Middletown transcript., 1899-01-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEANoR.

ropfc Ser tile Week Eegfnning Jan.
22--eomment by Rev. $. 81. Doyle.
ToPIC. students prayer.-Ps. xix, i-il
"a meeting fcr the day Of prayer for colleges
The day Of prayer for colleges may
well be observed BY the Christian En-
ileavor organization. Many Endeavorers
are in college subject to the peculiar
temptations OF college life. They need
md want our special prayers. The pres
ant is particularly opportune for this
observance, because recently great re-
ligious movement has been begun in
our colleges and universities. The trend
of college thought and life today as
never befWe is toward religion, and the
Christian>religion. 1t is one of the most
hopeful signs of the times that the edu-
Gated young men of our country are
turning more and more toward religion.
The proofs of it are fourishing college
Young Mems Christian associations, the
wonderful students volunteer move
ment and great interest on the part of
thousands of students in general reli-
gious services and work. These facts are
matters Of great rejoicing and thanks
giving and invite our earnest, united
prayers for their continuance, under the
richest blessing Of God.
The prayer Of the Nineteenth Psalm
may we'll be called a Students prayer.
1t is the prayer of one who was himself
a student, and the petitions contained
in it are particularly applicable to stu
dents. The writer is a student both of
nature and of the revealed word of God.
He sees the glory Of God revealed in
the heavens, the armament, day and
night and in the sun. This knowledge
has come from study. He has also studied
the revealed law Of God, and has seen
its beauty and its utility.
The petitions of this psalm are also
peculiarly adaptable to students in our
colleges and universities, away from
home surroundings and influences and
oultivating the intellectual side Of man.
For these things we may well pray for
all students.
/. The first petition is for cleansing
from secret faults. "Cleanse Thou me
from secret faults (verse 12). College
life abounds in temptation to "secret
faults. " The boy who at home has kept
nothing from parents finds it so easy to
do many things which he would not
have them know. There is a temptation
to deceive professors in recitations and
in examinations. Let US pray earnestly
that our young men at college may be
delivered from "secret faults.
Q. The second petition is for deliver
anoe from presumptuous sins. keep
back Thy servant also from presumptu-
ous sins. Let them not have dominion
over me-" College life breeds presump-
tuousness. What the undergraduate does
not know, in his own opinion, ia not
worth knowing. It is a scholastic pre-
sumptuousness that leads to skepticisn
and even to atheism. Pray that our stu
dents be delivered from sins of pre-
sumption.
8. The third petition asks for accepta-
bleness of words and thoughts. How
important that educated and intelligent
men and women should think and speak
only things acceptable to God. Their
thoughts and words have increased
weight because of their learning, and
for this reason we should utter this peti.
tion Of this prayer.
Bible Readings. Lev. iv, 1-3; Mum.
XIV, 80; Deut. vi, go; xvii, 12; ! Sam.
XIV, 1-26; II Sam. vi, 6, z; II Kings Xxx,
16; Ps. Ii, 10; xo. g.; Math. vi, 5-15;
Luke xviii, ia; Col. iv, 9-6; Tim. ii,
ID; Ii Pet. ii, g.. 10