a 1 .-. . : THE PRAYER-MEETING ITS IMPROVEMENT. BY REV. LEWIS O. THOMPSON, PASTOR 8KCOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PEORIA, ILL. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY REV. A. E. KITTREDGE. " Let all things be done unto edifying." W . G . O L $[ E S , 77 MADISON STRKKT. COPYRIGHT, 1878, BY W. G. HOLMES. 8KEEN & 8TUABT, PRINTERS, 77 MADISON ST., CHICAGO. TO THE CONGREGATION PEOKIA, ILL., THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 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 to either of the Sabbath services or the Sabbath school. What is needed in many cases is such a method for its conduct, and such a hearty co-operation of all in that method, as shall make the prayer-meeting, both in interest and attendance, an undoubted success. May the Lord bless for good whatever 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. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. THE PRAYER-MEETING AS A SUBJECT OF STUDY, - - 11 II. THE PEOPLE'S MEETING, ------- ie III. THE NEED OF PREPARATION, ------ 22 IV. THK DAILY CULTIVATION OF PIETY, - ... 33 V. THE TOPICS, --- ------ y 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, - - lift 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 ABE KEPT AT A WHITE HEAT. 168 XX. TREATMENT OF THE MONTHLY CONCERT, - 172 XXI. LAYING OUT WORK, -------- 175 XXII. HINTS NEW AND OLD, ------- jgC XXIII. DAILY PRAYER-MEETING TOPICS, - - ... 1% 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 meetings 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 found 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, bo 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 minutes, 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. Niany a so-called prayer-meeting is no prayer-meeting 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 full 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 precise 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. 13 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 public 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. 15 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 monopolize 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 manv have come to regard the day as an entertain- THE PRAYER-MEETING. 17 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 1 of their sins and the earnest supplication for new supplies of grace; 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, like bales unopened to the sun." I 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. 1 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 got 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 2O 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 difficult to catch word and sense. Did they laugh? Not exactly; a smile 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 perish, 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 going away to-night to make light 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 the}' had a particular promise to rely upon. In their missionary labors they would en- counter clangers 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 powder 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 religious 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 against 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-meeting, and when his- voice was THE PRAYER-MEETING. 2 7 lifted up to praise God in company with his brethren. Times of backsliding and lukewarm 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 faitli 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 people need the prayer-meeting that they may have an opportunity, in the spirit of Heb. 10 : 24, 25, to study each other with special reference to temperment and peculiarities, and that so they THE PRAYER-MEETING. 29 mav be able 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 study, 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 special cases of spiritual need and sympathy ; formulate such cases as these and make each one the topic 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 with whom he may have especial influence. In this way not only particular cases of need in a congregation will be prayed for, and doubtless with 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 soon as he gets a chance, after the introductory 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! 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 hear 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 preparation 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 depth 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 with the earnest petition that God will hear and answer. " Be filled with the Spirit." CHAPTER IV. THE 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 opposition. 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 ome 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 the}' become religious. Such are like " Noah's carpenters," 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 PRAYER-MEETING. for him, as he was in need of a particular 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 were on that boat. We who 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 38 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 eminent men 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 profession 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 intei'ests 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!* 4O 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 such 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. 4! in a solemn-formed prayer seven times within the compass thereof: that is, in the morning and at night and five 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 suff'ring, More sorrow for sin ; More faith in my Saviour. More sense of his care I 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 Trafalgar, 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 intelligent 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 changing 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 will 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 fulfilment in our experience. " A harvest festival " would be appropriate for the Autumn and the ingathering of grain and fruit. These would find their counterpart in the garniture of life's spiritual har- vest, 2 Cor. 9 : 6, and Gal. 6 : 8. Themes kindred to this would 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, in 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, " Hitherto 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 poth 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 THE 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 : 19 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 4 8 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, . . . John 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 11. 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 n : 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 Johns: 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, . . . . 15.25:4 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. i: 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: x 9. Relation of Believers to the Saviour, Col. 2 : 7 16. 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 Year. (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 5