How They Prayed, Vol. Two: “Getting Windward of the Almighty!”

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“A plain man once said in the presence of the writer, ‘You must get up soon of a morning if you intend to get to windward of the Almighty.’ He spoke the truth.”―Thomas Champness, How They Prayed Vol. 2, p. 33
This is the main thrust of the first two chapters of How They Prayed Vol. 2, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey, a book which focuses on the importance of prayer in the lives of all who would serve God and minister to others. Gerhardt Tersteegen echoes the same thought:

“O brothers; in these silent hours
God’s miracles are wrought;
He giveth His beloved in sleep
A treasure all unsought.

“I sit an infant at His feet,
Where moments teach me more
Than all the toil and all the books
Of all the ages hoar.”
―Tersteegen. p. 23

“Though I am apt to be unsettled and quickly set off the hinges,” writes Joseph Alleine, “yet methinks I am like a bird out of the nest; I am never quiet till I am in my old way of communion with God, like the needle in the compass that is restless till it be turned toward the pole. I can say, through grace, with the Church, ‘with my soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me have I sought thee early.’ My heart is early and late with God; ’tis the business of my life and the delight of my life to seek Him.” p. 25

Yet never sleep the sun up; prayer should
Dawn with the day: these are set awful hours
’Twixt Heaven and us: the manna was not good
After sun-rising; for day sullies flowers:
Rise to prevent the sun; sleep doth sins glut,
And Heaven’s gates open when the world’s is shut.
―J Henry Vaughan p. 23

How They Prayed Vol. Two is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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They Knew Their God Book Five, Edwin and Lillian Harvey

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The first four volumes in They Knew Their God Series were written by Edwin and Lillian Harvey. Even although Edwin passed away in 1983, his wife continued to use much of the material they had prepared together before his death. The last two volumes, however, do not have Edwin’s name on them.


Volume Five has twelve sketches, and like its predecessors, these sketches span the centuries beginning with the life of English poet and Anglican Priest, George Herbert who was born in 1593. The second sketch presents Miguel Molinos to the readers. Molinos was a Spaniard whose writings were to influence many Christian leaders, John Wesley among them. Molinos is followed by Joseph Alleine, another Anglican minister who is best known as author of the book, “An Alarm to the Unconverted.” Next comes the saintly John Fletcher, Vicar of Madely and close associate of John Wesley, followed by his wife, Mary. In the sixth sketch, we read of Lutheran pastor, John Frederick Oberlin from Strasbourg, who labored for God in the French Alps. Samuel Pollard follows Oberlin. Pollard grew up in Cornwall and became a missionary to China. The Scottish Presbyterian minister and hymn-writer, George Matheson, comes next, followed by Canadian missionaries to China, Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth, also Presbyterian. For the last two sketches, we go to England and read of Salvationist Kate Lee, and William Scroggie, author and Keswick speaker.
Spanish, Canadian, English, Scotch, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Salvation Army—the twelve sketches of They Knew Their God Volume Five cover all this and much more. This book is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.
Trudy Harvey Tait

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