The New York herald., 1871-09-18
NEW JERSEY CHURCHES.
GRACE CHURCH (EPycoPAL), JERSEY CITY.

sermon by the Rev. DIR. Rice on rrnyer--T'hc
Arguments of Scep,ics Auswered-Why the
Church Has Been ShOrn Of Its Power.
me attendance at the services in Grace church,
Jersey City, yesterday was very large. The pastor,
Kev. Dr. Rlce preached from Luke xviii, land
lie spake parable TO them TO this end, that men
ought always TO pray and not 10 faint.r This para.
BILE showed how the unjust Judge, overcome by the
opportunities OF widow, granted her request,
though ne feared not God nor regarded man. He
granted to her importantly what ne woula not grant
on the higher grounds Of justice. This shows us
the great advantage OF
PERsEvERING IN PRAYER.
One OF the great objections OF sceptlcs to
prayer Is that 1t isa violation OF natural laws,
disturbance Of the established order Of things and,
therefore, that prayer is idleness and a waste OF
time, an aiming at imposslbiities. Nearly all the
intelligent beings who have lived from the
creation OF the world TIL now offered prayer.
For six thousand years prayer mas been offered up.
Prayer has part to act in our natures for 1t be-
comes an element therein. That comet says the
astronomer, whOuld travel thus and thus but it has
to pass Jupiter, and Will therefore be turned aside
from the line which IT. would have pursued. SO that
we can reply to the sceptic that there influences
which disturb frequently the established order of
things SO, upon his basis OF reasoning, this law
applies equally 10 prayer Tor PRAYER Is thing. A
calamity is moving, over a nation; 1t is moving
NATIONS PRAYERS
are sent forth ana arrest 1t In It's progress. The
scourge Is turned from It's course. Prayer is as
much an element In our nature as gravity cOhe-
sion. In the parable laid down III the Scripture to-
day 1t Is SHOWN that the prayer OF the widow turned
the heart oi the Judge 1rCm the decision which he
was about to render. Even il God In the beginning
established law for the regulation OF the universe
He can modify 1t at pleasure. And II God cannot
do tnis, behold what follows Oh put these thinos
beyond HIS control, and therefore He ceases TO Do
God, for lie Is no longer Almighty. In other words,
GOD WOULD DETHRoNE HIMSELF,
and such q consideration is not only prOlane but an
aDsurdty. God can and may be persuaded to grant
certain things to His people through prayer. lie
created the world Tor man. and man was created for
God. IL man fulnls the duty o! his relation with
GOd-if he moves in the orbit for which ne was
direction for which she was created? We were
created TO be Dnre and hoiy, ana nature created
to be subservtent to us. The one relation involves
the other. do not wonder that Moses and Joshua
performed such miracles through prayer. The
power Is IN rs, though latent. which was in Moses
ana Paul; Dut the times do not require such results
as were Witnessed in their times. AMI yet what
impiety prevails IN our times Scarcely does the
Church dare to utter IA remOnstranca, and how little
IS II needed If it be uttered Profanity, ncentious.
ness and other crimes ill the earth.
THE CHURCH HAS BEEN SHORN OF HER POWER,
because. while In herearly years she summoned her
children to pray every morning, we are content IN
proportion to our deviation from this practice OF
prayer have we degenerated and has the influence
or the Church been weakened.
AT the close OF Inc services the 'sQuOmam tn
SOlus Sanctus" OF MOzart's No. II Mass was given
on the organ and formed q lively and agreeable
standard for the hymns salms of the Episcopal
services.