Rev Knox Little Canon Of Worcest


Prayer is a comprehensive word and includes, in fact, all communion

between the soul and God. It is, however, commonly used to mean the

asking for benefits from God. Christians believe that prayer is a

power, that it does act in the fulfilment of God's purposes, and that

the results of prayer are real results, not only in the spiritual, but

also in the physical world. This is no mere matter of opinion, it is

part of th
Christian faith. For better, for worse, however difficult

the doctrine may appear, the Church is committed to it. As in the case

of other difficult doctrines, such as the resurrection of the body for

instance, she, so to speak, "stakes her reputation" on loyalty to this

truth.



The power of prayer is, of course, a mystery, i.e., a truth, but a

truth partly concealed, partly plain. To deal with it, therefore, in a

mathematical temper rather than a moral temper is absurd if not wrong.

Mathematical demonstration cannot be given for moral truth, and is in

fact out of court. The bent of mind formed by constant scientific

research--good as it is in its own province--sometimes unfits men for

moral and theological research. In this way the "difficulties of prayer"

are often exaggerated. (1) It is said God knows already; why tell Him?

The same objection would apply to many a request on earth. (2) It is

said God fore-sees; why try to influence what He knows is sure to be?

This objection applies to all our actions; to follow out this we should

not only not pray, but also never do anything. We are in face of a

mystery. A little humility and obedience to revelation helps us out. It

has been truly said that when a practical and a speculative truth are in

apparent collision, we must remember our ignorance of a good many

things, and act with the knowledge which is given us, on the practical

truth.



Prayer, we may remember, is not to change the holy counsels of the

Eternal, but to accomplish those ends for which it is an appointed

instrument. Anyhow, this is certain, the abundant promises to faithful

and persevering prayer are kept, and--where God sees it to be good for

us--they are kept to the letter. The following are examples which come

within the knowledge of the writer of this paper.



A family, consisting of a number of children, had been brought up by

parents who had very "free" ideas as to the divine revelation and the

teaching of the Church. The children, varying in age from seven or

eight, to one or two and twenty years, had, one way or another, been

aroused to the teaching of Scripture and desired to be baptised. The

father point-blank refused to permit it. The older members of the family

consulted a clergyman. He felt strongly the force of the fifth

commandment and advised them not to act in haste, to realise that

difficulties do frequently arise from conflicting duties, and above all

to pray. The clergyman asked a number of devout Christians to make the

matter a subject of prayer. They did. In about three weeks the father

called upon this very clergyman and asked him to baptise his children.

The clergyman expressed his astonishment, believing that he was opposed

to it. The father answered that that was true, but he had changed his

mind. He could not say precisely why, but he thought his children ought

to be baptised. They were; and he, by his own wish, was present and most

devout at the administration of the sacrament of baptism.



A few years ago, a clergyman in London had been invited to visit a

friend for one night in the country in order to meet an old friend whom

he had not seen for long. It was bitter winter weather and he decided

not to go. Walking his parish in the afternoon, he believed that a voice

three times urged him to go. He hurriedly changed his arrangements and

went. The snow was tremendously deep, and the house of his friend, some

miles from the railway station, was reached with difficulty. In the

course of the night the clergyman was roused from sleep by the butler,

who begged him to go and visit a groom in the service of the family, who

was ill and "like to die." Crossing a field path with difficulty, as the

snow was very deep, they reached the poor man's house. He had been in

agony of mind and longed to see a clergyman. When it was found

impossible to fetch the nearest clergyman, owing to the impassable state

of the roads, he had prayed earnestly that one might be sent to him. The

poor fellow died in the clergyman's arms in the early morning, much

comforted and in great peace.



A strangely similar case happened more recently. An American gentleman

travelling in Europe was taken suddenly and seriously ill in one of our

northern towns. The day before this happened, a clergyman, who was at a

distance in the country, was seized with a sudden and unaccountable

desire to visit this very town. He had no idea why, but prayed for

guidance in the matter, and finally felt convinced that he must go.

Having stayed the night there he was about to return home, rather

inclined to think himself a very foolish person, when a waiter in the

hotel brought him an American lady's card and said that the lady wished

to see him. He was the only English clergyman of whom she and her

husband had any knowledge. They had happened to hear him preach in

America. She had no idea where he lived, but when her husband was taken

ill she and her daughter had prayed that he might be sent to them. On

inquiry, strange to say, he was found to be in the hotel, and was able

to render some assistance to the poor sufferer, who died in a few hours,

and to his surviving and mourning relatives.



A still more striking instance, perhaps, is as follows: Some years ago

in London a clergyman had succeeded, with the help of some friends, in

opening a "home" in the suburbs to meet some special mission needs. It

was necessary to support it by charity. For some time all went well. The

home at last, however, became even more necessary and more filled with

inmates, whilst subscriptions did not increase but rather slackened. The

lady in charge wrote to the clergyman as to her needs, and especially

drew his attention to the fact that L40 was required immediately to meet

the pressing demand of a tradesman. The clergyman himself was

excessively poor, and he knew not to whom to turn in the emergency. He

at once went and spent an hour in prayer. He then left his house and

walked slowly along the streets thinking with himself how he should act.

Passing up Regent Street, a carriage drew up in front of Madame Elise's

shop, just as he was passing. Out of the carriage stepped a handsomely

dressed lady. "Mr. So-and-so, I think," she said when she saw him. "Yes,

madam," he answered, raising his hat. She drew an envelope from her

pocket and handed it to him, saying: "You have many calls upon your

charity, you will know what to do with that." The envelope contained a

Bank of England note for L50. The whole thing happened in a much shorter

time than it can be related; he passed on up the street, she passed into

the shop. Who she was he did not know, and never since has he learnt.

The threatening creditor was paid. The "home" received further help and

did its work well.



Another example is of a different kind. A person of real earnestness in

religious questions, and one who gave time and strength for advancing

the kingdom of God, some years ago became restless and unsatisfied in

spiritual matters, failing to enjoy peaceful communion with God, and

generally upset and uneasy. The advice of a clergyman was asked, and

after many conversations on the subject, he urged steady earnest prayer

for light, and agreed himself to make the matter a subject of prayer.

Within a fortnight, after an earnest midday prayer, it was declared by

this troubled soul that it had been clearly borne in upon the mind that

the sacrament of baptism had never been received. Enquiry was made, and

after much careful investigation it was found that, while every other

member of a large family had been baptised, in this case the sacrament

had been neglected owing to the death of the mother and the child being

committed to the care of a somewhat prejudiced relative. The person in

question was forthwith baptised, and immediately there was peace and

calmness of mind and a sense of quiet communion with God.



Instances of this kind might be multiplied, but these are, perhaps,

sufficient. "In everything," says the Apostle, "by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving (the Eucharist) let your requests be made

known unto God." "Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."

The power of the "prayer of faith" is astonishing in its efficacy, if

souls will only put forth that power. I am able to guarantee, from

personal knowledge, the truth and accuracy of the above instances.



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