The true northerner., 1890-08-20

Half AN Hours study OF the Scriptures
-Time Well Spent
The lesson for sunday, Aug. ~, may be
| found In Luke Is: 1-i4.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
lie spake. Also i 10 be added. thus COM
Meeting this conversation closely with that
| which has preceded ID i'm the signs OF the
kingdom The word is I'm the imperfect
tense. was speaking; as IL OF protracted eN-
position. To this end. Not In the Greek
expressly. but implied in the proposition
pros. Always 10 pray, 1. O.. To keep on
| praying, 10 perscvere I'm prayer.-NOt TO
faint. Or grow weary. faint hearted; so
giving up. II is this word that Paul uses at
Gal. q; 9: Let us not be weary I'm we'll
| doing, for I'm due season we shall reap IL we
| faint not"
In IA city "A judge. Literally, I'm a certain
| city "a certain judge.-Fearedn not God. We
get clue TO the proper meaning OF the verb
| here by comparing 10 with the companion
| word regarded, which Is the same sentiment
| In It's expression manward. The significance
of the latter Is To be lowlY and humble in
| another's presence.
widow. Having no respect for the
| presence OF either man or God, he would
| naturally have none for defenseless widow.
| -She came unto him. Or kept coming.
Imperfect tense. Our Lord is suggesting an
| extreme case, where answer TO appeal would
| be least Npected.-Avenge me. Or secure
| Justice. II was not so much retaliation as
her own rights she was seeking.-My ad-
yersary. Or opponent. 1. g., I'm "a suit. A
| form OF the same word translated, avenge,
| above.
| He would not for time. The arbitrari-
| ness OF Judge who wholly ignored the
| meaning OF his ofice.-Afterward 1. e.,
after the woman kept coming. Though
| fear. In spirit OF bravado, accepting the
| harsh estimate AT which he was held.
| Tppnhlafh rna In 4 ooiy
occasions me annoyance.-Avenge her.
| Do her Justice Why should itever be with
| held by judge or jury?--By her continual
| coming. Or continuing to come, more liter
| ally and essively,--Endless coming.
Everlasting coming.-She weary me- In
| expressive Greek idiom, she beat me black
and blue. or give me black eye. The same
word used In 1 Cor. o: -. Il keep under
my body" /. e., beat ii down.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
| Men ought always 10 pray. Over the en-
trance 10 the English Girls Home in Paris,
on a white marble tablet, are these words:
asked Of God, Aug. II, 1874.
| "Given OF God, May 0, 1873.
| surely the Lord is I'm this place
1t tells the fruit of faith and prayer on
| the part OF one woman. who beheld "A great
| need, and asked God-herself fully en-
| listed-to supply IL. What "A gracious ad-
| vantage Is this that the Christian enjoys
|
God hears and helps. "Behold he prayeth"
! that is mans best commendation with the
! Lord OF the universe. Why not be often
| found I'm prayer Surely we shall, IL we de-
sire much help from God.
And not 10 faint. MI desperandum
| should be the Christians motto. He has
occasion for it. A lady missionary in North
| Africa came upon a Mohammedan who,
| though he was willing to receive favors at
| her hands, would hear not n word about
| Sidna Aisa (Jesus), putting his fingers into
his ears. But she breathed prayer. and
then, undismayed, said: Let me tell you
| a tale."
Moors dove stories. and he was willing TO
| listen. Many others gathered round, too,
who had heard what had passed. | said:
| "Once there was poor man who had n
great enemy. This enemy was stronger
| than he was, and one day he caught him
and put him in a dungeon in the ground.
| The prison was far away under the earth,
| and without windows, and the door opened
| into a dark tunnel. And there he shut him
| up in total darkness.
The poor prisoner was young then, but
| many years passed, till his hair turned
white, and he was about sixty years old
| (the old man / was speaking TO seemed
! about that age, and had long, white
| beard). Then. in far-of country, the
| servants Of a king who was as good as he
was great, heard OF this poor man so long
| lIlDFl~Ontus anu tntlf ntdFlS were UIltu
with pity. Their king, too, longed 10 save
| him, and he asked who would 90 To try To
| release the prisoner.
| MANY offered. and those who were ready
| the King sent. They travelled IA long way
| by sea and land; they met with many dam
| gers and difficulties but at length they
reached the dungeon. Then they COM
menced to dig. BY day and night cease
| lessly they worked until. at length, into the
| depths of that dark prison there shOne some
rays Of Gods own blessed sunshine.
And the prisoner-was he glad? Did he
| thank them? Oh, no! he pulled his old rags
| over his face, and cried:
| - 1t hurts! IL hurts. take IL away"
| never finished my little story. for the old
mans face, which had been slowly softening
while | spoke, now broke into smile; and,
| turning To the Others he said
| ''She means me. am the poor prisoner"
Then, to my Joyful surprise (OR. ye OF lit
| tie faith, he said TO me: Tell me all you
like now about your Sidna Aisa, and will
| listen"
Prayer and patience had prevailed. Alas,
that we should ever grow faint-hearted in
| work for God.
Day and night. There is no set time for
| supplication. The gates OF prayer are al
ways open. Well spoke DR.. Guthrie:
among all the means OF grace-sermons,
| sacraments, Sabbaths, Providence, God 5
| Word either read or preached-the greatest
| in some respects Is prayer. Nor men nor
| devils can shut its gates. When every other
| avenue 10 God Is closed, these stand open
day and night continually. The storm OF
persecution may drive us from the house of
| Cod the voice OF preachers may be silenccd
| in prisons; the church may eXcommunicate
| and debar Us from the communion table;
| the Bible, plucked from our hands, may be
burned 10 ashes in popish flames: all this
| has happened, and may happen again.
These are avenues which men may close;
not thus the door OF prayer"
God be mercful TO me n sinner. Sufficient
appeal. Strongest OF supplications before
| the throne Cf God, for was not mercy given
for the sake OF sinners? You and
your pastor have comparatively little diff
Guilty in leading confessed sinners into
| the kingdom. II Is the complacent model
men and women Of the community th;S give
| MS anxiety. IL only can hear this neigh
| Dor OF ours calling himself sinner and
making his prayer 10 God on that ground.
| we have perfect confidence regarding him.
| Says Talmage: 1T was the sublimest pray
| er / ever heard. / saw nothing I'm Milton as
| fine" And this was the prayer, stammer-
/ ingly uttered: 80 Lord. thou knpwest how
| hard il Is 70, me To do right, and how easy
! il Is for me TO do wrong. Lsrd, help mel"
| The publcan's prayer IS still the potent
4 DraVpr