Tad. Is God our Father? Are we his children? And shall he not hear and be moved and answer when we appeal to him?

II. Revelation.

The Bible, which we receive as the Word of God, is full of promises, such as "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." This is but one of hundreds; and you will look in vain for an "if" or a "perhaps" in any of them. "Shall" is the word. God leaves us in no doubt as to his willingness to hear and answer us.

"Yes, but how do we know that those promises are true? Give us facts." There is a sense, however, in which a promise, with due authority behind it, is more satisfactory than a visible and tangible fact. Here is a bar of yellow metal, said to be worth a thousand dollars; and here beside it is a Government bond for the same amount. Which will you have? Take heed how you trust your eyes; for many a countryman has been deceived by a "gold brick." You will, of a certainty, choose the bond, which is simply a "promise to pay.' Why? Because there is no question as to the value of a promise with the red seal of the Nation upon it. Take this promise, then: "If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." This is a draft, with the amount left blank to be filled out by the receiver, and endorsed by the King's Son-a carte blanche on the exchequer of God!

III. Hearsay.

Do you object to "hearsay evidence"? Substantially all that we know is acquired that way. Not long ago there was a shower of meteoric stars. You were probably asleep and did not observe it; but hundreds of astronomers say that they watched it from their observatories, and there are tens of thousands of people who sat up all night to see it. On the other hand there are many who, like yourself, are prepared to testify that they saw nothing of it. What then will you conclude? Shall the negative outweigh the positive testimony with you? Not if you are a grown man.

So there are millions of people in the world who certify that God has heard and answered their prayers again and again. It is respectfully submitted that the credulous man is not he who accepts this mass of positive evidence, but rather the one who prefers the negative testimony of those who were asleep and did not see the falling stars. It is incredible that men should not listen to the word of that great cloud of witnesses who with reference to prayer are prepared to say, "That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life, declare we unto you!" IV. Experience.

I know. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles !" And the way for any other to know is to try it. But in making a test of prayer, remember this:

"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

We have kept Peter waiting at the door. Rhoda, the portress, came running in, breathless with excitement, crying-but that is another story; and next Sabbath, God willing, we shall hear about it.

Meanwhile I can rest and rejoice in the assurance that I have a prayer hearing and answering God. I will pray on: because in due season I shall reap if I faint not.

There is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts,
When sink the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires,
When human strength gives way;
There is a love that never fails,
When earthly loves decay.

That eye is fixed on seraph throngs;
That arm upholds the sky;
That ear is filled with angel songs;
That love is throned on high.

But there's a power which man can wield
When mortal aid is vain,

That eye, that arm, that love to reach,
That listening ear to gain.

That power is prayer, which soars on high,
Through Jesus, to the throne;

And moves the hand which moves the world,
To bring salvation down!

8. PRAYER

Lord, teach me how to pray; how to present my strong arguments and make a prevailing plea. I know that if there is any failure of connection betwixt thee and me the fault is mine. Lay thy healing hand, O Lord, on the infirmity of my devotions and enable me to take hold upon thy strength. There are so many things that I need: help me to ask so as to receive; in Jesus' name. Amen. 9. HYMN: "Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish."

10. BENEDICTION

God be with thee and bless thee and cause his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. Amen.

ELEVENTH SERVICE

A Simple Believer

1. INVOCATION

GOD, who sittest upon thy throne high

and lifted up, help me to worship thee aright. With confidence I now draw nigh and 'Father, Abba Father,' cry. Receive me into the secret place of thy pavilion and show me. thy beauty in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen. 2. HYMN: "Sweet hour of prayer." 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON

Acts 12:1-16.

I Cor. 1:20-30.

4. PRAYER

Who shall be accounted worthy, O Lord, to enter into thy presence? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart. Alas, I have neither! But thou canst give me both. Begin at my heart, O searching God, and wring out of it the black drop of sin. Then purify my hands; for I have touched the unclean thing. Blessed be thy Name, thou hast opened a fountain for uncleanness in the atoning blood of thine only-begotten Son! It cleanseth from all sin. And thou art always ready