The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-05-07

taOhHht III VII
former, our lesson to-day, a sense o
spiritual need and a pleading for mere,
on the part of the prodigal sinner |
emphasized most strongly.
While we are taught that God call
to men earnestly and lovingly through
His word and spirit and p~rovidences,
we must learn, as in this parable, thai
men must realize their needy and lost
o condition, and call upon God for mercy
r before they can be saved.
t Prayer is on one side, sense OF
need on the other, entreaty for sup.
G ply" We a but note the analogy
between the two sons in the parable of
the prodigal son, and the two men
praying in u lesson to-day, the elder
. brother r~epresentino the phorieaa o~a
The unanswered prayer. This para.
Bile was addressed to those (which
trusted in themselves that they were
righteous and set at nought all 9th
ers. Rev. Yer. The two men repre.
sent all men who pray, and we find
them both going to the temple for this
purpose, as was the custom.
The Pharisee stood" in the sense of
striking an attitude, " that he might
be conspicuous. He first thanked God
that he was not like the rest Of men
'extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even as this publican" upon whom he
looked contemptuously as he stood afar
of. This was his negative side. Next
he enumerates his good deeds.
He represented that class whose reli.
gion was all in form. He trusted in
his own Righteousness. He had no
sense of spiritual need, and hence
asked for nothing. He prayed and
tasted and tithed mint, anise and cum.
min but had no sense of penitence.
gratitude or love to God and wanting
In these he failed in all the essential
conditions Of acceptable prayer. The
things that he did were well enough in
themselves, but one might do all these
things and still be a hardened sinner.
There was no spiritual experience that
brought him in communion with God
or in reach of His ~pardoning grace,
His prayers were as sounding brass
and a tinkling cymbal they did not
rise above his head. Such a prayer
was mockery and an abomination in
the sight of God and so are all pray
ers offered in the spirit of this repre-.
sentative man who trusted in his own
righteousness.
They manifest the spirit of pure sci.
fshness. The authors Of such prayers
may stand in the house of God in the
attitude and with the voice of suppli-
cation, but they pray only with them.
selves God does not listen to them.
The answered prayer. - God be
thanked for this thirteenth verse of the
eighteenth chapter of Luke. 1t has
brought more hope and consolation to
the poor sinners Of this world than all
the commentaries and essays on prayer
penned by the hand of men.
And the publican, standing afar off,
would not lift up SO much as his eyes
heaven, but smote upon his breast,
God be merciful to me a sin.
ner. A prayer of seven words falling
from the lips Of a poor penitent publ
,an moved the heart and hand of ON
Impotence. In our last lesson the sub :
.ect was the power of faith. Here we |
lave an illustration of the omnipotence :
" penitent prayer. Here are>two men
itanding in h same temple of wor. Il
hip, engaged in the same exercise,
to the same Being; and yet d
low striking the contrasts and how s.
vide apart the results. The contrast Ii
n the mere physical features is strik. t,
ng. They both 'stood, ; for that was a
he ordinary Jewish position in prayer I
ut how different was that standing. n
he Pharisee stood in a conspicuous G,
lace, in a proud attitude, with eyes Ii
.anctimoniously raised to heaven, that
e might be seen of men, and prayed
with himself" The Publican in a It
place. with downcast eyes, 81
mote upon his breast and cried unto !.
ne Lord. The spiritual contrasts were VI
S wide as the poles. We have seen
hat were the elements characterizing "
Pharisee. His speech had none of III
ie elements of true prayer. But this
'ven word prayer of the Publican, as =.
.oquent as ever fell from human lips, 81
'ming from the contrite heart of "the
nner,' (for he "thinks about n O
her MANI who had the utter sense -,
need and dependence went directly
le heart of God. r
1t was need finding expression in the
caring Of God. And Jesus said this 1
an went down to his house justified bo
.ther h the other" Each received ma
he sought the one the praise of
en-, the other the pardon of God.
from the whole parable we have r.,
e enunciation of the general doct. :.
ne For everyone that exalteth +al
mself shall be abased and he that /.
lmbleth himself shall be exalted" oh.
Prayer for children. Jesus sancti.
d childhood by passing through all
Its phases, and in this simple and say
aching incident In our lesson He my
ows His love for children and leaves fift
record the expression of His inter. r
In them that gives Him such a hold col
the child heart of the world. He MIA
Is "mnch displeased" at his disci. Rn,
for rebuking the mothers of these -
lldren as they brought them to Him
His blessing. Mark tells us that II
took them in His arms and blessed
'm' saying, Suffer little children to
unto me and forbid them nor for