The dew of
Hermon falls upon the home where prayer is wont to be made. Its members
enjoy the good and the pleasantness of dwelling together in unity. It gives
tone and intensity to their affections and sympathies: it throws a sunshine
around their hopes and interests: it increases their happiness, and takes
away the poignancy of their grief and sorrow. It availeth much, therefore,
both for time and eternity. Its voice has sent many a poor prodigal home to
his father's house. Its answer has often been, "This man was born there!"
The child, kneeling beside the pious mother, and pouring forth its infant
prayer to God, must attract the notice of the heavenly host, and receive
into its soul the power of a new life.
"Who would not be an infant now,
To breathe an infant's prayer?
O manhood! could thy spirit kneel
Beside that sunny child,
As fondly pray, and purely feel,
With soul as undefiled.
That moment would encircle thee,
With light and love divine;
Thy gaze might dwell on Deity,
And heaven itself be thine."
And yet the neglect of family prayer is a very general defect of the
Christian home. No home-duty has indeed been more grossly neglected and
abused. Some attend to it only occasionally; some only in times of
affliction and distress, as if then only they needed to pray to God; some
only on the Sabbath, as if that were the only day to commune with Him.
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