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Literary
July 7, 1830
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
Devotional essay drawing on Elijah's servant looking seven times for a cloud as an analogy for persistent prayer and repentance, encouraging faith even for small signs of grace, concluding with a short poem on enduring prayer.
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PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
"And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing: and he said, Go again seven times." 1 Kings xviii. 43.
Six times Elijah's servant looked towards the sea before he could see any thing; the seventh time he saw a cloud, but no bigger than his hand; yet that cloud, within a few hours, covered the heaven with darkness and the earth with rain.—Just so may be the case with many a one when he is praying to his God, as Caleb's daughter did unto her father; Judges i. 15. Thou hast hitherto made me the owner of a dry, a barren heart, but give me now some springs of water, some feeling, at least, some sorrow for my sins. Well, though at six times bending of thy knees, God doth not grant it, and though at the seventh there appears but one small drop swimming in thine eyes, yet be not discomforted, that drop may prove a shower, the beginning of that thaw may at last dissolve thy whole heart to water, and as there is a full joy for the thorough conversion of a sinner, there may be a suitable measure of joy for one tear, nay, for one desire of a tear, of any one sinner that repenteth.
If six or seven prayers are past,
Pray on and never faint;
A blessing surely comes at last,
To cheer a drooping saint.
"And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing: and he said, Go again seven times." 1 Kings xviii. 43.
Six times Elijah's servant looked towards the sea before he could see any thing; the seventh time he saw a cloud, but no bigger than his hand; yet that cloud, within a few hours, covered the heaven with darkness and the earth with rain.—Just so may be the case with many a one when he is praying to his God, as Caleb's daughter did unto her father; Judges i. 15. Thou hast hitherto made me the owner of a dry, a barren heart, but give me now some springs of water, some feeling, at least, some sorrow for my sins. Well, though at six times bending of thy knees, God doth not grant it, and though at the seventh there appears but one small drop swimming in thine eyes, yet be not discomforted, that drop may prove a shower, the beginning of that thaw may at last dissolve thy whole heart to water, and as there is a full joy for the thorough conversion of a sinner, there may be a suitable measure of joy for one tear, nay, for one desire of a tear, of any one sinner that repenteth.
If six or seven prayers are past,
Pray on and never faint;
A blessing surely comes at last,
To cheer a drooping saint.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Hymn Or Psalm
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Persistent Prayer
Biblical Analogy
Repentance
Divine Grace
Devotional Verse
Literary Details
Title
Practical Observations.
Subject
On Persistent Prayer And Repentance
Form / Style
Devotional Prose With Concluding Verse
Key Lines
"And He Said To His Servant, Go Up Now, Look Toward The Sea. And He Went Up And Looked, And Said, There Is Nothing: And He Said, Go Again Seven Times." 1 Kings Xviii. 43.
If Six Or Seven Prayers Are Past,
Pray On And Never Faint;
A Blessing Surely Comes At Last,
To Cheer A Drooping Saint.