The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-29
REV. T. j. vILLERs's SERMON.


mira OF a series ON the General
Topic OF ''The Pattern Prayer
The third sermon of series on 1.-THE Pat
tern Prayer" was preached yesterday morn
ing at the First Baptist Church by the Rev.
Thomas j. Villers. He said:
I'm addressing the nearer of prayer, the
Master teaches US to pray as children; the
words. Our Father breathe the fiial
spirit. In the first petition we are taught
to pray as worshpers;- the words, Hal
lowed be thy NAME breathe the reverential
spirit. In this second petition Jesus bids
us pray as missionaries; the words, Thy
kingdom come breathe the evangelistic
spirit The hallowing Of His name must
precede the coming of His kingdom: His
character being revealed and revered, His
kingship will be acknowledged and His will
obeyed.
Our Fathers kingdom means His reign
in human hearts. He seeks the conquest,
not Of countries. but of consciences. He
counts His subjects not by heads, but by
hearts. His kingdom is within us. 1t Is an
interior kingdom; kingdom of righteous
ness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost;
kingdom of truth, from which all error is
banished; a kingdom of love, from which
kingdom of liberty, in which oppression is
unknown-all CALLING letters being stricken
from mind and body and soul. 1t is also
social kingdom: 1t is more than reign
in isolated individuals. The moment our
Father is enthroned in two hearts, that
moment His kingdom becomes society on
earth Its spirit Of love impels to fellow
according to the laws of brotherhood.
LAS yet this kingdom is an unattained
ideal. The peace of God does not rule in
all hearts. Some reject his regnancy. Many
are. ignorant of his beneficent dominion.
Swathed with heather darkness, they are
cheered by no celestial ray. Society's har-
mony is still marred by jangling notes.
Ishmaelites. with their hand against every
man and every mans hand against them,
still abound. The oppressor.s rod is still
,1zpnLr Tl,aa xrr.fn nf bod
from the weak and helpless, still cries unto
God. Judicial and punitive machinery is
still defective. Seedplots Of iniquity still
obtain municipal consent. The chasm be-
tween money and muscle still yawns ON
inously. The trials of the rich are still
without sympathy. The wrongs Of the
poor are still without redress. Self is still
first. whether greed be private or cor
porate.
ITO pray that our Fathers kingdom may
come is to pray that all men may be
brought to know and love and obey him;
that his inner sway of the personal life
may find expression in each smallest act;
that the social organism may be governed
by the royal law of love; that the golden
rule may no longer be an ideal lowering in
heavenly purity above us, but a glad and
universal reality; that this insurgent world
may be subdued and celestialized to
make Ii a province of heaven-the whole
round earth being in every way bound by
gold chains about the feet of God.
TAUGHT TO PRAY.
I'VE are taught to pray Tor the Kingdom
advent because the Kingdoms method is
unique Gods reign comes not with OBJ
servation. Its weapons are not carnal.
Alexander, Caesar Charlemagne. Napoleon
each founded an empire. resting upon force,
the creation of his genius. Our Fathers
kingdom is built upon love. The sword
cried Mohammed. is the key of heaven and
hell People could take their choice be-
tween the Koran and the scmitar. Who
ever received not Islam suffered death. Our
Fathers kingdom comes not by the imperi-
BUSINESS of despotism, but by the impera-
tiveness of righteousness. Therefore we
pray. All prayer is most effective weap-
on of conquest. Louis Ravens used IL, and
prayed go missionaries into the field
prayed out of rich pockets enough money
to support his missions, and in forty years
of more than 1900 members. Encouraged
by the facts OF history, pray we: Father
thy kingdom come
IF We honestly pray, our prayer will be-
come real in act We shall teach or preach
This is a method sanctioned by our Lords
example and enjoined by his express COM
mand. Henry Richards adopted this meth
Cd, and in single revival at Banza Man
teke more than a thousand natives piled
their idols at his feet, processing themselves
followers of our Christ. II we cannot CO.
we are bound to let go or help go. IL We
pray, we are bound to pay.
"Signs of the anxious are everywhere ap-
parent. Opposing barriers are leveled
Closed doors are opened. The gospel Is in
all the world bearing fruit and increasing
The British and Foreign Bible Society,