Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-21
PREVAILING PRAYER.

NOW AHA ASF"A'N
It may be affirmed with assurance
that everywhere in the sacred Scrip
lures we have the true theory OF
prayer set forth, and the most cPre'
full teaching in regard to its practice
Gods chosen leaders, from first to
last, have been men of prayer. No
fullness of conviction that they We're
acting under special divine direction
interfered with their persuasion that
success depended on the mostresolute
and faithful exercise of prayer Not
one Of them regarded prayer as Il
mere mechanical appliance, They
pour their needs into the ear of the
Almighty, who hears and gives heed
to them; and if their hearts are right
and the prayer is along the lines of
HIS ! urpose, the request is granted.
And when Jesus came, in whom dwet
the fullness of the Godhead, he whom
it would have been lawful to assume
was lifted above the common needs of
prayer, such as men require, He be
came known as man Of prayer Mo-
only did he have seasons of private
devotion, but many of them were pro-
tracted. How often, in the act of
teaching and miracle working, did
He ask help of the Father; and 1t was
the same when lie bore the burden of
our sins in the garden and on the
cross. And He taught His disciples
that some spiritual victories required
both fasting and prayer.
These two parallels are not the in
PRODUCTION OF new doctrine or teach
ing, but the reinforcement of what lie
had CONSTANTLY impressed on Lis dis
ciples. But never before had the
thought been 30 aptly illustrated
The case Of the widow IS that of one
10 such extreme need, be Dless 30 far
as only her own resources are taken
into account, yet she IS actually con-
scious that she cannot afford TO fail.
Whatever may have been her opinion
as to the ch aracter of the judge it is
held in allegiance, for she feels that
her only hope is in the persistence
with which she presses her clam
Aud it is not the justice of her canse
nor on account Of personal favor or
consideration, that she wins a favora.
bic decision. The Judge is moved by
the lowest OF selfish motives for one
in authority, his own ease. The ap-
plication is plain. If one yielding to
the urgency of his own needs and the
hope Of obtaining great benefits, re-
fuses to be put aside, neither growing
weary nor despairing, the probability
is that they will compel attention.
This is the method OF the world where
only material advantages are attain
able. How much more then, may one
confidently appeal to God with the
expectation of obtaining mercy and
favor. Where any true sense of re-
ligion prevails, it is agreed that
prayer is an important element in our
probationary discipline. 1t requires
faith in God as the Ruler of the Uni
verse, and as the Heavenly Father as
we'll. But we are not sure Of success
we patiently wait, yet actively press
our cause, believing even WHEN there
seems least probability of success.
In the parable Of the Pharisee and
the Publican, the picture is so wildly
drawn that hardly anything is to be
added. And yet Jesus does not ap
pear to enforce His teaching in thil
case as in the other He appeals
rather to our own moral Selse, no
doubling that we shall reach a RICH
Judgment And it demands at th,
same time some exercise of charity
We are not to regard the Pharsee as
bal man, or hypocrite whom Goo
musl despise. He is proud and igno
rant, a Jegalist, willing to make sacri
fises of a certain kind, and believing
in his heart that God for this reaso
looks upon rim with greater favo
than the Publican with whom he con
tidently places himself ~ contrast
But God who sees the heart an
knows, recognizes in the honest cor
fesslon and humility Of the poor Put
lican, the spirit of true religion.
is a striking lesson. Although "
cannot see into the hearts of thet
men, their outward expression (