The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-02
LORDS PRAYER AND HOW
1T SHOULD Be OFFERED.

The Reverend Josephus Stephan. pastor
of Mount Auburn Methodist Episcopal
e Church South. preached last evening on
Advancing the Kingdom" the third ser
mon Of series on the Lords Prayer. He
took for his text. Matt. vi, IL. Thy Eing-
dom come He said. in part:
This prayer is not for the Introduction
OF the kingdom. but for the advancement
and contamination of that which has al
ready been introduced. While this prayer
OF the church has been wonderfully an
swered in the past, in the victories Of the
gospel, especially III the last hundred years.
1t must ever be the natural ana constant
prayer OF every child OF God until the reign
81 Christ Is universally known and accepted
in the world.
In one sense Gods rule. in the world. IS
universal. He IS King of kings and Lord
thority. But. in another. he is only our
king when the will OF man has given its
personal consent to his reign and authority.
Man, in the rebellion OF his nature, has
disowned the divine allegiance. He has
transferred it &c usuTper. to him who is
captive at his will But the divine decree
has gone forth. The kingdom of this world
shah become the kingdom .: cur Lord. and
his Christ, and he shall reign forever and
forever. Believing this promise. pledged in
Its fulhl,ment by The instTuT entality OF his
church, We can pray this prayer with great
encouragement and expectancy.
Tiny kiDgdom come is prayer for the
spiritual supremacy OF God. through Christ,
supposes the destruction OF the Kingdom OF
satan: Tor this purpose was the Son OF God
Warks 81 M that dax he might sb destroy ths
that is wrong and evil. and dark and mean
Is this opposing king, with his widespread
kingdom and multiplied subjects. lie il
was who tempted our first parents, intro
beautiful world.
I'VE must necessarily ask. frs. OF all,
that the Kingdom or God may come. in all
its power. In our own hearts. The fact that
We have taken Christ our King is not
equivalent. as a common experience proves.
TO taking aim as absolute and supreme In
his rule over US. Were We to take this po-
sftion We would have 10 believe that many
who profess TO be converted are rot. The
business of every converted person is TO
bring every power and faculty OF being into
subsection TO the rule of Christ the King,
whom We have accepted as such. Is 1t not
possible to loyalty accept him as our King,
Just as Germany did King Wilhelm whom
they loved and honored, while all the timo
the dictator of our own self-will and unholy
desire. like Prince Bismarck. may be ruling
the life? Subtle. indeed. is this rule of self
In our hearts as dictator, and dilisent must
be our effort 10 cast him out and give
Soo Of hs Il tine
rest till he Is King, King Of our bodies.
our thoughts, our ambitions. our homes.
of our lives When Joan OF Arc was asked
the secret OF the wonderful victories OF her
myself This white banner 0. prayer for
divine victories in the worlc can never be
conquered lives of his people. We must be
sure that it Is answered In US in order TO
promote It in others.
salvation and subordination of others and
the removal OF every evil that stalks the
logue of sins in society. both private and
public, which defy the throne of qod are
included In this petition; We are concerned
that purity and righteousness may be ac-
complished In every heart. The extinction of
tude: for the overthrow OF all corruption in
individuals in society. in business and in
politics; For the coming Of chat better day
fossilized theory among men. but will prac-
tically govern them In all their relations
and injustice such as have been confront
I'VE pray for the abolishing Of war. Few
wars have ever been justihable. while most
of them have been as criminal as any case
of deliberate murder. While war Is a char
acteristic. Of this closing Nineteenth Gem
fury. and the nations must go armed on
land and sea, We have more reason than
ever to prey. Thy Kingdom come. we may
peace foretold by the prophet. when men
shall beat their swords into plowshares and
If, RSrd When
neither shall they learn war any more; but
It is our duty and instinct 70 pray for this
overrule war for the good OF his cause he
does not inspire it. That inspiration orig
Psaes saea of its oSee w
not fall ultimately. for 1t has proclaimed
the mind and purpose Of God. which can
sympathize with the modern wars of So
called Christian nations. whose inspiration
is greed and conquest, and fail to pray for
peaceful arbitration. Is a perplexing enigma
4. "A closer union of all Gods people is also
the burden of this prayer. The fact that
We are in different denomins lions need not
divide US In our spiritual life. We may
not all be able to see just alike, but there
need be no break or antagonfsm In our re-
lations to our Christ and each other. The
prayer OF Christ is that the Christian fam
lily should be one. and none can have his
prayer. What a wonderful power in the
world would be a united church. II not or
ganically. at least in spirit and purpose and
house divided against itself cannot stand
His motto. concerning US. AMI for the over
throw of the church. Is Divide and con-
"This prayer IS a missionary prayer. It
embraces the salvation of TIE entire world
ana the removal of all error. superstition
and idolatry. The man or woman who |
says charity begins at home meaning by
fined TO the home land. can never truly |
pray the Lords Prayer nor utter this one
petition. This petition is Worldwide. ESQ
miles in circumference, as deep as the needs |
of every human heart, and as far-reaching |
as the millennium.
ITO pray this prayer. however, inteli.
gently and earnestly. is only one-half of |
our duty. Unless we do our best to help |
answer It. 1t is mockery and hypocrisy.
For as faith without works is dead. so is |
prayer without deed. In this prayer lies a |
solemn VOW to consecrate ourselves to the |
work OF bringing the kingdom OF God to !
every individual heart, well as to bring |
about Christ's universal reign. In the de- !
struction of all evil. There must be work |;
ing as well praying. 1t is the devils i
trick to get US 10 try TO induce God to do |
our part Too often We pray, %. Lord, /
go out into the highways and hedges and |
compel them 10 come in when that Is Just !!
what he has commanded US TO do ourselves. |
God will do his part; he is pledged TO do
that. It ought not to trouble US. He has