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SERMON IX.

CLOSET PRAYER, THE BREATH OF THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE.

LAMENTATIONS 111. 56.-" Thou hast heard my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry."

WHAT an important moment that is, when a living child comes into the world! How great is the anxiety with which a mother listens to the first breathing, or hears the first faint cry of the new-born babe! That cry, which only disturbs and annoys others, is sweet to her ear.

Ah, there is a Parent who feels more for us than even a Mother does for her little ones. A woman may forget her sucking child, and not have compassion on the fruit

of her womb; but God cannot lose His tenderness. He is love itself. The first breathing of new life in His children, the first cry which is sent up to Him from a heart in distress, fills heaven with joy. Now, Prayer is the breathing of a new-born soul. It is the first sign of life.

I am to speak this morning about Closet Prayer, which I have called, "the Breath of the Christian life."

Blessed subject! May God teach

what Prayer is, and quicken us in the exercise of it!

What is Prayer?

Ask the worldly-minded man. He will tell you what it is to him. It is something which he knows he ought to do-something which he has been brought up to do-something which his conscience won't let him leave altogether undone. But he has no pleasure in it. It is irksome to him. He is glad enough when it is over.

He

Ask the Pharisee-the Formalist. seems to think it is the mere utterance of

words--the mere repeating certain holy sen. tences on his knees -the mere outward acknowledgment that God is the great Giver of all things.

But we can go to better teachers than these.

Ask David what prayer is.

"As for me,

I will call upon God;" "I will cry unto God most high;" "I cried with my whole heart; I prevented the dawning of the morning;""As the hart (or stag) panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God: my soul thirsteth for God."

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Ask Jacob. He will tell you that it is a 'wrestling" with God.

Ask Daniel. It was something real with him. Not even the wrath of the king could close his lips. He prayed three times a day, though at the risk of his life.

Ask Saul of Tarsus. "Go to him, Ananias (said the Lord), behold he prayeth." Ask that penitent Prodigal, when from his wounded aching heart those words came

streaming forth, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

Ask the Publican, as he stands in the House of God, smiting his breast. Few words indeed he spoke; but they were earnest burning words, which came forth from the very depths of his heart.

Ask the holy Saviour. He spent whole nights in prayer; not because he was obliged to pray, but because He found comfort in prayer.

"I

Once more, let us ask Jeremiah, who wrote this Book of Lamentations. He says in the 55th verse of the chapter before us, called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not."

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Prayer," observes a Christian writer, "is human need craving the divine fullness -the wretchedness of earth begging the consolations of heaven-man's guilt beseech

ing the mercy of God. By prayer the help. lessness of the creature clings to the strength of the Creator. Prayer is a voice from nature's wound, calling to the heavenly Healer. All creation prays. The little plant droops its head, and curls its leaves; and thus asks for moisture. The sheep, that has lost its lamb, fills the air with its piteous bleating. The dog howls, when he is hungry; and he has been known to entreat you, almost with the power of speech, to follow him to the lonely spot, where his master lies wounded and bleeding."

Every Child of God prays. Where there is spiritual life, there must, and will, be prayer. As surely as a living man breathes, so surely will a living soul pray. We have many and great wants, especially spiritual wants; but it is only when we are brought under God's converting grace, that we begin to feel those wants.

Let me now give you some hints about your every day Prayers. Dear brethren, I

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