Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/286

 feel for  the  distresses  of  our  fellow-men. "He that stoppeth  His  ear  against  the  cry  of  the  poor,  shall  also cry  himself,  and  shall  not  be  heard." (Prov. xxi.  13.)

II. To pray  well,  we  must  observe  the  conditions  which our divine  Legislator  has  imposed. " When  thou  shalt pray,  enter  into  thy  chamber,  and,  having  shut  the  door, pray  to  thy  Father  in  secret." (Matt. vi.  6.)  We  must retire from  all  distracting  objects,  and  shut  the  doors  of our  senses. We must  pray  "  in  spirit  and  in  truth." (John iv.  23.)  We  must  seriously  apply  our  minds,  and our hearts  must  be  in  unison  with  the  petition  of  our lips, else  we  shall  be  ranked  in  the  number  of  those  to whom  Christ  applied  the  words  of  the  prophet:  "This people  honoreth  Me  with  their  lips,  but  their  hearts  are far  from  Me." (Matt. xv.  8.)  We  must,  in  fine,  entertain a  lively  faith  and  confidence;  for  your  Saviour  has said "All  things,  whatsoever  you  ask,  when  ye  pray, believe  that  you  shall  receive,  and  they  shall  come  unto you." (Mark xi.  24.)

III. There are  three  grounds  upon  which  this  confidence ought  to  be  built. 1. The  love  which  the  eternal Father bears  us. Christ said,  "  The  Father  Himself  loveth  you." (John xvi.  27.)  He  who  bestowed  on  you  His only begotten  Son  surely  will  not  refuse  to  grant  your earnest entreaty  when  you  pray  for  blessings. 2. The second ground  is  the  merits  and  passion  of  the  Son,  who  is our  Mediator  and  Advocate,  and  who  assures  us,  "Whatsoever you  shall  ask  the  Father  in  My  name,  that  will  I do." (John xiv.  13.)  3. The Holy  Ghost  himself  intercedes for  us,  for  St. Paul says,  "  The  Spirit  himself  asketh  for  us,  with  unspeakable  groanings." (Rom. viii. 26.)