The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-25
MADISON PULPTTS.
Prayer Discussed by Rev. Ewart- Rev.
Jenkins Subject, The Healing Touch
NO Excuses, But Serve God. by
Rev. Blackman.
rREsBY BYTERIAH CHURCH.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Eph. l, 1919 st. Paul's prayers for
his converts deserve close study. His
heart went ont those who had been
brought into the light of the truth
through his instrumentalitY and he re-
membered them increasingly at the
throne of grace. One popularity OF his
petitions deserves special mention. OF
all the blessings that can come into
human life he singles out the very best
and asks his Heavenly Father that his
people may have these. And these are
not worldly possessions. or course he
wished all his friends to be prosperous
and even rich in temporal things But
he has higher ambition for them. He
invariably prays God that they may be
rich ia the gifts which the Holy Spirit
only can impart. Take for example his
prayer for the Ephesians. Here he asks
in the passage before us: a. That they
may have an experimental knowledge of
the hope or ground Of their salvation.
(2.) That they may have vision of the
glories and rewards of heaven. (3) That
they may understand the Exceeding
greatness" OF the power by which they
have been raised out OF the grave Of sin
into new life in CHRIST Jesus.
To do this they will need clear,
cloudless vision OF the realities of Divine
truth. THE eyes of their understand
ing" must be enlightened.
l. Paul prays first that his people
may know what is the hope OF his
(Cnrlst's) calling. The proclamation of
the gospel is call. We who believe re-
sponded to that call. Again, the living
of the christian life is calling" as
trnely as the practice OF medicine or
the keeping of bank. Christians have
pledged to their Divine Savior the af-
lection of their hearts and the labors .of
their lives. 1t is their "business" to
adorn the doctrine OF Christ by consis-
tent lives. 1t is their calling" to be
true to the teachings OF their Savior.
Alas, how many often lay aside this
business" and do not work at their holy
calling"
Now what is the '.hope" OF the
christians calling? On what foundation
does he base his faith? The familiar
hymn will answer. "MY hope is built
on nothing less than Jusus' blood and
righteousness"
A dying man told q minister OF the
gospel who was conversing with him
that be felt prepared to 60 into the
presence of God because he had done no
wrong thing in his life How like MS it
is to trust to our own moral livesl But
how Insecure are we on such an insult
cient foundation. In the searching light
OF Gods omniacient eye our best deeds
viii be sure to be awood and hay and
stubble." What we need and must
have is the ''gold and sllyerNand precious
stones" viz: the infinite merits of Jesus
| Christ.
No wonder st. Paul prayed that his
church members might see this funda-
mental truth of the gospel.
NJ. Il. CHURCH.
Evening subject: The Healing Touch. p
Text, st. Luke, 8;46.
Jesus went about doing good. Mar
vellous was his sympathy. many his
miracles, mighty his touch. In this
case the general order is reversed, and
be is touched. Sometimes the recipi-
ent is passive, and Christ is active;
sometimes the recipient active, and
Christ passive. Always. however, CO.
operation OF divine and human.
|. The touch: Something remark
able, unusual, about it, Peter and the
apostles argument to the contrary, not
withstanding. 1t was more than mere
physical contact. There are touches
land touches, even in this day. (a)
The incidental touch, without design OF
purpose. Jostled against him, as he
passed our way. Our thought turned to
him by hearing sermons, song or testi.
mony, .(b) Touch OF curiosity. To
experiment. To sec il there be "any.
thing in religion" (c) Touch OF con.
viction, serious contemplation. Con
scio usness Of need. (d) Touch Of ne
cessity. In sorrow and affiiction VIZ
seek him as we would shade from thu
desert sun, or shelter from the driving
storm. The woman's touch was more
than thesei il was the touch OF faith
Eficacions, heallng. saving faith. .Jesul
knows the touch Of faith, always; b.
cannot be deceived. Note the develop
ment Of her faith, Faith is ours, ane
We must develop it. These were hel
steps: consciousness Of disease, sense D
need, futility OF all human efforts, hear
ing Of Jesus, direct extremity. Nov
consider the works Of her faith, 70
| sfaith without without works Id dead
resolving. coming the distance, over
coming obstacles. touching but the hen
of hia garment nublic confession Thae,