The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-09-21
OUR RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
OLD CHURCH CALENDAR.
Sept. is. Fourteenth'Sunday after Trinity
Sept 81. S. Matthew'S Day.
Sept. 25. Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.


Prayer, aud its habitual use as one of the
Especial marks of Gods people. AT another
thine we may speak of the subject of prayer,
generally, in its two-fold aspect of privilege
land duty. For this weeks Column we have
selected short paragraph from S. Bernard,
that in few words sets forth important truths,
worthy to be pondered:
"Let none of you,' he writes, hold bis
prayer cheap. He to Whom We pray holdeth
III not cheap. Ere il is gone forth out of ouI
amouth, He hath it written ia His book. One
I of two things we may without doubt hope
THAT He will either give us what we ask, OF
awbat he knoweth to be more useful to US
3For we know not what to ask for as we
Fought but He hath pity on our ignorance,
s He graciously receiveth prayer, but He givetl
mot, either what is not altogether good for US,
4 or what need not he given us yet. But the
sprayer will not be without fruit"
a s. Matthew is known to us in three several
snoble characteristics Apostle, Evangelist, aud
Martyr. Herein he stands alone for of the
Bother Evangelists, only s. John was an
SApostle and he did not die the Martyr !
sdeath of violence. but, unlike the rest of the
Twelve, lived toa great age, and died nat.
Rural death. This man, thrice houered by
4Cbrist's favor, is model to all Cbristians,
5for the promptness aud entreness OF disciple
zship. Christ passed by him, as he sat at his
$custom- house desk, at Capernaum for he
Twas collector of port dues on the Sea OF
STiberias. He said to him, Follow me.
4 And Immediately he arose. left all, and toIto'o
Ned Jesus.
i Prompter obedience, more complete sur
Nrender Of worldly advantage and personal III
xierests, more entire devotion to the Master
sthere could not be.
n There is no doubt that Matthew was rich
Sand man of prudence, and OF considerable
&education as otherwise he would not have
5been fitted for the lucrative post which hs
Shcld. !, He counted these things dross,, ant
xcheerfully exchanged all for poverty, a life Of
holland reproach, apd death Of shame.
y But this " more spiritual way of commerce
and traffic, =. Ghrysostom calls 1t, was Z
xbribe him to, enduring riches and ren0wn a
3the last. Matthew was the son of Alpheus
land his mother, Mary, is called sister" tina
lis, kinswoman. TO the mother of Jesus. Ate
4his CALL he made a great feast at his own
9house, entertaining bis new Master with hon
9orable hospitality and showing 20 his forme
9friends and associates that. he did not regfe
3Or reel ashamed Oh tHe Bithh cnnnBo sh"v MAJ
3come over his affairs ls i w ii -, 3s,tf-
For eight years after ourSLord q Ascensiop
Is. Matthew continued TO preach Throughout
$Judea. Then, as lie was about to enter OF
3more distant JOURNEYS. for the conversion 81
the Gentiles, his Jewish converts begged bin
+ to commit to writing the gospel which b,
mouth he bad delivered unto them. Hence
4 the first of the four Evangelical Books. j
z may be said to be the most Hebrew-like Of
them all, omitting all such translations ant
Explanations of peculiar Hebrew words apd
customs as by the other Evangelists are 10
Sterpreted for the Rnireaders; and mani
afesiing .everywbere an intimate acquaintance
with the home and. usages of the Palestine
HJews. The Sermon on the Mount and, The
solemn account of the Last Judgment (chap
Ster, xxy) are among the most noticeable
records made by s. Matthew alone. i His
later Apostolic labors were in the, Asian
Ethiopia, or Chaldea and at Nadabar a city
1 of that. country, he. finished bis course by
2martyrdom,. after having gained greai
&triumphs for Christ over error and idolatry.