The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-16

according TO The measure of their receptive
ity for the truth. Thus the Bible Is IN
sp.red just 50 far as IL inspires the reader
New Just IN the same way as one may
get musical gift out of concert or an
intellectual gift from lecture. so spir-
itual gift awaits those who have learned
the real meaning and blessing OF prayer
Sunday service, the united prayers or
congregation IN public worship. may De
made wonderful power for good when
the people enter into liz with the right
spirit put their hearts into IL. and agree
together TO get the gift OF the
Holy Spirit. The half-hearted. luke
terances brings little response from
on high. Concentration is everything.
The man who Will not even try 20 con-
centrate his heart and mind on God for
at least few minutes each week IN pub
lc worship, 10 say nothing OF the neces-
sity OF private prayer. need not wonder
that he finds IL hard TO be religious Ii
people We're as inattentive and indiffer-
ent ABOUT their daily business or in the
pursuit of some special study as they
are about the concerns of the higher life
of prayer and communion, they would ut
terly fail in what they undertake. When
congregation really with one accord lifts
up It's voice TO God We might well ex-
pect even the building IN which 1T is
assembled to tremble through the descent
OF the Holy Ghost. Even the audible
SOUND OF the voice in prayer has Q reflex
action upon the mind and soul There is
power in the spoken word when the
heart directs the speech IL Is recorded
that in some of the early Christian as
semblies the people shouted amen" so
That the building shook. We have gone to
the other extreme. and are afraid to let
our voices out. Perhaps il is because there
Is not enough religious feeling behind the
voice IL is stated In the same account of
the apostles faith following the persecu-
ton by the Sadducees that when they re-
ceived the Holy Ghost they spake the
word of God with holiness" One who has
the divine gift is not afraid TO speak.
Here is the secret of true eloquence. when
the words are the sincere utterances of
heart full Of love for God and man.
This Is the preachers power. A minister
cannot truly preach the gospel without
the preparation that brings the gift of
the Spirit. What people long for more
than all else. more than intellectual and
entertaining discourses. is Inspiration. in
depreciation of life gospel that will help
one grid himself up for the warfare of
life. with great power gave the apos-
ties witness Of the resurrection" Men
felt the fact of the resurrection by the
power of the spoken word. Faith Is a
conviction OF the truth as true, and the
early disciples were so convinced of the
truth of the resurrection from the dead
that they declared IL boldly and counted
the converts by the thousands. What a
transformation in religious work and wor-
ship If something of the same great
power of faith followed by the word of
holiness could prevail today. Another re-
suit of this fervent faith was true Chris
tan unity. And the multitude of them
that believed were Of one heart and of one
SOUL Such a picture of concord the
world has never seen. True ii did not last
a great while With world of wicked
ness all around. the ideal could not be
long maintained. but 1t Is encouraging to
remember that there was a time when
the multitude of believers were all of one
heart and one mind. 1t postulates
the possibility Of a unity yet to
be realized when sll who love the Lord
Christ shall Also love one another. Still
another result OF this faith followed by
the gift of the Holy Ghost was their
common prayer. but a common purse. For
We are told that not one said ''aught of
the things he possessed was his own. but
they had all things common" In fact.
they all disposed OF their lands and
houses and brought the prices and laid
them down at the apostles feet. There
was no poverty. for distribution was
made unto every man according as he had
need. 1t all sounds very impracticable.
Communistic settlements are not a great
success. And the reason of this is the
unprepared condition Of human nature.