CHAPTER VIII.

SABBATH LESSONS.

The miniature—Sad Associations—A life history—Melancholy thoughts—Going to church—The sermon—The universal burden—Laughing it away—Moping over it—Running away from it—The man who was haunted by a goblin—One only true remedy for sorrow—How to cast our burdens on the Lord—The Sabbath School—The lesson—Why prayer is a duty—God requires it—Our dependence upon Him—Not to pray is unnatural—Our need of forgiveness—The boy who was too old to pray—A talk with him—His great mistake—A ridiculous excuse—The climax of meanness—Conscience prompts us to pray—Prayer a natural and universal instinct—Prayer of infidels—Prayer brings blessings—Its happy influence on our hearts—Good men have always been praying men—Examples from history—Recapitulation—Jessie’s eighth argument for prayer—Evening devotions, 149