The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-14

in crime, and without having heard so much
as the name of Jesus. In few years at
most this immense multitude will have passed
into eternity, where their destiny will be
forever fixed. Even while we are delib-
Grating to-day, hundreds and thousands
are sinking into the grave, and into hope
less despair, without one ray of gospel light
or truth to cheer them through the dark val
lley.
My beloved Christian friends, how recon-
cile it with truth, with consistency, with the
claims of our common humanity, and above
all with faithfulness to Him who loved us
and gave himself for us, to be Indifferent
under such circumstances Does not the
impulse of true nature, yea, every aspira-
tion of the pious soul urge us to labor, and
pray and faint not, in our efforts for every
people under the sun?
Let us arise then, and reap in this harvest
while the day last. And when the night
cometh, we shall be greeted with the plaudit
of our Master, "Well done, good and faith
full servant, enter into the joy Of thy Lord" :"
MR.. MoRToN's ADDRESS.
After the remarks of Mr.. Converse ire
ported last week. Mr.. Morton addressed the
meeting as follows:
My Christian Friends, will not add any
thing to what has been said to stir you up
to sense of duty on the general subject of
Missions. We have the strongest testimo-
mails of your interest in this cause. What
you have done for the missionaries of our
Church leaves us no room to doubt that you
are alive to its transcendant Importance.
But great as has been your liberality, and
grateful as We are for it, we feel constrained
to make one more request of you: 1t is this,
"BRETHREN, pray for u.s." This is request
which Paul made of almost all the churches
to which he wrote-to the Roman, the Cor.
inthian, the Ephesian, the Colossian and the
Thessalonian. When the primitive church
sent out its first missionaries, Paul and Bar
nabas, it is said, "And when they had tasted
and prayed and laid their hands on them,
they sent them away" So again on the
second tour, Barnabas, and Mark, Paul, and
Silas were recommended by the brethren to
| the grace of God" Now, brethren, if these
inspired and miracle-working men needed
the prayers of the Church, how much more
do We? We need your prayers:
1. "Tat God wouM open unto us door
of atteranee to speak the mystery Of Christ. )"
Pray that our opportunities for proclaiming
this gospel nay be multiplied-that all OBJ
stacles may Be removed, and that the hearts
of men may be opened to receive the truth.
Brethren, pray for US that the word of the
Lord may have free course and be glori6ed
as it is with you
2. To this end, pray that ve "may be de-
lsvered from wicked and unreasonable Ven
for all men have not faith In what urgent
language does Paul make this request of the
Roman Christians: "Now, I beseech you,
brethren, for the Lord Jesus Csrist's cake
and for the l0ue Of the Spirit, that ye strive
together with me in your prayers to God fol
me, that I may be delivered from them that
do not believe in Judea." Wickedm hate
Christ and his cause. They are ever ready
when occasion offers, to oppose his followers
If they have hated me, they will hate you
also.
i But there are none whose influence agains
religion is so strong and hurtful as that O.
pretended Christians; and among all th'
pretenders to fellowship with Christ, there
are none so violent and truculent as the Ro
man Catholics. The Government of Brazi
is liberal and tolerant; but the priests ant
devotees of the Catholic faith have manifest
ed a disposition to oppose, even by violen
means, the introduction of purer religion
Pray that we may be delivered from thes
men.
3. Pray that we may not be deferred tfroz
the faithful performance of or duty By til
fear of their violence-but ''that utteranc
may be given unto us, that we may open ou
/ mouths boldly to make known the myster
of the gospel-that we may speak boldly a
we ought to speak" Pray that We may no
fear bonds, or Imprisonment, or the stake,
called to endure them.
4. Pray for us, brethren, that our .tait
and heart fail us not in the midst Of discou'
/ agement and apparent impOssibiity of su'
r cess. Here in this Christian land, wit
Christian sympathy and Christian encoul
\ agement our hearts are sustained in the e
y fort to sunder all human ties and 60 forth I
{ carry the gospel to the perishing. We fee
q in their power, the influence of the high MI
. tives which impel us to this work-zeal ft
n the honor of our God-love for dying souls
the example of our God, and desire for tt
spread of his kingdom. All these now bes
J. us up. But we shall soon be cut off, in
g measure, from Christian sympathy, and "
IS cannot expect these last considerations a
e ways to be in full force. How many gallal
y young men girded on their swords in Apr
e 1861, ready to offer up their lives in the
n country's service, whose zeal tagged befol
lie April 1865. They had the courage to di
s. but not the .fortitude to endure the veal
q marcbos-the watch-the cold. with make