The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-15

over this house people would rise and say Pray for my husband" Pray for my child" Pray for my brother" Pray for my roommate." Pray for my sister" !" But, friend, why do you ask this pulpit to pray for your loved ones? Why do you not bring that burden. that heavy burden of the salvation of your child or husband, to Christ? Does not Jesus want you to do this today? If Christ will carry the heavy burden of financial distress surely he will bear the heavier burden of the salvation of your children.
 The Gospel Promise.
 Some years ago a noted evangelist was holding series of meetings in the church of which I was then pastor. Among the thrilling incidents which he told was one that appeared to me at that time very far-fetched. l said it could not be so He described how mother had a wayward boy who had run away to sea and was at that time in an Asiatic port. The mother carefully studied the Bible and came to the conclusion that she had a right to ask for the salvation of her boy and that she would then and there throw the burden of his salvation upon Christ She went to her room, after giving word that under no condition was she to be interrupted. Then she opened the Bible. laid it upon a chair and knelt down. Then she began to pray for the salvation of that boy. She said. 70 God. Jesus has said that If l ask anything in his name thou wilt grant my request. I am going to stay here pleading upon my knees for the salvation of my child until thou hast given to me the sweet consciousness that he is saved" She stayed there from until T. until 8, 9 until 10, 10 until II, until o'clock in the morning that woman stayed. Then she arose from her knees and said My Heav enly Father thou hast answered my prayer" "At that very time" said the evangelist. "the boy in the foreign port was convicted Of sin and sent letter home to his mother that he had given his heart to Christ" But as l afterward be- gan to ponder over the story, in the light of the Scriptures and of personal history, I came to the conclusion that that story was true or at least by gospel promise could be true We have a right to ask for the salvation of our loved ones. And If we ask and plead faithfully and truly God will answer our prayers
 Oh that we might. one and all, here and now enter into a holy conspiracy of prayer for the salvation of our loved ones, This was the way a great revival wave was started in one of my old churches It was by Christian people, members of that church, getting together week after week and praying for distinct individuals It was in this way that my grandfather and grandmother were converted. Some of you may have heard the wonderful story written by the pen or spoken by the lips of my father. It was by company of earnest and fearful mothers gathering to- gether at a certain time of the day in the barns to pray for the salvation of their children until scores and hundreds stood up in the little village church of Somerville to confess Christ and the whole region was moved by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is by conspiracy
 
 started and our loved ones swept into the kingdom by tidal wave of mercy.
 Efficacy of Prayer.
 The great trouble with the Christian church as a whole and with Christians as individuals is that we have broken away from the old anchorage of gospel truth. We have lost faith in God that he is able to do all things; we have lost faith in prayer; we have lost faith in the power of the Holy Ghost. And the great mission of the Christian pulpit today Is to revive fin the pew the old gospel seeds of faith and hope. When Wilton Merle Smith was called to the Central Presbyterian church of New York city he said to the commit tee which waited on him: You do not want me as your pastor. I am not an in- tellectual teacher. I am only q simple gos- pei preacher" "Ah." answered the men. that is the reason We want you. The people are hungerlng and thirsting after the simple gospel truths" And 1t is be- cause the simple. salient gospel beliefs are so much needed today that 1 am preaching this sermon upon faith and the belief that Christ can save our loved ones if we only pray.
 Thus my dear friends, tired and heavy hearted. tramping along the highway of life I want to lift the heavy burdens off your hearts It is these burdens that are crushing you. not the journey. Many of the older men have read an essay which was famous many years ago. It was written by the Country Parson' and