Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost.
The Necessity and Proper Method of Prayer.
"And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right." — Mark v". 35
SYNOPSIS.
Ex. : I. Ceremonies of Baptism. II. Epistle of to-day. III. Effects of prayer.
I. Necessity as to justification : 1. Scripture. 2. Pray always. 3. Only thorough remedy.
II. Necessity as to perseverance: 1. Prosperity and adversity. 2. Thabor. 3. Natural remedy.
III. Parts : 1. Preparation and study. 2. Contemplation and thanksgiving. 3. Petition.
Per. : Prayer and its parts exemplified in incidents of the Gospel.
SERMON.
Brethren, in the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, the Church employs those selfsame ceremonies which Christ originated in the cure of the blind and of the deaf and dumb. Moistening his fingers "with saliva the priest touches the infant's senses, saying meanwhile: "Be thou opened," to indicate that by the grace of Baptism God will open these eyes to His heavenly truths, and these ears to His holy admonitions, and that He will loosen this tongue to speak His praises. It was with this idea in mind that the Church assigned St. Paul's profession of faith to be the epistle of to-day. But, alas! the sacramental grace of Baptism is often thwarted, and the spiritual inertness of babyhood brought back by sin, so that the soul stands once more before God
