Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-05-05

words. And forgive us our sins; for We
ourselves also forgive every one that Is
indebted to U.S." Gods gifts to us seem
to be dependent upon our forgiveness one
OF another. The father whose heart is
love could not smile upon a world full
of hate and bitterness. A heart OF unfor-
giveness has no room for the blessing OF
God. We must be some akin to God In
spirit before we can approach him in har-
mony and receive from him gifts.
One other great need man has, the need
that he may walk pure and unsullied
through life. preserving his integrity in
the image Of the father who gave 1t. And
bring us not into temptation" Is a prayer
for every hour OF every day. For tempta-
ton is a fact in all our lives and they
who know themselves best. know that
without divine help they cannot master
these temptations.
AS MAN TO MAN.
Prayer is a great mystery. yet Jesus
taught 1T on 4 simple and reasonable basis.
The thought of God and fatherhood under
lay ali his teaching. He illustrates his
instruction by appealing to the heart of
each of his hearers. Which OF YOU shall
have a friend who will not respond to an
importunate prayer of need: Well, just
as you do by one another. 30. and more
abundantly God will 90 by you. From
WV Nks VI lolI ~ llb0Il IG ~ iNu w
illustrations Of father and son. As the
father heart of ever the most selfish par
ent would not give amiss to his child so
God may be depended upon to give right
gifts to all who seek them.
Jesus knew how to appeal to human
nature. The greatest argument for his
teaching was in the hearts OF his hearers
themselves. l recall a fellow traveller on
that long stretch of the journey to the
Pacific coast which lies between Salt Lake
City and San Francisco. He was ex-
treme in his denunciation OF religion and
mi generally. He was an old man.
facing the end of his days in bitterness.
When he rallied against human nature
generally. some one said to him: See
here, II l were to tell you that I hadn't
had anything to eat for a day. don't YOU
uppose that you would give me food? OF
course you would. And II 1t were known
in this car that you yourself were hun
cry. wouldn't every last person share his
or ner store with you? You know 1t la so.
Well, thus the whole world is full of hu-
man goodness rejecting the love OF
God"
As another has said: There is nothing
unnatural about prayer. 1t is as reason
able to ask God for a thing as it is I'd
ask your friends II what God is going
to do is all determined unchangeably, be-
cause the universe in which we live is
ordered and fixed unaiterably. the same
Is true of men," Mr.. Huxley admitted
this. Not that mean for a moment to
say" he wrote to Charles Kingsley. that
prayer Is illogical. For II the universe II
ruled by fixed laws. It would be just as
illogical for me to ask you to answer this
letter as to ask The almighty to alter the
wtather." 1t is not illogical to pray.
THE SUPREME GIFT.
The closing verse of this passage Is far
ahead of the model prayer in its reach OF
teaching. The climax to the days in.
struction is not that God is our father,
that is the point from which the whole
teaching starts. Nor yet is 1t that he viii
give gifts to his children: that follows
from his very nature. But Jesus asserts
that IF we then, being evil. know how t.
give good gifts until your children. how
much more shall your heavenly father
give he holy spirit to them that ash
him."
The best boon that prayer can win Is
not daily bread, nor deliverance from
temptation. nor light upon perplexities
nor strength and comfort in sorrow. 1t IL
far greater han any OF these: 1t II Goo
himself. Prayers work wonders. but tho
greatest wonder Of all is that It gives t.
unworthy man the mysterious spirit who
is very God indeed. 1t is good to know
that a man may have gifts from God: II
is better to know that man may havs
God himself.