The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
RELIGIOUS READING.
the POWER OF ISrrncrsstoy.

"if was ever brought into the kingdom
OF God, said venerable Christian lady. "it
was owing TO the interccssions OF old DIR. Iiv-
ingston. He married me, and he used often
to call and speak few earnest words 10 mo
about my soul. You are now wife aud a
mother, he would say; "do not delay 10 giyo
yourself 10 the Lord, md TO pray for grace to
fu fl your duties. l shall never cease to
plead for you
The thought that man OF God was plead
Ing for her before God. as well as pleading
with her at the bar Of her own conscience,
was the point which seems TO have made tho
impression. why all this carnestnessY Aro
not my own imprc.si sions far below wha; they
ought 10 be, when good men on earth, and
God and holy angels in Heaven are so dccp-
ly concerned for mcI Shall | he careless
about my own eternal interests. when Heaven
and enrth are In constant communication re-.
spocting thcmY' This was the word OF
power which. like a touch 20 the helm II u
vessel, turned the direction OF her soul for
time and eternity.
The influence Of that ladys picty. her ac-
uVl;y, her libcfality, has been felt In the
world Tor hall "a century. IL Is now felt in
the remotest fields Of missionary labor. A,
| the American Messenger Is read Ia India and
China. some oi the brethren there will prob.
ably have Il clue to the Individuality ot "thc
mother III Israel who chccrcd aud sus.
tanned them IN their purpose Of dcyutins
themselves 10 that distant field, aud helped
| them IN their preparations for Il. This ser.
| want OF Christ was won tu God near the be.
ginning oi this century through the intcrccs-
| sions OF DR.. Livingston.
An interesting hut up to that time, utterly
| careless youth once called ON the writer il
great anxiety and distress for his soul even
to weeping. lasScd him In the course Of the
! conversation. what had awakened him. Il
knew that my mother was praying for me,
| he answered.
The instance has been often related, In
which proinnc and scoillue father was
| "priCked IN In. heart and led to the inquiry
! what must doy by oycrhcaging the pray
crs ci his riou, child for his conversion.
| Such !, the power ui intcrccss.on on the
| heart OF -inSrts. Tho very cunsciou-uc,
| that others are ptaying for them. ofcn uwak.
ems thvm t. pray for themselves. II i, not
without special reason that Paul wrote 10
the Ephcslans, that without ccn-ing he
| made mention Of them in his prayers, and
bowed his knees 20 the Father OF our Lord
Jesus Chri-t, In their behalf and To- tho Col.
! ossiuns, that Eparhrus. n servant Of Christ
was always laburing icrvcutly for them IL
prayers"
We have only spoken of the indirect power
OF intcrcossory prayer. Oi II, indirect and
ultimate power. its power with God, th,
! whole H~pirrd history Of prayer affords ahuu
dnnt illustration. See IT IN H." iutcrr,~.iof
Of Abraham Tor lshmacl. Gen. II ~: %
Daniel for the oNicd church aud people %
God, Dan. .. of the centurion Tor his scryan
Matt.s and ~ the widow Of Sarcpru iur hr
| daughter, Lukri. Tho ciIcctual, fcryrn
ptay'r oia righteous man ayailith much.
james, D 10
lntcrccs,ory prayer is the highest form o
| power which can no eNrrtcd 10y any huWui
being, probably toy any creature Of God. An,
u Is within the reach Of hands which are dis
RblCd from all other work. Sickness an
other causes may disquaiiy us for what !
called active labor but 80 long ns We pray
We have no reason To cut OF from connection
with the living world. We can touch In 1t
| rcmotosts points and In its highest interest.
We can put forth u power which no dlnlcu,
ties can resist, and no place can crcum
scribe. Thu, saith the Lord the Holy On
Of Israel, and his Maker. Ask me Of things I
come concerning my sons, and concernn
the work of nay hands command yc me-.
Ism. a. IL. How Insignificant the power q
the greatest monarch, or the greatest inte
cct on earth. compared with that which thi
permission gives 10 the praying soul Amer
lean Messenger.