The national leader., 1889-02-23

Ou6 UlcuuS huu uolkuUOIns VI AUI tuc
church of for the world, that has not
been heard and answered. From the
intercession of Abraham for the cities
or the plain, as recorded in the book Of
Genesis to the unceaslng prayers OF the
whole church in the acts Of the Apos-
tells. What is the history Of the Old
Testament and of the New, but rec
ord OF life and death, OF blessing and
cursing, suspended on the prayers of
Gods peOplep
The course of nature, the vicissitudes
of the seasons, the power of the winds
and waves, and all the elements, have
been directed and controlled by prayer.
Christ gave no limit to his promise,
':Ask and ye shall receive" In the
old world prayer subdued Kingdoms, 1t
stopped the mouths of lions, it opened
and closed the windows of heaven.
quenched the violence OF fire, opened
the doors OF prisons. and knocking
off their chains, Dade the prisoners go
free.
Prayer then has ever been ruling
poper In the history of the church and
of the world. as that history has been
written by the finger OF God himself.
He has promised to hear prayer. and
he has fulfilled the promise. He has
pledged bimself in every possible way
to grant the requests Of his people,
and he has fully redeemed the pledge.
He has ever been saying, task
what I shall give thee," and ever
been giving, what men have truly
and properly asked. He has invited
his people to command him, as 1t were,
in prayer; aud so far from being dis
pleased with their bOldness, when they
have said, ST will not let thee 90 with
out blessing" he has rewarded the
boldest confidence with the richest
gifts. Jacob wrestled with God till
the break of day, and then received the
name of Israel, because, as prince
he had power with God, and prevailed,
and the people of Gods choice and cove
nant and grace have ever since not only
borne his better than royal name, but
inherited his more than prlncely power.
Prayer may be said to rule in the
Kingdom of nature. the Kingdom of
providence, and the Kingdom Of grace.
for it has influence with him who is
and sways the scepter of the King of
Kings, the Lord of heaven and earth.
Why, it IS the mlghtiest force in the
universe: lightning has no speed, the
Alpine avalanche has no power, COM
pared to 1t. 1t is the power that moves
the arm that moves the universe.
If then it be fact that prayer is a
real power, as real power as steam,
or powder, or lightning, or gravity; if
it be fact that all real success In our
Christian life depends on power from
on high and if power from on high
comes only in answer to prayer, and
prayer to be effectual must be offered
up In faith, then is 1t not fact that in
proportion as our faith in prayer is
subYerted, in Just that proportion will
the power of prayer be paralyZed, and
the aggressive energy of Christianity
be hopelessly destroyed2 And yet if
any reliance is to be put upon the wo d
of God, it is not a vain thing to
pray to him. Christ so assures his
disciples when he says, "Where
two of you shall agree as touching any
thing that ys shall ask it shall be-
DONE" and "All things whasotever ye
shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall
receive" Relying upon such promises
as these. the Apostles after Christ's AS
cension. continued in the upper room,
In prayer and suppIication, as if they
expected by their prayers to open
Heavens windows, and they dad. And
all along the track of the Church's
history, from the beginning until now.
are scattered memorials of answers TO
prayers.
See. here is little company Of
Christian people prostrate before the
Lord IN prayer. The burden of souls
is on their hearts, and they cast their
burden on the Lord. They are full Of ten
der solicitude for their nelghborS and
friends. They have exhausted all other
resources and expedients, and now
they can only pray to Him. And 10,
even while they pray their neighbors
and friends come running together, as
did the people on the day of Pen
tecOst. impelled, constrained, by the
mighty power OF God. that came upon
them In answer to prayer.
Let me give you picture. Here is
a wilful, wild and wayward boy, that
has strayed afar from his fathers
house, and almost broken his mothers
heart. She cannot put her arms about
him as she used to, and she cannot
reach her son by her prayers. She
does not cease to pray for HIM. "Oh,
that lshmael might live before Thee"
is the constant outcry Of her an
guished heart. And now while her cry
Is going up in Philadelahia, God hears,
and in New York a boy is SO troubled
that he cannot find comfort in his cups,
or joy In his boon companlonships. He
wanders through the streets in dazed.
bewildered sort Of way. He goes. the
knows not whittier, he wants. he knows
not what, he hears a sound that makes
him start, that makes him stop, though
his heart beats quicker than before. 1t
is the sound Of a sacred song. and the
song is one his mother had loved, and
he follows the sound, drawn as by an
unseen but resistless magnet, until he
finds himself in tie house of God,
rivalled by the old gospel to which he
listened long ago. Now the tear will
come, and presently he is bowed IN
pentence, and then little later rises
up with the joy OF salvation sprlnging
in his heart, and in the strength Of