The New York herald., 1870-09-19
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

"ImpOrtumity " in Prayer."-SermOn by tue
Rev. james Harper, DID,, Of NewlurR.
A g0Odly and gOdly congregation assembled III
the quaint old church in Jane street yesterday to
hear q sermon preached by Rev. James Harper, u.
D., OF Newburg an eloquent and eminent divine.
The preacher took his text from Matthew XIV Il to g.
which relates the healing of the daughter OF the wo.
man of Caaann. ''Then Jesus went thence, and de-
parted into the coasts OF Tyre and Sid0n. And be-
hold woman Of Canaan came out Of the same
coasts and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on
me, o Lord, thou son Of David; my daughter Is
grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered
her not word. And His disciples came and be.
sought Him, saying, Send her away for she
crieth after U.S. But He answered and SAID,
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep
OF the house of Israel. Then came she
and worshipped Him, saying Lord, help me- But
He answered and said 1t is not meet TO take the
children's bread and to cast 1t to dogs. And SHE
said, TRUTH Lord; yet the dogs eat Of the crumbs
which fall from their masters table. Til n Jesus
swered and said unto her, o woman, great Is thy
faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her
daughter was made whole from that very hOur.n
This passage Of the Scripture, said the preacher is
one OF the most touching and at the same time one
OF the most instructive to be found in the whole OF
the New Testament. The poor woman comes with
ner afnlcted daughter 10 tne GreaI Healer WHO is
passing through the land and working wonders.
She approaches him with perfect confidence, and
with admirable simplicity merely states what is
the matter with her daughter. Christ, knowing the
great faith OF the woman, and wishing TO give His
disciples lesson apparently takes no notice OF her.
Then she throws herself at His feet and begs Him
TO help her. Our Lord. though full OF charity and
mercy, answers her with apparent rouRhness; but
She Is not to be deferred.
HER GREAT HUMILITY,
which shines forth even more than her mistaken
faith in the power of Christ supports her ana sle
able to withstand her opportunities. lie praises
her faith and grants her request without any reser.
vation Christians can learn great lesson from the
example OF this poor woman OF canaan. Iney can
see the great blessings which now from humble
prayer and the irresistible power OF lmp0rtunlfy in
prayer. Hence. II they do not Immediately receive
what they ask for in their prayers they snoud not
allow themselves to be cast down or discouraged.
Christ only wishes to test their faith ana Their con.
stancy. Hence, though they may have prayed
in the end they viii obtain what they seek. They
must initiate the woman In the gospei narrative
and,
impOrtune the Lord for His merctes. They must
turn their defeats into victories and, as the Helve
mentioned by Caesar, hurled back tne spears OF the
Roman soldiers against the serried ranks OF their
enemies, so should Christians pray with redoubcd
energy when they fail to obtain what they desire.
Every delay should only have. the erect OF urging
them on. They should remember That Christ is
the text should teach this; but II anything were
wanted they have His own words TASK and you
shall receive; seek and you shall md; knock ana
II shall be opened unto yon ,s NO one G Ca say aef ih
there Is NO use In praying. But prayer 10 pc EN-,
cacions. must be humble, founded In 1alth, and
mast be continued even until 1t becomes lmpOr-
less. God cannot resist constant, humble prayer
Hence Christians should learn to make more use OF
this wHadcous vs,uc'e for all Graccs which will