The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-01-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.-Pray to thy Father
which is In secret.-Matt. &C
THE SECTION includes verses l-S-in-
structions as to heart-worship. with the
emphasis on Prayer.
TIME.-In the summer Of A. d. IS
PLACE.-The Mount Of Beatitudes, or
Horns Of Hattin.
THE LESSON.
|. Heart Worship.-Vs. 5-s. In the
first half of this chapter Jesus gives
us n lesson on heart worship, and ap-
plies the principle He lays down to Civ.
ing, TO praying and to fasting. The
principle is that Of absolute sincerity.
without sham, without pretense, with
out unworthy motive concealed under
the apparently good object.
The Principle Applied to Glving.-One
should give aims for the sake Of help
ing others, because 1t is right, because
il is pleasing to God, because il is the
natural outflow of love. SO far as aims
are given for the purpose of being hon
ored and admired. it is hypocrisy and
not virtue.
The Principle Applied to Prayer
VS.. SIS. 5. Thou shalt not be rs the
hypocrites are" who do not really pray,
do not desire or expect what they ask,
or hold communion with God; but de-
sire TO appear very religious to men,
and hence stand apart like the Phari-
see in the parable, as il absorbed in de-
votion. "in the synagogues," the proper
places of worship, where the worship
ers can see them, "and in the corners
Of the streets" where they could be
seen from four directions. That they
may be seen of men," who will praise
thom for their piety and think them
very good. They have their reward"
/ The reward they sought. They got no
| answers. for they did not seek anything
from God.
q. But thou, when thou prayest:"
| your real purpose being to pray, enter
! into thy closet" or secret chamber,
where others can neither see nDr hear.
"Shut the doors" to keep out all other
persons, as well as to shut out worldly
thoughts. Pray to thy Fathcr:" who
Is your friend, who loves to aid his chill
dren. (Which is in secret" The in
visible spiritual God. (which seeth in
secret" Knows every secret place,
every hidden desire. "Shali Reward
thee openly" Better, as in Il. ". rec
ompense thee, answer your prayers.
Give. you the things you ask for, or,
il these are not good for ysu, give you
the better things you would have asked
for, had you seen as God sees. :. .-.
Z. But when ye pray, use not vain
repetitions:" The repeating. over and
over OF set forms, asif there were some
virtue in the mere net Of praying; as IL
God would do something, for them, on
account of their much speaking"
8. "Ymr Father" No earthly father
cares for lot of heartless repeti,ions,
Nor does our Heavenly Father, "know-
eth:" Appreciates; He feels for you
therefore you can come to Him with
freedom. and ask what you viii.
III. The Lords Prayer-Vs. Ola. o
after this manner therefore pray ye:
With no vain repetitions, but as'chil-
dren asking Of father the things they
need. Q). The fact that Christ gave
His prayer In two different forms shows
that no exact form of words was re-
uuired; and the fact that Luke, writing
at least 25 years after the formation
of the church. gives one form, and Mat
thew another, shows that no obligatory
form was in use in the churches.
Note that first in this prayer are the
petitions for others-for Gods honor
and the coming of His kingdom among
men. After that, both in place and i'm
portance. come the petitions for our
selves. The very act OF praying sucl
prayer enlargcs and broadens III,
soul, and is an antidote to seltishness
In the two most important recorded
PRAYERS of Chrst-at the institution ot
His supper John ~, and in Geth
semane, He begins His prayer with pc
titions for Himself, but the spirit is
precisely the same as In the first peti
tion of the Lords Prayer. lie would b'
glorified in order that His Father nigh
be glorified; and IIswould have the cuE
pass from Him, bat only II the Lord!
will could be best done in that way
He that does not want first of all tC
have the kingdom come within himself
and 10 do Gods will as it is done il
Heaven, cannot sincerely pray tha
others may do Gods will. and belong
to the kingdom.
An Enforcement of the Fifth Petition
VS.. IA. Is. This marks the impor
tance of this point. a. For If ye for
give men their trespasses:" The wore
indicates reckless and willful sin. con
scious violations of right. The hard
est sins to forgive. "Your Heavenly
Father will forgive you:
Because it shows that I'VE are in tha
penitent condition which makes for
giveness possible for us, and good fol
US.
Is. But il We forgive not:" God can
not forgive under such circumstances
without by the very act increasing sin
ard injuring the one forgiven.