The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
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THE FATHERS CRY.
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tolerate.

tolerate.
THE FATHERS CRY.
and said: Master I have brought unto
Thee my son. which hath a dumb spirit
. and He asked his father how
and; and h he : said aid. Of child. And oftimes
it hath cast him into the fire and
into the waters to destroy him, but
pas 59p in us a as hep @
are possible to him that believeth. And
strajghtway the father of the child cried
but and said with. tears. Lord: be-
zlieye help thou mine unbelief.' MARK
xi:17-2G-24.
Tt is a pitiful picture here presented to
us: A poor boy in agony of body, a father
in deep and almost hopeless distress. sur
rounded by crowd OF idle on-lookers.
unable to help in any way. It is vivid
picture also of the life of all true Chris
items. With them. as with the Master.
work and conflict, amid scenes Of weak
ness aud sorrow, will always be the rule.
It was one OF the Multitude that spoke
that multitude which lies about u.s. al-
ways oppressed with distress and help
lessness and sin.
Here we see a whole family in misery
because of one Of its members. Trouble
may be intensive as well as extensive
One prodigal may destroy The peace OF
the whole household. The Maynard child
in his sin is followed by the anguish OF
aching yet loving hearts that cannot let
him go. If one member suffers, all the
others suffe: with it and through it.
There is one remedy and only one-hrins
the sufferer to Christ!
This household was troubled by an un-
contro!lable circumstance. The sufferer In
this case was not to blame. His affection
appealed therefore all the more strongly
for him. Some troubles we bring upon
ourselves; others are put into our lot by
a power beyond US.
Alas: that there are some who seek to
bring sorrow ard shame on those who so
tenderly love them! The gray hairs OF q
father. the tears of a mother, and unheed-
ed until too late. But in every case there
may be help or relief by believing prayer.
The sickness may be sore, the call long
delayed, but no case is helpless as long
as praye :rand eeffort may be made for it.
e & y
The blessing had already come to this
afflicted family The household was
united in deep concern. for one of its
members. The father spoke. not for bin,-
self only. nor yet for the suffering boy,
but for them all, VIXEN he said, "1dave
compassion on US, and help lis y
Amid the sorrows OF that household
there shone the pure and lovely light Of
sympathy.
In His illness they were all bound to-
gether by the strong, and tender tie Of
pity.
We learn form this incident how early
in life we are attacked and injured by
Satan. The Father gives a, fearful de-
scription Of the n1iseries inflicted on His
roor Son.NNe are told further that he
had been under this awful Visitation from
His infancy. 1t came on him "of a Child
There are much worse things than sor-
row, or even death! It is when the mem
beers of a family can bear these sorrows
untouched A cold, unfeeling heart is q
far greater calamity in a family, than the
most painful prolonged aff1iction
Which made his case more sad and the
cure more difficult. The devil aims at the
total ruin of those whom he rules and
works. for he seeks whom he may de-
YOUR.
We must not overlook the lesson here.
We must labor to do good to our chill
dren from their earliest infancy. How
soon in life a child becomes responsible
it is difficult to say. Perhaps far sooner
than we suppose One thing is clear, 1t
is never too soon to pray and strive for
the salvation OF the souls Of our chill
dren; never too soon to tell them Of God
and Heaven and the cross of Christ
And when we have done all We are in
the position of the father here. We bring
them to Christ for His healing word and
power. For into His hands we must soon
or late commit the destinies Of our chill
dren, knowing He will do what is right
and best.
For years this 10y and the whole fam
lily had suffered. Cruel years. with hope
dying lower. lower as His misery became
more permanent. Remedies and ply
but in vain. One thing only was left
to bring him to Jesus Of Nazareth.
His very hclplessness is His strongest
! plea, as He lies PROSTATE at the feet
Of The Master.
And now comes the supreme, the cru
| .spuedep Su!ul6IsAo uoIuN no .ls7l relo
..Cans't thou believe the Saviour asks
the Father ..All things are possible
ito him that believett.
.sLordl T believed" is the instant and
fearful reply. But he feels that Moth
ing can be hid from the All-Seeing Eye,
in whose presence He stands so He adds
the earnest prayer: Help thou mine
unbeiief.
Car any doubt that, while ne spoke
that prayer was answered in the highest
and fullest degree for both
oh, 11aS