Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-05


SERMONS OF REV. r. D. POWER AND Rrv n.v,r
WILLS, BASED ON THE MANIFESTATIONS a,
CASE. "1oiOHNi
"ev r. u. Power Lastor Of the Vermont ave-
nue. christian church, preached Yesterday morn.
ing 70 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
sara, must be considered to be more than a mere
cause and effect, the chemistry of one mind oper-
asting on another, more than millions upon mil
lions OF hearts working through sympathy
sending hope, imparting energy or lifting
up the sufferer to a higher plane.
it was unnecessary to resort to subtle reasoning
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
out not If he declined to ask. Prayer must be
seen In Its own light before there can be any
reflex influence. 1t is, however, but a good
way for men to preach to themselves to be self
helpful. The one who SO PRAYED an
swered ms own prayers. In closing a
very careful argument. reviewing the grounds
on which prayer rested, Mr.. Power said: But
a few days ago beloved Christian leader was
dying: He walked in the valley of the shadow
Oh deatn The dark spirits were ready to take
ms soul and bear it away to eternity. The
amer vi deatn hovered near. At the foot of the
couch stood the surgeons. eminent in their pro-
Iession. but they had exhausted their scientific
resources They believed the world would soon
DE over for him. At the head of the bed was
.he CHRISTIAN wife, with prayer and faith in God
liat ne would drive away the spirit of death so
near at hand On the other side was his church,
surviving with tears and prayers for the preserva-
tlOn OF the life of their Christian brother. Above
was the mighty controller of life and death who
neaIG those prayers, saw those tears, and
snaIcheu 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 US.A.,
preached yesterday morning at the Mount
vernon Me. Church South, from the text
James " Is, ''And the PRAYER of Faith Shall
Save the Sick" Faith and submission were the
TWO essential elements, the preacher said. that
Hst enter INTO the substance of every fervent,
enectual 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 10 prayer, may restore the patient by an
oilginai strenSth OF constitution, or by the
Wel-tlmed applications of remedy.
Speaking of the case of the President he said:
we oeileve If the prayers had not been offered
tne favorable symptoms in the case would not
"N.u uosVIopcu, anu. on the OLler hand, we
believe if the favOring physical Conditions had
not entered into the problem it would have
T r, an adverse solution long time ago
ne great point we insist on is that whatever the
aimlghty accomplishes through the Intervention
u secondary causes is as truly His work as
though He had wrought a miracle for it's nor |
ormance. If He in His providence takes |
iumper OF eminent surgeons and makes them |
; n1 .onoreu instruments in the healing of the |
lck the glory that belongs to Him is the same as
,1" tne process had been effected by mirac-
llous power. How the human and divine
agencies can Cooperate in the the administration
u the affairs of this world We cannot explain.
,ut tne TACT OF such cooperation is clearly re-
'eaied. In Closing he said: '.If we should
e1nse to recognize the hand of God i'm this
lear and conspicuous manifestation of His
avor, he may still set His face against us as
'eople and leave us to reap the bitter fruits of
y ur r llre t and unbelief Let us continue
o pray .nat restoring comforting and sanctify-
hS grace may be freely impaired to the Presi-
ent as well as to all the PROSTATE and suffer-
hg millions OF mankind and then we NAV conf
entiy commit our cause to Him who doeth all
hings well.'' NO0'A "i