After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen (Matt. vi:7-13).

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (Psalm x.x.xvii:3).

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pa.s.s (Psalm x.x.xvii:5).

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.... (Psalm x.x.xvii:7).

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm xxiii:1).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm xxiii:4).

Chapter VII

Conclusions

As one lays aside the last letter of this collection and leans back in his chair for meditation on all these heart revelations he asks, most anxiously, What is the conclusion of the whole matter?

Thanks be unto G.o.d who giveth us the victory, our faith remains unmoved.

A general view of the field of prayer shows that the great fundamental facts remain undisturbed. G.o.d is. G.o.d answers prayer. The Bible is the inspired work of the Spirit of G.o.d. Jesus is the Son of G.o.d. The Christ is the Saviour of a sinful world. "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"

Entering upon this investigation with a firm determination to hold an unbiased mind and trying to examine the evidence as an impartial judge there were moments of doubt as to the wisdom of setting one's mind so free. It seemed sometimes as if it was wrong, even for a day, to stand outside of the circle of earnest believers and be a neutral critic of sacred things. But the risk was taken. A tremor came with the suggestion that the lovely structure of our lifelong faith might be shattered, and only dust be left of the religious building which we had so fondly believed was a building that had indestructible foundations, "Eternal in the heavens."

But not one pillar has moved, not a rent or seam in any of the old walls has appeared. The fear that faith might be lost has increased our estimate of its everlasting value. The faith of our fathers stands secure. The testimony of unbalanced minds to the Sonship of Christ did not defeat the Saviour in his day, and they cannot do so now. The mistakes, errors, and superst.i.tions of the extremists and deceivers have not made more than a ripple in the current of Christian faith. The tide comes back. The love for the Holy Bible revives. The prodigal will come to himself and come back. The spirit of the Christian religion is a necessity to human progress and human happiness. The world needs it. It may come slowly, but, nevertheless, it will come surely. The spirit will awaken. The winter cannot last forever. Prayer is as necessary to the spirit of man as breath is to his body. The soul's sincere desire will ever seek expression. The seeker after G.o.d will surely find him when he shall truly seek him with all his heart. Hundreds testified to the facts that their prayers were answered where only a score or less a.s.serted that they did not know whether their requests were heard or not. The millions who never tried to pray cannot be accepted as witnesses on either side. But the great majority of those who have tried the matter testify to its effectiveness.

The doubters, who quibble and stumble over the parables and miracles, find that whether the believer accepted them as literal history or as spiritual ill.u.s.trations, they all teach the truth; and to believe in them can do no harm. The consensus of religious opinion among the common people is decidedly in favor of trusting more and, consequently, doubting less. "We will be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness." We have put away childish things and here we stand, men and women, saved by grace, and "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword? I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princ.i.p.alities, nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, not height, not depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Right is Right, since G.o.d is G.o.d, And right the day will win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin.

Ye saints, with your faith of steel, pray on. Ye faltering sinners, smite your breast and pray on. Ye doubtful critics, pray on. Ye sorrow-stricken ones, pray on. In due time every pet.i.tioner shall reap if he or she faints not.

Oh, the rest, the peace, the joy of this settled conviction, that the faith in the Messiahship of Jesus Christ need be no more disturbed! "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise G.o.d, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."

THE END