260 THE WHENCE AND THE WHITHER OF MAN 



for he is unchangeable, and we should rejoice in this. 

 We are to pray for our daily bread ; we are to pray 

 for the sick ; and, if best for them and consistent with 

 God's plan, they shall recover. Elijah prayed for 

 drought and prayed for rain, and was answered. And 

 Abraham's prayer would have saved Sodom, had there 

 been ten righteous men in the city. " Men ought al- 

 way to pray and not to faint." 



" More things are wrought by prayer 

 Than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice 

 Rise like a fountain for me night and day. 

 For what are men better than sheep or goats 

 That nourish a blind life within the brain, 

 If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer 

 Both for themselves and those who call them friend ? 

 For so the whole round earth is every way 

 Bound by gold chains about the feet of God." 



But could not all these things be brought about 

 without a single prayer ? Not according to the plan 

 of man's education which God has adopted. Whether 

 he could well have made a plan by which material 

 blessings could have been bestowed upon men who do 

 not ask for them, I do not know. The ravens and all 

 animals are fed without a single prayer, for they are 

 not fitted or intended to hold communion with God. 

 But a prayerless race of men has never been fed long ; 

 it has soon ceased to exist. God's plan of salvation 

 and ordering of the universe involves prayer as a 

 means of blessing and good things as an answer to 

 prayer. God says, I make you a co-worker with me. 

 I will help you in everything ; but you must call on 

 me for help, or you will forget that I am the source of 

 your help and strength, and thus having lost your 



