Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-06

SERMONS OF REV. p. d. POWER AND REV. pAvu
WILLS, BASED ON THE MANIFESTATIONS OF
DIVINE INTERROGATION IN THE PRESIDENTS
CASE.
Rev. F. D. Power, tastor Of the Vermont ave-
nue. Christian church, preached yesterday morn
ing to large congregation from Psalm cxviii.,
%: ''This is the Lords DOING it is marvellous in
our eyes" The sermon was devoted to the
power of faith and prayer. Prayer, the speaker
said, must be considered to be more than a mere
cause and effect, the chemistry of one mind Oper-
ating on another, more than millions upon mil
lions Of hearts working through sympathy,
sending hope, fmparting energy or lifting
1t was unnecessary to resort to subtle reasoning
in order to analyze prayer. If the question was
asked what could be the use of prayer if the an
swer proceeded on fOreseen circumstances the
reply was that it was also fOreseen that there
would be prayer. He that asked was to receive.
but not if he declined to ask. Prayer must be
seen in its own light before there can be any
reflex influence. It is however, but a good
way for men to preach to themselves to be self
helpful. The one who so prayed an
swered his own prayers. In closing a
very careful argument, reviewing the grounds
on which prayer rested, Mr.. Power said: ':But
few days ago beloved Christian leader was
dying. He walked in the valley of the shadow
of death. The dark spirits were ready to take
his soul and bear it away to eternity. The
angel Of death lowered near. At the foot of the
couch stood the surgeons, eminent in their pro-
fessiOn. but they had exhausted their scientific
resources. They believed the world would soon
be over for him. At the head of the bed was
the Christian wife, with prayer and faith in God
that He would drive away the spirit of death so
near at hand. On the other side was his church.
striving with tears and prayers for tine preserva-
ton of the life of their Christian brother Above
was the mighty controller of life and death who
heard those prayers, saw those tears, and
snatched from the very gateway of death the
precious life He and His people loved so well.
That was an answer to prayer Who would not
give all to Him who has said through His Son:
Come unto Me all We that labor and are heavy
laden and will give you rest"
Rev. David Wills, DID,, chaplain U.s.A.,
Vernon Me. Church South, from the text
James v: Is, "And the PRAYER of Faith Shall
Save the Sick" Faith and submission were the
two essential elements. the preacher said, that
must enter into the substance of every fervent,
effectual prayer. He maintained that every
true prayer was answered at Gods time and in
His way. He believed that God commonly
answers prayer by natural means appointed for
the purpose from the very beginning. God. in
answer to prayer, may restore the patient by an
original strength of constitution, or by the
Weil-timed applications of remedy.
Speaking of the case of the President he said:
we believe If the prayers had not been offered
the favorable symptoms in the case would not
have been developed, and. on the other hand, we
believe if the favoring physical conditions had
not entered into the problem it would have
reached an adverse solution long time ago.
The great point we insist on is that whatever the
Almighty accomplishes through the Intervention
OF secondary causes is as truly His work as
though He had wrought miracle for its per-
formance. If He in His providence takes a
number Of eminent surgeons and makes them
the hOnOred instruments in the healing of the
sick the glory that belongs to Him is the same as
though the process had been effected by mirac-
ulOus power. How the human and divine
agencies can cooperate in the the administration
of the affairs of this world we cannot explain.
but the fact Of such cooperation is clearly re-
vealed." In closing he said: 'If we should
refuse to recognize the hand of God in this
clear and conspicuous manifestation of His
favor, He may still set His face against us as a
people and leave US to reap the bitter fruits of
our irreverence and unbeief. Let us continue
to pray that restoring, comforting and sanctfy-
ing grace may be freely impaired to the Presi-
dent, as well as to all the PROSTATE and suffer-
ing millions of mankind, and then we may conf
IDENTITY commit our cause to Him who dOeth all
things well -