The herald., 1897-01-25
THE IDEAL IS THE TRUTH
A Thoughtful Sermon by Rev. Burt Estes
Howard on the Inner Life
Or. Thomson's Discourse on the Inspiration
Of the Hand
Fundamental Things the Subject Of
Rev. B. A. Copass' Address-Dr.
Chichester's Bacalaureate Ser
mon to Normal Students.

A large congregation yesterday morn
ffiR greeted Rev. Or. c. c. Mclean on
his temperance in his pulpit at Simp-
son tabernacle, after his absence OF
three weeks, caused by illness. The
season of affliction had left it's marks
upon the pastor In the paleness of his
face. but his preaching had lost none of
its vigor, and his appearance at the time
promised not only disproved the mali
cious tales about his alleged severance
from the pastorate. but substantiated
his asserted aggressiveness.
His discourse was based upon the
Apostle Paurs epistle to the Romans.
xiii, IL: Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation; continuing instant in pray
err" To one enjoying wealth and health
the true significance of the Apostle
Pauls words Is but little understood.
The Apostles people who were enjoined
to utter this prayer of resignation were
a prosecuted set, prosecuted in every
possible way. Bound together to wor-
ship God, they were bounded to their
hiding places by their prosecutors. They
had nothing to live on but hope and
prayer. Think Of the marvellous change
since then. Now all doors are thrown
open to admit Jesus Christ; all civilized
governments recognize him and his
teachings Situated as we are, 1t is i'm
possible to realize the real significance
of the Apostle Paul as he uttered the
words of the text.
Pauls people were in hope because
they were constant in prayer. We may
rejoice in hope and be patient in tribu-
lation. With them there was not a foot
of ground that was not place Of pray
LAk - v~1p fNc
prayer; not a temple that was not a
place of prayer. Nowadays If man IS
seen praying, even in a house of pray
er. people look upon 1t as a strange
sight.
We know that we must come into con-
tact with the great Jehovah, and we can
do it only by prayer. Prayer is the me-
dunn of communication whereby we ap-
proach the great Jehovah. There are
men who will not pray because they
cannot express themselves in rounded
periods, well-turned phrases of rhetoric
and fine logic; but 1t makes no difference
to the Almighty in what language you
frame your prayers. If they are but the
expression of the souls yearning. Jesus
has given us beautiful specimens of
earnest prayers. All that the yearning
soul has to do is to ask help from God,
and 1t will be received. We might as
well question the use of language as the
use of prayer Though prayer will not
change Gods disposition toward us, it
does change his purposes. The disposi-
tion of God Is always the same toward
his creatures, but his purposes vary.
Like a loving father, who sometimes
finds 1t necessary to punish his son,
so does God find 1t necessary to punish
us. though his disposition to always love
us remains the same. Gods disposition
toward us does not change. but our dis
position toward him does change. From
eternity to eternity he is ever the same
to us. though sometimes he pronounces
anathema upon us.
has prayed for wealth and received
them, al things work together for good.
Those who worship him and serve him
will reap their reward. You and may
wonder what will be the outcome of GER
tain things. but we will intrust it all to
God, and 1t will come right Like the
jewel in the hands of the lapidary, we
must be ground down until pur flaw Is
removed and be fitted for place in the
royal crown. Then there is the univer-
salty of prayer. Ask whatever you will
and it will be granted unto you, be it
great or little. Don't hesitate to go to
God for little things. There is not a
feather that drops from the sparrow's
wing that interferes with its flight that
does not concern God, and every little
thing that concerns you or me concerns
him. May God bless us, so that there
shall not be a thought in our minds
against one another