An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens - In Which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings, and the Practicability of Further Undertakings, Are Con by William Carey
page 50 of 57 (87%)
page 50 of 57 (87%)
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that all Christians ought heartily to concur with God in promoting his
glorious designs, for _he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit_. One of the first, and most important of those duties which are incumbent upon us, is _fervent and united prayer_. However the influence of the Holy Spirit may be set at nought, and run down by many, it will be found upon trial, that all means which we can use, without it, will be ineffectual. If a temple is raised for God in the heathen world, it will not be _by might, nor by power_, nor by the authority of the magistrate, or the eloquence of the orator; _but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts_. We must therefore be in real earnest in supplicating his blessing upon our labours. It is represented in the prophets, that when there shall be _a great mourning in the land, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon, and every family shall mourn apart, and their wives apart_, it shall all follow upon _a spirit of grace, and supplication_. And when these things shall take place, it is promised that _there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David, and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin, and for uncleanness_,--and that _the idols shall be destroyed_, and _the false prophets ashamed_ of their profession. Zech. xii 10. 14.--xiii. 1. 6. This prophesy seems to teach that when there shall be an universal conjunction in fervent prayer, and all shall esteem Zion's welfare as their own, then copious influences of the Spirit shall be shed upon the churches, which like a purifying _fountain_ shall cleanse the servants of the Lord. Nor shall this cleansing influence stop here; all old idolatrous prejudices shall be rooted out, and truth prevail so gloriously that false teachers shall be so ashamed as rather to wish to be classed with obscure herdsmen, or the meanest peasants, than bear the ignominy |
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