The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-10-18
DR.. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
POWER OF PRAYER
~.n's strength insufficient to Fight the
Overwhelming Tide Of Sin.

srS i,rs they cried unto the Lord."-Jonah
/, IS. H.
Navigation in the Mediterranean Sea al
xavs was perilous, especially so I'm early
tines. Vessels were propelled partly by sail
AMI partly by oar. When, by reason OF great
srpss Of weather. II was necessary 10 reef
,be canvas or haul II In. then the vessel was
entirely dependent upon the oars. sometimes
,uenty or thirty OF them on either side OF
,he vessel. You would not venture outside
vour harbor with such craft rs my text
Ants Jonah sailing In. but he had not much
choice OF vessels. He was running away
nom the Lord and when man Is running
,roy from the Lord he has 10 run very fast
Col had told Jonah to go TO Nineveh to
r,each about the destruction OF that city.
tonlh disobeyed That always makes rough
water. whether In the Mediterranean, or the
Atlantic. or the Pacific, or the Caspian Sea.
his a very hard thing to scare sailors.
have seen them, when the brow OF the vessel
vas almost under water, and they wero
waking the deck knee deep In the surf, and
the small boais by the side OF the vessel had
been crushed as small as kindling wood,
Visiting as though nothing had happened,
hut the Bible says that these mariners OF
whom speak were frightened.
That which sailors call "n lump OF n sea"
has become n binding, deafenng, swamplng
fury. How mad the wind can get at the
water. and the water can get at the wind
you do not know unless you have been
spectators. have In my house a piece OF
ihe sail OF ship, no larger than the palm OF
ry hand. That piece OF canvas was nll that
vas leit otthe largest sail Of the snip Greece.
,ha; went into the storm 200 miles of New
iounland. Oh, what n night that was I
tupposo II BIN some such storm rs this
bat Jonah vhs caught.
H. knew fiat the tempest was on his nc
tount. and q asked the sailors TO throw him
..aIF All L..
nee. and they resolved TO make their es-
tapa, II possible, without resorting to such
x,reme measures. The sails are OF no use
mi 80 they lay hold on their oars. ses
be- long bank OF shining blades on either
'e the vessel. Oh, how they did pull. the
,nzad seamen, rs they lay back into the
ar But rowing on the sea Is very differ
nt from rowing upon river, and ms the ves-
e hoists the oars skip the wave and miss
he stroke, and the tempest laughs 10 scorn
be hylng paddles. IL Is OF no use, no use
here comes wave that crashes the last
ast aud sweeps the oarsmen from thoir
aces and tumblcs everything In the con.
us.on Of impending shipwreck, or as my
x; las IL, the men rowed hard to bring
to the Land, bW they could not, wherefore
ey cried unto the Lori."
THIS scene Is very suggestive 10 me, and |
|uy God may have grace and strength
aolsh to represent 1t intelligently to you.
base OF this very subject, and got letter
rom Houston, Tex, the writer saying that
reading OF that sermon in London had
AZ him 10 God. And | received auo;her le;-
rom South Australia, saying that the
li'pg ot that sermon In Australia had
pisn. several souls 10 Christ. Aud then |
fought why not now take another phase OF
e same subject, for perhaps that Col who
ln raise in power that which is sown In
eakness may now, through another phase
the same subject, bring salvation TO the
opie who shall hear and salvation 10 the
ople who shall read. Men and women who
low how TO pray. lay hold OF the Lord God
mighty, and wrestle for theblessing
Bishop Latimer would stop sometimes In
saruon, In the midst OF his argument.
Now, will tell Won "a tshler and
fi.y would like to bring the scene OF the
rs an illustration OF n most important re-
Eous truth. As those Mediterranean oars
y trying bring Jonah ashore were dis
1lted, | have to tell you that they were
the only men who have broken down on
ai paddles and have been obliged TO call
ae Lord for help. / want to say that the
MAILING efforts OF those Mediterranean
lnmen have II counterpart In the efforts wa
D making TO bring souls to the shore of
Nv aud set their feet on the Rock OF Ages.
have II fathec or mother or husband or
or child or near friend who is not a
1stan. There have been times when you
ye been in agony about their salvation
minister OF Christ, whose wife was dying
'tout amy hope in Jesus, walked the floor.
ung his nands, cried bitterly and said, II
eye shall 20 insane, for | know she s
pr pared 10 meet God" And there, may
Ne been days OF sickness in your house
!, when you feared II wouli be fatal
AlesS, nnt how closely you examined the
-oi the doctor rs he came III and scrJ-
zeI the patient and felt the pulse, ami
followed him into the next room and
There isn't any danger, is there. do,-
r. And the hesitation and the uncer-
MY OF the reply made two eternities flash
oTe Your vision. And then you went and
lei TO the sick one about the great iuture
there are those here who have tried
BRING their friends TO God They
We been unable 10 bring them TO the snore
safety. They are no nearer that point
70 they We're twenty years ago You thlnH
have got them almost to the shore, when
ate swept back again. What shall you
iut Gown the oarI On, no, do NOT
Use C-., but l Go advise tnat you
~ cal 10 that Col lto. whom the Msiiterra-
oarsmen nppealed-the Col whe could
zee the tempest and bring the ship in
W to tho port / tell you. my friends,
v there has got TO be good deal OF pray
9e.ore our families are brought 10 Christ.
MS aE awful thing TO have half house,
ehoushold on the other side of the line!
vessels part on the ocean OF eternity,
So.n: 10 the right an the other TO ths
% 'htthcr apart and farther apart-unil
'.nals ceass 10 be recognized and there
ohy Two specks on the horizon, and then
are lost TO sight forever!
nsI "Ir To tell you that the unavailing ef-
"a oi these Mediterranean oarsnen have
r'part in the efforts some OF us arc
elv %; q bring our children to the shore OF
r. 9' Ihere never were so many tempta-
Tor young people rs there are now.
nj Uerary and the social influences seem
rs against their spiritual interests. Christ
10 be driven almost entirely IRON the
and the pleasurable concourse, yet
Gnows how anxious We are Tor our
zen, We cannot think of going into
en- without them. We do not want
ave this life while they are tossing
waves OF temptation and away
Goi From which OF them could
sb ehsent to be eternaly separat 81?
II be tho son? Would II be the
ltelE Would II he the eldest? Would
Iu me youngest? Would II be the ono
well aud stout or the one that Is
oh, hear some parent saying to-
h...... IL. a &.