The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-07-26
THE LORDS PRAYER,
BY HENRY ]. VAN DYKE, D. I
Extract on the second petition
THY KINGDOM COME!

THY KINGDOM COME!
GAS the promises were not given to SD
percede, but to quicken and encourage
prayer, so in its turn prayer is appointed
not merely to express desire, but to stimu-
late effort. Without works, the faith it en-
bodies is dead. He that says sincerely,
Thy kingdom comel' will often speak Of
that kingdom out of the fulneSs of his heart
His thoughts will be more absorbed in the
progress of the gospel and the conversion OF
men, than in the politics or business of the
world. And his supreme interest will be
manifest, not in words only, but in cores
ponding deeds. He will make personal ef-
forts to bring men under the dominion Of
Christ, He will take large and liberal
views of the Christian enterprises whose
weapon is the gospel, and whose end is to
conquer the world for Christ. He will not
be offended when asked to contribute means
for their support. He will consider it a
privilege to give-to lay up his treasures
where his heart is also. Such man will
train his family to the same liberal views.
He will desire that his daughters may be
'all glorious within, so that the King may
greatly desire their beauty He will teach
his sons that the great business of life is, not
to heap up riches on earth, but to become
rich towards God;' and if the Lord of the
harvest shall call them into the ministry, he
will feel that his blood is ennobled by Aow-
ing in the veins of those who are standard
bearers in the kingdom of God.
GLOW gross is the inconsistency, when
those who pray, Thy kingdom come! show,
by the spirit of their whole life, that they
are interested in anything rather than the
propagation of the gospel; and are more
ready to invest their efforts and riches in
worldly than in Christian enterprises!-
Viewed in this light, the whole Christian
Church stands in most humiliating attitude
before God and the world. The aggregate
of her laborers and gifts for the upbuilding
of Christ's kingdom are in painful contrast
with the more liberal devotion with which,
as children of this world, her protested ad-
herents prosecute their schemes for the ac.
QUESTION of temporal power and riches.
"These things ought not so to be. 1t
was not so in the beginning. After the
great out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the
day of Pentecost, the multitude that be-
lieved were of one heart and one soul; nei-
ther said any of them, that 'aught of the
things which he possessed was his own. -
Those primitive disciples understood the
great doctrine of stewardship to God. They
were ready to invest their all in the great
Christian enterprise, with greater ardor than
the men of the world embark in commercial
speculations. And the result was, that more
was done to advance the gospel in the first
century than has been accomplished in the
Is that have followed. So it will be again,
when the Church is baptized anew with the
Holy Ghost as with fire, and all her men,
bers regard themselves as stewards of God,
aud servants of his kingdom. They must
have low estimate of Christ's claims upon
his blood bought people, and very imper-
feet apprehension Of apostolic example, who
think that the Church in this or any other
land has come up to the standard of her des-
tiny and her duty. The great revival is yet
to be experienced The Protestant Refor-
nation, anO the triumphs of the PentecoSt,
and the conquering zeal Of primitive Chris
tianity, are all to be thrown into the shade
by the dawning of a more glorious day. 1t
is not enough to pray, Thy kingdom come.
The voice of God answers again from heav
en-while the Red Sea bars the way before,
and the hosts of Egypt press on behind
saying, Wherefore criest thou unto Me?-
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they
go forwardr Blessed are the eyes that see
the triumph from afar; and the ears that
catch the shout of victory from beyond the
food; and the hearts that are kindled by
the enthusiasm of the coming gloryl'