Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/18



The object of my present address is to invite you to private and public prayer—to urge your frequent attendance at the house of God, and your devout use of the evangelical faith with which we are blessed.

My design at present, is to recommend and exhort you to constant and fervant prayer in private, indeed, my brethren, the great end of my preaching will be accomplished, if I am made the instrument of awakening in your hearts a spirit of earnest supplication and you become a praying people; Peter was prevented from sinking by the supporting arm of Christ. Blind Bartemus was restored to sight, and Stephen fell asleep in Jesus with a calm and forgiving spirit; indeed, I know not how to give you an adequate representation of the prevailing efficacy of fervant prayer in the name of Christ. It besieges heaven with a holy violence, beseeching God in the language of the wrestling patriarch, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me," Gen 31 c 26 v., we know that it has stayed the pestilence, Num. 16 c. 44, 45 v. that it has caused the Sun to stand still in the heavens. Josh. 10 c. 13. 14 v. opened the prison door, Acts 9 c. 33, 40 v. nay