Page:The church manual (Church of the Brethren 1916).djvu/54

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CHURCH MANUAL.
53

them every possible encouragement to have their time and place for secret or private prayer. It becomes to them a means of grace that has much to do in moulding their Christian character.

Children, early in life, should be taught to pray, even though they do not, at first, fully comprehend the nature of God and of going to him in prayer. In this way a religious habit is formed that, if properly guided, will grow into a spiritual understanding that will prove a safeguard to them in their after-life and be a means of bringing them into a relation with God that could be done in no other way.

For the benefit of mothers who may wish to teach their children some simple forms of prayer, we give the following selections:

Morning.

As now I waken from my sleep,
I thank the Lord who did me keep
Through all last night; and to him pray
That he will bless me all this day.

Evening.

As now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep:
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take;
And this I ask for Jesus' sake.