CHAP. VI.] A BELIE VEK IN PKAYEK. 61 



"Is there anything particular going on there, then?" exclaimed 

 Faraday, in a hurried manner. "Nothing particular," said my 

 father, " only the ordinary morning service." " Ah ! " replied 

 Faraday, " we are then all three bound for the one great object." 

 The fervent manner in which he uttered the last few words made 

 a great impression upon us. I never hear the name of Faraday 

 mentioned without seeing him as I saw him then, his fine intel- 

 ligent face lit up with reverence and devotion. 



Alfred Smee was a firm believer of the power of prayer, as we 

 find in the following lines : 



Some men learned in many sciences have called in question the effi- 

 cacy of prayer to alter the natural course of events. These men argue that, 

 becaruse God governs the world by immutable laws, He heeds not prayer. 

 Experience shows that the direct course of the affairs of the universe 

 is not interrupted by prayer : the sun never reversed its course in con- 

 sequence of prayer ; nor did any person rise, contrary to gravity, from one 

 floor to another by praying. But a study of the human mind indicates 

 that in all human actions prayers have great effect in governing men's 

 actions, and leading to results. When a man prays with earnestness and 

 sincerity, it affects his whole mind, and all his actions are directed to 

 obtain the result for which he prays. When many men pray for one 

 object, the purpose of many persons is directed to one end, and all con- 

 tinue in heart and will to obtain the desired object. 



The influence of prayer on human actions, if tested by experience, will 

 be found to be immense. In producing resignation, and in confirming 

 action, its power is great, although its influence to control the laws of the 

 universe is void, and of no effect.* 1 



In ' Instinct and Keason ' is the following illustration, showing 

 the power of prayer over the actions of man, during the great 

 trial of the year 1849 : 



During the prevalence of cholera in the infected districts, neither 

 writing, nor talking, nor preaching, could cause the inhabitants to rouse 

 themselves and prepare to endeavour to ward off death from their habita- 

 tions. At length, however, when Death had extensively accomplished his 

 work, men were afraid, and in some parishes they even sacrificed a week- 

 day's profit to pray that the malady might be stayed. To their prayers 

 and supplications they added all their endeavours to stop the pestilence : 

 they subscribed for the poor; they provided attendance, remedies, and 

 visitations ; and immediately the effect was felt, and the disease was lessened. 

 The people saw the necessity of acting vigorously and decidedly according 

 to the laws of the attack of the malady, which were, in fact, the laws of 

 God; thus their prayers were instantaneously followed by more or less 

 beneficial results, f 



* See ' Mind of Man,' p. 128. f See Instinct and Reason,' p. 226. 



