The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-12-11
From the Memphis Presbyteriai
How a Prayer Meeting was Bro;sn Up

Acts XII: l2.-Many were gathered 70 cher pray
| ing.
While Peter was in prison, tbiEe was a
prayer meeting of the church at rusalem
where many were gathered tOgeths' prsying
1t was fully attended; yet THE nj sud
denly ended, and we do well to c. hos
very strangely it was broken !" ken
up! How? Let us see.
l. 1t was not broken up by .lssss.-
There was no complaint of dai soa the
part of any no want of interest, y ope
there but that felt it to be ques. If,
and death; their prayers must bt cred.
or Peter would be slain. Therew d. room
for dulness. This did not Ore W the
meeting.
.. Nor was it broken up by Ne
doubt there were many in Jerds that
time who would have been wi i ~
put an end to this meeting Of
But God did lot pein.i5 tsl4l stes-
fere. He restrained their rage sas MOI
by mob that the meeting was I'D, nor
by any mere human interferepce sseteyer.
3. And yet the meeting was Up!
Do you ask me how? Itwae ve 'sgls;
and yet in the very happiest ID the
world. 1t was broken up BY I peser Of
their prayers! While Peter prison,
they were praying, instaus Al earnest in
their prayers. God hears al iernoses.
Peter is asleep, between two rs, bound
with two chains, and the keep are before
the door. The angel of the j descends;
he smiteS Peter on the side, IS hin up,
and says, Arise. His chains fli of; aud
the angel says, "Gird tbyseli 'iud on thy
sandals, cast thy garment 9 thee, and
follow me" Peter obeys an follows; the
iron gate opens of itself; Pet is free; and
the angel leaves him Is il 81 or is it a
vision, or dream? Peter bewidered;
he pauses, he thinks, he lc about, and
when he was come to himself said, "Noa
l know of surety, that the ,rd hath sent
his angel, and hath delivered no out cf the
hand of Herod, and from all ii expectation
of the people of the Jews Bat what shall
he do? Where shall he go? When he hao
considered, he came to the Y ry pace where
they were met to pray for / n; he came to
the house of Mary, where . any we're gath
cred together, praying. u knOcks, dam
sci comes to listen, and whe. she knew Pc
ter's voice, she was too gle t5open and let
him in, but ran and told hoe Peter stood be-
fore the gate. But they I'd, Thou art
mad!!' They were not ez .iag all answer
to their prayers SO soon, when it came,
they would not believe news Was too
good to be true T '.slie7e
uatil theg ners 01hss ..sse, Peter
continued knocking, an .en they had
opened the door, end say him, they we're
astonished. But he declared unto them how
the Lord had brought Kim o'ls of the prison,
and said, go, show these things unto
James and to the brethren, Thus was the
meeting ended, because their prayers were
answered. God hears and answers prayer
Now as to this answer to their prayers,
it may be observed, that it was prompt; it
came the same night; it came while they
we're praying; it was literal fulfilment OF
the promise: Before they call, | will an
swer; and while they are yet speaking, l
will hear" The answer was also triumph
ant; it was against and over all improba-
bilities; those prayers brought an angel
from heaven; they unlOosed the prisoners s
chains; they opened the prison doors; they
set Peter free; they filled sad and mourning
hearts with joy. The answer was triumph
ant. 1t was also astonishing to all. 1t was
astonishing to Peter; he was bewildered and
like one that dreams, until he came to him
self. 1t was astonishing to those who
prayed; they would not at first believe that
Peter was free. It was astonishing to the
prosecutors, there was among them no small
stir what had become Of Peter, and when
Herod found him not, he commanded the
keepers to be put to doasb, Thus did God
defeat the plans Of his enemies, and thus
did he bring joy to the hearts of his people
by an unexpected and astonishing answer to
their prayers, and thus did he bring to an
end the prayer meeting of the church at Je-
rusalem. The Lord broke up the meeting
by a quick aud sudden and wonderful an
swer to their prayers.
"In thine own @ sd Of iy%s.
We wait the visits of try graeei
Our souls desire is to thy name,
And the remembrance of thy face
w. T. NJ