate. In the revival meeetings
held here last year, Major Whittle related an incident
to illustrate this, which he had gathered from reliable
sources in Kentucky. He was told that Tom
Marshall when a student at college was present at a
revival meeting, but at a certain stage got up and
hastily left the room; for he felt, as he afterwards
confessed, that he could not much longer have held
*out against the influence of the meeting. He was
unwilling to give his heart to Christ, for he seemed
convinced if he became a Christian, it would become
his duty to relinquish his cherished profession, and
become a preacher of the Gospel. Now where the
church, through lack of prayer and consecration, is
cold or lukewarm, or formal and indifferent, one is
not oppressed and burdened with such convictions of
duty, the Holy Spirit is not poured out upon them,
and there is no increased manifestation of His presence
and power. Piety will rise no higher in the church
than it rises in the prayer-meeting. " I would not
unite with a certain church," said a certain man,
"because I know its members."
Nor can the importance of the prayer-meeting to
the church and the community at large be over-esti-
mated. Heat up the prayer-meeting and the fires
of secret devotion will burn more brightly. Heat up
the prayer-meeting and you will heat up the pulpit.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. II5
Ministers will preach with power when they have a
praying church. " O ! " said Spurgeon, " had you
seen an apostolic church, what a different thing it
would appear to one of our churches! as different, I
had almost said, as light from darkness; as different
as the shallow brook that is dried by summer is from
the mighty rolling river, ever full, ever deep and
clear, and ever rushing into the sea. Now, where is
our prayerfulness compared with theirs; I trust that
we know something of the power of prayer here, but
I do not think we pray as they did! They broke
bread from house to house, and did eat their meat
with singleness of heart, giving glory to God.
There was not a member of the church, as a
rule, who was half-hearted ; they gave their
souls wholly to God ; and, when Ananias and
Sapphira divided the price, they were smitten
with death for their sin. O ! if we prayed
as deeply and as earnestly as they did, we should
have as much success. Any measure of success we
may have had here has been entirely owing, under
God, to your prayers ; and wherever I have gone, I
have boasted that I have a praying people. Let
other ministers have as prayerful a people ; let mis-
sionaries have as many prayers from the Church;
and, all things being equal, God will bless them, and
there will be greater prosperity than ever."
CHAPTER XIV.
How TO Make Prayer-Meetings Interesting.
Not the least of the services which Mr. Moody and
his co-laborers have rendered to the evangelism of to-
day is the attention they have called to the conduct of
the prayer-meeting, and how to make them interest-
ing. Mr. Moody is well qualified to speak on this
subject, inasmuch as his experience now covers nearly
twenty years of service, in connection with the great
noonday prayer-meetings of Chicago and his own
church there, as well as, since leaving Chicago, with
Christian workers in England and America. His
views should be attentively considered. This chapter,
then, is a transcript of his talks on the prayer-meeting,
in answer to questions put to him in the " Ministe-
rial Conventions," which were held in New York
City in 1876, and in Boston in 1877.
I. THE NEW YORK CONVENTION.
I think this is one of the most important questions which can
come before us. T believe more ministers fail right here than in any
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 1 7
other place. Where one fails in a pulpit, I believe fifty fail in the
pi"ayer-meeting. I have noticed as I have been traveling up and
down the country, and mingling with a great many ministers, that
it is not the man that preaches the best that is most successful. You
must get the people to pray.
It is so much easier to preach to an audience who are praying for
you than to those who are criticising you all the while. Now I find
it a great help in a prayer-meeting to get the people close together ;
if they won't come, I would take the chair and walk down amongst
them. Then another important thing is to see that the ventilation
is all right. A good many meetings are held in basements and
small rooms, where there is no ventilation, where the windows,
perhaps, won't be opened through the winter ; where people get
sleepy, and you think it is your fault. See that it is not too hot or
too cold, and that the air is pure. It is a good thing to have a
subject, suppose "faith," or "love," and let people know it a
week before. Let the minister not always lead, for then when he
goes oft" there is a collapse. If he manages right, it seems t^ me, he
would get different leaders, so that when he goes oft" there will be
no falling away. You may ask what we are gomg to do with those
men who talk so long. Well, I would see them privately, and say,
" Now, try to be a little shorter." It would be a good thing,
however, if the ministers would show a good example. They very
often leave just fifteen minutes for the meeting, and complain of
Deacon Jones taking up the rest of the time. They say everything
they can think of on the chapter, and wonder why " the poor lay-
men won't take it up." Why, if they say everything they can
think of on a certain chapter, there is not much chance for a poor
layman, especially if he don't know what the chapter is to be. If
a man takes part in a meeting, he has got a little more interest in it.
There is a good deal of truth in what the old deacon said, that he
always liked the meeting when he took part, and he didn't care for
it when he didn' t take part.
A delegate observed that the Congregational churches in New-
England had a rule that the minister should lead the prayer-meetings,
for this reason : that it was found when ministers took the place of
Il8 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
laymen in this matter, the latter took the leadership out of his
hands. He asked Mr. Moody what he would do to prevent that.
Mr. Moody replied that this was not his experience on the subject.
Dr. Kirk, of Boston, of whose church he was a member twenty
years ago, very seldom led the meeting ; neither did Dr. Cuyler
usually lead in his own church prayer-meeting in Brooklyn.
Q. Ought the minister to call on people to pray and speak ? A.
My theory is one and my practice another. I have always advo-
cated open prayer-meetings, but very often people get up whom we
know nothing about, and talk too long, so I have lately to put the
meeting in the hands of those on the platform.
Q. Is it right to call on a man to pray when he is not in the
spirit of prayer ? A. He should be in the spirit of prayer : but
that is one of the things which makes me object to call on men to
pray.
Q. What would you do with a brother who prays the same
prayer over and over? A. I should see him privately and talk to
him about his own soul.
Q. Suppose you drive him away ? A. Let him go. Five will
come and take his place.
Q. Is it wise to adhere to a series of topics ? A. If it is in the
way throw it overboard ; don't have a cast-iron rule.
Q. Would it be well to make the Sunday-school lesson the sub-
ject for the prayer-meeling ? A. If you have teachers' meetings
better not. If you have not teachers' meetings I have known it to
work pretty well.
Q. Shall the women take part in our church prayer- meetings ?
A. It is a controverted point. Let every prayer-meeting have its
own way.
Q. What about rniging the bell when a man is praying ? A. If
the prayer don't go any further than his own head I would have
no scruple in ringing the bell.
II. THE BOSTON CONVENTION.
Q. What shall we do with the awful pauses in our meetings ?
A. They can be avoided, I think, if the minister is free and social
THE PRAYER-MEETING. II9
and makes every one feel at home. These pauses are just the times
when that man or that lady who is not in the habit of speaking, can
read a verse from God's Word which they have found precious to
their souls. In this way they can gain confidence to speak. A
good many people have an idea that they must follow the minister
and preach a sort of sermon ; but a word from the Bible often car-
ries great comfort.
Q. Would you have children in the large prayer-meetings ? A.
Well, there is danger in that. One great danger which is likely to
beset children is spiritual pride. A great many people in the
church, unfortunately, are foolish enough if a little boy speaks for
Christ in a touching way to praise him ; and that makes him very
proud. I should not like to have my child praised in this way.
Children learn the sweetness of praise soon enough in the world. I
should be a little afraid of having boys and girls encouraged to jump
up in the large prayer-meetings.
Q. Do you favor boys' prayer-meetings ? A. By all means, I
have found no meetings more blessed in the work of conversion.
The boys and the girls should meet by themselves under the direc-
tion of some older person of experience as a leader. I have been
very much interested in the meetings for little boys conducted here
by Mr. .-lastings.
Q. How shall we get women to speak in prayer-meetings ? A.
Well, if the meeting is free and social, as I said, I don't think there
will be any who are afraid to speak. There are two ways of con-
ducting a prayer-meeting. The minister may enter the room with
his coat buttoned up, and looking neither to the right nor the left,
take the desk and either go through the reading of a long hymn or
make a long prayer. Of course a meeting begun in this way is stift"
and formal, and there will be no sense of freedom. Then there is
another way. The minister may enter the room in a friendly and
social way, shaking hands with ev^erybody and saying a pleasant
word to all, and perhaps he will get the friends to select the opening
hymn or ask some lady to read a passage of Scripture, and the
meeting will be begun before they know it. If everybody would
carry the Scriptures to the meetings there would be no trouble in
keeping the meetings interesting.
I20 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Q. Would you announce a subject for prayer previous to the
meeting? A. I would. It has been done in our church in Chi-
cago, and it has been a great help to our prayer-meetings. We
want to have these meetings a sort of family gathering where a
mother who has a son out of Christ can bring him before Jesus,
and the whole church bear up her petition to the Lord. United
prayer in faith that God will answer our petitions will surely bring
back the blessing.
0. Would you encourage women to speak ? A. In a social
prayer-meeting I would encourage any one to speak. We want to
get all Christians at work in the service of Christ.
Q. Do you believe in having different ones to lead the meeting ?
A. Well, that plan has been tried. Dr. Cuyler found it very suc-
cessful in his church in Brooklyn. He often takes a seat among
the congregation while the leader conducts the prayer-meeting.
One great secret of success is to get others to work. I would
rather get ten men to work than do ten men' s work myself.
Q. How ought prayei'-meetings to be conducted in a church
without a pastor ? A. With as much earnestness as possible.
Sometimes God blesses specially a church when it is without a pas-
tor because they trust in His grace and not in any arm cf flesh.
Q. How would you break up the habit of long prayers ? A. I
think ministers need find no trouble, if they are honest with their
people. They like real plain talk. I should speak to a man mak-
ing long prayers privately, not publicly, and say to him: "Your
prayers need a little more unction, they are too long for the meet-
ing." Exhortation ought not to take the place of prayer, but it
is better to have an exhortation than a prayerless prayer. That is
an abomination in the sight of God and men. Some people seem
to keep on praying because they don' t know where to stop. Let
there be always a distinct object in prayer. I have been dissatisfied
at some of the men's prayer-meetings in the Tabernacle because
men prayed for nothing but merely exhorted. The other night a
man was telling God how great he was and how wonderfully he had
made man; and a godly old saint who was better acquainted with
the Lord said, " Just ask him for something."
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 12 1
Q. Suppose a man won't heed your advice to make prayer
short ? A. I should speak to him again and again, and if that
did not bring about the result, I would rebuke him publicly. I
would have a bell at the meeting. One word — don' t rely on your
prayers, but on Christ. Always remember that the salvation of
Jesus is free, and that all may have it by simply taking it.
Q. When do you consider a prayer to be too long ? A. Well,
if the prayer-meeting is about an hour long, which I think about
the proper length, it certainly can't be right for two or three men to
take up the time. If a man has the cause of the Jews on his heart
let him pray for them and then stop. It is awful to open one's
eyes and see that a man is teaching his own views or criticising the
opinions of other people when he seems to be praying. It chills me
right through.
Q. What would you do if a man, whose piety the church dis-
trusts, attempts to speak ? A. I would never allow him to speak.
The best way is to deal fairly and squarely with people. I would
rather hurt a man's feelings than to have the Church injured. A
man who pays fifty cents on the dollar when he could pay one
hundred cents on the dollar had better keep still.
CHAPTER XV.
Uniform Topics.
If there is any advantage in having a list of topics
for an entire yeai», would not uniformity in all the
churches secure the same benefits on an enlarged scale ?
That system in our public schools w^hich takes the
scholar from the " Kindergarten " progressively along
until he graduates in the " High School," is vs^ise and
economical. The main fault to be found vs^ith the
American scheme of education is this that it does not
extend far enough. It v^ould be an advantage to have
an international system by which all our schools
should have a common basis and run parallel with
each other by successive steps from the " Kindergar-
ten" to the University; and have such organic con-
nection that a student would require no change in
text-books and lose no rank in removing from Peoria
to Chicago, or from New York to Boston. The
Prussian system of education is doubtless more com-
prehensive than our own in this respect, and it is well
known that German scholarship is thorough-going
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 23
and profound. The greater efficiency of a people,
generally and systematically educated, over one less
so, was well illustrated in the conduct and the speedy
termination of the late French-Prussian war. A gun
is all the more effective for being held and controlled
by a well-trained mind. The rank and file of the
Prussian army were highly educated, and prince and
peasant stood side by side for the patriotic defense of
their fatherland.
The writer expressed his views on this subject in an
article that was published in the Interior a year ago,
w^hich are reproduced at this place, and were as
follows: The fact that uniform subjects for Sunday-
school study have been adopted in nearly all the Bible
lands of the world shows the value that has been set
upon system. Let us suppose that the Bible is so
divided into chapters for daily reading, and verses for
the thorough and systematic study of all the facts
of the Bible, that the scholar is taken through the
entire Bible once in seven years. Who does not see
the advantage of such method in study? The feeling
that all Christians the world over, on a given Sab-
bath are reading and studying the same portion of
Scripture, is very stimulating and significant. And
besides, since the time this method has been adopted
there has been a growing interest given to Bible
124 'I'^E PRAYER-MEETING.
study. It has stimulated explorations and geographi-
cal surveys in Palestine ; and the commentaries, lesson-
leaves, maps and helps of one kind and another called
into circulation by it, can scarcely be over-estimated
for value and importance.
Now^, then, w^ould not something similar be bene,
ficial for the prayer-meeting? If the former plan for
study gives us the facts and principles of religion, v^hy
might not a series of topics be selected for each year
that shall be especially adapted to the needs of daily
Christian life, to Christian nurture and doctrine? In
many of our churches the Sunday-school lesson has
been used as the topic for the prayer-meeting. That
plan has some advantages; for instruction on sys-
tematic topics is far preferable to subjects selected at
random. But a little different class of topics w^ould
prove more suitable for the prayer-meeting, namely
the arrangement of Biblical truth with reference to
daily life and growth in grace. Edification implies
system, order and progress. By this plan, praise and
promise meetings and special occasions might be suit-
ably provided for, and all classes^ of Christians sys-
tematically edified. (Eph. 4:12-16.) This would
secure unity in the services of the prayer- meeting and
give opportunity for all to come with special prayer
and preparation with reference to a set topic.
THE PRAYER-MEETIING. I 25
It may be objected that by a plan like this the
special needs of a particular congregation at a partic-
ular time might be overlooked and neglected. That
is true, but the remedy is simple. At such a time
omit the topic, make your own selection, annex
appropriate texts of Scripture, and give notice in due
time that the change has been made. But in the
long run, nothing v^^ill be gained by making religion
spasmodic. Nothing w^ill more establish Christian
life, faith and doctrine, than faithful induction into all
the great Christian truths that edify the body of
Christ. Is not the Bible Reading and the Bible
Study which form so prominent a feature of the great
revival of our day; nay, is not, in part, the revival
itself under the Divine blessing, a result of the
increased piety — prayer and work — which the uniform
lessons have been instrumental in promoting in the
ranks of the laity ? Would not the adoption of uni-
formity in suitable topics for the prayer-meeting
further the same end and make Christian life more
and more like the shining light in Prov. 4:18?
And in this connection the writer will add an
extract from an article " On Uniform Topics for The
Prayer-Meeting," which was furnished the Interior
by the facile pen of the Rev. John Locke Martin,
and is as follows: "The headins^ and its embodied
126 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
idea are not original with me, but I would like to
add my mite of a word to help along this idea to a
practical end. I have seen no suggestion of late
which seems so promising of real benefit in our
church work as this one of a uniform series of
topics for the prayer-meeting. The very presenta-
tion of the subject should be sufficient to lead to
its hearty adoption, for it has every thing in its
favor. I know not whether the experience is gen-
eral, but find it to be the case with all with whom I
have conversed, that one of the great hindrances
toward making the prayer-meeting a success is a
want of unity in the services, and therefore a want of
special prayer and preparation on the part of the
members. To simply announce from the pulpit on
Sabbath the subject for the next week-day is not
enough. Very frequently some of the best attend-
ants at the prayer-meeting are absent from the sanct-
uary services, and so miss the announcement. But if,
like the Sabbath-school lesson, there was a printed
series of topics, this, out of many objections would be
avoided, — every one could know the topic. It is
beyond question that the uniform system of Sabbath-
school lessons has been* a great help and blessing in
this work. By this means we have reaped the benefit
of system, which is the key-note of all successful
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 27
work, and have stimulated a degree of Bible study
never known before. And all of these advantages
would accrue to the prayer-meeting if such a system
would only be adopted by the different churches. It is
simply a waste of writing to say that our prayer-
meetings need all the helpful means that can be
secured; for have not their dullness and coldness
become proverbial ? "
And the following list of topics is another com-
mentary upon the article in whose favor Mr. Martin
wrote with such choice terms of approbation. And
here just a word of explanation may be proper.
The writer was invited by the Rev. M. B. Lowrie to
unite with him " in getting up a list of subjects for
the coming year for our two churches." This was
accepted with the understanding that other churches
should be asked to join with us. A list was then pre-
pared by consultation, and in its present form is
mainly due to the selection of the Revs. M. B.
Lowrie and J. M. Waddle. A copy of it was also
published in the hiterior^ and other churches, if they
saw their way clear, were cordially invited to unite
with us in its use. So far as known to the writer this
list is now being used with profit and acceptance by
the following churches: Galesburg, Rev. M. B.
Lowrie, pastor; Kirkwood, Rev. E. W. Thompson;
128 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Knoxville, Rev. J. M. Waddle; Levvistown, Rev. J.
F. Magill; Mt. Sterling, Rev. J. G. Lowrie; Onarga,
Rev. W. D. Magner; Peoria Calvary Mission, Rev.
John Weston; Peoria Grace, Rev. H. S. Beavis; and
Peoria Second, Rev. Lewis O. Thompson.
TOPICS.
Jan, 2, Opening of the year. Ex. 13: 10; Deut. 14: 22; Ps.
102 ; 24-28 ; Deut. 32 : 7.
" 9. The Sympathy of Jesus. John 11.
*' 16. Working for God every day. Ps. 96 : 2 ; Heb. 3 : 13 ;
Matth. 21 : 28.
" 23. The Work of the Holy Spirit. Zech. 12: 10 ; Jno. 16 •
8-14; Ro. 8: 16.
'* 30. Prayer for Schools. Is. 54 : 13 ; Dan. 1:17; Prov. i :
5 ; Hos. 4: 6.
Feb. 6. Monthly Concert. China and the Chinese in America-
Ps. 2:8.
*' 13. The Helping Hand. Gal. 6: i-io.
" 20. Sources of Christian Life and Growth. Acts 20: 32;
John 15:4; Deut. 8:3;! Pet. 2 : 2.
" 27. Out into the Highways. Luke 14: 16-24; Mark
10 : 46.
Mar. 6. Monthly Concert. Mexico and N. Mex. Ps. 119: 130.
" 13. Why Read the Bible? Jno. 20 : 31 ; 2 Tim. 3: 15-17 ;
I Thes. 2:13; I Ki. 2 : 3.
" 20. How to Read the Bible. Acts 17: 11 ; Job 23: 12;
Jer. 15 : 16.
'* 27. Work and Wages. Matth. 20 : 1-16.
April 3. Control of the Tongue. Jas. 1:26; Jas. 3:5-13;
Matth. 12:36; Ps. 141: 3.
'* 10. Monthly Concert. India. Dan. 7 : 14.
• 17. Seed Time. Ec. 11 : 6; Ps. 126: 6.
" 24. Psalm 34.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I29
May I. Temperance. Eph. 5 : 18 ; Ps. 94: 20.
*' 8. Monthly Concert. Siam and Laos. Ro. 10:14-15.
15. The Believer's Relation to Christ. John 15: 1-8; Ro.
8:17; Eph. 5 : 30.
22. Personal Religion. Ps. 27:8; Ps. 17:4-9; I Cor. 9 :
27 ; Ps. 39 : I.
*' 29. Family Religion. 2 Samuel 6 : 20 ; Gen. 18 : 19 ; Josh.
24: 15.
June 5. Monthly Concert. Africa. Ps. 68 : 31.
12. Christ's Love for his Church. Jno. 10 : ii ; Eph. 5 :
25-26 ; Eph. 4 : 11-13.
19. Gospel Manna. Ex. 16 : 15 ; Jno. 6 : 48 ; Ps. 119 : 103.
26. Under the Juniper Tree, i Kings 19 : 4 ; Jer. 20 ; 7-9 ;
Ps. 73-
July 3. Christian Patriotism. I. Sam. 12:29-25; Deut. 17:
18 20 ; Ro. 10 : I
*' 10. Monthly Concert. N. American Indians. I Cor. 9 :
16-17.
** 17. How to keep the Sabbath. Ex. 20: 8-11 ; Luke 14:
1-25 ; Neh. 13 : 15-23.
'* 24. My Duty to the Prayer-Meeting. Heb. 10: 25; Mai.
3: 16.
31. The Promises attending the Word. Is. 55 : 10 ; i Pet.
I : 18-25.
Aug. 7. Psalm 27.
" 14. Monthly Concert. South America. Prov. 14:34.
21. Planning for Business. Jas. 4:13; Luke 12:18;
Deut. 31 : 12-13.
*' 28. The Trials of Faith. Gen. 12 : i ; Matth. 15 : 21 ; id.
16:21; Mark 7: 24; id. 8 : 26.
Sept. 4. Monthly Concert. Japan. John 4:9-10.
" II. Advantages of Christian Society. Acts 28:15; I
Thes. 3:1; Jno. 11:5.
" .18. Confession of Sin. Hos. 5:15; Ps. 51 •' 3-
25. Helps and Hindrances to Spiritual Prosperity. Prov.
30: 7-9; Luke 12: 13-21.
130 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Oct. 2. The Earth bringeth forth Fruit. Ps. 65: 11. Mark 4:
28 ; Deut. 33 : 14 ; Heb. 3 : 17.
" 9. Monthly Concert. Persia. Matth. 2 : 12.
" 16. The Danger of neglecting the Gospel. Heb. 2: 3.
'* 23. The Connection of Peace with Faith. Ro. 5 : I.
" 30. Christ's Death for Sin. Is. 53 ; Ro. 5 : 8.
Nov. 6. Monthly Concert. Papal Europe. Ro. i: 15.
" 13. The Bible Doctrine of Conscience. Jer. 6: 15; i Tim.
4: 2; Heb. 9: 14; Acts. 23: I.
" 20. Visiting the Sick and Helping the Destitute. Jas. i : 27 ;
Matth. 25 : 40.
" 27. Reasons for Thankfulness. Eph. 5 : 20.
Dec. 4. Monthly Concert. Syria. Acts 13 : 44-49.
" II. Honor God with thy Substance. Prov. 3 : 9.
" 18. Patience under Discouragements. Rev. 2:3-7; Acts
27 : 33.
" 25. Faithful unto Death. Rev. 2 : 10.
CHAPTER XVI.
Steps Towards Uniformity.
Let us enumerate some of the steps which have
been taken by the church at large in the direction
of uniform topics for the prayer-meeting.
It may be supposed that the use of the internatiojial
series of Sunday-school lessons in all Christian lands,
and their general adaptability to the purpose for
which they have been selected, has given the hint to
the prayer-meeting. If that has proved an advan-
tage, why will not this also? Nor need we look
upon the exposition of the topics by the religious
press as tending to destroy thought, original research
and experience; not at all, but rather as illustrations
of topical treatment, which, while it does not take the
place of thought, may largely invigorate it, and give
it a hopeful, useful and intelligent direction. And
with this proof of practical benefit which that
pioneer, the International Series, from many years of
successful trial has already presented, it will be much
easier for uniform topics in the prayer-meeting to
132 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
step into use and favor; for whatever are the objec-
tions to be urged against the latter, they apply with
equal force against the former.
But uniformity in topics for the prayer-meeting all
over the world has been secured for just one week in
the year — the Week of Prayer. This shows, when
great results are looked for in connection with prayer
that uniform action is desirable. But if this is desir-
able for one week, why is not for fifty-two weeks?
And will any one say that the meetings during the
Week of Prayer lack interest and profit?
The fact that some churches are in the habit of
using the Sunday-school lessons as subjects for the
prayer-meeting is an indication tliat topics with
which the people may make themselves fixmiliar are
relished better than the custom which gives them no
topics at all.
It has already come to the knowledge of the
writer, that a number of churches in different parts of
the land have united in the use of a list of subjects,
besides those mentioned at the close of our last chap-
ter. The first list, as given below, was used last
year by the seven Presbyterian churches of Detroit,
viz; First Presbyterian, Fort Street; Jefferson
Avenue, Westminster, Calvary, Union, and Central.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 33
TOPICS.
Jan. 5. " This Year Also." Luke 13:6-9.
9. Young People's Meeting. Wisdom's Call. Prov. i.
" 10. The Prayer for Pardon. Ps. 51.
'* II. Renewal of Covenant. Ezra 10:1-14. Neh. 9 : 38.
" 12. Preparatory Lecture.
19. Monthly Concert. The Outlook. The Last Com-
mand. Mark 16: 15-20.
" 25. Prayer for Colleges. Consecrated Learning. Acts 7 :
20-22; Heb. 11:23-27.
The Faithful God. Duet. 7 : 6-13.
Monthly Concert. China and Chinese in U. S.
Christ's Hour of Joy. Luke 10:21-24; Matt. 11:
25-30.
Misplaced Pity. Luke 23 : 26-28.
A Good Conscience. Job 31 : 19-32.
Monthly Concert. Mexico and New Mexico.
Preparatory Lecture.
Ignorant Prayer. Mark 10 : 35-40.
The Helper of Our Infirmities. Rom. 8 : 26, 27.
Prayer and Action. Ex. 14: 13-16.
Monthly Concert. India.
Micah's Religion. Judges 17.
Reward of Self-denial. Matt. 19:27-30.
ResponsibiUty Declined. Exod. 4 : 10-16
Monthly Concert. Siam and Laos.
Preparatory Lecture.
The Filial Spirit. Rom. 8 : 14-17.
Obscure Workers. Jer. 38 : 7-13 ; John i : 40-46.
Monthly Concert. Africa.
Youthful Lives Contrasted. 2 Kings 21; 1-9; 22.
Christ's Standard of Righteousness. Matt. 5 : 20.
The Glory of the Word. Ps. 19 : 7-14.
The Household of God. Eph. 2 : 19-22.
Feb.
26.
2.
"
9-
"
16.
'•
23-
Mar.
2.
"
9-
"
16.
"
23-
^ "
30.
Apr.
6.
*'
13-
"
20.
"
27.
May
4-
"
II.
"
18.
"
25.
June
I.
"
8.
"
15.
"
22.
••
29.
134 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
July 6, Preparatory Lecture.
13. Monthly Concert. N.A.Indians.
" 20. Perpetuated Sin. 2 Kings 17 : 21-23.
27. Telling of Christ. John 4:28-39.
Aug. 3. Monthly Concert. South America.
10. The Severity of Christ. Mai. 3 : 1-6; Matt. 3: 10-12.
17. The Year of Jubilee. Levit. 25 : 10-16 ; Luke 4 : 16-30.
24. Stumbling at the prosperity of the "Wicked. Ps. 73-
31. The Christian's Portion, i Cor. 3:21-23
Sept. 7. Preparatory Lecture.
14. Monthly Concert. Japan.
21. The Complete Body, i Cor. 12 : 14-31.
28. Daily Gleaning. Ruth 2 : 19 ; 2 Cor. 9: 6-11.
Oct. 5. Monthly Concert. Persia.
12. Household Reliijion. Deut. 6.
19. The Service of Song. Eph. 5 : 18-20.
, " 26. The Vanity of Worldly Good. Eccl. 2.
Nov. 2. Monthly Concert. Papal Europe.
9. Preparatory Lecture.
" 16. Heard from the Beginning. Dan. 9:20-23.
" 23. The Law of Edification, i Cor. 14 : 26.
" 30. To Every Man His Work. Mark 13: 34; Eph. 4:7.
Dec. 7. Monthly Concert. Syria.
" 14. The Prayer of Moses. Psalm 90.
21. Thomas' Doubt and Faith. John 20 : 24-31.
" 28 Our House from Heaven. 2 Cor. 5: 1-5.
To what extent this second hst is being used the
writer is unable to say; but some of those who have
been previously using prepared topics, speak of the
practice in the highest terms.*
* The Rev. J. C. McClintock commends it in the following words : " For a
je&r past a number of pastors have used the same topics in their prayer-
meetings. The result has been so helpful, that they are uniting in the same
plan for 1878, and they ask you to join them in what has proved a delightful
means of Communion. The Topics have been furnished by several of our
I2.f
THE PRAYER-irEETING. 1 35
TOPICS.
Jan. 2. God's Presence with us. Ex. 32: 12-23.
The Week of Prayer.
" 16. The Gracious Invitation. Is. 55 : i-g.
" 23. Will You Accept It? John 12 :42-5o.
" 30. Prayer for Schools. Prov. 3 : 13-26.
Feb. 6. Go, Preach the Gospel. Mark 18 : 15-20.
" 13. The Sinner's Danger. Gen. 19 : 12-22.
20. The Refuge. Col. i : 13-22.
27. The Sister's Choice. Luke 10 : 38-42.
Mar. 6. From Darkness to Light. Acts 26: 16-23.
13. The Lord's Prayer. Matt. 6:5-15.
20. Secret and Family Prayer. Acts. 10 : 1-20.
27. The Prayer of Faith. Matt. 15 : 21-28.
Apr. 3. Zion's Prospects. Is. 40:1-11.
" 10. What Shall I Do With Jesus? Matt. 27 : 19-35.
17. What May I Do for Jesus? Matt. 25 : 31-40.
24. Not Here, but Risen. Luke 24:1-12.
May I. W^hat Can She Do? Mark 14 : 1-9.
8. The Comforter. John 14: 15-27.
" 15. Thy Poor Brother. Deut. 15 : 7-11.
22. Cure for Thought-Taking. Matt. 6 : 25-35.
29. The Solution of Doubt. John 7 : 1-18.
June 5. Fields White to Harvest. John 4: 30-32.
" 12. The Teacher's Preparation. Ezra 7 : 10-
19. The Teacher's Reward. Luke 10 : 16-24.
26. Quality not quantity. Judges 7 : 1-9.
experienced pastors, who have aimed to give a due proportion to Devotion,
Doctrine, Christian Experience and Daily Life." '• I have been astonished
to find so many Churches using Topics of nearly the same form. Let us
have them in 'our Presbyterian Church, the same.— /t'e?'. J. M. Bishop,
Lebanon, J nd. "I am heartily interested in the scheme. We have used
the list for 1877. with great profit."— ^er. E. P. Whallon, Liberty, Ind.
" There is much good to be derived from these topical prayer-meetings.
They keep the Church in a chronic state of revival."— /t'er. ./. M. Xourse,
Athens, Ohio. " As to the ' communion prayer-meeting topics,' I am deeply
interested.''— liev. T.JI. Clelland. Council Bluffs, la. "I have used the
prayer-meeting topics during the past year, with great acceptance to my
people."— i?cr. Chas.Littlt, Wabash, Ind.
136 THE PRATER-MEETING.
July 3. Declaration of Dependence. Josh. 24: 21-29.
" 10. Thg Friend of Sinners. Luke 7 : 40-50.
*' 17. A Prosperous Man. Gen. 39 : 1-6.
" 24. Soul Prosperity. 3 John i : 8-
" 31. A Pecuhar People, i Peter 2: 9-17.
Aug. 7. Open Doors. Rev. 3:7-13.
" 14. Eli's Failure, i Sam. 2 : 27-36.
21. Two Paths. Gen. 13: 8-18.
" 28. The Saviour. Acts 13 : 23-33.
Sept. 4. The King. Ps. 2:1-12.
" ir. The Shepherd. John 10: i-io.
" 18. Astray and Asleep. Jonah 1:1-12.
" 25. The Stone Rolled Away. Mark 16: 1-16.
Oct. 2. Christian Giving. 2 Cor. 9: 5-15.
" 9. Armor and Strength, i Sam. 17 : 37-50.
' 16. The Penitent's Prayer. Ps. 51 : 1-19.
" 23. Saved, i John 5: 9-21.
30. Joy. I Peter 4: 13-ig.
Nov. 6. Our Work. John i : 35-49.
13. The Spirit's Work. John 16 : 1-14,
" 20. Daniel — Greatly Beloved. Dan. 9:17-23.
" 27. The Year's Blessings. Ps. 65 : 1-13.
Dec. 4. Times of Refreshing. Mai. 3 : 10-18,
" II. Justified Faith. James 2 : 14-26.
" 18. No Continuing City. Heb. 13:5-15.
" 25. Good Tidings. Luke 2 : 8-19.
But a movement on a still larger scale has already
been inaugurated, the one from Chicago as a center,
and the other from London, towards uniformity,
which in the means of securing it is a great and im-
portant discovery. Its existence came to the knowl-
edge of the writer only a few weeks ago, but happily
in time to fit into its place here as another in the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 37
series. This plan is already solving the difficulties
connected with uniformity. And from the sketch
to be introduced it is plain that no single person is en-
titled to the claim of exclusive discovery. It is ev-
idently the prompting of that same Spirit who has
access to all Christian hearts. It is generally the way
when He desires to inaugurate and carry forward a
great movement that He prepares the way for it by
working upon the mind of the Church at large. A
perusal of the following sketch from the pen of Miss
E. Dryer will more and more convince us of this:
BIBLE READING AND PRAYER ALLIANCE.
The object of this AlUance is to promote the united prayerful
study of the Holy Scriptures. Pastors of churches, Superintend-
ents and Teachers of Sabbath Schools, and Christians everywhere,
are cordially invited to co-operate in this eftbrt, and to make the
seven chapters of the week, or subjects taken therefrom, the fre-
quent theme of meetings for Bible study. Any Christian may
organize a class of readers, and thus many unsaved persons may be
brought to the teaching of the Word of God.
The Committee who recommend this Alliance is composed of
representatives chosen by their respective denominations and societies
in the city of Chicago to promote this work,
T. W. Harvey, Pres. Y. M. C. A., Chairman.
Rev. Bishop C. E. Chenhy, Reformed Ej)iscopal.
Rev. Dr. D. B. Chkney. Baptist.
Rev. Dr. J. Monro Gibson, Presbyterian.
Rev. Dr. E, P. Goodwin, Congregationalist.
Rev. Dr. Edward Sullivan, Episcopal.
Rev. Dr. John Z. Tongekson, Lutheran.
Rev. Dr. W. C. Willing, Presiding Elder, M E. C.
Mrs. W. H. Goodrich, Bible Work, Cor. Sec. and Treas.
Miss E. Dryer, Bible Work, Rec. Sec'y.
10
138 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
The Bible Reading and Prayer Alliance had its begin-
ning January ist, 1877, in a small morning prayer-meeting in Chi-
cago. There was then no purpose of extending it beyond the
circle of a few Christian friends. But, in God's providence, so
rapidly did the united interest spread, that a Scripture calendar was
prepared, and very soon the first five thousand had found their
way, with care, into churches, Sunday-schools, hospitals, boarding-
houses, famines, not only in the city, but in dift'erent parts of the
State and in distant States.
The effort received its first marked impulse in a conference of
Christian ladies of different denominations, who met weekly for
Bible study and prayer; most of whom were engaged in the active
Christian work of cottage prayer-meetings and house to house visi-
tation which attended and followed the Moody meetings of that
winter.
These Christian workers were bound together, under the name of
the *' Bible Work Association," by the following
agreement :
We, the undersigned, purpose
I. To read the Bible together daily, prapng the Holy Spirit to
guide us into all truth, according to our Lord' s promise : John 16:13.
II. To pray daily for each other, that we may grow in grace
and a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ ; 2 Pet. 3:18.
III. To meet together weekly and monthly for prayer and con-
ference and study of the Scriptures, that we may thereby be better
prepared to present to the lost, salvation in Jesus Christ, and to lead
His church to seek the things that are above, where He sitteth on
the right hand of God ; Col. 3:1.
IV. By personal conversations, prayer-naeetings, Scripture
readings, and other Christian efforts, to present Christ as the
Saviour of the lost, and to present help to all who are weary and
heavy laden. Matt. 11:28.
In a few months, it was evident that the Lord was extending the
work beyond the control of any such organization of active mem-
bership as was at first contemplated, and yet not a line had ap-
peared in print concerning it.
In June, the Secretary learned through a newspaper item, that
in January, 1876, a similar union was formed, in London, under the
leadership of the Rev. Thomas Richardson, London, which num-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 39
bered the first year about 18,000 members, and which has extended,
through missionaries, to Arabia, China, Persia and India.
It then became more than ever apparent that our Lord was exe-
cuting a loving purpose of uniting His Church in prayer and Bible
study, in a new and great degree; and increased and systematic
efforts were made to establish the wide-spread work which had
grown from such small beginnings.
The present Committee, representatives of Evangelical denomina-
tions and societies in Chicago, convened in October, 1877, and
under the new name organized to promote the objects of this
alliance. It was thought best to spend six months in the New Tes-
tament and six months in the Old Testament ; beginning January
with Matthew, and reading the first two gospels and the Pauline
epistles ; and in June to begin Genesis, reading historic parts of the
Old Testament during the remainder of the year.
From these Daily Readings the committee have selected fifty-two
topics, which, following the practice instituted at the beginning,
may be conveniently used in weekly meetings, and which present the
advantage of united study and preparation on the part of those who
use them.
A similar course has, during the last year, in some parts of our
country, been followed with good results, in church prayer-meetings,
cottage meetings, and meetings organized for Bible study.
We hope that in Churches, Sabbath Schools and Christian com-
munities. Christians who are interested to forward this Union of
Bible study and prayer, will send us their names at once. We shall
issue cards of membership to such, and to all others who, for the
year, desire them.
To induce others to read the Bible sys'tematically, is one of the
easy and most fruitful sources of Christian effort.
Old and young, sick and well, may find successful work in this
line. One feeble Christian, in a community where there is no
church, may through faith and prayerful effort, form a society in
which the word of God shall grow, until the sower and reapers
shall rejoice together in heaven amid the gathered harvest. Deut.
8:3; Acth 6:7; Acts 17 : II ; Col. 1:5, 6 ; John 15:3; Matt.
13: 3-9-
God has promised to bless his own word. Isa, 55:10, 11,
Matt. 24: 35.
And the following " Calendar " for Daily Scripture
Reading has been prepared by the Committee of
the Alliance for the year 1878:
140
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
CALENDAR
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
June.
I Matt. I
I Mark 4
I Acts
16
I ]
Cor. 3
I Gal. 4
I 2Tim.i
2 "
2
2 »
5
2
17
2
u
4
2 « 5
2 " 2
3 ♦•
3
3 ♦'
6
3
18
3
"
5
3 " 6
3 " 3
4 "
4
4 "
7
4
19
4
((
6
4 Eph. I
4 " 4
5 "
5
5 "
8
5
20
5
''
7
5 " 2
5 Titus I
6 '*
6
6 "
9
6
21
6
«
8
6 '* 3
6 " 2
7 "
7
7 *'
10
7
22
7
"
9
7 " 4
7 " 3
S *'
8
8 "
II
8
23
8
t'
10
8 " 5
8 Phil. I
9 "
9
9 "
12
9
24
9
"
II
9 " 6
9 Heb. I
10 "
10
10 '*
13
10
25
10
*l
12
10 Phil. I
10 " 2
II "
II
II "
14
II
26
II
il
13
II *' 2
11 " 3
12 "
12
12 "
15
12
27
12
"
14
12 " 3
12 " 4
13 "
13
13 "
16
13
('
28
13
('
15
13 " 4
13 *' 5
14 "
14
14 Acts
I
14 Rom, I
14
"
16
14 Col. I
14 " 6
15 "
15
15 ''
2
15
"
2
15
2Cor. I
15 " 2
15 " 7
i6 '*
16
16 *'
3
16
u
3
16
u
2
16 " 3
16 " 8
17 "
17
17 "
4
17
u
4
17
*'
3
17 " 4
17 " 9
18 "
18
18 "
5
18
((
5
18
(C
4
iSiThss.i
18 " lO
19 "
19
19 "
6
19
u
6
19
«(
5
19 " 2
19 " 11
20 "
20
20 "
7
20
"
7
20
t«
6
20 " 3
20 " 12
21 "
21
21 "
8
21
((
8
21
u
7
21 " 4
21 " 13
22 ♦'
22
22 "
9
22
u
9
22
"
8
22 " 5
22 Gen. I
23 "
23
23 "
10
23
"
10
23
((
9
23 2Thssi
23 " 2
24 ;;
24
24 "
II
24
"
II
24
"
10
24 " 2
24 " 3
25 "
25
25 "
12
25
u
12
25
u
II
25 " 3
25 " 4
26 "
26
26 "
13
26
"
13
26
"
12
26i Tim. I
26 *' 5
27 «
27
27 "
14
27
((
14
27
((
13
27 " 2
27 " 6
28 "
28
28 "
15
28
<(
15
28 Gal.
I
28 " 3
28 '* 7
29 Mark i
29
u
16
29
"
2
29 " 4
29 " 8
30 "
2
301
Cor. I
30
"
3
30 " 5
30 " 9
31 «
3
81
((
2
31 " 6
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
141
CALENDAR.
July.
Aug.
Sept. | Oct
Nov.
Dec.
I Gen
. 10
I
Gen. 41
1 Ex.
22! I Nu
12 I Deut. 7
1 Josh 3
2 "
II
2
" 42| 2 "
23! 2 "
13I 2 " 8
2 " 4
3 "
12
3
" 43i 3 "
241 3 "
14 8 " 9
3 " 5
4 "
13
4
" 44
4
25
4 "
151 4 " 10
4 " 6
5 "
14
5
" 45
5 "
26
5 "
i6j 5 " II
5 " 7
6 "
15
6
" 46
6 "
27
6 "
171 6 " 12
6 « 8
7 '♦
16
7
*' 47
7 "
28
7 "
18
7 " 13
7 " 9
8 "
17
8
" 48
8 "
29
8 "
19
8 " 14
8 " 10
9 "
18
9
" 49
9 "
30
9 "
20
9 " 15
9 " II
10 "
19
10
" 50
10 "
31
10 "
21
10 " 16
10 " 12
II "
20
11
Ex. I
II "
32111 "
22
II *' 17
II " 13
12 "
21
12
2
12 "
33ii2 "
23
12 " 18
12 " 14
13 "
22
13
" 3
13 "
34J13 "
24
13 " 19
13 " 15
14 "
23
14
" 4
14 "
35|i4 "
25
14 " 20
14 " 16
15 '*
24
IC
" 5
15 "
36
15 ''
26
15 " 21
15 '* 17
16 "
25
16
" 6
16 '*
37
16 "
27
16 " 22
16 " 18
17 '«
26
17
♦' 7
17 "
38
17 '*
28
17 " 23
17 " 19
18 "
27
18
" 8
18 *'
39
18 "
29
18 '* 24
18 " 20
19 "
28
19
" 919 "
40
19 "
30
19 " 25
19 '♦ 21
20 *'
29
20
'• 10 20 Num. I
20 "
31
20 '' 26
20 " 22
21 "
30
21
" II
21 "
2
21 "
32
21 " 27
21 '• 23
22 "
31
22
" 12
22 "
3
22 "
33
22 " 28
22 " 24
23 "
32
23
u J3
23 "
4
23 "
34
23 " 29
23 Ps. 135
24 "
33
24
" 14
24 "
5
24 "
35
24 " 30
24 " 136
25 "
34
25
" 15
25 "
6
25 "
36
25 " 31
25 " 144
26 "
35
26
" 16
26 "
7
26 Deut. I
26 " 32
26 " 145
27 "
36
27
- 17
27 "
8
27 "
2
27 " 33
27 " 146
28 "
37
28
" 18
23 "
9
23 "
3
28 " 34
23 " 147
29 "
38
29
" 19
29 "
10
29 "
4
29 Josh. I
29 " 148
30 "
39
30
" 20
30 "
II
30 "
5
30 " 2
30 " 149
31 "
40
31
u 21
31 *'
6
31 " 150
142 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
And in connection with these daily readings of the
Scripture the annexed list of topics for the fifty-two
weekly prayer-meetings have been suggested for
general use:
Jan. I. The Temptation of Christ. Matt. 4:1-11.
" 2. Methods and Spirit of Prayer. Matt. 6 : 5-15.
'* 3. Faith for Others. Matt. 15 : 21-28.
" 4. Consecration Tested. Matt. 19:16-20.
*' 5. Jesus in Gethsemane. Matt. 26: 30-36.
Feb. I. Parable of the Sower. Mark 4:1-20.
" 2. The Demoniac Son Healed, Mark 9: 14-29.
" 3. The Baptism of the Spirit. Acts 2 : 1-21.
" 4. Paul' s Conversion. Acts 9 : 1-22.
Mar. I. Divine Service. Acts 20: 18-35.
" 2. Christian Enthusiasm. Acts 26: 24, 25.
" 3. Assurance of Faith and Hope. Romans 8 : 28-39.
" 4. Consecration. Romans 12 ; i, 2.
" 5. Truth Revealed by the Spirit, i Cor. 2.
April I. The Believer — God's Temple, i Cor. 3 : 9-17.
" 2. One Spirit — Diverse Gifts, i Cor. 12.
" 3. Weakness Made Strength. 2 Cor. 12 : 7-10.
" 4. Giving and Gaining. 2 Cor. 9.
May I. Saved by Grace. Gal. 3 : 1-4.
" 2. The Christian Walk. Eph. 4 : 5.
" 3. Seeking the Prize. Phil. 3:7-15.
" 4. Resurrection Life. 001.3:9-17.
" 5. The Comforting Hope, i Thess. 4: 13-18.
June I. Perilous Times. 2 Tim. 3:1-13.
'• 2. Divine Sympathy and Succour. Heb. 4: 15, 16.
" 3. Patience and Faith. Heb. 10 : 36-38.
" 4. Walking with God. Gen. 5 : 22.
July I. The Bow in the Cloud. Gen. 9: 13.
" 2. Intercession. Gen. 18: 23-33. •
" 3. The Lord will Provide. Gen. 22 : 14. '
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I43
Prevailing Prayer. Gen. 32 : 24-32.
The Lord in the Prison. Gen. 39 : 21.
Our Short-sightedness. Gen. 42 : 36.
Faith and Worship. Ex. 4:31.
The Covenant-Keeping God. Ex. 6 : 2-8.
The Passover. Ex. 12.
The Ten Commandments. Ex. 20 : 1-17.
Holiness to the Lord. Ex. 28 : 36-43.
The Lord's Presence. Ex. 33: 14-17.
The Cloud and the Glory. Ex. 40 : 34-38.
A Noble Example. Num. 11 : 25-29.
The Smitten Rock. Num. 20 : 8-12.
Baalim's Empty Wish. Num. 23 : 10.
No Compromise. Num. 33 : 50-56.
Only Take Heed. Deut. 4: 9, 10.
God's Care of His People. Deut. 7 : 6-17.
Love of God's Word. Deut. ii : 18-25.
Courage from God. Deut. 20 : 1-8.
The First belongs to God. Deut. 26: i-ii.
Blessings upon Penitents. Deut. 30 : 1-16.
Result of Courage. Josh, i: 5-18.
Victory from God. Josh. 6 : 1-20.
Sin a Hindrance. Josh. 7 : 6-26.
Cities of Refuge.
Praise. Psalms.
The adoption of such a plan as this would prove a
powerful auxiliary to the daily cultivation of piety as
set forth in our fourth chapter. And it has these con-
spicuous merits, that it secures uniformity, that the
topics grow out of the daily readings, and that the
daily readings prepare for the topics and help to illus-
trate them. All in all it is a most admirable combin-
ation that cannot fail to recommend its adoption to all
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144 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
who are earnestly praying for salvation in Israel and
the more general establishment of our Redeemer's
kingdom. Fly, O thou angel having in charge to
preach the everlasting Gospel unto all them that
dw^ell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred
and tongue and people, and say to them all. Fear
God, honor and obey Him.
But whether we shall have uniform topics or not,
either on a limited or a general scale, let us have
interesting prayer- meetings. Let us set to work
with such earnestness and let us adopt such methods
as under the divine blessing shall secure them.
CHAPTER XVII.
Helps to Speaking in Public.
Those who attempt to speak hi pubhc for the first
time need to be told that the agitation of mind which
often accompanies the effort is not pecuhar to them-
selves, but is an experience common to all, or
nearly so, and is not to be taken as a sign that they
will never be able to sjDcak with freedom and delight.
There may be some who are natural orators, born
such, like the poet of whom Horace writes, and to
such nothing need be said. They take to speaking
as naturally as ducks to water. The perfect orator is
one who knows everything, and is ahvays prepared,
knows just what to say, how to say it, and when
to say it. His will power is so imperial that nothing
can daunt or subdue it; against whom the storms of
opposing faction be^t in vain. His sensibilities are
so tender that they are responsive to every emotion,
and so deep as to impress every hearer. He is like
the lake on whose surface every breeze makes an
impression, and from whose depths the storms stir up
146 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
the waves that sweep the sky and carry everything
along with them. The trembling heart and the
responsive eye give proper tones to expression and
suitable look and gesture to every action.
The majority of mankind are less gifted and need
to study and premeditate in order to know what to
say; they need to practice in order to learn how best
to say it, and by frequent trial on the waves of
extempore speech acquire the secret of speaking
with force, verve, precision and persuasion. If there
is any comfort in that, there are many examples of
those who at the outset have made miserable failures.
The case of Sheridan is well known. His " maiden
speech" in the House of Commons was a failure
that nearly drove him wild, but not to despair ; for he
immediately vowed "that it was in him and should
come out." He persevered and became one of the
most brilliant orators in English history. The life of
DisraeH, the present Earl Beaconsfield, furnishes an
example exactly similar to that of Sheridan's. It
is related of Livingstone, the African explorer, that
the first time he tried to preach for a minister who
was ill, he could get out nothing beyond the text, and
after repeated trials he walked down the steps of the
pulpit, took up his hat, and went away leaving ser-
mon and service unfinished. It is said that when the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I47
poet Longfellow visited London, he accepted the
compliment of a breakfast on the express condition
that there should be no public speaking. But some
clever man purposely laid a trap for him, got up
and toasted him in some very complimentary remarks.
These called for a response from the poet. In his
embarrassment he arose, attempted a speech, but
could get out nothing but something like this: " Gen-
tlemen, I thank you." When Dr. Windship, the
Yankee Hercules, first appeared with a lecture before
a Boston audience to tell how he had acquired his
immense strength, he was so overcome by the sight
of his audience as to faint in their presence; but
immediately upon recovering and learning the cause
of his discomfiture, he said : " What ! a man that
can lift two thousand pounds afraid of an audience,
impossible ! Let me ^o before them again, I will
and must tell them what I have to say " — and
tell them he did. John Stuart Mill frequently
halted in his speeches, and yet was a very forcible
and clear speaker. But I need not multiply in-
stances to prove that men of profound thought and
great ability have experienced great difficulty in
acquiring the habit of extempore speech.
The majority of those who have succeeded as pub-
lic speakers, have taken considerable pains to perfect
148 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
themselves in oratory. It is related of the Rev.
Joseph Cook by those w^ho know him intimately
that even when a mere boy he liked nothing better
than to go into the open air and speak extemporane-
ously on some random subject, and all through his
course of study at the academy and college he gave
particular attention to the practice of oratory. It is
said that Henry Clay in early life practiced in a barn
where the astonished cattle were his auditors. Dur-
ing many years Newman Hall spent fifteen minutes
each day in the practice of extempore speech, and
took his subject from whatever page of his Bible to
which he opened at random. The example of
Demosthenes is so often adduced as to be threadbare,
but yet no example is more pertinent; for he has
stood in all ages as the acknowledged master of elo-
quence. It was by the utmost diligence he became
such. You will remember how he spoke before the
waves of the surging sea, that the roar of a multitude
might cease to be terrifying; you will remember how
he overcame shortness of breath and an impediment
in speech by running up hill and articulating words
with pebbles in his mouth. Very pertinently has
Cicero condensed an all-important rule for success
into a threefold 2:)i'actice; for when asked, "What
was the first requisite for oratory?" he replied,
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I49
"Action." "What is the second?" "Action."
" What is the third ? " " Action. "
But as a general thing those who take part in a
prayer-meeting do not contemplate the acquisition ot
oratory to the extent in which the masters of elo-
quence have acquired it; they will be content if they
can speak upon a subject with comfort to themselves
and edification to others, and offer prayer in such
phrases as shall indicate their sincerity, and not show
that they have more zeal than knowledge. Let us
enumerate some principles that may serve as helps in
this direction.
An excellent help will be to meditate frequently
upon your subject, and even to pray over it. This
will prove a suitable soil for the reception of your
subject, out of which shall grow the tree of thought,
with its fruit of forcible expression for public speech.
Then again talk about your subject with others.
In efforts to explain it, suitable words will come, and
with them a fuller understanding of the subject, and
oft times new ideas from those with whom you con-
verse. Such exercise, like the whirl of the sling
before the stone is cast, or the bend of the bow
before the arrow flies, will give momentum to your
thought and send it to the brow of conviction.
And as you know what the subject will be on
150 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
which you desire to speak, gather up illustrations
from your own experience, from your walks in daily
life, from your work and business, and from the
company you keep. Keep your eyes and ears open,
and you will find " tongues in trees, books in the
running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in
-everything." Truly the attentive listener w ill hear
the grass grow, and at every step in life find illustra-
tions that shall prove feathers to guide the arrow of
discourse in its flight, and barbs to its head to make
it stick.
It will be wise also to read on your subject. If
you digest and assimilate what you read, this will
enrich your own thought, and make what you shall
say all the more valuable. It will also help you to
more accurate expression in speech, if you write on
your subject. " Reading maketh a full man, confer-
ence a ready man, and writing an exact man." But
if you write, it should not be with a view to commit-
ting it to memory ; for this will always keep you in
bondage, and prevent you from acquiring the larger
liberty of extempore speech. It was the maxim
of Pultenay, the first Earl of Bath, that there are
" few orators who commence with set speeches," and
in practicing on this rule he became one of the lead-
ing speakers in Parliament.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I5I
And these various parts in preparation will prove
so many steps by which your subject shall work
itself down into your own heart. The home of
eloquence is the heart; for like music, poetry and
painting, oratory springs from the heart. " The great-
est thoughts do not spring from the understanding,
but enter into it from the heart of man ; the heart is
the bud of the head." To be devoid of feeling is to
be devoid of eloquence. When we feel deeply, we
think clearly, and talk freely. " If you wish me to
weep," says Horace, " you must first weep yourself."
"My heart was hot within me," says the Psalmist;
"while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I
with my tongue." So likewise Jeremiah: " But his
word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in
my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and I
could not stay." Without heart in them, thoughts
may be ever so clear, but they will be lacking in that
warmth which eloquence engenders ; they may
dazzle, but they will come as cold as a beam of
light from an iceberg.
Another excellent rule for speech in the prayer-
meeting is this: be brief. This was Luther's sug-
gestive maxim : " Get up boldly ; open your mouth
widely; be done quickly." If you set out to speak
half an hour, you might find it very difficult to fill
T52 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
the time; but if you get up with something to say
that you must say, born of such preparation as has
been indicated, when you have poured out your
thought, stop. When you are through, have done.
There is many a man that does not know when
to stop, but flies Hke a wounded bird from bush
to bush till he drops by sheer exhaustion. John
Bright, " the great commoner," when interviewed
said, "the only part of my speech that I prepare in
set words is the conclusion. I always know how
and when I am going to stop." Be content to say
a few things well, rather than many poorly. When
it shall become the rule to speak as briefly as possible,
we shall find that we have more to say than we
thought we had, that it is easier to speak than
we thought it was, and that what we say goes
straighter to the mark than we thought it would.
And with reference to prayer, the same rules apply
as to speaking. Be brief in your petitions, seek
the guidance of the Spirit in the effort, pray in
the family and in the closet, and thus your voice
in prayer will not sound strange to your ears, and
prove mere words of the mouth rather than those
which have their source in the heart. Have some
purpose in your prayer, something to ask for, some-
thing to rejoice over, and something to give thanks
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 53
for. Study the models of prayer to be found in
the Bible and seek to enter into the spirit of their
petitions.
A full and comprehensive prayer may include:
" Adoring the glory and perfection of God ; giving
thanks to him for all his mercies, general and par-
ticular, spiritual and temporal, common and special,
above all, for Christ Jesus, his unspeakable gift, and
the hope of eternal life through him; making humble
confession of sin and earnest supplication for the
pardon of sin, for peace with God, and for the fruit
of the Spirit; pleading from every principle war-
ranted in Scripture, from our necessity, and the
all-sufficiency of God; and intercession for others,
the growth of the church, the welfare of society, and
the urgent interests of that community to which we
immediately belong." But every prayer need not
include all these particulars, as is evident from the
prayers of vScripture; but such parts as our immediate
object in prayer may require. For the Bible gives
us three classes of models : first, those that are very
brief, hardly more than a sentence, like the publican's
prayer; second, those of medium length, like the
"Lord's Prayer;" and third, those of greater length,
like the prayer of dedication by Solomon, the con-
11
154 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
fession and prayer of Daniel, — or the high-priestly
prayer of the Lord.
But whatever be the result of your attempts to
speak in public, do not be discouraged. Do not be
prevented from having your say, though your mind
be agitated, and the trepidation promises to stick by
you through life. The agitation of your mind may
arise from constitutional peculiarities. It is difficult
to control one's temperament and compel shaking
knees to stand still. But this will prove no serious
hindrance to your success as a speaker, if you will
only accept it as a fact, and press forward with
invincible resolution. Cicero has said of himself,
that " he grew pale at the beginning of a speech, and
felt a tremor in every part of his frame." And ot
his first attempt he said, " I was so intimidated, that
(I speak it with the highest sense of gratitude)
Quintus Maximus adjourned the Court, when he per-
ceived me thus oppressed and disabled with concern."
Nor are some of the bravest and boldest ministers,
who have seen years of service, strangers to this
perturbation. " I am now an old man," said Luther,
" and have been a long while occupied in preaching ;
but I never ascend the pulpit without a tremor."
It is a twice-told tale. There are none who can-
not become forcible speakers, if they set out with
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 55
a determination to conquer, if it takes all summer.
*' The gods sell us every thing for labor," says an old
Greek proverb. Intelligent and continuous practice
will achieve success and produce a certain measure of
freedom. Perhaps the example of Mr. Moody is as
good as any that can be found in the way of encour-
agement. One could hardly have more obstacles in
the way than he had. Mr. William Reynolds, of
Peoria, related the following interesting reminiscence
at a convention held in Canada three or four years
ago : " The first meeting I ever saw him at, was in a
little old shanty that had been abandoned by a saloon-
keeper. Mr. Moody had got the place to hold a
meetingr in at nisfht. I went there a little late: and
the first thing I saw was a man standing up, with
a few tallow candles aiound him, holding a negro
boy, and trying to read to him the story of the
Prodigal Son; and a great many of the words he
could not make out, and had to skip. I thought, if
the Lord can ever use such an instrument as that for
His honor and glory, it will astonish me. After that
meeting was over Mr. Moody said to me, 'Reynolds,
I have got only one talent : I have no education, but
1 love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I want to do some-
thing for Him ; and I want you to pray for me.' I
have never ceased from that day to this, morning and
T56 THE PRAYER-MEETING
night, to pray for that devoted Christian soldier. I
have watched him since then, have had counsel with
him, and know him thoroughly; and for consistent
walk and conversation I have never met a man to
equal him. It astounds me when I look back and
see what Mr. Moody was thirteen years ago, and
then what he is under God to-day — shaking Scotland
to its very centre, and reaching now over to Ireland.
The last time I heard from him, his injunction was,
'Pray for me everyday; pray now that God will
keep me humble.' "
Public speaking at the outset may prove like the
efforts of a boy learning to skate. It is attended with
many a fall and bruise; but presently that which in
the beginning was so slow and dangerous, becomes
safe and delightful. How well I remember what a
pleasure skating became after I had learned how to
skate. With what bounding joy I rushed forward,
the moment I caught sight of the river, with what
eager haste I buckled on my skates, and with what
ecstacy of delight I fiew away over the frozen field as
it lay beneath my feet like a mirror glittering in the
sun — " it was a thing of beauty and a joy forever."
Is not the experience of Mr. Moody something
like this? It cannot now be otherwise than the
greatest joy for him to speak with such freedom.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 57
power, and perfect command of himself and his audi-
ence. Be content to fail a number of times, if that is
necessary, but " don't give up the ship." Be encour-
aged by his noble example, and no longer let " I dare
not wait upon I would : "
*' I would, but cannot sing,
I would, but cannot pray,"
I would, but cannot speak.
With reasonable effort and perseverance, we shall
conquer a reasonable and enjoyable fluency in
speech and prayer — not for its owm sake, but that as
living witnesses to the power of truth, God may take
our words and make them suitable instruments of per-
suasion to the edification of the church, the conversion
of sinners, and the advancement of His Kingdom.
CHAPTER XVIII.
How TO Secure Attendance.
In many of our churches there is the largest attend-
ance in the morning; the evening service is left to
take care of itself. And if this is so for the Sabbath,
what shall we say for the prayer-meeting? The
audience rooms of the churches are all too large, and
only those are used for the Wednesday evening meet-
ings where no lecture-rooms are attached. The
prayer-meeting in the main room of the church
would sim^^ly be lost, and the leader, like Diogenes,
would have to take a lantern in order to hunt up the
people and find where to stand while conducting the
exercises.
This statement is as true for England as for Amer-
ica. Let us adduce testimony. "How are the
prayer-meetings almost universally neglected!"
says Spurgeon. " Our own church stands out like an
almost solitary green islet in the midst of a dark,
dark, sea ; one bright pearl in the depths of an ocean
of discord and confusion. Look at the neighboring
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 59
churches. Step into the vestry, and see a smaller
band of people than you would like to think of,
assembled around the pastor, whose heart is dull and
heavy. Hear one brother after another pour out the
dull, monotonous prayer that he has said by heart
these fifty years; and then go away and say: * Where
is the spirit of prayer, where the life of devotion?'
Is it not almost extinct? Are not our churches
'fallen, fallen, fallen from their high estate?' God
wake them up, and send them more earnest and
praying men!"
But, if it is the duty of the pastor to preach on
Sabbath evenings, is it not the duty of the church to
attend? Is there more room than they can fill?
Then why did they build the church too large ? If it
is the duty of the church to have a prayer-meeting, is
it not the duty of all the church members to attend
and do their best to make it as successful as possible ?
In a few churches, very happily, there are found
the " sons of thunder " to fill them with their elo-
quence, and the question with them is not how to
make the people attend, but how to let them in and
make room for them. Now these men of fire will
play around the gilt rods of the highest steeples, and
those who live in provincial towns, on the heath or
in the backwoods need not look for such displays to
l6o THE PRAVER-MEETING.
fill their houses. Let them accept the situation and
be content with such good men as the Lord shall be
pleased to send them. The people are not helpless;
if they will only set to work, what is to prevent them
from filling the lecture-room and the church on
every occasion? There is nothing at all. "Let us
go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to
overcome it. " In God's name and with God's help
let us hold and occupy the field. If eloquence is
lacking, if fine music is lacking ; let us fall back upon
the good old Gospel and our own duties under it.
But be well assured, if you allow one-half or one-
third of the church to perform all the duties of the
church, there is but a small blessing in store for
your church. " Curse ye Meroz, said the angel
of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants
thereof; because they came not to the help of the
Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. "
If we cannot make the evening attendance on the
church and the prayer-meeting a self-executing priv-
ilege let us bring it into the domain of duty. With
this end in view let the people pledge themselves to
attend. Let a covenant be prepared to emphasize
the importance of a full attendance in such terms as
shall meet the exigencies of the case, and then let
some judicious persons take it around among the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. l6l
people for signatures. After these have been secured,
the pastor can have the pledge printed on a card and
a copy returned to each signer with a brief letter
exhorting each to keep in mind what has been
pledged, and to seek divine guidance in its full per-
formance.
Let us sketch an outline of such a pledge :
We, the undersigned, do each and severally covenant together,
that the woi-k of God may not suffer from our neglect, to faithfully,
regularly and punctually attend all the public services of the church
on Sabbath morning and evening, and also and especially the meet-
ing for prayer on the week-day evening. We agree that the only
excuses for non-attendance shall be such as will approve themselves
to our conscience at the time, and as we trust will pass muster on
the great review day above.
We also promise to study the topic for the prayer-meeting, and
take such part in its social worship as our duty shall indicate. We
are God's witnesses, and as such we desire to speak and pray that
eventually our duty may prove a pleasure and participation more a
privilege than an unwelcome burden. But whether we take part or
not, we will not forsake " the assembling of ourselves "together, as
has been the manner of some from the beginning, unless unavoid-
able circumstances prevent us from meeting with the brethren in
public assembly.
We also promise that we will not only come ourselves, but also
by the grace of God helping us, we will invite and endeavor to
bring others with us, that thus the rooms of the church may be
filled and the rich blessings of God's love and mercy may be as
widely distributed in our community as possible (Rev. 22 : 17).
And we also promise that if we are absent from any stated meet-
ing we shall always be ready to speak to our pastor or our brethren
in the Lord about such absence, and that any inquiry into our
excuses by them shall not give us offence, but be thankfully received
1 62 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
by us and esteemed one of the means whereby to provoke unto love
and good works.
All this we covenant and agree in the sight of God, who reads
our hearts and will approve or condemn our motives according as
He sees them to be sincere or not.
Signed, _
In this matter we need to carry the standard pretty
well up to the front. And no one need doubt bqt
that such fidelity in the discharge of duties as this
would secure among all the members would soon fill
the church, and wonderfully stimulate the Christian
zeal of all in a community. In one of the fierce
battles in the South, so it is related, a colored soldier
stood with the banner well up in the front. An
ofiicer, fearing that the ensign would be captured,
cried out in the thick of the fight, " Come back with
that flag!" " Massa, cap'n," the dusky hero re-
plied, "this yeah flag never go back; bring up
dem men dar!" " Dem men dar" came up to the
support of their colors, and turned the tide of defeat
into a well-earned victory.
My Christian brother, carry the standard well up
to the front, and then bring up those non-attending
and nomadic members from the fields, the woods,
and the rear, into rank and file, around the uplifted
standard of the Cross — and who has ever rallied
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 65
round an ensign more glorious and inspiring? — and
the tide of battle will be successfully turned into a
victory for every church that is now feeble and
despondent. Come to the prayer-meeting whether
you take part or not. There may be sufficient
reason for your silence, but you can always speak by
your presence. To be always at the prayer-meeting
is an action as eloquent as any speech.
Let church attendance be the last active out-door
duty from which you will retire. Have a resolute
mind and an luiconquerable spirit, and you will live
all the longer for such activity; and what is more,
you will enjoy your old age, and we shall hear little
about your influence being lost, and you yourself
laid on the shelf. Old age need not and should not
come to thee to wither up thy faculties, and make
thy days long and wearisome. In attendance on the
prayer-meeting be as hale and tough as old hickory.
Just here we happen to know what can be done if
there be first the willing and decisive mind. We
know an entire family that during two years lived
six miles from church, and yet they regularly attended
the prayer-meeting, driving twelve miles to do so, in
summer as in winter, in moonshine as in darkness,
over a dangerous road. But you live six blocks from
164 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
church, and call it far! Simeon and Anna, when we
read of them, were very old, yet their daily attend-
ance on the temple at morning and evening sacrifice
ceased not on that account. Simeon doubtless found
it a trial on his strength to go up the hill to the top
of Moriah, where stood the glorious temple of God ;
and it may be that Anna found it a sort of self-
denial to continue in the temple, serving " God with
fastings and prayers night and day;" but, O how
precious was their reward! Ere they withdrew from
active life, they were both permitted to see the Lord's
Anointed, to hold him lovingly in their arms, and
to speak of him " to all them that looked for redemp-
tion in Jerusalem."
There are many in our churches — and it- is delight-
ful to see them — who are as regular as the seasons in
attendance upon the public services of God's house.
They have a place there, and are always in it, irre-
spective of the weather, — may their tribe increase.
If you look for them in their place and see them not,
you are either growing blind or something like a
land-slide has taken place between their house and
the church.
And perhaps it will not be out of place to give just
one instance of the working of the pledge for church
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 65
and prayer-meeting attendance. It is done with no
intention of finding fault with the church that origi-
nated the method, but rather to hold them up as an
example of great wisdom, and, under the circumstan-
ces, to praise them for the important discovery they
have made. "The Calvary Presbyterian Church" of
vSpringfield, Mo., is the leading church in its Presby-
tery, and well-known for its labors of love and self-
sacrifice ; but its members had fallen into the habit so
common in all our city churches, of absenting them-
selves from the evening services in considerable num-
bers. Their pastor-elect, in this view of the case, felt
it to be his duty to resign. But the church would
not permit this, and especially so when they learned
the reason. They called a meeting of the congre-
gation and immediately applied a remedy for non-
attendance in the shape of a pledge which was drawn
up and signed : it was handed to the pastor, and of
course the ground of his action was removed. He
then prefixed a letter to the pledge and had both
printed together on a card, so that a copy might be
sent to each one of the orisfinal sigfners. The folio w-
ing is a literal copy of that card :
I 66 TH?: PRAYER-MEETING.
" Brethren, be not weary in well-doing."
Bear
The following Pledge was handed to me with your
name signed to it. The good Lord is pleased with
our vows made to Him, when He sees us earnestly
1
trying to keep them. Believing that a frequent
C/3
t5
reading of this solemn Pledge to which you have
o
subscribed your name will assist you to carry it out^
0
en
>
I herewith send you a copy of it. Please read Psalm
3-
13
Ixvi., 12 ; Psalm Ixxvi., ii ; Psalm cxvi., 14.
*-<
3
O
Your Pastor,
C. H. DUNLAP.
Q-
<4-(
O
bx)
2
g
PLEDGE.
0
We now pledge ourselves to self-examination and
^0"
0
•^
prayer, that the Holy Spirit may come into our
r^*
o
hearts; to seek His enlightening power, that we may
g.
c
see our duty as believers, and to impart to us such
3"
a sense of our obligations to our Lord as will enable
05
us to engage heartily in all Christian work, by a
^
O
more regular attendance upon all the services of the
§.
tn
sanctuary, by the cultivation of the grace of benev-
orq'
olence, and by seeking such a spirit of love to all
^
th;\t we shall set a watch upon our lips and hearts.
* -J
that all evil speaking, with all bitterness, may be
put away from us.
"Lo! I am with you always."
THE PRAYER-iMEETING. I 67
So far as we know, the result of this action has
come up to their most sanguine expectations. The
evening services were at once well attended, the pas-
tor was greatly encouraged — for to preach to slim
audiences in the evening is the severest trial of the
pastor's duty — the people were delighted by the new
tokens of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
and with increased hopefulness the work began to go
forward in their midst. Both pastor and people are
entitled to honorable mention for having so happily
and harmoniously solved the difficulty, and their
discovery is one that should not be lost to the church
at lage.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;
prove your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in
you, except ye be reprobates." — 2 Cor. 13: >
CHAPTER XIX.
How Prayer-Meetings are kept at a White
Heat.
"How are prayer-meetings kept at a white heat?'" — Corres-
pondent.
To answer the above question in a very practical
way, we detailed a ministerial reporter to visit
several of the most successful prayer-meetings in
New York and Brooklyn. We transfer the follow-
ing from his note-book:
At Fulton Street noon-day prayer-meeting, which
has met every business day at noon for the past
twenty years, we found in attendance about one
hundred people, mostly business men. The meeting
began punctually at i o'clock to the minute. No
speech or prayer was allowed to exceed five minutes.
A portion of Scri2:>ture, carefully prepared by a pre-
viously appointed leader, was read and commented
on very briefly and j^ointedly. Requests for prayer,
twenty or thirty, were read from the desk, others
were made verbally by speakers. Prayers were
earnest. Every minute was occupied. No loud talk-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 69
ing, noise or excitement, but thie deepest kind of
earnestness was manifested. The assembly had the
appearance of a meeting of a lot of earnest business
men who had come together to talk over some vital
business matter. The leading spirits of this meeting
are men of conviction; men who are as sure God
answers prayer as they are that the sun is shining
above the clouds at noon to-day. Promptness, eager-
ness, earnestness, common business sense applied to
A religion, faith, and the consequent presence of the
Spirit of God, keep this meeting at " white heat."
The prayer-meeting at the Brooklyn tabernacle is,
perhaps, more largely attended than any other in the
world. We found about two thousand people in
attendance; it was a threefold meeting, and lasts
from 75^ to 91^ o'clock. The first half hour is spent
in congregational singing — singing the hymns for
the following services: (This church has no choir,
but is led in its singing by the organ and a precentor)
From 8 to 8^ o'clock. Dr. Talmage delivers a pre-
pared and, to his audience, an exceedingly interesting
" review of the secular events of the week from a
religious standpoint." This review is gotten up in a
popular lecture style, and helps to draw the crowds.
At the conclusion of the lecture the audience has per-
mission to retire or remain for the prayer-meeting
12
I 70 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
proper. The lecture bait has evidently caught many.
Curiosity is excited, so the larger proportion of the
great audience remain. Dr. Talmage takes his seat
on the front of the platform and calls upon some
brother, who has the gift to make a brief, earnest,
sympathetic prayer, to pray. The leader keeps the
reins well in hand: "I would like to take testimony
to-night whether Christianity is true or not. The
Bible says that those who are faithful Christians will
know that Christianity is true. There are those here
whom you know to be honest men; men who would
scorn to bear false testimony. They have been
Christians for twenty, thirty, fifty years. Now, what
say they? Do they know by experience that
Christianity is a truth? You would take their testi-
mony on any other matter. There is no judge in this
city who would not deem them capable witnesses.
Here is a matter of which they say they have posi-
tive knowledge. They are capable witnesses." One
after another of aged Christians was called upon to
bear testimony concerning his experimental knowl-
edge of the truth of the .religion of Jesus. Younger
men testified. Brief exhortations by the pastor, and
others in the same line of thought followed. Prayers,
pointed and brief, were made for the immediate con-
version of the unconverted present. Then, those
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I7I
desiring the prnycrs of God's people were requested
to stand up. Fifty or more arose. After an earnest
prayer by the pastor, the meeting adjourned. The
prayer-meeting proper lasted three-quarters of an
hour.
Here also they have found the secret of keeping a
prayer-meeting at "white heat."
— Metropolitan Pulpit.
CHAPTER XX.
Treatment of the Monthly Concert.
The Gospel needs of the world are so great and
important, that a place for their consideration ought
to be given them in the scheme of topics. Now it is
so well known that the monthly concert for missions
will be a dry presentation of facts and figures, that
people more readily stay away on those evenings
than any other. We have only to improve this treat-
ment and make it pleasing, as well as instructive,
in order to arouse the attention of the church and
secure fuller attendance.
We have already adverted to a general plan by
which the concert can be made more interesting than
it usually is, but some additional particulars may here
be specified which shall give a growing interest to
the monthly presentation of the missionary subjects.
The concert should be made the occasion for the
study of history. I suppose none of us know toa
much about the history of lands other than our own.
Each month we have a particular field under view.
Let us investigate certain subjects connected with
the history of that portion of the world, such as its Ian-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 73
guage, literature, religion, social condition, and pol-
itical relations. Let us take India, for example. We
may profitably study from year to year such subjects
as these : The history of India from the earliest
times; the importance of the discovery of the new
way to India by the Cape of Good Hope; the char-
tering of the East India Company by Queen Eliza-
beth; the licence granted to this company by the
Great Mogul to establish a trading-post in India;
the steps by which this populous and extended region
was opened for the Gospel; the rule of the East
India Company; the impeachment of Warren Hast-
ings; how was their opposition to the spread of the
Gospel finally overcome? the struggle over renewal
of charter in 1S13; the Crimean War and its results;
the Sepoy Rebellion; the extinction of the Com-
pany's rule and the elevation of Victoria as sovereign
of India in 1858; her elevation to be Empress of India
in 1877; the civilization of India under British rule;
the labors of this and that missionary in India, etc.
Nor will it be out of place to devote time to the
study of geography in its two branches of physical
and descriptive — the climate and the products of the
soil in their relation to civilization and religion — hin-
drances in the way of civilizing Africa from climate —
is not a more moderate or colder climate more favor-
able?— the explorations and discoveries of Living-
174 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
stone and Stanley in Africa — physical geograph}'^ as
modified by human action. Thus in China, at the
present, the lamentable famine by which thousands
are perishing has been caused by the destruction of
the forests in that sadly-stricken region. In former
times, the hills which " fringe that vast plateau, now
the seat of famine, were covered with thick woods*
They have been entirely cleared. From Pekin to
Hankow, a distance of 700 miles, scarcely a tree or
shrub is to be seen." As a result of such wasteful
destruction, 70,000,000 of people in this thickly settled
region are in want of food, and some 9,000,000 of
them are actually starving. This is a lesson that
should not be lost on the people of the United States.
"Woodman, spare that tree."
Again, the concert will give excellent opportunity
for the study of comparative religion. There are
about a dozen different religions of mankind. What
are the distinctive features of each? Five of these,
for example, are found in India — Brahminism, Mo-
hammedanism, Buddhism, Chrstianity and Parsee-
ism. The three essentially missionary religions of
the world — Christianity, Mohammedanism and Budd-
hism— are here confronting each other, and struggling
for supremacy. What will be the result? By methr
ods of research like these, we shall become better
acquainted with the moral condition of the great unr
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 75
christian world, and the churches will be progressively
enlightened about its immediate and pressing needs.
And finally, a brief presentation of what is being
accomplished yearly in each field will be useful to
awaken an interest and give it intelligent direction;
and from such knowledge of struggles and hindrances,
defeats and triumj^hs, hopes and encouragements, the
church will learn better both how to pray and how to
contribute.
The annual recurrence of the same missionary
fields should not call for a repetition of the same
thoughts, but should afford the occasion for the pro-
gressive presentation of new lines in history, religion,
geography, government and achievements. To re-
vive a missionary zeal in the churches, we need only
to pour in a flood of light upon these subjects, and as
a result, under the divine blessing, such a prayerful
interest will be maintained in the world-wide diffusion
of the Gospel as shall advance the cause of truth
both at home and abroad.
" Watchman, tell me does the mornmg
Of fair Z ion's glory dawn ;
Have the signs that mark His coming
Yet upon my pathway shone ?
Pilgrim, yes, arise, look round thee,
Light is breaking in the skies;
Spurn the unbelief that bound thee,
Morning dawns, arise, arise!"
CHAPTER XXI.
Laying Out Work.
It has been claimed by an English clergyman,*
that the church of to-day has lost its early and prac-
tical character, and hence fails to accomplish her full
work. He objects that it is all preaching and no work.
" The kind of meeting to which this pointed (Heb.
lo: 24, 25) was a meeting in which everybody who
chose had a voice, in which everybody who had any
advice or information or exhortation to give was free
to give, and was expected to give it." " To provoke
unto love and good works," to consider one another,
to take steps for the relief of their poor, the succor of
their sick, the instruction of the young, the conversion
of their heathen friends, the advancement of their
faith, the promotion of every scheme which an enthu-
siastic philanthropy suggested for making the world
better and happier, — this was the business which
brought them together. They did not meet as we
do to sing psalms, pray and hear a sermon, and go
*Rev. J. Service.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 77
avvav home till next Sunday. Their meetings did
not end as ours reij^ularly and systematically do, in
nothin^^ at all. And so, he reasons, we ought to
introduce a more popular and practical element into
our service. " If we were united," he goes on to say,
*' in the loosest sort of way, united as a congregation
in an endeavor to further Christian objects, to relieve
the poor, to comfort the sick, to instruct the ignorant,
to reclaim the erring, to remove temptation out of the
way of the young, to promote decency, sobriety,
honesty, truth, gentleness, — if we were ever so loosely
united as a congregation in this endeavor, it is impos-
sible, being as many as we are, that we should not
accomplish something. Now if there were this kind
of business first, and devotion followed, or if business
and devotion were somehow combined in the order
of our Sunday services, we should have what gives
zest to meetings for other and inferior purposes, — the
sense that we are dealing with what is immediate and
of practical utility to ourselves and others. Were we
able to report to-day that some work for the poor, or
the sick, or the ignorant, or the tempted had been
done by us since last Sunday, or had we now met to
spend part of our time in considering what work of
that kind might be attempted by us this week, I
need not say our meeting would be more lively, for
178 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
one thing, than our meethigs usually are, and not the
least so in respect of our devotion. In carrying on
our work the practical and useful would come to the
aid of devotion; devotion would aid work; we should
meet difficulties, and pray the better on account of
them; we should have some success, and because of
it sing a more hearty song." This he contends was
the purpose for which the primitive Christians came
together on the first day of the week, and this was
the nature of their worship — a meeting in which all
had a voice for the transactions of business, for report-
ing what had been done and for suggesting what
might be done on the coming week; and hence they
were so successful and grew in number so rapidly.
Now this criticism might be more applicable to a
church which held no week-day meetings for con-
ference, prayer and exhortation, without a Sabbath
school, and with a changing congregation. We are
thankfully to receive every suggestion that might aid
a church to do more than it is doing for Christ and
humanity — and there is probably no church but might
do a little more than it is doing — but with the various
meetings and schools which we have, there is less
occasion for any change in the order and nature of our
public services on the Sabbath. The church is a
continuous organization and does not pass out of
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I 79
existence when her members go home to dine, or
when the doors are closed at night for another week*
And there is not so much cliangc in the congregation
either, except in the hirger cities ; so that the great
majority of our churches are continuous organizations
for work. We have the Sabbath school for instruc-
tion and a more intimate acquaintance with the facts
and principles of the Bible. There remains, then, a
need for just such pulpit ministrations as are now
given on the Lord's Day, that thus the Spirit of God
may make " the preaching of the Word an effectual
means of convincins: and converting; sinners, and of
building them up in holiness and comfort, through
faith, unto salvation."
In some churches there are industrial schools
where the young are regularly instructed in certain
departments of home work, in neatness and cleanli-
ness, and when cases of want and distress occur, they
are looked after and relieved, and not only kind words
are spoken, but also something to wear is given.
In most churches the ladies meet weekly from
house to house for prayer and conference. The
neighbors are invited in to participate, and in this way
strangers are reached and new opportunities for doing-
good are discovered. And then there are the weekly
prayer-meetings of the church, which present
l8o THE PRAYER-MEETING.
abundant opportunity for doing just such work, or
planning for it, as was suggested for the Sunday
service, and which, it seems to us, is more appropriate
for such a time and meeting.
We might, perhaps, with great advantage to our-
selves, introduce this feature into our prayer-meetings
for a few minutes, or so many as should be needed,
might be allotted for this purpose towards the close
of the meeting, in which members might report what
Christian work they had done, or were doing,
whether they had been helpful to any, or had tried
to be, to relieve the poor, to comfort the sick, to
reclaim the erring, to remove temptation from the
young, to promote the many good works for lack of
which humanity lies suffering and bleeding, and to
suggest what might be done while the week is still
in progress; for in all these respects the church may
prove herself a power for good in every community,
and a fountain from which shall flow streams of
blessing, sweetness and kindness. But in recounting
work of this kind it would be very needful — and one
could not be too careful, — to avoid the Pharisaic
spirit, as illustrated by the parable of the Pharisee
and the Publican, Luke 18: 9-14. But when the
Christian is eaten up with zeal for the Lord's house
and the Lord's work, he will run to and fro on the
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I Si
Lord's business and esteem the service a gladsome
privilege.
There are also other branches for beneficence in the
machinery of the church — wheels w^ithin wheels —
such as missionary bands, societies and officers in the
church. These are set as watchmen upon the walls
of our church that they may more readily discern
what is useful and needful to do and to be done. We
cannot, then, with so many arms and hands for work,
complain of their lack, but rather of our failure to
reach them out in as many helpful directions as the
suffering needs of humanity require. Yes, the church
is an organization for work. We are to be helpful to
one another both spiritually and temporally. The
church is the grandest of all organizations, because
it is the body of Christ; and if there is any society
that claims to be useful, the church should be all that
and more.
We should have a watchful interest in each other,
in the children and youth of the congregation, and
ever seek to improve them, ever seek to help them in
honorable and needful ways, so. that they may be
able to help themselves, and in their turn to be able
to help others. When any one is out of employment
and in need of place and work, we should be ready
with kind words, hopeful sympathy and actual soiici-
t82 the prayer-meeting.
tation in their behalf. The true economy of life is to
help others in such a way that they can help them-
selves. It is not so much charity they need as work
and compensation.
Now it may be easier to send your money to the
heathen, and delegate others to do good for you, than
to take such personal interest in those right about
you, that when they are in pressing need their wants
shall receive immediate attention. And so it is re-
ported of a wealthy firm in one of the great cities of
the land, the members of which are pillars in a
church — whose integrity no man questions — that they
had had a man in their service until he became old
and sick, and being unable to work, they stopped his
salary, and he and his family were brought to the
verge of starvation. Their attention was called to his
condition, and a few dollars were sent for his relief;
but it was a mere mite in contrast wih their munifi-
cent contributions to the charities of their church; and
had it not been for the aid and sympathy of his fellow-
clerks, he would have died, and received burial as a
pauper. As it was, through their benevolence, the
old man was supported comfortably while he lived,
and in death received those kindly attentions which
the heart loves to bestow on the objects of its care.
The giving of large sums of money to a public charity
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 83
attracts more notice and gains more fame than giving
it for the benefit of some poor gamin — some Peter,
John, or Paul — that has fallen among thieves on the
road to Jericho. While so much money is sent to the
bush men of Africa or elsewhere, is there no one to
take a personal interest in the tramp on the road to
Jericho, the roustabout on a Mississippi steamer, the
w^aif of the street whose home is a dry-goods box, or
the orphan that sweeps the crossings, and begs a
penny from my lord or lady as they pass on dry-shod
and unsoiled. It is so much easier to weep over
pictured misery in the South Sea Islands, than shed
tears over the boot-black in 3'our own cit}^, whose
scant earnings may buy bread and butter for some
invalid mother or destitute sister. We all need to
read and lay to heart the Parable of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-37).
The prayer-meeting will afford excellent oppor-
tunity to speak of just such cases as need help, work
and sympathy. But if it be not proper to make such
business a part of its exercises, it certainly will not be
out of place to spend five or ten minutes after the
close of each meeting in social intercourse about such
charitable work as the church ought to undertake
and prosecute. How easy it would be in this way to
engender and stimulate a zeal for the thorough visita-
184 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
tion of the district in which the church is located, in
order to discover both the temporal and the spiritual
wants of the neighboring community. How easy it
would be to create an enthusiasm in works of benev-
olence, if such opportunity were given in connection
with the discovery of wants and the comparison of
notes. How easy it would be to fill up our churches,
our Sabbath-schools and our prayer-meetings. It is
not the ability that we lack, so much as the inclination
and the zeal. God will give all the grace that such
undertakings require as fast as the grace He has
already given is used. Look at the zeal of Moody
when a young convert. " His first effort was to hire
four pews in Plymouth Church, Chicago, and keep
them full of young men every Sunday;" and then
next, to fill up a mission school on the North Side,
and he has kept at this business of filling up churches
ever since.
" Then shall the King say unto them on his right
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world :
for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was
thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and
yfe took me in; naked and ye clothed me; I was sick
and ye visited mc; I was in prison and ye came unto
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 85
me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?
or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a
stranger, and took thee in? Or naked and clothed
thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and
came unto thee? And the King shall answer and
say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me." — Matt. 25:
34—40-
13
CHAPTER XXII.
Hints New and Old.
The following hints have been selected by way
of review, and to emphasize some things of chief
value to be looked after in the conduct of the prayer-
meeting. " To every man his work." " England
expects every man to do his duty." " Go work to-
day in my vineyard."
/. Attendance^ &€.
1. Arrange your affairs so as to attend the prayer-
meeting, and be sure to come, unless under the same
circumstances you would have to break a social or
business engagement.
2. Come yourself. Bring your children. "The
pra3^er-meeting is not complete without the children,
any more than the family circle."
3. If you are entertaining friends, bring your
visitors with you, and let the church give them a
rousing social welcome after the meeting is closed.
4. Bring some unconverted friend with you, and
pray for a blessing upon him before the meeting
closes.
THE TRAYER-MEETING. I 8/
5. Come early, if possible; if not, come late; but
by all means come early.
6. Come to the meeting in the sj^irit of prayer,
'and with the desire to take a part, should time and
opportunity be given. " Those meetings have been
the best that have been preceded by the most prayer."
7. Let the seats in front and near the leader be
taken first. Sit side by side, and if there are to be
any vacant chairs, let them be in the rear of the
room. There is no rule for the success of religious
meetings that Christians are slower to act upon than
this — always to fill the front seats first and closely
pack them. It seems a trivial thing, but it is a matter
of prime importance. What kind of sociability
would there be in a house if a dozen guests should
sit down each in a room b}^ himself, and then try to
talk and be social through the doors and across the
hall. Scatter the embers and they go out; draw
them together and they burn and glow. The fingers
in a mitten warm each other; in a glove they are
chilled by separation.
8. Never give a concert, lecture, or other enter-
tainment the preference if they come on the same
evening as the prayer-meeting. Let the prayer-
meeting be first.
9. Study and pray over the topic for the week,
1 88 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
that you may fill your mind with its precious truth,
and make the prayer-meeting itself a theme of fre-
quent conversation with your family and friends dur-
ing the week.
10. Open and close the meeting promptly. If any
indulgence is to be made, let it be in favor of a shorter
rather than a longer session.
11. Occasionally devote five minutes or so at the
close of the meeting for reports on work, or for new
plans for work. There should also be an opportunity
given somewhere in every meeting for a man to speak
or pray whose heart is full and must find utterance,
whether he is down on the programme or not.
12. Carefully exclude controversy and contradic-
tion. The prayer-meeting is not a debating society.
13. As the weekly prayer-meeting is the gather-
ing together of the household of Christ for growth in
grace, for worship, and for mutual sympathy, let all
restraint, formality and criticism be left outside.
Don't let them cross the threshold. See Heb. 4 : 16.
14. But if all your efforts to wake up the mind of
the church to the importance of prompt and full
attendance on the prayer-meeting should fail, intro-
duce the "League and Covenant" for attendance;
and if that will not secure the hoped-for result, you
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 1 89
may conclude that you have sufficient reason as
pastor to seek a different field of labor.
//. Variety.
In order not to have any monotony in the exercises
from week to week, it will be wise to change them,,
and to a certain extent have the meetings, as they
proceed, vary as to their nature. We place here,
what has previously been given on this head.
1. Conduct the meeting in the usual way. Cus-
tom has endeared it, and it may be really valuable.
2. If the topic be suitable, use it as the theme for
a Bible reading.
3. Have a set programme, in which you have a
place for one or two old men, for one or two middle-
aged men, and for one or two young men, who have
promised to attend and speak to the topic. Arrange
also for two or three to pray for some urgent want of
the church and congregation.
4. Announce for the next meeting that everything
shall be voluntary, and just as soon as the topic has
been developed, and the supply of participants ceases,
stop the meeting, though you are but half through
the hour; at all events, don't run beyond the time.
5. If you have a missionary topic, arrange for the
reading of several letters, essays, etc.
190 THE FRAYER-MEETING.
6. If the season be suitable, arrange for a praise
meeting, a promise meeting, a seed-time meeting, a
*' harvest-home " meeting, a memorial or Ebenezer
meeting, and the like.
7. Occasionally have a new leader conduct the
meeting. Such variety as this vs^ould introduce into
the meetings would give life, animation and interest
to them. The people would assemble each time in
expectation of something new, and in this would not
be disappointed.
///. Procedure.
1. "How is it then, brethren, when 3^e come
together? " " Let everything be done unto edifjang."
2. How can we cherish a sense of the Divine
Presence in every meeting? Do we expect Christ to
meet with us? How can we secure the aid and co-
operation of the Holy Spirit, for without Him our
meeting will be in vain, and worse than in vain?
As aids to an answer, we ought to read, ponder and
pray over such texts of Scripture as these: Matt. 18:
19, 20; Hos. 10:12; Hab. 3:3; Zech. 4:6; Mark
1:24; Rom. 8:26, 27; Eph. 5 : 18; Jas. 5: 16; and
Luke II : I9-I3. Ought not the prayers, then, at the
opening of the meeting to be burdened with petitions
that God will hear us and grant us the presence of
His Son and His Spirit?
THE PRAYER-MEETING. IQI
3. Brevity in remarks and prayers is essential
both to the interest of the meeting and its prompt
dismissal. It is well to have as large a number as
possible participate, so that, while the exercises have
-unity, they may not lack variety. Lengthy remarks
generally become prosy, and long prayers are a de-
parture from the models given in the Bible. "The
prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple —
perhaps the longest prayer in the Bible — did not
occupy much over five minutes. " But when ye
pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do : for
they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking." Experience has shown that from three to
five minutes, on an average, is as much time as each
one ought to use in taking part ; and hence an address
should make up in quality for what it lacks in quan-
tity. Brevity will require condensation, point and
application to our petitions, and unction in our devo-
tion.
4. When you speak or pray, be sure to speak
loud enough for all to hear you.
5. Inasmuch as in some of the denoininations the
ladies are silent, except as heard in song, why may
not such present their thoughts from time to time in
brief essays, to be read by the pastor or some of the
brethren in the prayer-meeting? Such a custom in
192 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
these churches would tend to cultivate the various
orders of Christian talent, and give us the benefit of
w^omanly prudence, piety and wisdom.
6. Ought not " scolding " to be carefully avoided ?
Does it pay to scold those who are present, because
others are absent? I know of a case where the
church was just emptied by a minister scolding those
w^ho came because others kept away. If things do
not go right, take them to the Lord in prayer. That
will kindle a fire in the pulpit, that will kindle a fire
in the pew, and make the house comfortable. Praise
what is commendable, and let us all, in the spirit of
Heb. 10: 24, 25, cultivate a more fervent type of
piety.
7. How can we avoid the " long pauses " that
drag and spoil a meeting? By each one having
something to say or read, which he cannot permit
the meeting to close without hearing. We ought
to be willing to speak for Christ, even if we cannot
imitate the accent of Cicero or the eloquence of
Demosthenes. If we will only tell what we feel, we
shall all be eloquent enough, and glorify God in the
way pleasing to Him.
8. If our hearts are only full, we shall hardly be
able to wait for our turn. Go to an exchange where
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I95,
stocks are sold, and listen to the brokers all biddings
at once, and learn the secret.
9. In moments of deep solemnity, it is very proper
to give a moment or two to silent prayer. At the
revival meetings conducted by our dear brethren,
Major Whittle and Mr. Bliss, in our city in the Fall
of 1876, I was much impressed with this custom,
which they repeatedly used, and I am convinced that
it did much good. During those moments of silent
prayer, the house was so still that you could have
heard a pin drop; yes, you could almost have heard
your heart beat.
10. Let us enter into the spirit of the meeting-
Sing " with grace in your heart to the Lord." Each
prayer becomes our own if we follow it understand-
ingly, and add to it a silent or audible " amen."
11. Do not wander from the topic, and begin a
rehash of what you have said before a dozen times or
so. A new topic each week admits of new thought,
illustration and experience.
12. Have you no written requests for special
player to bring to the prayer-meeting? If you have,
hand these to the pastor, before the meeting. " If
you have a special object of desire, ask others to join
with you in seeking it. ' If two of you shall agree.*'
194 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
Ask for something; give thanks for something; have
a point in your prayer."
13. And w^hen you receive the answer to your
prayer, do not fail to speak of it, for this encourages
others to pray, and confirms their faith.
14. Is it proper to cultivate the spirit of friendli-
ness ? If you are early and notice strangers, seek an
introduction, or introduce yourself, and speak to them
in words of welcome. Cannot you spend a few min-
utes after the close of the meeting for hand-shaking
and the exchange of greetings with your friends and
neighbors ? Shake hands with as many as possible,
and in every proper way cultivate the spirit of socia-
bility. Why are you in such a hurry to go home
from the prayer-meeting ? Why cannot you spend
several minutes in conversation about the topic, and
in suggesting j^lans for work and greater usefulness !
Would not such friendliness as this make the meetings
social and delightful, and create the feeling that "it is
good for us to be here ? " It will be easy for you to
speak a friendly word for Jesus now while the warmth
of the meeting is upon you.
15. Let the opening remarks strike the key-note
to the meeting. " Anybody can speak or pray
when a meeting has become lively, interesting and
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I95
-warm. Blessed is the man who dares to take hold of
the cold end of a prayer-meeting. "
16. Would it not, in case no other method has
been adopted, add to the interest and profit, if the
members during the continuation of the year would
each select a dozen topics with three or more proof
texts from Scripture such as are related to the wants,
trials, and experiences of daily life — and then hand
them to the jDastor towards the end of the year?
From these " themes from the pew, " he would be
able to pick out the right kind of topics for the wants
of his people during the coming year : and certainly
the people themselves would be bound to take an in-
terest in topics of their own choosing.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Daily Prayer-Meeting Topics for 1878.
A very efficient aid for the improvement of the
prayer-meeting, will be the selection of suitable top-
ics. Accordingly we have introduced a number of
lists which may serve as guides and hints in the selec-
tion at the outset. The entire number, with the list
that follows, will include 572 subjects, or enough to
supply a prayer-meeting for 11 years; and these sub-
jects are as good for one year as for another. Or, if
they are not used in this way, the study of these with
their proof texts from the Scripture, will guide an in-
dividual church in the preparation of such topics as
their special wants may demand. This list was pre-
pared for the year 1878, by the Executive Committee
of the Young Men's Christian Associations of the
United States and the British Provinces.
TOPICS.
January.
1. Christ the Foundation, i Cor. 3 : 9-16.
2. The Three Musts. John 3: 7, 14; Acts4:i2.
3. The First Commandment. Ex. 20 : 3 ; Isa. 43 : 10-15.
4. The .Stiihng of the Tempest. Mark 4: 35-41-
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I97
5. Sunday-School Lesson. Rehoboam, First King of Judah:
2 Chron 12: 1-12; Golden Text: When he humbled
himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him. Verse 12.
7. Prayer. Prayer and Praise. Remembrance of yiersonal and
relative mercies ; prayer for the divine blessing on past
privileges, and for a humble and contrite spirit. Phil. 4 :
6, 7 ; I Thess. 5 : 17, 18.
8. Prayer. For the Church of Christ in all Lands: for its
deliverance from error; for its increase in faiih and holi-
ness, and in power as a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ ;
for the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ps. 122.
9. Prayer. For Christian Families : for sick and afflicted mem-
bers ; for children at school, and for all youth in our col-
leges and seminaries of leainiing ; for young men entering
upon the active business of life, and for those abroad;
for sons and daughters openly confessing Christ. Ps. 128.
10. Prayer. For Nations : for rulers, magistrates and statesmen ;
for the army and navy ; for all benevolent and philan-
thropic institutions ; for religious liberty and the opening
of doors "wide and eftectual" for publishing the Gospel;
and for the reign of righteousness and peace, i Tim. 2 ;
Isa. 1-8 35 : I, 2.
11. Prayer. For Christian Missions to the Jews and Gentiles: for
Sunday-schools, and for the divine blessing on all Chris-
tian efforts to spread the glad tidings of the Gospel of
Salvation. Matt. 28 : 18-20 ; Isa. 52:7-10.
12. Prayer. For the Circulation of the Puble : for the observance
of the Sabbath ; for the removal of intemperance ; for the
rescue of the fallen ; for the safety of those who travel by
land and by water. Acts 7 : 38 ; Eze. -O : 12-20 ; Luke
4: 18, 19.
Sunday-School Lesson. Asa Faithful to his God. 2 Chron.
14 : i-ii ; Golden Text : Lord it is nothing with thee to
help, M'hether with many, or with them that have no
power. Verse 11.
14. "Working and Watching. Neh. 4:1-11.
15. The Way of Life or of Death— Which? Josh. 24:13
I Kings 18 : 21.
16. Is the Young Man Safe ? 2 Sam. 18 : 29-33.
17. The Sower. Luke 8 : 5-8, 11-15.
18. God's Delight in Saving Sinners. Eze. 33 : n ; Eph. 2 : 4-8.
19. Sunday-School Lesson. The Covenant Renewed. 2 Chron.
8-15 ; Golden Text: Be ye strong, therefore, and let not
your hands be weak : for your work shall be rewarded.
, Verse 7.
198
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
21. "Our Father, which art in heaven." Acts 17 : 22-31 ; GaL
4 : 4-7-
22. The Gain of the Hypocrite. Job 27 : 8-10 ; Matt. 23 : 13.
23. "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not."
Matt. 20: 20-28 ; Mark 9:33-37.
24. Day of Prayer for Young Men in Colleges. Prov. 3 : 1-7.
25. '*Come out of the man thou unclean spirit." Mark 5 ; 1-2.0 ;
26. Sunday-School Lesson. Jehoshaphat's Prosperity. 2 Chron.
17:1-10; Golden Text: And they taught in T"dah, and
had the book of the law of the Lord w ith them, and
went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught
the people. Verse 9.
28. The Inspiration of the Bible. 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. i:
20, 21 ; 2 Sam. 23 : 1-3.
29. Whither art thou going — to Nineveh or Tarshish ? Jonah i.
30. Two Fearless Young Men. Num. 14: 2-10; 32: 10-12.
31. The Tenderness of God. Deut. 32 : 10-14.
February.
1. Promise Meeting. 2 Cor. i : 20. To the Sinner — John 6 : 37.
To the Backslider — Jer. 3 : 22. To the Believer — Isa.
42.: 10, 13 ; Rev. 21 : 4.
2. Sunday-School Lesson. Jehoshaphat Reproved. 2 Chron. 19:
1-9 ; Golden Text : There is no iniquity with the Lord
our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Verse 7.
4. Self-Examination. 2 Cor. 13:5: Psa. 77 : 6 ; 2 Cor. 1-12.
5. "What wilt thou say when He shall punish thee?" Prov.
11:21; Nahum i : 2-8 ; 2 Cor. 5 : 10, 11; Lam. 3 : 39 ;
Matt. 22 : II, 12 ; Eccl. 8:11.
6. The Lord Looketh on the Heart, i Sam. 16 : 6, 7.
7. The Second Commandment. Ex. 20:4-6; Col. 3: 1-5.
8. The Dead Brought to Life. Mark 5 : 22-24, 35-43.
9. Sunday-School Lesson. Jehoshaphat Helped of God. 2 Chron.
20:14-22; Golden Text: Believe in the Lord your God,
so shall ye be established ; believe his prophets, so shall
ye prosper. Verse 20,
11. **What think ye of Christ?" Matt. 22:42; Isa. 53:2;
John 6 : 42 ; 3:2; Mark 8 : 29 ; John 20 : 28 ; i Pet. 2:7;
Psa. 73: 25.
12. Opportunities Neglected. Acts 24:24-27; 26:28.
13. A Promising Youni^ Man, and how he Failed. I Sam. 9:2;
10 : 6, 7 ; 28 : 16-19.
14. Salvation in Christ alone. Acts 4:12 ; Isa. 45 : 10. »
THE PRAYER-MEETING. I99
15. The Unending Misery of the Lost, and the Everlasting Joy of
the Redeemed. Mark g : 42-48 ; Isa. 35 : 10.
16. Sunday-School Lesson. Joash Repairing the Temple. 2 Chron.
24: 4-13 ; Golden Text: Joash was minded to repair the
house of the Lord. Verse 4.
18. " Hallowed be Thy name." Psa. 113 : 1-3 ; Mai. I : 11.
ig. Salvation as a Gift. Rom. 6:23; i John 5:11.
20. Love Not the World. Eccl. 2 : i-ii.
21. Sins of Thought Offensive to God. Gen. 6 : 5-7 ; I John 3: 15.
22. Integrity in Civil Magistrates insisted on. Ex. 18:21;
Neh. 5:15.
23. Sunday-School Lesson. Uzziah's Pride Punished. 2 Chron.
26:16-23; Golden Text; Pride goeth before destruc-
tion, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov. 16: 18.
25. The Bible in the Public Meeting. Deut. 31 : 10-13; Neh. 8:
i-S.
26. " After this the judgment." Acts 17: 32; Heb. g : 27 ; Luke
12: 5.
27. A Young Man who made the right choice. Heb. ii : 24-27 ;
Deut. 34 : 10-12.
28. " While they are yet speaking, I will hear." Dan. g ; 21-23 ;
Acts 12 : 5-10 ; 4 : 31 ; Luke 23 : 42, 43.
March.
1. The Cleansing of the Leper. Mark i : 40-45.
2. Sunday-School Lesson. Ahaz' Persistent Wickedness. 2 Chron.
23: ig-27 ; Golden Text: And in the time of his distress
did he trespass yet more against the Lord : this is that
King Ahaz. Verse 22.
4. Sound Doctrine Enjoined. 2 Tim. 4:1-4; i Tim. 4:16;
John 7:17.
5. Christ the Way. John 14: 6; Heb. 10: ig-23.
6. Aih Wednesday. " Rend your heart, and not your garments."
Joel 2 : i2-ig , Psa. 51 : 17.
7. The i'hird Commandment. Ex. 2g : 7; Matt. 5 : 33-37.
8. Christ's Tenderness to the Fallen. Luke 7 : 36-50.
g. Sunday-School Lesson. Hezekiah's Good Reign. 2 Chron.^
2g : i-ii; Golden Text: And in every work that he
began ... he did it with all his heart and prospered^
2 Chron. 31 : 21.
11. Brolherlv Love, i John 4: 11-21.
12. I am Cjuilty and Need Pardon. Rom. 3 : 23-26.
13. Blessed ne>s of the Man who Delights in the Word. Psa. i:
i~3 ; Jiinies I : 25.
200 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
14. The Draw-net. Matt. 13: 47-50.
15. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant. Luke 7 : i-io.
16. Sunday-School Lesson. Hezekiah and the Assyrians. 2
Chron. 32: g-21 ; Golden Text : With him is an arm of
flesh ; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to
fight our battles. Verse 8.
18. "Thy kingdom come." Psa. 2 ; Rev. 11: 15-17.
19. Christ the Truth, i John 5 : 20; John 17: 3.
20. The Good Fight, i Tim. 6: 12; 2 Tim, 4: 7, 8.
21. Confession called out. Mark 5 : 25-34,
22. State of the Unsaved. Dead — Eph. 2 : I, Lost — Luke 19:
10. Condemned — John 3: 19. Children of Wrath —
Eph. 2: 3. Without God — Eph. 2: 12.
23. Sunday-School Lesson. Manasseh Brought to Repentance.
2 Chron. 33 : 9-16 ; Golden Text : As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten : be zealous, therefore, and repent.
Rev. 3 : 19.
25. Christ our Substitute. John i : 29 ; Heb. 9 : 28 ; Gal. 2 : 20 ;
2 Cor. 5 : 21.
26. National Disobedience, i Sam. 12: 15 ; Jer, 12: 17.
27. Tampering with Sin. Judges 16 : 4-20.
28. Duties of Employers. Col. 4:1; Eph. 6: 9.
29. The Man with the Unclean Spirit. Mark 1 : 23-27.
30. Sunday-School Lesson. Review of the Lessons for the
Quarter.
April.
1. Forbearing grace. Luke 13: 6-9.
2. Christ the Life. John 6 : 33-40.
3. " None Righteous." Rom. 3 : 10-18; Eccl. 7: 20.
4. The Fourth Commandment. Ex.20: 8-1 1; Jer. 17 : 19-27.
5. Is God Ready to Pardon Me Now? Psa. 86: 5; Isa. i:
18-20 ; 2 Cor. 6 : 2.
6. Sunday-School Lesson. Josiah's Early Piety. 2 Chron. 34:
1-8; Golden Text: Remember now thy Creator in the
days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the
years draw r.igh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure
in them. Eccl. 12 : i.
48. Power of the Prayer of Faiih. Josh. 10: 12, 13; James 5 :
' 16-18 ; I John 5 : 14, 15.
9. The New Heart. Eze. 36: 26; Acts 15: 9.
10. A Young Man who Found Favor with God and Man. Gen.
41: 12. 13, 38-45,
11. Duties of the Employed. Col. 3 : 22 — 25; Titus 2 : 9, 10.
rilE PRAVEK-MEETING. 201
12. " Wilt thou be made whole ? " John 5 : 1-16. ^
13. Sunday-School Lesson. The Scriptures Found and Searched.
2 Chron. 34: 14-22 ; Golden Text, John 5 : 39.
15. *' Thy will be done." Matt. 7 : 21 ; Rom. 2 : 13.
16. What to Lay Oft, and What to Put On. Col. 3 : 8-15.
17. How can a Man be BormAgain ? By Believing — i John 5: i.
By Receiving — John i : 12, 13. By the Spirit — Titus 3: 5.
By the Word of God — James 1:18.
18. '*Cast the net on the right side." John 21 : 1-13.
19. Good Friday. Isa. 52 : 13-15 ; 53 : 1-12.
20. Sunday-School Lesson. Jeremiah in Prison. Jer. 33 : 1-9 ;
Golden Text, verse 3.
22. Easter Monday. Matt. 28 : 1-20.
23. The Sinner's Wealth Rom. 2 : 5-9.
24. One who Trusted in Something Better than his Own Good
Works. Phil. 3:4-11.
25. The Unmerciful Servant. Matt. 18 : 21-35,
26. " Lord, save me." Malt. 14 : 22-33.
27. Sunday-School Lesson. The Rechabites. Jer. 35:12-19;
Golden Text, verse 13.
^29. " God is our refuge." Psa. 46.
30. The Wicked Hubbandmen. Mark 12: 1-12.
May.
1. A Personal Saviour. Phil. 3. lo; 2 Tim. 1:12.
2. The Believer's Home. Rev. 21 : 25 ; 3 : 12; Psa. 17 : 15.
3. The Compassion of Jesus. Matt. 9 : 35-3S.
4. Sunday-School Lesson. The Captivity of Judah. Jer. 52 :
i-i I ; Golden Text, Lam. I : 8.
rt- 6. " Now." Luke 14 : 17 ; 2 Cor. 6:2; Rom. 8 : i ; I John 3 : 2.
7. I am a Rebel, and need to be Restored to the Divine Favor.
Rom. 3:10-12; Isa. 53 : 6.
8. \ Young Man who Despised the Promises of God. Gen. 25 :
27-34 ; Heb. 12 : i5, 17.
9. Laborers in the Vineyard. Matt. 20: 1-16.
10. The Woman Loosed from her Infirmity. Luke 13 : 10-17 ;
Psa. 145: 14-
11. Sunday-School Lesson. The Captives in Babylon. Dan. i:
8-17 ; Golden Text, Psa. iii : 10.
13. The Testimony of the Man Born Blind. John 9.
14. Choose. Deut. 30:15-19.
15. We Must Forsake our Sins. Isa. 55:7; Eze. 18 : 30-32.
16. The Ten Virgins. Matt. 25 : 1-13.
17. Able to Keep. Psa. T2i; Jude 24.
18. Sunday-School Lesson. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. Dan.
2 : 36-45 ; Golden Text, verse 28.
14
202 THE PRAVER-MEETING.
20. Searching the Scriptures. John 5 : 38- 40; Acts 17 : 11, 12.
21. God as a Suppliant. Hosea 11 : i-g ; Isa. 65 : 2.
22. Christ an Example of Humility. John 13: 1-15.
23. Unbelief. Psa. 78 : 17-22 ; i John 5 : 10, ii
24. The Withered Hand Restored. Luke 6: 6-II.
25. Sunday-School Lesson. The Fiery Furnace. Dan. 3 : 21-27.
Golden Text, verse 17.
27. Christ Coming for His Saints. John 14: 1-3; i Cor. 15 :
51-54 ; I Thess. 4 : 13-18.
28. " But they made light of it." Luke 14 : 15-24.
29. The Prizes of Christian Warfare. Rev. 3 : 5, 12, 21.
30. Ascension Day. Luke 24 : 46-53.
31. Encouraging Promises. Matt. 9:29; Rom. 10:9; Matt.
10 : 22 ; James I : 12.
June.
I. Sunday-School Lesson. The Handwriting on the Wall.
Dan. 5: 22-31; Golden Text: Thou art weighed in the
balances, and art found wanting. Verse 27.
3. Self-Denial. Gen. 12 : 1-5 ; Heb. 11 : 8-10.
4. How shall the Sinner Escape ? Heb. 2:3;! Pet. 4 : 18.
5. Evil Thoughts — How can I be delivered from them ? Matt.
15 : 19, 20 ; 2 Cor. 10 : 5.
6. The Fifth Commandment. Ex. 20 : 12 ; Luke 2:51.
7. Self-purification Impossible. Jer. 2 : 22 ; 13 : 23 ; Prov. 20 : 9.
S. Sunday-School Lesson. Daniel in the Lions' Den. Dan. 6 :
14-23 ; Golden Text : My God hath sent his angel, and
hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me.
Verse 22.
10. What Christ Does for the Believer. He Dies for Me — John
10 : II. He Seeks Me— Eze. 34 : 11. He Gives Me Rest
— Psa. 23 : 2 (first clause). He Knows Me — John 10 : 27.
He Leads Me — Psa. 23 : 2 (last clause). He Carries Me.
Isa. 40:11. He Feeds Me — John 21:15. He Heals
Me — Eze. 34 : 16. He Makes Me a Blessing — Eze. 34: 26.
He Comes for Me — John 14 : 3.
1 1. Seek ye the Lord. Amos 5 : 4-8.
12. The Temple of God. 2 Cor. 6 : 16 ; i Cor. 3 : 16, 17.
13. " Where are the nine ? " Luke 17 : 11-19.
14. The Sinner Invited. Matt, ii : 28-30 ; John 6 : 37.
15. Sunday-School Lesson. Messiah's Kingkom. Dan. 7:9-14;
Golden Text : Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever ;
the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Psa. 45 : 6.
17. The Word a Light. Psa. 119 : 105, 130 ; Prov. 6 : 23.
18. A Promise Given, and a Choice Required. Jer. 29: 13 ; Matt.
6 : 24.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 203
19. On What are You Building ? Matt. 7 : 24-29.
20. Fruitfulness. John 15 : 1-5.
21. '♦ If thou canst believe." Mark 9 : 14-29.
22. Sunday-School Lesson. The Decree of Cyrus. 2 Chron. 36 :
22-23 ; Golden Text : Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that
her iniquity is pardoned. Isa. 40 : 2.
24. " Give us this day our daily bread." Prov. 30 : 8, 9 ; Ps. 34 : 10.
25. An Important Question Answered. Psa. 15.
26. My Besetting Sin — How can I get Strength to Overcome it ?
Heb. 12: 1-4 ; i Cor. g: 27.
27. The Christian in the World. Matt. 5 : 13-16.
28. Decision Necessary to the Service of God. 2 Chron. 15 : 12 ;
Luke 9 : 62.
29. Sunday-School Lesson. Review of the Lessons for the Quarter.
July.
1. The Work of the Spirit, i Cor. 2 : 9-16 ; Rom. 8 : 14-17.
2. Where is thy Brother ? Gen, 4:9; Eze. 33 : 8-9.
3. What Christ says to Every Unconverted Young Man. Luke
7 : 11-16
4. God's Children Free. John 8 : 31-36.
5. The Raising of Lazarus. John 11 : 1-45.
6. Sunday-School Lesson. Birth of Christ the Lord. Luke 2 :
8-20 ; Golden Text : For unto you is born this day, in
the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Verse 11.
8. Christ Coming with His Saints. 2 Thess. i : 7-10; Col. 3:4;
Jude 14, 15.
9. " Wait on the Lord." Lam. 3 : 25, 26 ; Isa. 40 : 28-31.
10. Invitations Refused. Luke 14: 15-24; Prov. i : 24-28.
11. " Give ye them to eat." Luke 9 : 12-17 ; John 21 : 15-17.
12. Christ's Willingness to Receive Sinners. Luke 15:2; John
6 : 37 ; Luke 9:11.
13. Sunday-School Lesson. The Childhood of Jesus. Luke 2 :
40-52 ; Golden Text, verse 52,
15. Christ is Able To: Perform all he Promises — Rom. 4: 21.
Save to the Uttermost — Heb 7 : 25. Make Stand — Rom.
14 : 4. Keep from Falling — Jude 24. Keep what is
Committed to Him — 2 Tim. i : 12. Succor the Tempted.
— Heb. 2: iS. Make all Grace Abound — 2 Cor. g: 8.
Do Exceeding Abundantly — Eph. 3 : 20.
16. "All that believe are justified." Acts 13: 38, 39; Gal. 2: 16;
Rom. 4 : 5.
17. Seeking the Lost. Luke 19: i-io.
18. The Sixth Commandment. Ex. 20 : 13 ; Matt. 5:21, 22.
204 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
ig. " Have mercy on me." Mark lo ; 46-52.
20. Sunday-School Lesson. Ministry of John the Baptist. Luke
3 : 15-22 ; Golden Text, Luke 1:15.
22. The Word Made Plain. Psa. 119: 18 ; Eph. i : 17-23.
23. Good News — Poor Men Made Rich. Isa. 55:1-3; Rev. 21:7.
24. In What Men should Glory. Jer. g: 23, 24; Gal. 6: 14.
25. The Law of Growth in the Kingdom of God. Mark 4:
26-2g; 2 Pet. 3 : 18.
26. Invitation to All. Rev. 22: 17 ; 2 Cor. 5 : 20, 21 ; 6:1, 2.
27. Sunday-School Lesson. Jesus at Nazareth. Luke 4: 16-30;
Golden Text, verse 32.
2g, The Lord our Helper. Psa. 20; Deut. 31 : 6-8.
30. " Learn of me." Matt. 11 : 2g.
31. Evil Efli'ects of Bad Company. Gen. 13:12, 13; ig: 1,12-28.
August.
1. " Humbleness of mind." Col. 3:12-14.
2. The Healing of One Deaf and Dumb. Mark 7 : 31-37.
3. Sunday-School Lesson. The Draught of Fishes. Luke5:i-ii
Golden Text, verse 11.
5. The Weapon of Our Warfare. Eph. 6:17. Heb. 4:12:
Jer. 23 : 2g.
6. The Rich Fool. Luke 12 : 16-21.
7. An Ambitious Young Man and his Untimely End. 2 Sam.
15: 1-5. 13, 14; 18:6-15.
8. The Seventh Commandment. Ex.20: 14; Eph. 5:3-7.
g. Victory over the Devil. Gen. 3:15; Matt. 4 : i-ii ; i John
2: 14.
10. Sunday-School Lesson. The Centurion's Faith. Luke 7 :
i-io ; Golden Text : According to your faith be it unto
you. Matt, g : 2g.
12. Despising the Word. Heb. 2: 1-3 ; Prov. 13 : 13.
13. Two Companies and Two Ends. Matt. 7: 13, 14; Ex.23;
2; Heb. 12: 22-24; Luke 16: 22, 23.
14. What it is to know Christ. John 17: 3; Phil. 3 : 7-11.
15. Hearing God's Call, i Sam. 3 : i-io.
16. " He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55: 7; Neh. g: 16, 17.
17. Sunday-School Lesson. The Widow of Nain. Luke 7 :
11-17; Golden Text: And when the Lord saw her, He
had compassion on her, and said unto her, weep not.
Verse 13.
19. Christ Coming in Judgment. Matt. 25: 31-46.
20. " Escape for thy life." Gen. ig : 15-17.
21. Young Men — their Rule for Right Living. Psa. iig:g;
Josh. 1 : 8.
22. Duties of Parents to Children. Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6 : 6-g.
THE PRAYEK-MEETINC. 2O5
23. The Great (;!hange. Zech. 3: 1-7.
24. Sunday-School Lesson. The Friend of Sinners. Luke 7 :
40-50; Golden Text : Luke 15:2.
26. Seven Results of Abiding in Christ. Fruit, Answered Prayer,
Love, Obedience. Joy, Fellowship, Service. John 15:
5-16.
27. The Lost Piece of Money. Luke 15:1, 2, 8-10.
28. Individual Responsibility. 2 Cor. 5 : 10; Rom. 14: 10-12.
29. The Waiting Lord. Rev. '> : 20 ; Song of Sol., 5 : 2.
30. Christ Lives in the Believer. Gal. 2 : 20 ; Eph. 3 : 14-21.
31. Sunday-School Lesson. Return of the vSeventy, Luke 10 :
17-24 ; Golden Text, verse 23.
September.
2. " He opened to us the Scriptures." Luke 24 : 13-32.
3. The Way Out of the Ditch. Jer. 3:12 13; Hosea 14 : 1-4.
4. " Your Sins will Find You Out." Num. 32:23; Gen. 44 :
16-34.
5. The Eighth Commandment. Ex. 20 : 15; Lev. 19: 11-13.
6. Christ's Help in Temptation. Heb. 2:18; 2 Cor. 12 : 9.
7. Sunday-School Lesson. The Good Samaritan. Luke 10 :
30-37. Golden Text: Gal. 5: 14.
9. " Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Mark 11 :
25 ; 18 : 21, 22.
10. Idleness. Prov. 24 : 30-34.
11. .\n Exhortation to a Young Man. I Tim. 4 : 12-16.
12. Love the Impulse to Labor. John 21 : 15-17 ; 2 Cor. 5 :
14. 15- _
13. Invitation to the Thirsty. Isa. 55 : 1-9.
14. Sunday-School Lesson Importunity in Prayer. Luke li:
5-13 ; Golden Text : Luke 18 : i.
16. God the Deliverer of His People. Ex. 14: 10-31.
17. The Sinner's Condemnation. John 3 : 17-21.
18. A Zeal for Christ which consumes Self. Luke 9:23; 2 Cor.
5 : 14, 15; I Thess. 2:8.
19. The Aged — Prayer and Promise. Prov. 16 : 31 ; Psa. 71 :
1-19 ; Isa. 46 : 4.
20. " Do all to the glory of God." i Cor. 10 : 31-33; Rom. 15:3.
21. .Sunday-School Lesson. Warning against Covetousness. Luke
12 : 13-23 ; Golden Text, verse 15.
23. Indwelling and Comfort of the Holy Spirit. John 20 : 22 ;
Acts 2:4; John 16 :7-i3.
24. Christ's Misrion. i Tim. i: 15.
25. True to God, regardless of Consequences. Dan. 3:13-30.
26. Neglect of the Poor a Neglect of Christ. Matt. 25 : 42-45 ;
Mark 9 : 41.
206 THE PRAYER-MEETING.
27. Nothing too Hard for God. Jer, 32 : 17 ; Psa. 130 : 1-5.
28. Sunday-School Lesson. Review of the Lessons for the Quarter.
30. God's Word in Us. Col. 3 : 16 ; Psa. 119 : 11 ; Jer. 20 : 9.
October.
1. Too Late. Luke 19 : 41-44; Heb. 3:17-19.
2. Wisdom, Prov. 2 : 1-9; James I : 5.
3. The Ninth Commandment. Ex. 20:16; Psa. 15: 1-4.
4. Sowing and Reaping. Gal. 6:7, 8.
5. Sunday-School Lesson. Warning against Formalism. Luke
13 : 22-30; Golden Text, verse 24.
7. Tokens of Our Love to God. John 14 : 21-23 ; i John 2 : 15.
8. Jabez' Prayer, i Chron. 4 : 9, 10.
9. A Young Man who Sought only this World's Joys. Luke
15: 11-24.
10. The Question Every Man must Answer. Matt. 27 : 22.
11. The Saviour we need Offered. Rom. 3 : 10-26.
12. Sunday-School Lesson. The Gospel Fe.st. Luke 14 : 15-24 ;
Golden Text, verse 15.
14. Things we Know. Rom. 7:18; 2 Tim. 1:12; i John 5 : 13 ;
Rom. 8 : 28.
15. Safe Voyage, if Christ is on Board. Mark 4 : 35-4T.
16. Whole-hearted for Christ. Luke 9 : 57-62.
17. " At Thy vi^ord I will let down the net." Luke 5 : i-ii.
18. Exhortation to Watchfulness, i Thess. 5 : 6-8.
19. Sunday-School Lesson. The Prodigal Son. Luke 15 : 11-24;
Golden Text : Psa. 40 : 17.
21. " Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Jas.
I : 13-15 ; I Cor. 10 : 13 ; 2 Pet. 2:9; 2 Tim. 4:18.
22. The Two Future States. Luke 16 : 19-31.
23. How a Young Man made his Life Successful. Acts 7 : 57-59 ;
26 : 9-23; 2 Cor. 5 : 13, 14.
24. The Pharisee and the Publican. Luke 18 : 9-14.
25. " The Lamb of God." John i : 29 ; Rev. 5 : 12, 13 ; 6: 15-17.
26. Sunday-School Lesson. The Rich Man and Lazarus. Luke
16 : 19-31 ; Golden Text : Prov. 14 : 32.
28. Teaching and Keeping God's Word. Deut. 11 : 18-25.
29. The Call to the Backslider. Jer. 2:5, 13, 19 ; 3 : 12-14.
30. Ruined by Evil Company. 2 Chron. 10 : 1-14 ; 12 : 14-16.
31. Profession without Fruit an Offence. Mark 11:12-14; John
15:2.
November.
1. The Wanderer's Cry. Psa. 51.
2. Sunday-School Lesson. The Ten Lepers. Luke 17: 11-19;
Golden Text, verse 17.
THE PRAYER-MEETING. 20/
4. Promise Meeting. 2 Pet. 1:4; Matt. 28 : 20 ; Acts 1:8;
John 14: 3.
5. Who are Haters of God? John 15 : 17-25 ; Rom. 8:7, 8.
6. A Young Man's Wise Choice, i Kings 3 : 5-14.
7. The Tenth Commandment. Ex. 20 : 17 ; Heb. 13 : 5.
8. " We will hear thee ugain." Acts 17 : 32 ; Prov. 27 : i.
9. Sunday-School Lesson. Whom the Lord Receives. Luke
18 : 9-17 ; Golden Text, verse 17.
11. Young Men — their Power for Evil, i Kings ii : 28 ; 12 :
26-30 ; 13 : 33, 34 ; Acts 7 : 57-59 ; 8 : 1-3.
12. Young Men — their Power for Good. Prov. 20 : 29 ; I John 2 :
13, 14; Eph. 6 : 10, II.
13. Something Stronger than the Strength of Young Men. Isa.
40 ; 28-31.
14. How to Reach Young Men. John i : 35-46.
15. Young Men — their Special Temptations. Eccl. 11:9, 10;
2 Tim. 2 : 22.
16. The Pattern for Young Men. Luke 2 : 42-52 ; Acts 10 : 38-43,
Sunday-School Lesson. Zaccheus, the Publican. Luke 19 :
i-io; Golden Text, verse 10.
18. Baptism of the Spirit for Service. Acts 1:8; 2:4; 4:31.
19. When do men cry unto the Lord ? Psa. 107 : 5, 6, 12, 13, 18.
19, 27, 28.
20. A Life Well Begun. 2 Chron. 34 : 1-8, 29.33.
21. The Lesson of Patience. James 5 : 7-1 1.
22. Invitation and Warning. Isa. I : 18 ; Prov. I: 24-33.
23. Sunday-School Lesson. Judaism Overthrown. Luke 21 : 8-21 ;
Golden Text: Luke 19:41.
25. Profit in Using the Word. 2 Tim. 3 : 12-16; Isa. 55 : 10,11.
26. Repentance. Matt. 9 : 13; Eze. 18: 32; Acts 5: 31.
27. A Young Man in whom the World found no fault, except his
Religion. Dan. 6: 1-5, 25-28; Phil. 2: 15.
28. "The Sacrifice of Praise." Psa. 148; Rev. 7 : 11 ; Heb.
13: 15. 16.
29. Halting Between Two Opinions. i Kings 18 : 21 ; Joshua
24: 15.
30. Sunday-School Lessons. The Lord's Supper. Luke 22:
10-20; Golden Text : i Cor. 11 : 26.
December.
2. The Imagination. Corrupt — Rom. i : 21 ; Deut. 29: 19, 20,
Redeemed — Isa. 26 : 3 ; ("Mind," in margin "imagina-
tion" or " thought "). Phil. 4:7.
3. God our our Searcher. Psa. 139 : 23, 24 ; i Chron. 28 : 9.
208 rHE PRAYER-MEETING.
4. Some Things Money Cannot Buy. Redemption — i Pet. I :
18, 19. The Gift of the Spirit— Acts 8 : 18-23. The
Heavenly Inheritance — i Pet. 3-5.
5. The Pounds. Luke 19 : 1 1-27.
6. I am a Slave to Sin and need to be Set Free. Heb. 2 : 14, 15 ;
Phil. 2 : 7-9.
7. Sunday-School Lesson. The Cross. Luke 23 : 33-46 ; Golden
Text : Gal. 6 : 14.
9. Justification Isa. 53:11; Rom. 8:33; Rom. 5:8,9.
10. Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Gen. 6:3; i Thess. 5:19; Tsa.
63 : 10.
11. A Young Man's Foolish Choice. Mark 10 : 17 : 22.
12. Idle Words. Matt. 12 : 36 ; Eph. 4 : 29-31.
13. Joy over Deliverance. Acts 8 : 5-8.
14. Sunday-School Lesson. The Walk to Emmaus. Luke 24 :
13-32 ; Golden Text, verse 32.
16. The Word "written that ye may believe." John 20:31;
2 Tim. 3 : 15.
17. A Sinner Awakened and Saved. Acts 16 : 22-34.
18. Christ as a Pattern for Young Men. Phil. 2 : 5-16.
19. Riches do not Satisfy. Eccl 5:10, ii; Psa. 49:11-13;
I Tim. 6 : 17-19.
20. Help Cometh from God. Psa. 89 : 19 ; 142 : 4, 5.
21. Sunday-School Lesson. The Saviour's Last Words. Luke
24 : 44-53 ; Golden Text : Matt. 28 : 20.
23. Christ the Fulfilment of Scripture. Matt.5 : 17 ; Luke 24: 27 ;
Rev. 19: 10.
24. Redemption. Gal. 4 : 4, 5 ; i Pet. i : 18, 19.
25. Glad Tidings. Luke 2 : 1-20.
26. " Think on these Things." Phil. 4:8, 9; Heb. 2 : i.
27. " Mighty to Save." Isa 63:1.
28. Sunday-School Lesson. Review of the Lessons for the Quarter.
30. " F6r Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory."
I Chron. 29 : 10-13 : Tsa. 62 : 11 ; Rev. 5 : 13.
31. How shall we Number Our Days and Years? Psa. 90 :
12 : Eccl. 9 : 10 ; Eph. 5 : 15-17.
'■* Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with ns by the
way, and while He oi^ened to us the Scrijitures f' (Luke 24 : 32.)
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to pre-
sent you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to
the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and forever. Amen.''''
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SABBATH EVENINGS AT 6:40 P. M.
Sept. 23. How to prepare for Usefulness i Tim. iv 8-16
" 30. Courage and Obedience Josh, i, 2-9
Oct. 7. Development of Christian Character 2 Peter, i, 5-8
" 14. Helps and Hindrances Heb. xii, 1-13
" 21. " I pray thee have me excused." Luke xiv, 27
28. Incentives to Persistent Christian Effort . . . Jno. iv, 35, 36;
2 Cor. ix, 8 ; I Cor. xv, 58
Nov. 4. Secret of True Success Gen. xxxix, 2-5, 21-23
" II. Promise Meeting . . . • .2 Cor. i 20
" 18. The most important of the Christian Graces . . i Cor. xiii
" 25. Am 1 using my Talent ? Matt, xxv ii-2t;
Dec. 2. Our Choice must be made now . Josh, xxiv, 15 ; Luke xvi, 13
9. The Necessity of Prayer .... Mark xiv, ^8 ; Luke xviii, i
'* 16. NoWorkfor Christ in vain, Ec. xi, 1-6; Ps.cxxvi; Isa.lv. 10 II
\'' .v--"> '-f.
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