When Luther returned home, he said to his wife with joy, "God gave me my brother Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer;" and then added, with patriarchal simplicity, "And God, on a former occasion, gave me you back, Kata, in answer to my prayer also." Rev. Thomas Charles, of Bala, Wales, was a man of great piety, great learning, and great usefulness: among his literary productions was a Polyglot Dictionary of the Bible, a work of vast research and great merit; with him, also, originated that mightiest of Christian machineries, The British and Foreign Bible Society. Somewhat, now, over half a century ago, this good man was, to all human judgment, at the very point of death. In this critical, and as it seemed, hopeless hour, a prayermeeting of his friends was held, in which earnest prayer to God was offered by all for his recovery, and by one aged Christian especially asking that fifteen years might be added to the useful life of his servant. These prayers were not "thrown upon the wind;" Mr. Charles was restored to health, and his life prolonged to the exact extent pleaded for by the aged saint. He filled up the fifteen added years with great usefulness, and in full expectation all along of release at the end of that period. On his last visit to some friends, he said that he could not expect to see them again, as he was now in the last year of his life.-Strange as it may seem, his death occurred just at the termination of the fifteen years. Instances, such as the foregoing, of what godly men have asked in prayer for the sick coming to pass in exact accordance with their requests, might be produced ad libitum. Now, if to all these it be said that the same results might have followed had no prayer been offered, we reply, And they might not have followed-thus one "perhaps" exactly balances another "perhaps," and the matter is left just where it was. But we affirm, that if in such cases, frequent and diversified as has been their occurrence, there was no connection or relation between the prayers and what followed them, the coincidence would be more inexplicable, and their falling out by accident more incredible far, than that the Father of Mercies should hear and answer the prayers of his worshipping children. But in this matter we are not left to disputed examples or doubtful inferences—we have the sure Word of Truth for our guide. To pray for our sick or suffering brethren and friends-for their relief, their comfort, their recovery-we have the clear authority and the gracious encouragement of the Great Teacher, whose commission from God, "To preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord," is established by a number and diversity of evidences that constitute the mightiest and most convincing of demonstrations. With implicit faith and thankful hearts, therefore, we follow His instructions, and embrace His promises, as with full hearts and tearful eyes we pray over our sick and dying kindred. "But if some frigid Sceptic still will dare To doubt the all-prevailing power of Prayer; Pause, cold philosopher, nor snatch away Thus while we humbly own the vast decree, And know all secondary causes tend Yet while these causes firmly fixed remain Links quite unbroken in the endless chain, So that could one be snapped, the whole must fail, And wide confusion o'er the world prevail; Why may not our petitions, which arise In humble adoration to the skies, Be foreordained the causes, whence shall flow Our purest pleasures in this vale of woe? Not that they move the purpose that hath stood United objects of the same decree."-DURANT. 1 |