The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-24
NEED OF EARNEST PRA YER
Evangelist Mills Gives a Clear Explana-
ton of Doubtful Scriptural Text.
Already His Work Begins TO Have Good Re-
sults-Arrangements for the Union Meet
ing TO-Morrow-N Notes Of Church Work.


which occurred last night at Meridian street M.
f. Church. The audience was again large. and
the interest very marked No altar service.
however was attempted. and that will probably
be reserved for to-morrow's great meetings at
Tomlinson HALL
There was marked difference in Mr.. Mills's
mapner OF speaking from that of the opening
meeting. The difference was mainly in point of
aarnestness and its effect was readily apparent
on the auditors. On the opening evening be
had been listened to with close attention. but in
silence. Last night. as he appealed with great
earnestness for more sincere prayer in the
churches, there were many responsive ''amens,"
and his audience seemed also to have undergone
a change Of temperament. There were many
eloquent passages in the address, and M.
Mills displayed rare descriptive power,
as was shown in his portrayal
of the railroad wreck at Chatsworth and
the burning of the convent in Illinois. His sub
ject was THE Necessity for Earnest Prayer,
and his text from Luke xxi, Al:
And being in agony. He prayed more earnestly. and
His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling
down to thu ground.
The text referred TO the solicitations of Christ
in behalf of the unconverted at the time He
was in the garden of Gethsemane. There were
but two instances in the Bible of men who had
shown anything like the solicitude for the saliva
ton of the world displayed by Christ on
the present occasion. They were Moses and
and Paut-the former as he besought the people
to orsake the worship Of idols. and the latter as
he went out to preach to the Romans. People
were not disposed 10 look upon the instance cited
in the text with sufficient earnestness. Many had
not really considered all it meant when it said
that Christ prayed IN such agony that his sweat
was like great drops of blood falling down to the
ground. Or perhaps they thought it was
. rare experience for rare people
and to be emulated on but rare
just such prayer from those Christians who had
friends that unsaved. Christ had in many
places directed US how to pray. At one place
he had told us that 1.-The ferveDt, etfectual
prayer of the righteous man availeth much.
Some people wondered why the word ''effectuaP
effectuaL The Greek word had not been
carefully translated IN this instance.
It was the same word which the
Greeks used in describing the wresters when
they were putting forth their utmost exerton to
win IN some contest In other places the word
had been translated ''agonizine" and that would
have been better for the present instance. 1t
was the fervent. agonizing prayer of the
righteous man which awaited much. 1t was be-
cause the prayers of people had so little of the
agonizing appeal which God made Geth-
hemane that more souls were not saved to-day.
II will give you some reasons" said Mr.. Mills,
''why we should know something about agoniz-
ing prayer. In the first pace. there is no other
way in which be filed by the holy spirit
of God IN order to have the same anxiety for
the salvation of souls which God had, we must
feel ike He felt. Jesus Christ. so far as His in
fuence over men was concerned when He was
earth, more designed to be the Savior
of this world than you and are. Jesus Christ
IL not in this world to-day, as He is in the
hearts of men. On the one hand He is mighty
man that cannot save; on the other He Is say
ing, through the churches. without me ye can
do nothing. Through the hearts of His people
He can work; through the deep soul agony of
prayer He be reached
Another reason was because there was 9TH
ar wa inn hNh fhac oh hA
her children. They were her children much
as they were the children of God. 1.-THE church
is everywhere in the Bible spoken of as a
mother. God expected the church of God to be
the mother of his children. 1t is only when
Jesus Christ and the church of God are united
that the church of God may IegItimately handle
in her arms the offspring of GOD. One
of the saddest things in this world
lie that there are SO many motherless chill
the church of God. seeking encouragement and
cheer. Then have seen them, UNDECIDED and
repulsed, sink down aud die their spiritual
death. know of nothing more TO be compared
TO that than the spectacle of little child lying
the lce-cold form OF its dead mother and tug
ging vainly at her unresponsve breast l do
not intend to invite soul to come to God in a
this city unless / feel assured that
the churches here are willing TO recsive them
and mother them; until they show a spirit of
self sacrifice in order to save such souls
If Christians did not display the greatest
anxiety all times for the salvation of others il
naturally had It's effects on the unconverted.
Some protesting Christians would say, Does it
not seem strange that SO few become Chris
tiansW To them one might reply that it was
strange so many became Christians
~ once knew young man." said Mr.. Mills,
who was called npon by the pastor and urged to
unite with the church.
No., said the young man, I'll never unite
with the church.
said the minister, T'm exceedingly surprised
20 near you say that. You surely do not mean
it,
''Yes, mean what 1 say. Idon't believe in
Jesus Christ. / don't believe in the Bible or in
religion
'dThe pastors surprise was very great The
young man had been raised in a Christian fam
fly. bis mother and sister having been members
of the pastors church, and ne had received a
reason for his belief. and finally he said:
well, I'll tell yon-it's because Of my moth
Dr. and sister.
"tYes, but they both Christians, and
members Of my church
s'"That is just the reason. I haven't the
slightest doubt that my mother and sister love
me dearly, and would be willing TO make any
sacrifice for me; indeed. they have already made
many sacrifices in order that 1 might succeed,
and yet neither one of them has ever appeared
soul
In contrast with the above incident Mr.. Mills |
told of an old deacon, whom he once knew, who |
neighoor. who was skeptic He made up his |
mind to talk to the neighbour and, |
IN IN order rider. TO be successful. he post
the arguments usually offered by such men.
When he met the skeptic a few DAYS later he
bad his speech all prepared, but he grasped
the mans hand it all vanished from him; he
couldn't think of q word. He stood there help |
lessly shaking the mans hand until the tears
came into his eyes and fell upon their clasped
hands, aud it seemed that he could not utter a
word, bat at last he gasped out. John I'm
greatly concerned about your SOUL" and turning
away, he left him. The skeptic stood for |
minute If he had been stunned aud
then managed TO walk into the house. His wife
observed his agitation, and observed to him.
Dear. what makes you act so stranger
".Why IL don't know what was the hest
Eating ponse. Il have never felt like this in
my life And then be told her about the dea-
ton. She told him he had better go and see the
seacon aboutit, and he at last did So The re.
sult was his conversion.
eff Christians concerned as they should
be about ths unsaved,7 said Mr. Mile, they