CHAPTER I. PRAYER COMMANDED AND ENCOURAGED. "O WHAT a beautiful evening this is, mother," said little Susan, as she looked out of the window. The moon was shining bright and clear, glistening upon the snow and frost, and the stars twinkled in the clear blue sky. She turned around upon the blazing wood-fire, that made her mother's room so pleasant and comfortable. "Yes, my dear Susan," said her mother, "it is a pleasant evening, and well calculated to turn our thoughts towards that great and good Being, who made the world, and the sun, moon, and stars; and who gives us all the comforts and blessings we enjoy. O, how delightful it is to look up in a clear moonlight evening, and see the sky set so thick with stars. David was filled with wonder at the sight, because he saw in them the glory of his heavenly Father. 'The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork." "How great God must be, mother, to make all these things! And will he listen to such a little girl as I am, if I pray to him? David says, 'When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?' But I am only a little girl. Will he care for me?" "But, in the same psalm, my dear, David says, 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.' And Jesus says that God takes care of the little birds: 'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.' If the Lord takes care of the little birds, will he think you too small for him to notice? No; Jesus says, 'the very hairs of your head are all numbered.' If he counts the hairs of your head, surely he will not refuse to listen. when you pray to him. But our heavenly Father has not left us to suppose that we may go to him. He has kindly told us to come and ask for what we want; and graciously promised to hear and answer our prayers." "O, mother, I cannot think he would like to be troubled with my little wants." "My dear, it is one of the most glorious things in the character of God, that he is as careful of the least as of the greatest of his works. Have you never seen a little spider on the wall or fence?" "Yes, mother, and it is a very little thing, indeed, so that I could but just see it." "Yet, my dear, the same God that made the sun, moon, and stars, made this little spider; and you see how much pains he has taken to provide it food. See the little web on which it is running. God has given the spider the wonderful power and skill of weaving this web-from its own body, and hanging it up for a net, to catch the little flies, which it kills and eats. Do you think he would care more for. the little spider, that has no soul, than for you?" "But the little spider does not pray to him, mother. I am afraid to speak to the great God. I am afraid he will not be willing to hear such a little child." |