Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-11-14

Oh, that we might, one and all, here
! and now, enter into q holy conspiracy
Of prayer for the salvation Of our loved
ones! This was the way a great re-
vival wave was started in one of my
old churches. 1t was by Christian peo-
pie, members Of that church. getting to-
gether week after week and praying
for distinct individuals. 1t was in this
way that my grandmother and grand
father were converted. Some OF you
may have heard the wonderful story
written by the pen or spoken by the
lips Of my father. 1t was by COM
pany Of earnest and fearful mothers
gathering together at 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 vii
lage church of Somerville to confess
Christ, and the whole region was moved
by the power Of the Holy Ghost. 1t is
by a conspiracy Of prayer that re-
vival can always be stated and our
loved ones swept into the kingdom by
tlQal wave or mercy.
Efficacy of Prayer.
The great trouble with the Christian
church as 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
Loot faith I'm nrovor. xuo bor lasf faith
In the power of the Holy Ghost. And
the great mission OF the Christian pull
pit today Is to revive in 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. | am not an
intellectual teacher; am only a simple
gospel preacher" "Ah," answered the
men, that is the reason we want you.
The people are hungering and thirstng
after the simple gospel truths" And II
is because the simple, salient gospel
beliefs are 80 much needed today that
l 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, want to lift the ,
heavy burdens of your hearts. 1t is
these burdens that are crushing you,
not the journey. Many Of the older
men have read an essay which was IA |
nous many years ago 1t was written
by the Country Parson" and called |
Concerning People Who Garry |
Weights In Life" The author went |
on to show that 1t was the extra |
weights some had to carry that made |
them lose the race of life. And 1t Is |
these extra burdens which we can cast |
at the foot of the cross that make US |
labor and heavy laden. Will you not |
accept the invitation Of my text? |
Will you not live in the faith Of that |
blessed promise and die In the hope, |
as did the beautiful Princess Eliza |
beth, the daughter of Charles l. of |
England? Upon her marble monument |
In Newport church, erected by Queen
Victoria, is recorded the fact that she |
was one morning found dead. with |
her head pillowed upon the open Bible
and her finger pointing to the simple
words, Come unto me all ye that la
Dor and are heavy laden, and l will
give you rest" Today urge upon you
this wide invitation, with its glorious
promise Christ bids you come with
all your burdens and trials, and he
will bear them for you. He offers you
rest in this life. rest in death and
eternal rest beyond the grave. Come
unto him all ye who labor and are
heavy laden, and he will give you
rest.
fCopyright 1903. by Louis Klopsch.1