Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-06-01


unto the salvation of their souls. Have we not been
brought up by pious parents have we not mingled
in youth with those who knelt before God and trod
the paths Of TRUTH And is not the God OF the parent
the God Of the child How many have had all these
advantages, and yet as they grew up formed other
associations, far from pious aud some nave gwen
up PRAYER altogether. And some have arrived a such
awful state of imPety that they need our unceas'
ing prayers tina, they should return to God
(Here many persons cried out piteously, Amen
Amen r') And yet many who never were brought
up pously have come to the foot OF the throne with
the publican's PRAYER, "God be merciiul to me sin
per' n "A are now shining lights in the church.
| Secondly this miracle is especially comforting to
those who are suffering affection. Thispeor woman
who in health and joy, never pray. Out of regard
to public opinion they attend some place OF worship,
and observe the outward decencies of religion, but
they are glad when the service is over; Tor 1t IS
| burthen TO them. But when affection comes; when
| they are shut up in a sick room; when some one
that is near and dear to them is suerng IT is then
that they call the Lord, and pray in good earnest,
| and as they never prayed before. How many are
there here now who tell and will tell at
the proper time and place, that II was not till afic-
ton came that they experienced the true spirit of
prayer.
ofChrist who were emily led to God by circumstan-
ces Of atliction. As David said, sit is good for
that have been afflicted; before was afflicted
went astray, but now have kept thy word" The
same spirit actuatcd the psamist when he said
.'Come and hear, all We that fear God and l will
tell YOU what ne hath done for my soul" We don't
bless God for affection affection; or for trouble
as trouble. We rather bless him for happiness and
health and pleasures; but when affection leads to
prayer and through prayer we are led to salvation,
then we bless God for all that he hath done! Is
there then any that is afflicted Let him pray!
The law says, Love thy neighbor as myself"
And who is our neighbor? Not merely the man
| who lives next door TO me. No. No matter if he
he of another nation, OF another color, speak
other language, man is still my neighbor, still
blood bought immortal soul, and ii is my duty to
plead for him that he may receive the salvation f
his soul This feeling the prophet Jeremiah had
when he said Why, is net the health of the daugh
ter of nv people recovered? Is there no balm in
Gilead % Aud also Paul. when he said, 6" My
hearts desire and prayer TO God Tor lsrea is, that
thew NAV be saved" His heart felt for them. And
did not the Savior make his case, when
he came down and shed his blood, and gave his life
ransom for all that might be saved And just in pro-
portion we feel this heaven-descended religion of
Jesus shall regard the sorrows OF others with love
and charity, and forgive their sins, and pray for
The fourth great lesson which this miracle teaches
US is to bear discouragements of all kinds The de-
malls this poor woman met, enough TO make her
| doubt and say, &" Is this the Messiah 1t can't be
| him. of whom report says that he cured the by
the way-sidc and restored his sight when he asked
for help. Can il be him, who listened to the prayer
of the widow of Main, and restored her son to life ~
And oh, how did Jesus act on that occasion? He
| did not command the procession to enter into the
city, and proclaim what nc had done But he deliv-
| cred the boy over to his mother The widowed
mother-ohl the unutterable tenderness that dwelt
| in the heart Of our Savior.
| Well, the woman also mother; and she
might have said, 80 Yet he answers me not word. -
Jesus always had good reasons for all he did and in
this delay he has taught all that delay not de-
nioi. He didn't tell her to leave off praying Let
us learn the lesson. want no sympathics with that
man who can look upon woman, aud that woman a
mother and she in distress, and he does not do all
he to help her. And yet this disciple said,
| +" Send her away" But if Jesus had wrought this
miracle immediately, they would have said, This
can't be our Messiah, for he is ready to help the
| Gentiies as the Jews" Aud so by the DELAY he re-
mo- ed that stumbling block out Of the way
| Affections, fnd, are alwnys blessed 20 the pray
| crful sufferer. We are never apt to value that
which costs but little. And we must sell all, five
would buy all We must pray without celsing if
| we would salvation could not count the null
titude Of bless ngs that receive every day
the PRAYERS Of good people ever, where in my be-
half o God hears their prayers for others always
| | remember pious preacher sad 10 me, when was
Young and seeking The Lord, Well, have You found
| peace yeti" ">till shut mp in unbelief" was the
reply. Then looking at M steadsstly and seriously,
he said" May you be as miserable as devil till you
| find peace thought this strange wish at the
sam time, but il blessed a prayer to me, and
I found peace. Ii was the conviction Of that good
man that we must feel the lowest depth of our mi
| ,ery before meet relief We must feel the
disease before we can effect the cure.
Besides this, it teaches us that ought to make
the ills and sorrows OF others own. This poor
woman said. "Lord help me-" And yet she was
4
ters her own. And 50 will all christian aud we
ough 10 honor the example always, and practise il
have long what is called natural affection lis
the strongest and most exquisteiy tender sympathy
that we can feel. This poor woman felt il " hen she
| pr,yed and when are brought under a true devo
tonal state, hearts made tender and we feel
for the sorrows OF o'hers, and remember them AT
The throne Of heavenly grace, and plead with
| Jesus in their behalf
| How many pious mother has gone to Gods foot
| stool and prayed "Iave mercy on me by changing
/ the heart of my childp How many a father has
said o Lord the Il David help me by nv help
| ing my proni ate son; reclam the wanderer, and
restore the prodiga & at may have t. say, this my
| son that was lost is found, and and was dead, Is
| alive again" And how many pious has pray
ed for his neighbor in the same way; I" Have mercy
upon Us nv tightening the dark places of the earth
and b. helping pcrshing world +"
Again, we taught here that generous PRAYER is
| always humble and believing Jesus answered this
poor woman, at FIRST but word. But she thought,
" well I'm but poor Gentle; and their is a gen
erous religion that makes them feel at all for
| anoiher" But what did she do Did she go
away Oh, no She drew nearer to Jesus. And this
court wOrshippers. We must come nearer Jesus
than we have been. We mvst get tween the
wing. Of the Cherubin and try n 6sd mercy there.
sue fell a. his fesl And she did him homage. say
ing, " Lnrdr' cant see how those who say Jesus
is bat a man. ~ay he Is n good man S1ppose any
~ nv reverend brethren were t. be addressed IN
this way, would not start back and saw, see that
thow do IL not Ii is dolary and God iorbids
worship mani And yet some say Jesus was but
can't understand their mode OF thinking But the
fret christians prayed to Kim the Lord end Paul
says u" All you that pray to Christ, your God aud
oars" And like that good old doxoIogy, and am