Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-16
TIE EPwoarH LEAGUE.
Topic for Dec. " with Comment BY
VIM. 4. Fisher.

Fray. Luke III. 1.iS
This request, Teach MS to pray, Z
was utilized after Jesus had prayed
That fact leads us to think that it was
the spirit OF Jesus prayer. the mani.
fest power he had with the Father.
and the influence which came from
him white in prayer. that caused the
disciples 20 pray that they be taught
how To pray. The answer To this re-
quest 10 WsH the words of DR.. Schell,
was the Incompatible Lords Prayer.
This prayer was surely not intended
by our Lord 10 be learned and recited
merely as Part of tho church SER
vice. 1t is an answer to the disciples
request to be taught how to pray II
Is model prayer. 1t shows
"a How we should feel toward God.
~ How we are 10 approach Him.
ca WHAT things We are to ask Him
for.
Taylor says
sThe popular idea indeed Is that
prayer is q very simple matter, but in
reality 1t Ii the highest exercise OF
the SOUL and requires Tor Its presenta-
tion the concentration or all its pow.
ers. That Is true, and yet 1t is also
true. in another light that prayer is 10
very simple matter The poet ex-
presses this side of the question when
he wrote
Prayer IL the hearts sincere desire
Breathed ont to God.
Was 1t not Wesley who. when spok-
en- to about his short prayers said. "A
Keep PRAYED M. And yet when he
had more than usual before him to
attend to during the day, in the morn
Ing he would take more than his usual
time Tor devofions.
In regard 70 the Lords Prayer, IL
IS more essential that we get the spirit
than that we train ourselves TO be able
TO repeat II word for word.
Beecher once said.
u used to think the Lords Prayer
was short prayer. but as live long
er ana see more OF life begin to be-
llieye that there Is no such thing as
getting through 1t. If man In pray
ing that prayer were to be stopped by
every word until he had thoroughly
prayed It, 1t would take him lifetime.
Our Father there would be wall
hundred rect nigh ~ lust those two
words 70 most men. II they might say
Our Tyrant. or Our Monarch, or
even Our Creator, they could get
along without It; but Our Father
why man IL almost saint who can
pray tnat
IN studying these topics. II we seek
after what we might term the pro-
found or deep theological thoughts in
connection with the subjects, we are
apt 70 lose the blessing that will come
from a simple, child-like acceptance of
the truth which the lesson contains.
u may be true that prayer is not
mere upward glancing OF the eye"
still we love u think OF ~our Father
as loving us SO much, and being 80
mindful OF us, that sometimes, yes,
frequently. without our asking. he
gives US those things which he knows
we desire and which shall be for our
good. But at other times we, even In
agony OF soii sometimes, take hold
y nun Win iai.h ,aae VIII take NC
uenlal, ana wrestie. u necessary, TIL
zig p1eah ~ nay, anu prihg DRESSINGS,
poth SPIRITUAL anu temporal, which
otnerWise. would not nave come from
ms pountfui hanu.
Ia praying HalioWed be Thy name,
ior. Scheii says: MS Is not, strictly
speahlhs, part "a the petiuon- IL IS
true That throngi these words we are
SUPPOSED 70 ASK taat throughout the
earen uoa : nams shall De reverenced
But y seems clear that our Lord, In
s s.,,s ensss m1fas - ,he uiscipies
~ az ~ ~. 1aasn. now 70 pray,
10 81, snae ~ siiouiu Apply hrst
- ~ Gnu pal.is aialls 70 the one Oh
la to ar,n nm r,@s Ia IN e ~ si m,sms ~
entail manner fIod il an s Eatbar ss ~
He Il Cod yve .annot ann,a OCH M IL
IN tho famil;ar uav that ~, o a a'a,.'
to EQUALS. or even to orr earthly nar.
ents who are made ~ the same c1av
as ourselves. When nffer;nr The
prayer we shoul sneak these words