Year: 1879

AVENUE OllCIsNils
THE POWER OF PRAYER-sERMoN BY REV. DIR.


ARMrrAGE.


After his sojourn in the country, invigorated and
refreshed, DR.. Arnitage resumed his ministerial
duties yesterday morning at the Fifth Avenue bap-
tist Church. His subject 'rhe Power of Prayer,
taking his text from James ". l6-"The effectual.
fervent prayer of righteous man availeth much
God does not require to pray. said the Doctor,
for the sake of praying irrespective of its results.
Those of old time who insolently said. "What is
the Almighty that we should server" and
"what profit shall have if pray unto
him?" ignorant of the power which prayer
exerts, both on God and man. According to
the text prayer avails nuch-how much we cannot
tell. AS the ocean exceeds n drop and the globe
atom so the blessings of prayer excel prayerless-
1t is useless to attempt description of that
which surpasses the power of language therefore
may illustrate the power of prayer better than
can define it. This the inspired apostle proceeds
do in the context with n burning conviction and a
dignity Of words worthy of prophet. Contem-
plate the of prayer as it acts upon God from
the soul of the suppliant. Queen Elizabeth took her
ring from her finger and gave it to the Earl
of Essex with the promise that when he fell
into danger he should send that ring
back to her and she would relieve him. She COM
pressed the honor of her word and the prerogatves
of her monarchy to his protection. This happy
image OF the potency which God has lodged in the
breath or prayer. He puts the signes of power
the finger OF every man who spreads his hands in
fervent supplcation, and as he lifts the pledge be-
fore the eternal throne its gems are eloquent with
boldness and radiant with light. "Lift up holy
hands to God and it shall come to pass before they
call l wall answer, and while they are yet
suppliant gives that energy to prayer which stirs
omnipotence to help


EFFICACY WEAKNESS.


The sigh of the crushed spirit flies faster and fur
ther than ray of light from the eye of the





rested. The petitioner may be SIM
pie Hannah speaking in her heart. or lisping Sam
uel or blind beggar cropping for smile from Gods
eye. if haply he may find it; dying thief groan
ing tor one thought of remembrance in the divine
ries his burdens, heals his wounds and enliyhtens
his darkness. Jonathans bow never returned
empty. Sometimes the arrow was longer in
reaching the mark. but it always back with
q richer blessing at last. How prayer prevails with
fore its resistess eoquence as ii He had found the
purpose OF granting the blessing; yet He says, II
Will be inquired or by the house OF Israel to do it
for them" All things that are possible to God
possible to prayer and the sacred writings full
OF examples which show its prevaency. Consider
the power OF prayer as it acts upon the suppiant
himself. 1t keeps his graces alive and strong. The
praving soul takes exercise in devotion just the
racer on the course the wrestler in the stadium,
or the athlete in the gymnasium. Like the smith
ut the forge, who plies the bellows to the fire that
the current may clear away the ashes which
smother its glow, so prayer makes the heart burn
with new ardor at the Throne of Grace.


Prayer illuminates the mind with heavenly wis
dom. II any of you lack wisdom let him ask it Of
God. Prayer withdraws us from the spirit of the
world. Men whose plans and passions and projects
are all worldly are pre-eminently paryerless men.
They have time, but the world occupies it. They
have talents, but the world engages them. They
have hearts, and many OF them of the noblest char
acter but the world fills them. Prayer is eifec
tual antidoe to the love OF the world. 1t sets the
affections things above it brings heavenly reai
ties near; it engages the soul III intercourse with
God, and long before reach the heavenly fields
1t brings us to sit with Christ in heavenly places
title to heaven is written upon many
cottage hearth by prayer and an attest OF love is in
scribed upon many . dungeon floor by its trembling
finger. Not only in Jefusalem's proud temple and
Davids cedar galleries is its power felt, but in the
fishermans cot by the brink of Genneseret and in
tie upper chamber where Pentecost began Whether
IL be the field where Isaac went to mediate the
rocky knoll where Jacob lay down to sleep, or the
brook whore Israel wrestled, the den where
Daniel gazed on the hungry beasts. the dark
prison where Peter was enchained, or the hillside
where the man of sorrows prayed all night, every
where you read the power OF prayer more sturdy
than chains and armed guards, reporting its own
deverance i'll answer to its fervor aud effectual
office.