The National Preacher (Volume 27-28) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1853. Excerpt: ... of the Lord. Every church that observed this concert shared richly in the Divine blessing. The entire result can never be known until " the Lord himself shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this and that man was born there." It is by imparting a spirit of prayer that God begins a work of grace in the sinner's heart. Of Saul of Tarsus it was said: " Behold he prayeth," and his prayer was heard by his compassionate Redeemer. Thus was it with the publican; thus with the dying thief; thus with Cornelius, and thus has it been with multitudes in later times--thus is it to-day. " Then the loftiness of man is bowed down, and the haughtiness of men is made low, and the Lord alone is exalted in that day." " I heard it, but I heeded it not," said a man of a proud spirit; " 1 heard again, but I hated it as if it were death. And once more I heard it, and my spirit melted. It was as if God himself, with the resistless might of his infinite love, spoke to my inner spirit. I was transfixed. Wonder, fear, hope, shame, grief, love, joy, sprang up in my soul. I wept like a child; and kneeling down before my Saviour and God, with trembling awe, I confessed my sins and sought his forgiveness." My hearers, are you accustomed to pray ? I ask not you, my Christian brethren. No Christian can live without prayer. I put the question to others here. Do You pray, my friends ? It may be that you do not. Possibly some of you, instead of calling upon your Maker in humble prayer, confessing your sins and seeking his pardoning mercy, use his name profanely. Beware Soon you will be called to confront that God by whose favor you have lived; but whose goodness you have abused, the riches of whose grace you have despised, whose authority you have treated with bold or careless contempt, whose holy name you ...