99       99       99       99       99  
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-------------------      ,transcriber's 
,note3                                  
,obvious typographical errors have been 
corrected4 ,for           a complete    
list1 please see the end of this        
document4                               
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-------------------          99       99
       99       99       99     ,lord1  
,teach ,us ,to ,pray   ,by ,rev4 ,andrew
 ,murray     ,philadelphia ,henry       
,altemus     ,copyright1 #ahif1 by      
,,henry ,,altemus4     ,,lord1 ,,teach  
,,us ,,to ,,pray  ,,or  ,,the ,,only    
,,teacher4   ,the disciples had been    
with ,christ1 and seen ,him pray4 ,they 
had learnt to understand something of   
the connection between ,his wondrous    
life in public1 and ,his secret life of 
prayer4 ,they had learnt to believe in  
,him as a ,master in the art of         
prayer--none could pray like ,him4 ,and 
so they came to ,him with the request1  

',lord1 teach us to pray4' ,and in after
 years they would have told us that     
there were few things more wonderful or 
blessed that ,he taught them than ,his  
lessons on prayer4  ,and now still it   
comes to pass1 as ,he is praying in a   
certain place1 that disciples who see   
,him thus engaged feel the need of      
repeating the same request1 ',lord1     
teach us to pray4' ,as we grow in the   
,christian life1 the thought and the    
faith of the ,beloved ,master in ,his   
never-failing intercession becomes      
evermore precious1 and the hope of being
 ,like ,christ in ,his intercession     
gains an attractiveness before unknown4 
,and as we see ,him pray1 and remember  
that there is none who can pray like    
,him1 and none who can teach like ,him1 
we feel the petition of the disciples1  
',lord1 teach us to pray1' is just what 
we need4 ,and as we think how all ,he is
 and has1 how ,he ,himself is our very  
own1 how ,he is ,himself our life1 we   
feel assured that we have but to ask1   

and ,he will be delighted to take us up 
into closer fellowship with ,himself1   
and teach us to pray even as ,he prays4 
,come1 my brothers6 ,shall we not go to 
the ,blessed ,master and ask ,him to    
enrol our names too anew in that school 
which ,he always keeps open for those   
who long to continue their studies in   
the ,divine art of prayer and           
intercession8 ,yes1 let us this very day
 say to the ,master1 as they did of old1
 ',lord1 teach us to pray4' ,as we      
meditate we shall find each word of the 
petition we bring to be full of meaning4
  ',lord1 teach us to pray4' ,yes1 to   
pray4 ,this is what we need to be       
taught4 ,though in its beginnings prayer
 is so simple that the feeble child can 
pray1 yet it is at the same time the    
highest and holiest work to which man   
can rise4 ,it is fellowship with the    
,unseen and ,most ,holy ,one4 ,the      
powers of the eternal world have been   
placed at its disposal4 ,it is the very 
essence of true religion1 the channel of

 all blessings1 the secret of power and 
life4 ,not only for ourselves1 but for  
others1 for the ,church1 for the world1 
it is to prayer that ,god has given the 
right to take hold of ,him and ,his     
strength4 ,it is on prayer that the     
promises wait for their fulfilment1 the 
kingdom for its coming1 the glory of    
,god for its full revelation4 ,and for  
this blessed work1 how slothful and     
unfit we are4 ,it is only the ,spirit of
 ,god can enable us to do it aright4    
,how speedily we are deceived into a    
resting in the form1 while the power is 
wanting4 ,our early training1 the       
teaching of the ,church1 the influence  
of habit1 the stirring of the           
emotions--how easily these lead to      
prayer which has no spiritual power1 and
 avails but little4 ,true prayer1 that  
takes hold of ,god's strength1 that     
availeth much1 to which the gates of    
heaven are really opened wide--who would
 not cry1 ,oh for some one to teach me  
thus to pray8  ,jesus has opened a      

school1 in which ,he trains ,his        
redeemed ones1 who specially desire it1 
to have power in prayer4 ,shall we not  
enter it with the petition1 ,lord6 it is
 just this we need to be taught6 ,o     
teach us to pray4  ',lord1 teach us to  
pray4' ,yes1 us1 ,lord4 ,we have read in
 ,thy ,word with what power ,thy        
believing people of old used to pray1   
and what mighty wonders were done in    
answer to their prayers4 ,and if this   
took place under the ,old ,covenant1 in 
the time of preparation1 how much more  
wilt ,thou not now1 in these days of    
fulfilment1 give ,thy people this sure  
sign of ,thy presence in their midst4   
,we have heard the promises given to    
,thine apostles of the power of prayer  
in ,thy name1 and have seen how         
gloriously they experienced their truth3
 we know for certain1 they can become   
true to us too4 ,we hear continually    
even in these days what glorious tokens 
of ,thy power ,thou dost still give to  
those who trust ,thee fully4 ,lord6     

these all are men of like passions with 
ourselves2 teach us to pray so too4 ,the
 promises are for us1 the powers and    
gifts of the heavenly world are for us4 
,o teach us to pray so that we may      
receive abundantly4 ,to us too ,thou    
hast entrusted ,thy work1 on our prayer 
too the coming of ,thy kingdom depends1 
in our prayer too ,thou canst glorify   
,thy name2 ',lord1 teach us to pray4'   
,yes1 us1 ,lord2 we offer ourselves as  
learners2 we would indeed be taught of  
,thee4 ',lord1 teach us to pray4'       
',lord1 teach us to pray4' ,yes1 we feel
 the need now of being taught to pray4  
,at first there is no work appears so   
simple2 later on1 none that is more     
difficult2 and the confession is forced 
from us3 ,we know not how to pray as we 
ought4 ,it is true we have ,god's ,word1
 with its clear and sure promises2 but  
sin has so darkened our mind1 that we   
know not always how to apply the ,word4 
,in spiritual things we do not always   
seek the most needful things1 or fail in

 praying according to the law of the    
sanctuary4 ,in temporal things we are   
still less able to avail ourselves of   
the wonderful liberty our ,father has   
given us to ask what we need4 ,and even 
when we know what to ask1 how much there
 is still needed to make prayer         
acceptable4 ,it must be to the glory of 
,god1 in full surrender to ,his will1 in
 full assurance of faith1 in the name of
 ,jesus1 and with a perseverance that1  
if need be1 refuses to be denied4 ,all  
this must be learned4 ,it can only be   
learned in the school of much prayer1   
for practice makes perfect4 ,amid the   
painful consciousness of ignorance and  
unworthiness1 in the struggle between   
believing and doubting1 the heavenly art
 of effectual prayer is learnt4         
,because1 even when we do not remember  
it1 there is ,one1 the ,beginner and    
,finisher of faith and prayer1 who      
watches over our praying1 and sees to it
 that in all who trust ,him for it their
 education in the school of prayer shall

 be carried on to perfection4 ,let but  
the deep undertone of all our prayer be 
the teachableness that comes from a     
sense of ignorance1 and from faith in   
,him as a perfect teacher1 and we may be
 sure we shall be taught1 we shall learn
 to pray in power4 ,yes1 we may depend  
upon it1 ,,he teaches to pray4  ',lord1 
teach us to pray4' ,none can teach like 
,jesus1 none but ,jesus2 therefore we   
call on ,him1 ',,lord1 teach us to      
pray4' ,a pupil needs a teacher1 who    
knows his work1 who has the gift of     
teaching1 who in patience and love will 
descend to the pupil's needs4 ,blessed  
be ,god6 ,jesus is all this and much    
more4 ,he knows what prayer is4 ,it is  
,jesus1 praying ,himself1 who teaches to
 pray4 ,he knows what prayer is4 ,he    
learned it amid the trials and tears of 
,his earthly life4 ,in heaven it is     
still ,his beloved work3 ,his life there
 is prayer4 ,nothing delights ,him more 
than to find those whom ,he can take    
with ,him into the ,father's presence1  

whom ,he can clothe with power to pray  
down ,god's blessing on those around    
them1 whom ,he can train to be ,his     
fellow-workers in the intercession by   
which the kingdom is to be revealed on  
earth4 ,he knows how to teach4 ,now by  
the urgency of felt need1 then by the   
confidence with which joy inspires4     
,here by the teaching of the ,word1     
there by the testimony of another       
believer who knows what it is to have   
prayer heard4 ,by ,his ,holy ,spirit1   
,he has access to our heart1 and teaches
 us to pray by showing us the sin that  
hinders the prayer1 or giving us the    
assurance that we please ,god4 ,he      
teaches1 by giving not only thoughts of 
what to ask or how to ask1 but by       
breathing within us the very spirit of  
prayer1 by living within us as the      
,great ,intercessor4 ,we may indeed and 
most joyfully say1 ',who teacheth like  
,him8' ,jesus never taught ,his         
disciples how to preach1 only how to    
pray4 ,he did not speak much of what was

 needed to preach well1 but much of     
praying well4 ,to know how to speak to  
,god is more than knowing how to speak  
to man4 ,not power with men1 but power  
with ,god is the first thing4 ,jesus    
loves to teach us how to pray4  ,what   
think you1 my beloved fellow-disciples6 
would it not be just what we need1 to   
ask the ,master for a month to give us a
 course of special lessons on the art of
 prayer8 ,as we meditate on the words   
,he spake on earth1 let us yield        
ourselves to ,his teaching in the       
fullest confidence that1 with such a    
teacher1 we shall make progress4 ,let us
 take time not only to meditate1 but to 
pray1 to tarry at the foot of the       
throne1 and be trained to the work of   
intercession4 ,let us do so in the      
assurance that amidst our stammerings   
and fears ,he is carrying on ,his work  
most beautifully4 ,he will breathe ,his 
own life1 which is all prayer1 into us4 
,as ,he makes us partakers of ,his      
righteousness and ,his life1 ,he will of

 ,his intercession too4 ,as the members 
of ,his body1 as a holy priesthood1 we  
shall take part in ,his priestly work of
 pleading and prevailing with ,god for  
men4 ,yes1 let us most joyfully say1    
ignorant and feeble though we be1       
',lord1 teach us to pray4'  ',,lord1    
,,teach ,,us ,,to ,,pray4'         99   
99       99       99       99  ,blessed 
,lord6 who ever livest to pray1 ,thou   
canst teach me too to pray1 me to live  
ever to pray4 ,in this ,thou lovest to  
make me share ,thy glory in heaven1 that
 ,i should pray without ceasing1 and    
ever stand as a priest in the presence  
of my ,god4  ,lord ,jesus6 ,i ask ,thee 
this day to enrol my name among those   
who confess that they know not how to   
pray as they ought1 and especially ask  
,thee for a course of teaching in       
prayer4 ,lord6 teach me to tarry with   
,thee in the school1 and give ,thee time
 to train me4 ,may a deep sense of my   
ignorance1 of the wonderful privilege   
and power of prayer1 of the need of the 

,holy ,spirit as the ,spirit of prayer1 
lead me to cast away my thoughts of what
 ,i think ,i know1 and make me kneel    
before ,thee in true teachableness and  
poverty of spirit4  ,and fill me1 ,lord1
 with the confidence that with such a   
teacher as ,thou art ,i shall learn to  
pray4 ,in the assurance that ,i have as 
my teacher1 ,jesus1 who is ever praying 
to the ,father1 and by ,his prayer rules
 the destinies of ,his ,church and the  
world1 ,i will not be afraid4 ,as much  
as ,i need to know of the mysteries of  
the prayer-world1 ,thou wilt unfold for 
me4 ,and when ,i may not know1 ,thou    
wilt teach me to be strong in faith1    
giving glory to ,god4  ,blessed ,lord6  
,thou wilt not put to shame ,thy scholar
 who trusts ,thee1 nor1 by ,thy grace1  
would he ,thee either4 ,amen4     ',,in 
,,spirit ,,and ,,truth2'  ,,or  ,,the   
,,true ,,worshippers4       ',the hour  
cometh1 and now is1 when the true       
worshippers shall     worship the       
,father in spirit and truth3 for such   

doth the     ,father seek to be ,his    
worshippers4 ,god is a ,spirit3 and they
     that worship ,him must worship ,him
 in spirit and truth4'--,,john     iv4  
#bc1 #bd4  ,these words of ,jesus to the
 woman of ,samaria are ,his first       
recorded teaching on the subject of     
prayer4 ,they give us some wonderful    
first glimpses into the world of prayer4
 ,the ,father seeks worshippers3 our    
worship satisfies ,his loving heart and 
is a joy to ,him4 ,he seeks true        
worshippers1 but finds many not such as 
,he would have them4 ,true worship is   
that which is in spirit and truth4 ,the 
,son has come to open the way for this  
worship in spirit and in truth1 and     
teach it us4 ,and so one of our first   
lessons in the school of prayer must be 
to understand what it is to pray in     
spirit and in truth1 and to know how we 
can attain to it4  ,to the woman of     
,samaria our ,lord spoke of a threefold 
worship4 ,there is1 first1 the ignorant 
worship of the ,samaritans3 ',ye worship

 that which ye know not4' ,the second1  
the intelligent worship of the ,jew1    
having the true knowledge of ,god3 ',we 
worship that which we know2 for         
salvation is of the ,jews4' ,and then   
the new1 the spiritual worship which ,he
 ,himself has come to introduce3 ',the  
hour is coming1 and is now1 when the    
true worshippers shall worship the      
,father in spirit and truth4' ,from the 
connection it is evident that the words 
'in spirit and truth' do not mean1 as is
 often thought1 earnestly1 from the     
heart1 in sincerity4 ,the ,samaritans   
had the five books of ,moses and some   
knowledge of ,god2 there was doubtless  
more than one among them who honestly   
and earnestly sought ,god in prayer4    
,the ,jews had the true full revelation 
of ,god in ,his word1 as thus far given2
 there were among them godly men1 who   
called upon ,god with their whole heart4
 ,and yet not 'in spirit and truth1' in 
the full meaning of the words4 ,jesus   
says1 ',the hour is coming1 and now is3'

 it is only in and through ,him that the
 worship of ,god will be in spirit and  
truth4  ,among ,christians one still    
finds the three classes of worshippers4 
,some who in their ignorance hardly know
 what they ask3 they pray earnestly1 and
 yet receive but little4 ,others there  
are1 who have more correct knowledge1   
who try to pray with all their mind and 
heart1 and often pray most earnestly1   
and yet do not attain to the full       
blessedness of worship in spirit and    
truth4 ,it is into this third class we  
must ask our ,lord ,jesus to take us2 we
 must be taught of ,him how to worship  
in spirit and truth4 ,this alone is     
spiritual worship2 this makes us        
worshippers such as the ,father seeks4  
,in prayer everything will depend on our
 understanding well and practising the  
worship in spirit and truth4  ',god is a
 ,spirit and they that worship ,him must
 worship ,him in spirit and truth4' ,the
 first thought suggested here by the    
,master is that there must be harmony   

between ,god and ,his worshippers2 such 
as ,god is1 must ,his worship be4 ,this 
is according to a principle which       
prevails throughout the universe3 we    
look for correspondence between an      
object and the organ to which it reveals
 or yields itself4 ,the eye has an inner
 fitness for the light1 the ear for     
sound4 ,the man who would truly worship 
,god1 would find and know and possess   
and enjoy ,god1 must be in harmony with 
,him1 must have a capacity for receiving
 ,him4 ,because ,god is ,spirit1 we must
 worship in spirit4 ,as ,god is1 so ,his
 worshipper4  ,and what does this mean8 
,the woman had asked our ,lord whether  
,samaria or ,jerusalem was the true     
place of worship4 ,he answers that      
henceforth worship is no longer to be   
limited to a certain place3 ',woman1    
believe ,me1 the hour cometh when       
neither in this mountain1 nor in        
,jerusalem1 shall ye worship the        
,father4' ,as ,god is ,spirit1 not bound
 by space or time1 but in ,his infinite 

perfection always and everywhere the    
same1 so ,his worship would henceforth  
no longer be confined by place or form1 
but spiritual as ,god ,himself is       
spiritual4 ,a lesson of deep importance4
 ,how much our ,christianity suffers    
from this1 that it is confined to       
certain times and places4 ,a man who    
seeks to pray earnestly in the church or
 in the closet1 spends the greater part 
of the week or the day in a spirit      
entirely at variance with that in which 
he prayed4 ,his worship was the work of 
a fixed place or hour1 not of his whole 
being4 ,god is a spirit3 ,he is the     
,everlasting and ,unchangeable ,one2    
what ,he is1 ,he is always and in truth4
 ,our worship must even so be in spirit 
and truth3 ,his worship must be the     
spirit of our life2 our life must be    
worship in spirit as ,god is ,spirit4   
',god is a ,spirit3 and they that       
worship ,him must worship ,him in spirit
 and truth4' ,the second thought that   
comes to us is that this worship in the 

spirit must come from ,god ,himself4    
,god is ,spirit3 ,he alone has ,spirit  
to give4 ,it was for this ,he sent ,his 
,son1 to fit us for such spiritual      
worship1 by giving us the ,holy ,spirit4
 ,it is of ,his own work that ,jesus    
speaks when ,he says twice1 ',the hour  
cometh1' and then adds1 'and is now4'   
,he came to baptize with the ,holy      
,spirit2 the ,spirit could not stream   
forth till ,he was glorified 7,john i4  
#cc1 vii4 #cg1 #ch1 xvi4 #g74 ,it was   
when ,he had made an end of sin1 and    
entering into the ,holiest of all with  
,his blood1 had there on our behalf     
received the ,holy ,spirit 7,acts ii4   
#cc71 that ,he could send ,him down to  
us as the ,spirit of the ,father4 ,it   
was when ,christ had redeemed us1 and we
 in ,him had received the position of   
children1 that the ,father sent forth   
the ,spirit of ,his ,son into our hearts
 to cry1 ',abba1 ,father4' ,the worship 
in spirit is the worship of the ,father 
in the ,spirit of ,christ1 the ,spirit  

of ,sonship4  ,this is the reason why   
,jesus here uses the name of ,father4   
,we never find one of the ,old          
,testament saints personally appropriate
 the name of child or call ,god his     
,father4 ,the worship of the ,father is 
only possible to those to whom the      
,spirit of the ,son has been given4 ,the
 worship in spirit is only possible to  
those to whom the ,son has revealed the 
,father1 and who have received the      
spirit of ,sonship4 ,it is only ,christ 
who opens the way and teaches the       
worship in spirit4  ,and in truth4 ,that
 does not only mean1 in sincerity4 ,nor 
does it only signify1 in accordance with
 the truth of ,god's ,word4 ,the        
expression is one of deep and ,divine   
meaning4 ,jesus is 'the only-begotten of
 the ,father1 full of grace and truth4' 
',the law was given by ,moses2 grace and
 truth came by ,jesus ,christ4' ,jesus  
says1 ',i am the truth and the life4'   
,in the ,old ,testament all was shadow  
and promise2 ,jesus brought and gives   

the reality1 the substance1 of things   
hoped for4 ,in ,him the blessings and   
powers of the eternal life are our      
actual possession and experience4 ,jesus
 is full of grace and truth2 the ,holy  
,spirit is the ,spirit of truth2 through
 ,him the grace that is in ,jesus is    
ours indeed1 and truth a positive       
communication out of the ,divine life4  
,and so worship in spirit is worship in 
truth2 actual living fellowship with    
,god1 a real correspondence and harmony 
between the ,father1 who is a ,spirit1  
and the child praying in the spirit4    
,what ,jesus said to the woman of       
,samaria1 she could not at once         
understand4 ,pentecost was needed to    
reveal its full meaning4 ,we are hardly 
prepared at our first entrance into the 
school of prayer to grasp such teaching4
 ,we shall understand it better later   
on4 ,let us only begin and take the     
lesson as ,he gives it4 ,we are carnal  
and cannot bring ,god the worship ,he   
seeks4 ,but ,jesus came to give the     

,spirit3 ,he has given ,him to us4 ,let 
the disposition in which we set         
ourselves to pray be what ,christ's     
words have taught us4 ,let there be the 
deep confession of our inability to     
bring ,god the worship that is pleasing 
to ,him2 the childlike teachableness    
that waits on ,him to instruct us2 the  
simple faith that yields itself to the  
breathing of the ,spirit4 ,above all1   
let us hold fast the blessed truth--we  
shall find that the ,lord has more to   
say to us about it--that the knowledge  
of the ,fatherhood of ,god1 the         
revelation of ,his infinite             
,fatherliness in our hearts1 the faith  
in the infinite love that gives us ,his 
,son and ,his ,spirit to make us        
children1 is indeed the secret of prayer
 in spirit and truth4 ,this is the new  
and living way ,christ opened up for us4
 ,to have ,christ the ,son1 and ,the    
,spirit of the ,son1 dwelling within us1
 and revealing the ,father1 this makes  
us true1 spiritual worshippers4         

',,lord1 ,,teach ,,us ,,to ,,pray4'     
99       99       99       99       99  
,blessed ,lord6 ,i adore the love with  
which ,thou didst teach a woman1 who had
 refused ,thee a cup of water1 what the 
worship of ,god must be4 ,i rejoice in  
the assurance that ,thou wilt no less   
now instruct ,thy disciple1 who comes to
 ,thee with a heart that longs to pray  
in spirit and in truth4 ,o my ,holy     
,master6 do teach me this blessed       
secret4  ,teach me that the worship in  
spirit and truth is not of man1 but only
 comes from ,thee2 that it is not only a
 thing of times and seasons1 but the    
outflowing of a life in ,thee4 ,teach me
 to draw near to ,god in prayer under   
the deep impression of my ignorance and 
my having nothing in myself to offer    
,him1 and at the same time of the       
provision ,thou1 my ,saviour1 makest for
 the ,spirit's breathing in my childlike
 stammerings4 ,i do bless ,thee that in 
,thee ,i am a child1 and have a child's 
liberty of access2 that in ,thee ,i have

 the spirit of ,sonship and of worship  
of truth4 ,teach me1 above all1 ,blessed
 ,son of the ,father1 how it is the     
revelation of the ,father that gives    
confidence in prayer2 and let the       
infinite ,fatherliness of ,god's ,heart 
be my joy and strength for a life of    
prayer and of worship4 ,amen4     ,,pray
 ,,to ,,thy ,,father ,,which ,,is ,,in  
,,secret  ,,or  ,,alone ,,with ,,god4   
',but thou1 when thou prayest1 enter    
into thine inner chamber1     and having
 shut thy door1 pray to thy ,father     
which is in     secret1 and thy ,father 
which seeth in secret shall recompense  
thee4'--,,matt4 vi4 #f4   ,after ,jesus 
had called ,his first disciples ,he gave
 them their first public teaching in the
 ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,he there       
expounded to them the kingdom of ,god1  
its laws and its life4 ,in that kingdom 
,god is not only ,king1 but ,father2 ,he
 not only gives all1 but is ,himself    
all4 ,in the knowledge and fellowship of
 ,him alone is its blessedness4 ,hence  

it came as a matter of course that the  
revelation of prayer and the prayer-life
 was a part of ,his teaching concerning 
the ,new ,kingdom ,he came to set up4   
,moses gave neither command nor         
regulation with regard to prayer3 even  
the prophets say little directly of the 
duty of prayer2 it is ,christ who       
teaches to pray4  ,and the first thing  
the ,lord teaches ,his disciples is that
 they must have a secret place for      
prayer2 every one must have some        
solitary spot where he can be alone with
 his ,god4 ,every teacher must have a   
schoolroom4 ,we have learnt to know and 
accept ,jesus as our only teacher in the
 school of prayer4 ,he has already      
taught us at ,samaria that worship is no
 longer confined to times and places2   
that worship1 spiritual true worship1 is
 a thing of the spirit and the life2 the
 whole man must in his whole life be    
worship in spirit and truth4 ,and yet   
,he wants each one to choose for himself
 the fixed spot where ,he can daily meet

 him4 ,that inner chamber1 that solitary
 place1 is ,jesus' schoolroom4 ,that    
spot may be anywhere2 that spot may     
change from day to day if we have to    
change our abode2 but that secret place 
there must be1 with the quiet time in   
which the pupil places himself in the   
,master's presence1 to be by ,him       
prepared to worship the ,father4 ,there 
alone1 but there most surely1 ,jesus    
comes to us to teach us to pray4  ,a    
teacher is always anxious that his      
schoolroom should be bright and         
attractive1 filled with the light and   
air of heaven1 a place where pupils long
 to come1 and love to stay4 ,in ,his    
first words on prayer in the ,sermon on 
the ,mount1 ,jesus seeks to set the     
inner chamber before us in its most     
attractive light4 ,if we listen         
carefully1 we soon notice what the chief
 thing is ,he has to tell us of our     
tarrying there4 ,three times ,he uses   
the name of ,father3 ',pray to thy      
,father2' ',thy ,father shall recompense

 thee2' ,your ,father knoweth what      
things ye have need of4' ,the first     
thing in closet-prayer is3 ,i must meet 
my ,father4 ,the light that shines in   
the closet must be3 the light of the    
,father's countenance4 ,the fresh air   
from heaven with which ,jesus would have
 filled the atmosphere in which ,i am to
 breathe and pray1 is3 ,god's           
,father-love1 ,god's infinite           
,fatherliness4 ,thus each thought or    
petition we breathe out will be simple1 
hearty1 childlike trust in the ,father4 
,this is how the ,master teaches us to  
pray3 ,he brings us into the ,father's  
living presence4 ,what we pray there    
must avail4 ,let us listen carefully to 
hear what the ,lord has to say to us4   
,first1 ',pray to thy ,father which is  
in secret4' ,god is a ,god who hides    
,himself to the carnal eye4 ,as long as 
in our worship of ,god we are chiefly   
occupied with our own thoughts and      
exercises1 we shall not meet ,him who is
 a ,spirit1 the unseen ,one4 ,but to the

 man who withdraws himself from all that
 is of the world and man1 and prepares  
to wait upon ,god alone1 the ,father    
will reveal ,himself4 ,as he forsakes   
and gives up and shuts out the world1   
and the life of the world1 and          
surrenders himself to be led of ,christ 
into the secret of ,god's presence1 the 
light of the ,father's love will rise   
upon him4 ,the secrecy of the inner     
chamber and the closed door1 the entire 
separation from all around us1 is an    
image of1 and so a help to1 that inner  
spiritual sanctuary1 the secret of      
,god's tabernacle1 within the veil1     
where our spirit truly comes into       
contact with the ,invisible ,one4 ,and  
so we are taught1 at the very outset of 
our search after the secret of effectual
 prayer1 to remember that it is in the  
inner chamber1 where we are alone with  
the ,father1 that we shall learn to pray
 aright4 ,the ,father is in secret3 in  
these words ,jesus teaches us where ,he 
is waiting us1 where ,he is always to be

 found4 ,christians often complain that 
private prayer is not what it should be4
 ,they feel weak and sinful1 the heart  
is cold and dark2 it is as if they have 
so little to pray1 and in that little no
 faith or joy4 ,they are discouraged and
 kept from prayer by the thought that   
they cannot come to the ,father as they 
ought or as they wish4 ,child of ,god6  
listen to your ,teacher4 ,he tells you  
that when you go to private prayer your 
first thought must be3 ,the ,father is  
in secret1 the ,father waits me there4  
,just because your heart is cold and    
prayerless1 get you into the presence of
 the loving ,father4 ,as a father       
pitieth his children1 so the ,lord      
pitieth you4 ,do not be thinking of how 
little you have to bring ,god1 but of   
how much ,he wants to give you4 ,just   
place yourself before1 and look up into1
 ,his face2 think of ,his love1 ,his    
wonderful1 tender1 pitying love4 ,just  
tell ,him how sinful and cold and dark  
all is3 it is the ,father's loving heart

 will give light and warmth to yours4 ,o
 do what ,jesus says3 ,just shut the    
door1 and pray to thy ,father1 which is 
in secret4 ,is it not wonderful8 to be  
able to go alone with ,god1 the infinite
 ,god4 ,and then to look up and say3 ,my
 ,father6  ',and thy ,father1 which     
seeth in secret1 will recompense thee4' 
,here ,jesus assures us that secret     
prayer cannot be fruitless3 its blessing
 will show itself in our life4 ,we have 
but in secret1 alone with ,god1 to      
entrust our life before men to ,him2 ,he
 will reward us openly2 ,he will see to 
it that the answer to prayer be made    
manifest in ,his blessing upon us4 ,our 
,lord would thus teach us that as       
infinite ,fatherliness and ,faithfulness
 is that with which ,god meets us in    
secret1 so on our part there should be  
the childlike simplicity of faith1 the  
confidence that our prayer does bring   
down a blessing4 ',he that cometh to    
,god must believe that ,he is a rewarder
 of them that seek ,him4' ,not on the   

strong or the fervent feeling with which
 ,i pray does the blessing of the closet
 depend1 but upon the love and the power
 of the ,father to whom ,i there entrust
 my needs4 ,and therefore the ,master   
has but one desire3 ,remember your      
,father is1 and sees and hears in       
secret2 go there and stay there1 and go 
again from there in the confidence3 ,he 
will recompense4 ,trust ,him for it2    
depend upon ,him3 prayer to the ,father 
cannot be vain2 ,he will reward you     
openly4  ,still further to confirm this 
faith in the ,father-love of ,god1      
,christ speaks a third word3 ',your     
,father knoweth what things ye have need
 of before ye ask ,him4' ,at first sight
 it might appear as if this thought made
 prayer less needful3 ,god knows far    
better than we what we need4 ,but as we 
get a deeper insight into what prayer   
really is1 this truth will help much to 
strengthen our faith4 ,it will teach us 
that we do not need1 as the heathen1    
with the multitude and urgency of our   

words1 to compel an unwilling ,god to   
listen to us4 ,it will lead to a holy   
thoughtfulness and silence in prayer as 
it suggests the question3 ,does my      
,father really know that ,i need this8  
,it will1 when once we have been led by 
the ,spirit to the certainty that our   
request is indeed something that1       
according to the ,word1 we do need for  
,god's glory1 give us wonderful         
confidence to say1 ,my ,father knows ,i 
need it and must have it4 ,and if there 
be any delay in the answer1 it will     
teach us in quiet perseverance to hold  
on3 ,,father6 ,,thou ,,knowest ,i need  
it4 ,o the blessed liberty and          
simplicity of a child that ,christ our  
,teacher would fain cultivate in us1 as 
we draw near to ,god3 let us look up to 
the ,father until ,his ,spirit works it 
in us4 ,let us sometimes in our prayers1
 when we are in danger of being so      
occupied with our fervent1 urgent       
petitions1 as to forget that the ,father
 knows and hears1 let us hold still and 

just quietly say3 ,my ,father sees1 my  
,father hears1 my ,father knows2 it will
 help our faith to take the answer1 and 
to say3 ,we know that we have the       
petitions we have asked of ,him4  ,and  
now1 all ye who have anew entered the   
school of ,christ to be taught to pray1 
take these lessons1 practise them1 and  
trust ,him to perfect you in them4      
,dwell much in the inner chamber1 with  
the door shut--shut in from men1 shut up
 with ,god2 it is there the ,father     
waits you1 it is there ,jesus will teach
 you to pray4 ,to be alone in secret    
with ,,the ,,father3 this be your       
highest joy4 ,to be assured that ,,the  
,,father will openly reward the secret  
prayer1 so that it cannot remain        
unblessed3 this be your strength day by 
day4 ,and to know that ,,the ,,father   
knows that you need what you ask1 this  
be your liberty to bring every need1 in 
the assurance that your ,god will supply
 it according to ,his riches in glory in
 ,christ ,jesus4  ',,lord1 ,,teach ,,us 

,,to ,,pray4'         99       99       
99       99       99  ,blessed ,saviour6
 with my whole heart ,i do bless ,thee  
for the appointment of the inner        
chamber1 as the school where ,thou      
meetest each of ,thy pupils alone1 and  
revealest to him the ,father4 ,o my     
,lord6 strengthen my faith so in the    
,father's tender love and kindness1 that
 as often as ,i feel sinful or troubled1
 the first instinctive thought may be to
 go where ,i know the ,father waits me1 
and where prayer never can go unblessed4
 ,let the thought that ,he knows my need
 before ,i ask1 bring me1 in great      
restfulness of faith1 to trust that ,he 
will give what ,his child requires4 ,o  
let the place of secret prayer become to
 me the most beloved spot on earth4     
,and1 ,lord6 hear me as ,i pray that    
,thou wouldest everywhere bless the     
closets of ,thy believing people4 ,let  
,thy wonderful revelation of a ,father's
 tenderness free all young ,christians  
from every thought of secret prayer as a

 duty or a burden1 and lead them to     
regard it as the highest privilege of   
their life1 a joy and a blessing4 ,bring
 back all who are discouraged1 because  
they cannot find aught to bring ,thee in
 prayer4 ,o give them to understand that
 they have only to come with their      
emptiness to ,him who has all to give1  
and delights to do it4 ,not1 what they  
have to bring the ,father1 but what the 
,father waits to give them1 be their one
 thought4  ,and bless especially the    
inner chamber of all ,thy servants who  
are working for ,thee1 as the place     
where ,god's truth and ,god's grace is  
revealed to them1 where they are daily  
anointed with fresh oil1 where their    
strength is renewed1 and the blessings  
are received in faith1 with which they  
are to bless their fellow-men4 ,lord1   
draw us all in the closet nearer to     
,thyself and the ,father4 ,amen4        
',,after ,,this ,,manner ,,pray2'  ,,or 
,,the ,,model ,,prayer4      ',after    
this manner therefore pray ye3 ,our     

,father which art in                    
heaven4'--,,matt4 vi4 #i4   ,every      
teacher knows the power of example4 ,he 
not only tells the child what to do and 
how to do it1 but shows him how it      
really can be done4 ,in condescension to
 our weakness1 our ,heavenly ,teacher   
has given us the very words we are to   
take with us as we draw near to our     
,father4 ,we have in them a form of     
prayer in which there breathe the       
freshness and fulness of the ,eternal   
,life4 ,so simple that the child can    
lisp it1 so divinely rich that it       
comprehends all that ,god can give4 ,a  
form of prayer that becomes the model   
and inspiration for all other prayer1   
and yet always draws us back to itself  
as the deepest utterance of our souls   
before our ,god4  ',our ,father which   
art in heaven6' ,to appreciate this word
 of adoration aright1 ,i must remember  
that none of the saints had in          
,scripture ever ventured to address ,god
 as their ,father4 ,the invocation      

places us at once in the centre of the  
wonderful revelation the ,son came to   
make of ,his ,father as our ,father too4
 ,it comprehends the mystery of         
redemption--,christ delivering us from  
the curse that we might become the      
children of ,god4 ,the mystery of       
regeneration--the ,spirit in the new    
birth giving us the new life4 ,and the  
mystery of faith--ere yet the redemption
 is accomplished or understood1 the word
 is given on the lips of the disciples  
to prepare them for the blessed         
experience still to come4 ,the words are
 the key to the whole prayer1 to all    
prayer4 ,it takes time1 it takes life to
 study them2 it will take eternity to   
understand them fully4 ,the knowledge of
 ,god's ,father-love is the first and   
simplest1 but also the last and highest 
lesson in the school of prayer4 ,it is  
in the personal relation to the living  
,god1 and the personal conscious        
fellowship of love with ,himself1 that  
prayer begins4 ,it is in the knowledge  

of ,god's ,fatherliness1 revealed by the
 ,holy ,spirit1 that the power of prayer
 will be found to root and grow4 ,in the
 infinite tenderness and pity and       
patience of the infinite ,father1 in    
,his loving readiness to hear and to    
help1 the life of prayer has its joy4 ,o
 let us take time1 until the ,spirit has
 made these words to us spirit and      
truth1 filling heart and life3 ',our    
,father which art in heaven4' ,then we  
are indeed within the veil1 in the      
secret place of power where prayer      
always prevails4  ',hallowed be ,thy    
name4' ,there is something here that    
strikes us at once4 ,while we ordinarily
 first bring our own needs to ,god in   
prayer1 and then think of what belongs  
to ,god and ,his interests1 the ,master 
reverses the order4 ,first1 ,thy name1  
,thy kingdom1 ,thy will2 then1 give us1 
forgive us1 lead us1 deliver us4 ,the   
lesson is of more importance than we    
think4 ,in true worship the ,father must
 be first1 must be all4 ,the sooner ,i  

learn to forget myself in the desire    
that ,,he may be glorified1 the richer  
will the blessing be that prayer will   
bring to myself4 ,no one ever loses by  
what he sacrifices for the ,father4     
,this must influence all our prayer4    
,there are two sorts of prayer3 personal
 and intercessory4 ,the latter          
ordinarily occupies the lesser part of  
our time and energy4 ,this may not be4  
,christ has opened the school of prayer 
specially to train intercessors for the 
great work of bringing down1 by their   
faith and prayer1 the blessings of ,his 
work and love on the world around4      
,there can be no deep growth in prayer  
unless this be made our aim4 ,the little
 child may ask of the father only what  
it needs for itself2 and yet it soon    
learns to say1 ,give some for sister    
too4 ,but the grown-up son1 who only    
lives for the father's interest and     
takes charge of the father's business1  
asks more largely1 and gets all that is 
asked4 ,and ,jesus would train us to the

 blessed life of consecration and       
service1 in which our interests are all 
subordinate to the ,name1 and the       
,kingdom1 and the ,will of the ,father4 
,o let us live for this1 and let1 on    
each act of adoration1 ,our ,father6    
there follow in the same breath1 ,thy   
,name1 ,thy ,kingdom1 ,thy ,will2--for  
this we look up and long4  ',hallowed be
 ,thy name44' ,what name8 ,this new name
 of ,father4 ,the word ,holy is the     
central word of the ,old ,testament2 the
 name ,father of the ,new4 ,in this name
 of ,love all the holiness and glory of 
,god are now to be revealed4 ,and how is
 the name to be hallowed8 ,by ,god      
,himself3 ',i will hallow ,my great name
 which ye have profaned4' ,our prayer   
must be that in ourselves1 in all ,god's
 children1 in presence of the world1    
,god ,himself would reveal the holiness1
 the ,divine power1 the hidden glory of 
the name of ,father4 ,the ,spirit of the
 ,father is the ,holy ,spirit3 it is    
only when we yield ourselves to be led  

of ,him1 that the name will be hallowed 
in our prayer and our lives4 ,let us    
learn the prayer3 ',our ,father1        
hallowed be ,thy name4'  ',thy kingdom  
come4' ,the ,father is a ,king and has a
 kingdom4 ,the son and heir of a king   
has no higher ambition than the glory of
 his father's kingdom4 ,in time of war  
or danger this becomes his passion2 he  
can think of nothing else4 ,the children
 of the ,father are here in the enemy's 
territory1 where the kingdom1 which is  
in heaven1 is not yet fully manifested4 
,what more natural than that1 when they 
learn to hallow the ,father-name1 they  
should long and cry with deep           
enthusiasm3 ',thy kingdom come4' ,the   
coming of the kingdom is the one great  
event on which the revelation of the    
,father's glory1 the blessedness of ,his
 children1 the salvation of the world   
depends4 ,on our prayers too the coming 
of the kingdom waits4 ,shall we not join
 in the deep longing cry of the         
redeemed3 ',thy kingdom come'8 ,let us  

learn it in the school of ,jesus4  ',thy
 will be done1 as in heaven1 so on      
earth4' ,this petition is too frequently
 applied alone to the suffering of the  
will of ,god4 ,in heaven ,god's will is 
done1 and the ,master teaches the child 
to ask that the will may be done on     
earth just as in heaven3 in the spirit  
of adoring submission and ready         
obedience4 ,because the will of ,god is 
the glory of heaven1 the doing of it is 
the blessedness of heaven4 ,as the will 
is done1 the kingdom of heaven comes    
into the heart4 ,and wherever faith has 
accepted the ,father's love1 obedience  
accepts the ,father's will4 ,the        
surrender to1 and the prayer for a life 
of heaven-like obedience1 is the spirit 
of childlike prayer4  ',give us this day
 our daily bread4' ,when first the child
 has yielded himself to the ,father in  
the care for ,his ,name1 ,his ,kingdom1 
and ,his ,will1 he has full liberty to  
ask for his daily bread4 ,a master cares
 for the food of his servant1 a general 

of his soldiers1 a father of his child4 
,and will not the ,father in heaven care
 for the child who has in prayer given  
himself up to ,his interests8 ,we may   
indeed in full confidence say3 ,father1 
,i live for ,thy honor and ,thy work2 ,i
 know ,thou carest for me4 ,consecration
 to ,god and ,his will gives wonderful  
liberty in prayer for temporal things3  
the whole earthly life is given to the  
,father's loving care4  ',and forgive us
 our debts as we also have forgiven our 
debtors4' ,as bread is the first need of
 the body1 so forgiveness for the soul4 
,and the provision for the one is as    
sure as for the other4 ,we are children1
 but sinners too2 our right of access to
 the ,father's presence we owe to the   
precious blood and the forgiveness it   
has won for us4 ,let us beware of the   
prayer for forgiveness becoming a       
formality3 only what is really confessed
 is really forgiven4 ,let us in faith   
accept the forgiveness as promised3 as a
 spiritual reality1 an actual           

transaction between ,god and us1 it is  
the entrance into all the ,father's love
 and all the privileges of children4    
,such forgiveness1 as a living          
experience1 is impossible without a     
forgiving spirit to others3 as forgiven 
expresses the heavenward1 so forgiving  
the earthward1 relation of ,god's child4
 ,in each prayer to the ,father ,i must 
be able to say that ,i know of no one   
whom ,i do not heartily love4  ',and    
lead us not into temptation1 but deliver
 us from the evil one4' ,our daily      
bread1 the pardon of our sins1 and then 
our being kept from all sin and the     
power of the evil one1 in these three   
petitions all our personal need is      
comprehended4 ,the prayer for bread and 
pardon must be accompanied by the       
surrender to live in all things in holy 
obedience to the ,father's will1 and the
 believing prayer in everything to be   
kept by the power of the indwelling     
,spirit from the power of the evil one4 
,children of ,god6 it is thus ,jesus    

would have us to pray to the ,father in 
heaven4 ,o let ,his ,name1 and ,kingdom1
 and ,will1 have the first place in our 
love2 ,his providing1 and pardoning1 and
 keeping love will be our sure portion4 
,so the prayer will lead us up to the   
true child-life3 the ,father all to the 
child1 the ,father all for the child4   
,we shall understand how ,father and    
child1 the ,thine and the ,our1 are all 
one1 and how the heart that begins its  
prayer with the ,god-devoted ,,thine1   
will have the power in faith to speak   
out the ,,our too4 ,such prayer will1   
indeed1 be the fellowship and           
interchange of love1 always bringing us 
back in trust and worship to ,him who is
 not only the ,beginning but the ,end3  
',,for ,,thine ,,is ,,the ,,kingdom1    
,,and ,,the ,,power1 ,,and ,,the        
,,glory1 ,,for ,,ever1 ,,amen4' ,son of 
the ,father1 teach us to pray1 ',,our   
,,father4'  ',,lord1 ,,teach ,,us ,,to  
,,pray4'         99       99       99   
99       99  ,o ,thou who art the       

only-begotten ,son1 teach us1 we beseech
 ,thee1 to pray1 ',,our ,,father4' ,we  
thank ,thee1 ,lord1 for these ,living   
,blessed ,words which ,thou hast given  
us4 ,we thank ,thee for the millions who
 in them have learnt to know and worship
 the ,father1 and for what they have    
been to us4 ,lord6 it is as if we needed
 days and weeks in ,thy school with each
 separate petition2 so deep and full are
 they4 ,but we look to ,thee to lead us 
deeper into their meaning3 do it1 we    
pray ,thee1 for ,thy ,name's sake2 ,thy 
name is ,son of the ,father4  ,lord6    
,thou didst once say3 ',no man knoweth  
the ,father save the ,son1 and he to    
whom the ,son willeth to reveal ,him4'  
,and again3 ',i made known unto them    
,thy name1 and will make it known1 that 
the love wherewith ,thou hast loved ,me 
may be in them4' ,lord ,jesus6 reveal to
 us the ,father4 ,let ,his name1 ,his   
infinite ,father-love1 the love with    
which ,he loved ,thee1 according to ,thy
 prayer1 ,,be ,,in ,,us4 ,then shall we 

say aright1 ',,our ,,father6' ,then     
shall we apprehend ,thy teaching1 and   
the first spontaneous breathing of our  
heart will be3 ',our ,father1 ,thy      
,name1 ,thy ,kingdom1 ,thy ,will4' ,and 
we shall bring our needs and our sins   
and our temptations to ,him in the      
confidence that the love of such a      
,father cares for all4  ,blessed ,lord6 
we are ,thy scholars1 we trust ,thee2 do
 teach us to pray1 ',,our ,,father4'    
,amen4          99       99       99    
99       99                             
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