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inquire of some experienced shipmaster, with what equipments he should furnish his vessel; and if repeated trials had convinced the one whose advice he sought, that certain articles were indispensable, he would be sure to obtain these at the outset of the voyage, So should the advice of those be heeded who have sailed longest on the sea of time. And if they say it is certain destruction to sail without religion at the helm-say this by the course which they themselves pursue, is not their opinion entitled to much weight? Should it not be heeded; and may they not in this way accomplish much good?

IV. Finally, Piety in the aged furnishes a beautiful illustration of the maturity and ripeness of christian character. "The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." There is constant growth and progress in the divine life. We are at first but babes in Christ Jesus, and reach at length the stature of full grown men. "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs." "For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." The piety of the aged is the full corn in the ear. It is fully ripe. So said Eliphaz to Job: "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." Consider through what a process of cultivation and growth the aged christian has passed! Through what diversified scenes and experiences have the long years carried him! Think of the rains, the storms, the sunshine under which his piety has been made to grow; the trials, afflictions, disappointments, and losses that have darkened his way; the glad and happy hours that have at times dispelled the darkness, and shed sunlight upon his heart. Think of all the changes, of every name and form, that he has passed through, and see how all have been like the numberless influences of nature that develope and ripen the grain for the harvest. "There was first the blade, then the ear, and now the full corn in the ear." Contemplate such a christian: his work all done; the great object of life accomplished-its end secured-his course finished with joy, the faith kept, and he ready to be offered. How interesting the spectacle! How appropriately compared to a shock of corn fully ripe " in his season. And when he falls how truthfully may it be said of him :

"Of no distemper, of no blast he died,

But full like autumn fruit that mellowed long,

Even wondered at because he dropped no sooner."

1. A general inference from the considerations offered, is, that we should imitate the pious aged. If we would obtain the promnise of long life ourselves, enjoy an honored and useful old age,

and come down at length to the grave like "a shock of corn fully ripe, we must follow in the steps of those of whom we have been speaking. And we are to remember that whatever our old age is to be, it rests with us now to determine. We are sowing the seeds of that future harvest. The tree that is stunted and deformed in its earlier years will generally carry the crookedness into its maturer growth. Let us now, then, see to it, that we lay not up any thing in store which will subsequently bring us pain.

2. Again, how thankful should the children of pious and aged parents be-thankful that they are the children of such parents thankful that they have enjoyed their training influence and example-thankful that they have had an opportunity to recompense them somewhat for the care, attention, and love bestowed -thankful that they have been spared to share in their own honors and enjoyments-thankful for the good evidence of piety which they furnished-thankful for the cheering and comforting hope which they have left, that they are happy with their God.

3. The departure of aged christians from our midst reminds us who remain that the ranks before us are thinning out, and that we are pressing up to the fore-front of the line. We should see to it, then, that we have their piety, and can honor their place (if we are spared to reach it) as they have honored it themselves. Then, when we fall, it will be with as much to comfort our surviving friends, and with as firm and substantial a hope of heavenly rest and joy. Young or old, we must all soon die. Oh! that we may be prepared, and, like the pious who have gone before us, realize for ourselves the truthfulness of the statement, that, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

SERMON DCXLVIII.

BY REV. JUSTUS DOOLITTLE,

A MISSIONARY OF THE AMERICAN BOARD IN CHINA.

IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD.

"Thy kingdom come.”—MATT. vi. 10.

THAT it is natural for man to pray, all history furnishes evidences. The universal prevalence of supplication offered to idols and spirits in heathen countries, and the experience of all in times of sudden and imminent danger, or of alarming sickness, prove it. Prayer is also a revealed duty. The Bible gives important instructions in relation to its nature and right performance. It teaches us that there is only one Being to whom prayer, as a religious act, may be addressed, and instructs us, in various passages, in regard to the different objects for which prayer should be offered to that Being. The text illustrates these remarks, inasmuch as it brings to our notice that Being, and is itself a prayer for a specific object. That Being is the only true and living God; and the text is a prayer for the coming of his kingdom on the earth.

The words, "Thy kingdom come," do not relate to any form of temporal or secular government. They do not contemplate the re-establishment among men of the ancient Jewish theocracy, or the advent of Christ as a temporal prince. God's kingdom is "not of this world," else would his servants fight with carnal weapons, in order to extend its boundaries and vanquish his enemies. It is not worldly in its origin, its nature, its design, or its mode of administration. The text exclusively relates to the spiritual reign of God in the hearts of men. It implies that Satan has usurped dominion over the human race. It would reinstate God in his rightful sovereignty. It breathes an aggressive spirit against the empire of Satan; and as long as he has any willing subjects, or as long as there is any error, or wrong, or corruption on the earth, so long will it be proper to offer the petition for the coming of the kingdom of God. So long as there is any thing loved which is sinful in its nature, or any thing practiced which is defiling in its influence, any where in the world, so long will it be binding on those who love truth, who practice righteousness, to pray to the Supreme and Holy One, "Thy kingdom come." It implores the actual reestablishment of the reign of Him who is the Son of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace every where in the affections of men. It is a prayer for the conversion of the world.

This discourse will be devoted to the consideration of the importance of prayer for the conversion of the world. I remark that the importance of such prayer is

seen

I. In the fact that Christ directed his disciples to make it.

This direction occurs once in that part of the sermon which our Saviour delivered to his disciples while he was on the Mount of Beatitudes, called the Lord's Prayer. The language which he then employed is that of the text, "Thy kingdom come." Luke informs us that as Christ was praying in a certain place, one of his disciples recollecting that John the Baptist gave directions to his followers in regard to the duty of prayer, and desiring to receive some instruction from the Saviour in regard to the same duty, said unto him when he ceased, "Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." In the instructions which our Saviour gave in compliance with this request, occurs again the identical expression which constitutes our text-" Thy kingdom come." From these references to the Scriptures, we may learn the mind and will of our Lord in relalation to this subject. It is sufficiently evident from them that he desired his followers should pray for the coming of God's reign in the hearts of men. We may also learn from a notice of the immediate connection in which the text is found in both of these places, the importance which he attached to prayer. In both it is the second petition which Christians are directed to present. Next in order after the introductory phrase or invocation, Our Father who art in heaven, comes a petition that his name may be hallowed among men, and then the petition for the coming of His kingdom on the earth. This circumstance teaches us that the coming of God's kingdom was an object whose attainment lay near to the heart of Jesus. Be it remembered that it was so dear to him, that in the very commencement of the directions he gave his followers in relation to prayer, he instructed them to pray to their Heavenly Father, for the attainment of that object. From this circumstance, may we not learn that this object should be dear to our hearts?

Let us not, however, fall into the error of inferring from it, that we are to pray for the swift spread and triumph of Christianity over every false system of religion in the beginning of our petitions to the throne of grace. We may not infer this any more than we may infer that we are to use precisely the language found in Christ's directions. It is not to be believed that the Lord's prayer was designed as a form for invariable use. It is evidently intended to be studied merely as a model or pattern, according to the spirit of which christians were to be guided in their approaches to God. This is made known from the introductory remarks to the Lord's prayer, especially informing us that we are to pray simply" after this manner." We may consequently clothe our desires for the

salvation of men, and the conversion of the world, in any suitable language, and express them in any part of our prayers we choose, and they will be acceptable to God. But we may not forget that in accordance with the directions of our Saviour, it is our duty to offer in some part of our petitions to the mercy seat, and in some appropriate words, our ardent longings for the coming of God's kingdom every where on the earth.

II. In the good influence it exerts over those who offer it in sincerity and in

earnest.

Frequent and ardent prayer in behalf of any object, has a good reflex influence on the offerer. It directs and controls in a great measure his conduct relating to the attainment of that particular object, inspires in him a greater interest in all that concerns it, and prompts to increased efforts to promote and secure it. The pastor who wrestles with God often and earnestly in secret prayer, in behalf of his people, will be very likely to labor with a warmer heart, and with more zealous efforts to promote their spiritual welfare, than though he seldom or never thus prayed. His prayers for the flock, over which God has made him shepherd, will have a good and great reflex influence on himself. As he addresses them from the sacred desk, as he leads them in the devotional exercises of the sanctuary, as he mingles with them in the bosoms of their families, and as he walks by the wayside in their company, he will rive to accomplish that for which he so ardently and so frequently prays in secret at home. The feelings of his soul will continually seek a development in appropriate actions for the spiritual good of his pastoral charge.

The mother who ardently longs for the conversion of her son, and who frequents her closet to spend an hour there in its silence and solitude, bowed in prayer before God in his behalf, will be most sure to manifest in her actions a deep and sincere interest in his salvation. Faithfully, yet kindly and winningly as only a mother can, she will tell him of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, warn him of the danger of continued impenitency, and point him to Christ as the only hope of the sinner. With a tearful eye, and with a faltering voice she will endeavor to lead him to the Saviour. In her conversation with him, and in her deportment towards him, on every suitable occasion, she will exhibit her intense desire that he should become a christian.

Similar will be the reflex influence of frequent and earnest prayer for the evangelization of the world over those who offer it. It will prompt them to corresponding and appropriate action for the attainment of the desired object. Those who pray with their whole souls, "Thy kingdom come," will be ready to do according to their ability in some effective way for the hastening of the universal prevalence of God's spiritual reign on the earth. If their hearts are pervaded with the spirit of this petition, they will desire to perform all within their power, in order to promote the conversion of the world, either by the exertion of personal influence and personal labor, or by contributing liberally of the property which has been entrusted to their stewardship. There is a great and fast increas ing demand on Christendom, at the present time, for a multitude of men, and a large amount of funds to be employed in the work of evangelizing the nations, To every heathen country on the globe, with one or two exceptions, the christian missionary has free access; and from many a pagan land, in loud and urgent tones, comes the Macedonian cry unto the churches," Come over and help us." The supply of men and of money needed to meet the present, and the future demands for help made by a perishing world, will not be found till the churches shall offer with becoming earnestness and frequency, the prayer to the God of Missions, "Thy kingdom come." When she thus prays, the wants of pagan nations will not long remain unsupplied. The appeal sent to her from China, from Hindostan, from Palestine, from Persia, from Turkey, from Southern and Western Africa, and from different parts of Europe and America, will then find a response in many a pious heart. To the voice of the Lord, heard in his providence say ing, “Whom shall I send ?" many a reply will be made in the language of the prophet, "Here am I; send me." The petition," Thy kingdom come," proceed

ing to the Father from the heart of the church with one united and fervent voice, while it would be accepted by Him, would have a very salutary reflex influence over her. It would be partly answered in leading her to devote a multitude of her sons and her daughters to the work of "going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every creature." The plea of men dying for lack of knowledge in heathen countries, wafted to the ear of Christendom by every breeze that fans the ocean's bosom, would not be made in vain, but the returning wave would bear to them a vessel freighted with the bread of life.

As well might we expect that the pastor who wrestles with God in importunate prayer in behalf of his flock, would leave it to perish without making earnest personal efforts for its salvation, or that the mother who often and ardently prays in secret for the conversion of her son, would exhibit a stolid indifference in relation to the interests of his soul, as that those who supplicate the throne of grace with frequent and fervent petitions for the evangelization of the world, would neglect to use the other appropriate and necessary means for its attainment. As personal labor is one of the divinely appointed agencies for saving men, there may be readily found the needed number of men willing to consecrate themselves to the work of missions. But not only would such prayer offered by the church lead many to labor in person in the work of conveying the Gospel to heathen lands, it would also result in furnishing the needed amount of funds to prosecute with becoming vigor the divine enterprise of converting the world. It would infuse into the hearts of those who remain at home a spirit of benevolence and liberality commensurate with the magnitude of the undertaking, and worthy of the glorious triumph over sin it contemplates.

Now it is doubtless true that some give to the cause of missions who pray little or none at all for the success of that cause. Giving to promote the coming of God's kingdom in the hearts of men, is often neither preceded, nor accompanied, nor followed, by earnest prayer for that object on the part of the giver. But it is believed that sincere and ardent praying for the conversion of the world is ever attended by giving, according to ability, for the promotion of that enterprise. He who engages in present and importunate supplication in behalf of the heathen, will not be likely to return a negative reply when solicited on suitable occasions to contribute of his substance to send them the Gospel. He will not shun the sanctuary when he expects an opportunity will be presented for him to make an expression of his desire for their salvation, by casting into the Lord's treasury such an amount as the voice of God's word, in view of the urgent need of lost men, shows to be his duty. Nor will he give grudgingly for this purpose. He will do it cheerfully, willingly, with satisfaction and with pleasure; will not only love to pray for the pagan world, but will also love to aid missions, as far as he can, consistently with his other duties as a christian. Frequent and earnest prayer for the evangelization of the world, is therefore highly important, inasmuch as it exerts a salutary reflex influence on those who offer it, leading some to devote themselves in person to the work of missions, and others to furnish the requisite amount of funds to promote its attainment.

III. In the encouragement it affords those who have consecrated themselves to labor in person for that object.

It is of great practical interest to the minister of the Gospel to know that the church to which he preaches the word of life, remembers him frequently and fervently in her prayers. We are all, probably, well aware, how encouraging and gratifying it is to the pastor of any people to be assured that they ardently supplicate for him as they bow around the family and in the closet. Such knowledge is the source of much comfort and hope to him in the discharge of his arduous duties. He can preach and labor more effectively, than if he was without their sympathy and forgotten in their prayers. It imparts a cheerfulness to his feelings, and thus, while it materially promotes his usefulness as a minister, greatly increases his happiness as a man.

So it is of great practical interest to the missionary of the cross to know that the church generally pray with an appropriate fervency for the conversion of the

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