Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1917 — CHAIN OF PRAYER [ARTICLE]

CHAIN OF PRAYER

Golden Links That Bind This SinCursed Earth to God and Heaven. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which Is in heaven.” —Matthew 18:19. We are dwelling in the, supreme hour in the history of Christianity. While this most terrible war has lifted the curtains of eternity before the gaze of earth’s millions:while united pflrayer and endeavor have opened the doors d? heathen nations to the gospel; while the spirit of unity pervades all denominations of Christians, shall not the Christian world get together and be bound together by the golden chain of prayer, uniting our world to the throne uTtheeteraai? — —= Oh, for a federation of prayer that will open the windows of heaven and shut the gates of hell and give the only permanent peace and purity to our troubled world! Is not the way to solve the mighty problems of this age the way of the cross of Christ, and is not the entrance gate to Cal vary’s sum-., mit one of Intercession and supplication? —- Strength of Unity. “If two of you shall agree”—Jesus gives just the smallest number possible—for unity in petition. “One can chase a thousand, but two shall put ten thousand to flight.” Four shall vanquish one hundred thousand, and eight a million. What wonderful might Ues in the unity of Christendom! Where two are gathered in prayer, there are always three, for Jesus Is there in the midst. He will inspire your petition, helping you to ask in his allprevailing name, and therefore tn pray in harmony with The will of God.~ We know that prayer is a secret, Invisible power, exerted not by the voice, or the personal presence, not by direct effort of individuals, not by activities in service, but by the sieving of the hand that moves the universe. How like electricity is prayer! It can be everywhere in a moment, as quick as thought. One may be on a sick-bed, helpless, able to do nothing else but pray, and yet mightier than the mightiest who is only exerting his own strength. Prayer is very close to the omnipotence and omniscience of God. Prayer, it has been said, may not change the purpose of God, but It wflT change his action. God does not coerce a soul; he cannot give unless we are ready to receive. When Heaven and Earth Meet Prayer “is the moment when heaven * and earth kiss each other.” Yea, when the sotrt of the father -touches. that_.of.. his child In loving, sweet communion. In God’s left hand he holds the laws of nature, but in his right hand he holds the law of love, that flows out as he embraces the children of his bosom. Individual prayer is a duty and an Inestimable privilege; but united intercessory prayer for the salvation of others and for the world of lost men is the mightiest human power ever exerted by the church of the living God. It is exerting supernatural power to move and energize the machinery and methods and missions of united Christendom. The prayer that springs from wells beneath, That hath Its sources from above. The prayer that gives, theprayer thftt. -T- goes, -- - The prayer that prays from very The prayer that prays unceasingly, The prayer that prays for friend ana foe, ' ' The prayer that prays untiringly— The prayer that prays • for high ana low; *llllß prayer is, prayed In Jesus’ name; This prayer is only Spirit-given; This prayer will always end in praise— This is the prayer that reaches heaven. g —Rev. Edwin Whittier Caswell, D. D.