The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-01-28

International Lesson for January 30.
1SOs-lIOw 20 PPay-Matt. 0s5-Ib.

| which Is In secret.-Matt. C:6
THE SECTION includes verses 1-s-in-
structions as 10 heart-worship. with the
| emphasis on Prayer
| TlME.-In the summer ~ A. u. IS
| PLACE.-The MoLat Of Beatitudes. or
Horns Of Hattin.
THE LESSON.
]. Heart Worship.-ys. SIS. IT. lie
first half of this chapter Jesa,. gives
us a lesson on heart worship, and ap-
plies the principle He lays down to Civ
ing, 10 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 Giving-One
should give aims for the sake Of help
Ing Others, because II is right, because
II is pleasing to God, because it is the
natural outflow of love. So far as aims
are given for the purpose of being hon
pred and admired. it is hypocrisy and
not virtue.
The Principle Applied to Prayer
VS.. SIS. 5. Thou shalt not be as 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 II absorbed in de-
votion, 'in the synagogues," the proper
places of worship, where the worship
ers can see them, land in the corners
OF the streets" where they could be
seen from four directions. That they
may be seen Of men," who will praise
them for their piety and think them
very good. They have their rewards"
The reward they sought. They got no
answers, for they did not seek anything.
from God.
G. But thou, when thou prayest:"
your real purpose being to pray, 'enter
| into thy closet" or secret chamber,
where others can neither see nor hear.
"Shut the door," to keep out all other
persons, as well as TO shut out worldly.
thoughts. "Pray to thy Father" who
| Is your friend, who loves TO aid his chill
dren. (which is in secret" The In
visible spiritual God. (which seeth In
secrct:" Knows every secret place,
every hidden desire. shall Reward
thee openly" Better, as In r. ". rec
ompense thee, answer your prayers.
Give you the things you ask for, or,
II these are not good for you, give you
the better things you would have asked
for, had you seen as God sees.
I. "But when We pray, use not vain
repetitions:" The repeating over and
over OF set forms, as IL there were some
virtue in the mere act Of praying; as
God would do something for them, on
account of their much speaking"
s. "Your Fathers" No earthly father
cares for lot Of heartless repetitions.
Nor does our Heavenly Father. know
eth:" Appreciates; He feels for you'
therefore you can come to Him with
freedom. and ask what you will.
ii. The Lords Prayer.-vs. 9-13. Q.
"After this manner therefore pray ye:"
With no vain repetitions, but as chill
dren asking of father the things they
reed. I). 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 such
q prayer enlarges and broadens the
soul. and is an antidote to selfishness.
In the two most important recorded
prayers of Christ--at the institution Of
His supper (John ~, and in Geth-
semane, He begins His prayer with pc
| titions for Himself, but the spirit il
| precisely the same as in the first petit
ton of the Lords Prayer. lie would be
glorified in order that His Father might
be glorified; and lie would have the cup
pass from Him. but only II the Lords
| will could be best done in that way.
He that does not want first Of all to
have the kingdom come within himself,
| and to do Gods will rs il II done in
Heaven, cannot sincerely pray that
others may do Gods will. and belong
to the. kingdom.
An Enforcement of the Fifth Petition.
VS.. IA. Is. This marks the impor-
lance Of this point. IA. "For II We for
give men their trespasscs:" The word
indicates reckless and willful sin, con-
scious violations Of right. The hard
est sins to forgive. Your Heavenly
Father will forgive you:"
Because 1t shows that we nre in that
penitent condition which makes for
giveness possible for us. and good for
us.
Is. "But IL ye forgive not:" God can
not forgive under such circumstances.
without by the very net increasing sin.
ard iniuring one forgiven.
Each one Of US il bound to make