Author: Sharon

2: ON FAITH

There are two sorts or degrees of faith:—the first is that by which the mind gives its assent to the truth of a thing on the testimony of another; the second is of a more exalted nature, being of Divine origin, and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.—By the first, we believe in the existence of God, and in the truths which He has revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.  It is an essential principle in the beginning of the spiritual path; for “he that comes to God, must believe that He is God, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”(7) And if we put our whole trust in Him, and endeavor in all things to obey Him, we shall be in a state of preparation for the reception of that true and living faith which is “the gift of God.”(8)

It is only by this faith that we shall be enabled to overcome all our spiritual enemies, and clearly to understand those mysteries which are incomprehensible to human reason; for reason, being born of man is weak and uncertain, and easily errs; but faith, being born of God, cannot reason err, therefore, must follow and submit to faith, not go before and control it.
             
It is by faith that; “being justified, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.”(9) And when this precious gift has been granted to us, it produces in us hope,(10) love,(11) confidence,(12) joy(13) and holiness of heart.(14) We shall then be enabled to feel an entire dependence on the goodness, power, justice, and mercy of God, and a confidence in his promises; as well as more fully to experience and comprehend the operations of his spirit on the mind. 

Faith is an essential requisite for the proper performance of all our duties to the Supreme Being; indeed, without it we cannot possibly please Him;(15) neither should we ever be induced to seek Him, or believe on the influence of His Holy Spirit on our souls. It is by faith that we are supported on our path to peace, and are enabled to persevere through the difficulties and besetments, which we may have to encounter on our way: it is through this holy principle that we suffer the pains of dryness, and want of consolation, without fainting; being thereby strengthened to endure, as seeing Him who is invisible.(16) And it is only by faith that we can attain to the practice of  true, inward, and spiritual prayer. 

7) Hebrews 11:6
8) Ephesians 2:8
9) Romans 5:1
10) Romans 5:1
11) 1 Peter 1:8
12) Ephesians 3:12
13) Romans 5:2
14) Acts 15:9
15) Hebrews 11:6
16) Hebrews 11:27

3: ON PRAYER 

Prayer is an intercourse of the soul with God.* It is not a work of the head but of the heart; which ought always to continue. It is the medium through which life and food are conveyed to the soul, and the channel through which the gifts and graces of the Spirit flow and are communicated. Every secret aspiration of the soul to God is prayer: all therefore are capable of prayer, and are called to it, as all are capable of, and are called to salvation. 

Paul has enjoined us to “pray without ceasing;”(17) and Jesus said, “I say unto, all, watch and pray.”(18) Come then, all ye that are athirst, to these living waters; nor lose your precious moments in “hewing out cisterns that will not hold water.”(19) Come, ye famishing souls who find naught whereon to feed; come, and ye shall be fully satisfied. Come, ye poor afflicted ones, who groan beneath your load of wretchedness and pain, and ye shall find ease and comfort. Come, ye sick, to your Physician, and be not fearful of approaching Him because you are filled 
with diseases; expose them to His view and they shall be healed. 

Children draw near to your Father, and He will embrace you in the arms of love. Come, ye poor, stray, wandering sheep, return to your Shepherd. Come, ye who have been seeking happiness in worldly pleasures and pursuits, but have failed to find the satisfaction ye expected; come and learn how to be truly happy here, and eternally happy hereafter.—Come, sinners, to your Savior. Come, ye dull, ignorant, and illiterate; ye who think yourselves the most incapable of prayer, ye are more peculiarly called and adapted thereto. Let all, without exception, come; for Christ has called all. 

You must however learn a species of prayer which may be exercised at all times, which does not obstruct outward 
employments, and which may be equally practised by all ranks and conditions of men; by the poor as well as the rich, by the illiterate as well as the learned. It cannot, therefore, be a prayer of the head, but of the heart. It is a species of prayer which nothing can interrupt but irregular and disorderly affections. And though you may think yourselves ever so dull, and incapable of sublime attainments, yet, by prayer the possession and enjoyment of God is easily obtained; for he is more desirous to give Himself to us than we can be to receive Him. 

Prayer is the guide to perfection, and the sovereign good; it delivers us from every vice, and obtains for us every virtue: for the one great means to become perfect is to walk in the presence of Infinite Purity. He Himself has said, “Walk in my presence, and be perfect.”(20) It is only by prayer that we are brought into, and maintained in His presence; and when once we have fully known Him, and the sweetness of His love, we shall find it impossible to relish anything so much as Himself.

*”God is a Spirit; so is the mind. Bodies can have intercourse; so can souls. When minds are in an assimilating state of purity, they have union with their Maker. This was the bliss of Paradise: sin interrupted, and holiness must restore it. To the soul thus distressed, the Creator communicates Himself, in a manner which is as insensible to the natural eye, as the falling of dew, but not less refreshing in its secret powers than the dew is to vegetation.”  — Anonymous Essay on Devotion

17) I Thessalonians 5:17
18) Mark 13:33,37; 15:38
19) Jeremiah 2:13
20) Genesis 17:1