The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-06-01
Or BruCe's
Sermon.

"Awake, awake put on thy strength,
o Zion"
As the oars in the hands oi the boat
man, must cooperate to propel and
guide the boat 10 the desired point; so
prayer and human action must 20 hand
in hand for the attainment OF desirable
results. This is principle Of the Divine
administration, fully illustrating the
scriptures, and one which accords with
all human experience. TO pray without
working, is mockcry; TO work without
praying is contempt. In the Dist chap
ter OF this prophecy, VIC have, the wIId
piercing crv of Zion, to her Divine King.
Awake, awake, put on strength, y arm
OF the Lord; awake, as in the ancient
DAYS, in the generations OF old. Art
thou not II that have cut Rahab, and
wounded the dragon The answer to
that cry, We have in the text. 1t is not
the arm Of the Lord that IL asleep, il is
Zion that slumberr and needs to be
aroused Hence the royal summons,
'-Put on thy strength, q Zion" Then
Zion has strength-subiectiye strength.
The world may not cOncede II, but the
fact is unqucstionable.
!. What are the principle elements Oi
Zion's strength? Not wealth, numbers
or rank; not culture. intellect or elO-
qucnce. although these may be greatly
desirable, as the media through which
her power NAV operate, when she exerts
her strength. What then are the elc-
ments oi her strength?
]. PRAYER Il is by this that she
| brings the resources Oi the infinite 10
her aid There l. no true Christian, but
what will admit the potency oi PRAYER.
The scientist denies il. He contends
that the laws Of nature are fixed. that
the Scriptures represent all things as
coming to pass according 10 certain fixed
plan, and that this excludes the idea OF
PRAYER altogether from the Divine
economy of the world. We admit the
facts, but deny the interences- Are
physical laws founded in the nature oi
God, by which only, be Is limited? But
concesle that the laws oi nature are
fixed? When even a child. can place .
pebble in the mountain nil that viii
change the course oi the stream, shall
We place limits on the interposition OF
the Almighty? An intelligent viii and
skiilful hand. has encAscsi the watch
spring SO that II can operate only II one
direction. but has an infinite and omnl-
potent Will 80 hcmme.i itself IN by ma
reriaI laws. a. - csIrtail iis own freedom
To sav that God j. - bound, i ro de-
grade him 10 the level ol = mere ma
chine. L j. = denial 0i his existence.
anil Ftsol yes the creed a the scientist IN
10 that 81 the Atheist Bat ali such
arguments, or assertions. arr simply
fuol.shnesz. Vlcu confronted by human
, 4 hasr
whereas WAS blind. nos sss. super
s,sis-s all Io-gIc to the contrary. Our phil
osopiy ui PRAYER. = the b<-7i oi ali phil
o-oplliss. that 81 experience. No pro
cess 81 reasoning can ret It aside We
have asked and We l8Ave received, -
sought and Ee have found, =
We have knocked and il hTs b4en
.'oE@nei. =" to u. We DO nCI claim that
fy our prayers. the Divine viii i deter
mined Lv. or made snbs-rvient TO, the
human- Our Lord segs that idez Of
PRAYER entirely and forever aside, when
he SAYS. Nevertheless, not as / VIII,
hssG Sc tsI0a WTit. And yet. iEl1 Fsss-
iion of prayer 10 the supply q our needs
Il = rational 0sle- Is we learn from cur
Lords illustration Of the willingness OF
our Heavenly Father 20 give the Holy
Spirit "a them tl1a; ask him. ly the
know hus" oi earthly t2U1nts 10 give
gola gifts unto Their CtEtrt<vTs. Il -
presumption 10 expert without seeking
!; i lnhslIei To ssek without expecting
II. Faith. PRAYER and faith are
closely connected. Prayer no; ouiy de-
Iends on faith ioT IL acceptance, but for
it, very existence. He That comrth 70
God must believe that he :. and that he
is a rcwarier Of them that diligently
Sssrk him One uf the LAWS ul o4r
Lori's spiritual kingdom. s. announced
bv himself i. "ao>orsiiug 80 vour f4iJh.
IL il untoyou.' In her iaith, then. ZIon
has fund oi strength. In Its moral IN
fiuenCc. il : the great moving :oncc Of
the kingdom oi God o1 earth. Il sup
plies the church with the most powerful
motives io stimulate and encourage her
In the domain o5 Christian work. As
--ihe substance ii things hoped ior. and
the evidence ot things ncs sgcn. 1t dis
closes to her ail that Is connected with
the moral destiny 81 humanity. She
enters into the sphenc ot the spiritual,
the unseen and the eternal. a region
wholly unknown to the natural man.
All that enters into that perfection oi
bliss, which constitutes iullness oi Joy At
Ge.i's right hand. Is ever present 10 her
consciousness. a. living reality. And
it l. the same with all that i involved in
the sentence oi everlasting destruction
irom the presence oi the Lord. and the
glory OF hls power. In addition to this
realistic. awakening Vlew 81 the lnvl>l-
bic world. she. by her faith, appTehends
all those sublime truths oi Divine Tevela-
ton, which quicken toChrisfjan activity.
The doctrine of Gods sovereignty. pToVl-
.3puT,s and u hiding trY-<eukess DI The I'M
changeable love oi Christ, the indwelllng
presence and power ri the Spirit, ami
freedom ui access through the faith OF
Jesus. The headship Of Christ, the
unity OF the church. the ministry oi
angels. and the great crowd oi witnesses.
When these glorious mysteries are Sp-