The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-28
The Full Text Of His Views on the
Efficacy of Prayer.
The Henthenish AmnIekite, which
by Burning md Murder. Womb.
Prevent Entrance of European
Trade and Genius - SuppIication
the key TO the Treasury of God.

Seventh Sunday after Trinity. The grace
| of our Lord Jesus Christ. and the love of
| God. and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost.
| be with us all evermore. Amen. Text, II
| chapter of Exodus and the I1th verse:
| And it came to pass, when Moses held up
his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when
! he let down his hand Amaiek prevailed
Amen. 1t is most impressive picture that
our text today brings before our souls.
Israel wanders through the desert from
the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. But suddenly
the heather Amalekites stop them. ard
want to prevent their advance. and bat
tie ensues. Joshua leads the young men
of Israel to the fight. the swords clash to-
gether, and a hot and bloody struggle be-
gins in the valley OF Rephidem.
But see! whilst the fight is going on.
the pious men of God-Moses. Aaron and
Hur-go to the top OF the hill. They lift
up their hands to heaven: they pray
Down in the valley the fighting hosts--at
the top OF the mountain the praying men.
This is the holy battle picture of o-r text.
Who does not understand today what it
tells us? Again a heatheDish Ama)ekile
spirit has stirred in distant Asia with great
power and much cunning. By burning and
murder it is sought TO prevent the entrance
OF European trade and European genius
the triu,nphal march Of Christian morals
and Christian faith. And again the com
mand of God has been issued: Choose Us
out men and go out. fight with Amalek
The Struggle BeEun.
"A hot and bloody struggle has begun.
Many of our brothers stand already yonder
under fire many are on their way to the
enemys coasts. and you have seen them.
the thousands who at the call. Volunteers
to the fore, Who will be the guardian of
the Empire?' now assemble to enter the
fight with flying colors. But you. who re-
main behind at home. who are bound by
other sacred duties. say do you not hear
Gods call. which he makes TO you and
which says TO you, Go up on the noun
tains. raise up thy hands 10 the heavens.
The prayer of the jus: can do much. if it
is in earnest
THUS let 1t be. Yonder, far away, the
hosts of fighters; here at home the hosts
of praying men. May this be the holy bat
tie picture also of our days. May this
peaceful morning hour remind us-may it
remind us of the sacred duty of -interces-
sion, of the sacred power of interceEs on.
The sacred duty OF intercession. Certainly
it is an enthusiastic moment wbsn a ship
with the young men on board weighs
anchor. Did you not see the warriors
eyes flash? Did you not hear their many
voiced hurrahs? But when the native
shores vanish. when one enters the gov
ing heat of the Red Sea or the heavy
waters of the ocean, how easily brightness
and enthusiasm grow weary
Certainly it is a sublime moment when,
after long voyage In the distance, the
straight lines of the German forts can be
seen. and the black. .shise. and red flags
OF the German colony become visible. ana l
comradssin arms stand on the shore wait- i
ing TO give q hearty reception. But the
long MARCHES in a burning sun. the long
nights ofsbiyOuac in the rain! How easily /
gayety and strength vanish Certainly ii !
is a ionged-for moment when atolast the |
drums beat to the charge, and the bugles !
are blown to advance. when command is /
given. Forward, at the enemy,T But then. |
when amid the roar Of the guns and the |
flashing Of the shells comrades fall TO the |
right and left and hostile batteries still |
refuse TO yield-how easily the brayest |
heart then begins to treIBble,
The Need of Blessing.
Christians, in order that our brothers I
over yonder may remain gay even in the
greatest distress, faithful in the most pain
full duty. courageous in the greatest dan
ger. they want something more than am
munttion and sharp weapons more also
than youthful courage and fiery enthu-
siasm. They want a blessing from above
vital power from above. otherwise they
cannot win and remain victorious. And the
heavenly world only opens to prayer
Prayer is the golden key to the treasury
of our God. But he who has it has also
the promise that to him who asks shall be
given. Or shall we remain idle?
Woe to us if we are idle while they |
are carrying on hard and bloody piece
OF work; woe to us il we only look on
curiously at the great sight while they
wrestle in a fierce death struggle. This
would be Gains spirit with the cruel
words, Am l my brothers keeper This
would be unfaithfulness toward our brave
brothers who are stalking their lives.
Never, We Will mobilize not only bat
taltons OF warriors. but also a holy force
Of praying men. Yes, How much there is
to ask for our brothers going into the
field. They are TO be the strong arm
which Furnishes assassins.
They are to be the mailed fist which
strikes in among them They are to stand
up with the sword in their hands for our
most sacred possessions. So we Will ac-
them with our prayers, out onto
the heeying waves. on their marches. into
the roar of the battle. and into the peace
fulness of the hospitals; will pray to God
that they may stand at their post like men
that they may fight their battles coura-
geously and heroially. that they may bear
their wounds brayely and calmly that
God may give those who die under fire a
blessed end and the reward of faithfulness
in short that he may make the warriors
heroes and the heroes victOrs and then
bring them home to the land of their faith
Prs with the laurels round their puggarees
and the medals on their breasts. ,
Power of Sacred Intercession. 5
"Or do we perhaps not believe in the sa- |
cred power of intercession? Well, then. |
what does our text say? And it came to
pass. when Moses held up his hand, that 5
Israel prevailed The earnest prayers of
4 Moses made the swords of the enemy |
blunt. They pushed themselves like | q
wedge between the enemys lines, made c
hem waver and brought victory to the {
LYNN; banners of Israel Should not our
prayers be able to dc what the prayers
IF Moses did? God has not taken back |
me syllable OF his promise; heartfelt |
prayer can still today cast down thJ /
iragon banner into the dust and plant the
banner of the Cross on the walls.
And Moses does not stand alone with
lis intercession. Look yonder: There on '.
he heights of sodom sands Abraham in i,
breeding before his God, and with his ,
prayers hs prays Lot out OF the burning
ity. And should NOT our prayers succeed | :
Il praying our fighting comrades out Of ,
he fire OF the battles? Look yondeTI =
There in Jerusalem lies tine young Chris !
ian community on Its knees. Their leader ! {
heir father. Hes imprisoned in a dun !
,eon; and see. with their prayers they
ummon the Angel OF God into the D. ison | I
nd he leads forth Peter unframed. And q
ur prayers; should not th5y have the v
nla tn lttrs he nj | B.