The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-29
Sunday School Lesson for january 30.
How to Pray.
Matt. vi; 5-15

Crhc author will publish an Examiner
containing one hundred questions on the
lessons of the quarter. The Examiner viii
be mailed in March to any address in any
quantity at 2 cents per copy and may he
used in oral or written review i'm a class
or by any individual. orders should be
sent to DR.. j. l.. Gilbert, Washington, ID.
c., not later than Feb /, that the mail-
ing list may he prcparedJ
CONTEXT.-It may be that Jesus did
not attempt any order in His sermon on
the mount: that lie did not intend to
make one part involve or strengthen an
other part. But there is, nevertheless.
designed or otherwise, a beautiful prog
ress in His thought. Allowing as the
theme of the whole discourse this "1'he
Model Man or the True Christian" we
have seven sub-heads, thus: "Iiis Lot
of Blessing" "Hs Worth to the World "
His Code of Morals" ellis Checks in
Religion" Ellis Intercourse with Men,"
His Purpose in Life" "lIls Secret of
Stability" The checks are of two kinds
avoiding hypocrisy, avoiding woridliness.
Our lesson today is the second under hy-
pocrisy. being preceded by aims giving
and followed by fasting. With such a
context the passage fits in perfectly as
logical section of this immortal SER
mon, "a model both in its structure and
thought which every preacher may study
with profit.
PRIVACY. The real motive which led
Jesus to speak to His disciples on the
subject of prayer appears i'm verses and
G. The greatest bemish i'm the religious
life of that time was hypocrisy. All
men professed to be religiouS-they would
have been shocked at the very thought of
a non-profession, But their religion
30, mere pretense for the purpose of
gaining favor. Jesus endeavored to
make men genuine, to make their re-
ligion a matter primarily OF the heart.
Matt. xii, 3iD Hence. i'm offering prayer
they must not seek public places, where
the Pharisees are accustomed to appear
duke xviii IL, who obtain indeed what
they seek--human applause; but they
must enter into some secret place and
speak to God alone. QI Kings. iv. 81.
| This does not condemn united supplica-
tion which Christ practiced, John xvii
II. but ostentatious performance in pub
| lie. Jesus declares that secret prayer
shall be openly rewarded.
SIMPLICITY.--Hyp prompted the
Jew not only to public prayer. but to the
| use of many words. Thereby he pro-
| longed his devotions and exposed himself
| for "A longer time to those who might
| be near. The same petition was repeat
ed many time. Verse ~ All this was
| disapproved as unnecessary. foolish and
| inappropriate. Indeed, it was a heather.
| ish practice q Kings, xviii, 2S-29), indi.
| eating a lack of genuine faith and there,
| fore offensive to God. 1t should be
| borne in mind that prayer is not an at
| tempt to inform the Almighty, or ever
| to arrest His attention. He knows be.
| fore one begins all the needs (verse s,
and can hear the faintest whisper, ut
| tered in a quiet place. The fewest words
| in expressing the hearts desire are mos
| acceptable to Him. Indeed, the prayer
| consists not in the words at ALL but ir
the disposition. Uames, i, g. To illus
| trate the simplicity and brevity, as wei
as the scope and order of the true prayer
Jesus gives a form. lie does not NEAR
| that this form and no other shall al
| ways be used, but that it outlines or in
| dicates the manner and matter.
| CHILDLIKE.-In this form the petit
| toner is instructed i'm the beginning L
assume the spirit and attitude of
| child. He must not approach as to som'