million altars whose fires ring the world, it
looks upon nothing in which I have not my part. Think {205} how many
times this day the cry has sounded forth, "Let us pray for the whole
state of Christ's Church Militant!" With each exhortation there
ascended to God a prayer for me, that my soul might be strong, that I
might be victor in the end. The great Sacrifice of the Altar is lifted
up, and it is for me; and whatever grace comes to those far-off souls
of priest and people through their faithful performance of that duty,
comes also to me. No grace can enter their souls without flowing on to
mine; they could not be lifted up to a higher and godlier plane of life
without drawing me up with them.

Little do we dream of the power of the unknown prayers of God's people.
This very day Satan may have planned some deadly snare in which to
entrap my feet; and the snare, it may be, was broken and swept from my
path through the power of a simple prayer for tempted souls, offered
this morning by a little child half-way round the world.

Picture a man walking on a dark night along a lonely mountain trail. A
deadly viper lies across his path. He steps across the venomous thing;
it coils and strikes,--just a moment too late! The traveller passes
on, never to know the danger he was in. So with us in our journey
through life. We may never know the hidden {206} dangers; we may never
know the grace that came through the prayer or good works of some
far-off soul, that saved us. But what courage does the thought infuse!
I had thought myself alone on this far outpost of temptation. I knew
not how my soul could be reinforced by my comrades in the strife. But
the help came. I was made strong; and that which might have been a
grievous and hurtful battle was to me an easy victory.

Such is the power of intercession,--here a heart lifted up to God,
yonder a soul made strong; here a spirit wrestling with Him, yonder a
crown of victory won.

"The weary ones had rest, the sick had joy that day
And wondered how.
The ploughman, singing at his work, had prayed,
'God help them now.'

"Alone in foreign lands, they wondered how
Their feeble word had power.
At home the Christians, two or three, had met
To pray an hour.

"So we are always wondering, wondering long
Because we do not see
Some one, unknown perhaps, and far away,
On bended knee."

{207}

II. _The Church