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PRAYING AND LIVING

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.—John 9:31

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”—Ps. 66:18

Ever labor to live suitably to thy prayers. It is to no purpose to begin the day with God and then spend it with the devil; to be a saint in the morning in thy closet, and then a sinner all day in the world.

Having prayed against sin, be sure you watch against it, avoiding the occasions and temptations thereto; for otherwise you will fall before it. Having prayed for holiness of life, labor to live holily. Having prayed for humility, labor to walk humbly. Having prayed for sobriety and temperance, labor to live soberly and temperately. Having prayed in the Spirit, labor to walk in the Spirit. Ever bear in mind that to pray for one thing and live for another is a contradiction and an impiety. The whole course of one’s life should savor of one’s prayers. He who hath all his religion in his prayers, hath no religion at all.—Selected.

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— February, 1884 —