The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
A SUNDAY TALK.

And He said. Abba Father all things are pos
sihle unto Thee take away this cup from me /;
nevertheless. not what ] Bill but what Thou wilt
ST. Marx. xiFs6
If we poor humans could only keep that
fine example of resignation to the divine
will in our hearts all the time how much
easier would we be able to carry the bur-
dens of this life which at many moments
seem too hard for us TO bear So often
we seem to think that if we are afflicted
or distressed, and carry our burdens 10
the throne Of God in prayer we have
done all that is possible for US to do to
alleviate all difficulties
The tendency is always-so constituted
is humanity-to believe that we know
what is best for ourselves; that our finite
wisdom is capable of choosing the most
direct and shortest way 10 our desires,
and we have little doubt that the de-
sire Of our hearts, if gratided, is sure
to help us toward our goal.
1t is here that the Christian religion
comes IN to correct us OF our error. and
nowhere in the whole realm of Christian
doctrine do we find the truth more poign-
antly or powerfully expressed than in
the verse quoted above? The time was
few hours before Jesus should surrender
His liberty into the hands of the Roman
soldiers. His disciples, gravely wonder
ing. could not understand, and He
knowing what was TO come-would not
tell them. He drew apart in Gethsemane
from these who loved Him well, and lie
His ia in,
heaven praying that if il might be this
cross should pass from Him. But IL IS 20
be remembered-for this is the lesson We
so much need-that the important part of
Ills prayer was Not what I viii, but
what Thou wilt"
For after all. # is important for US to
remember that though. year 10y year and
century by century the world is growing
in wisdom, and man. by the sheer force
Of the spirit that is I'm him. is bending
wind and wave and all Of natures forces
10 his will, so that. In our conceit We are
likely 10 take all the credit TO ourselves.
all Of this progress and growth is but
the working out Of the spirit Of God the
Father. Never can We separate ourselves
from that truth. that all we are, all we
do. ali we hope 90 be must come from
that divine beneficence which holds us
all in the hollow Of His hand. Always
We must bow 10 the supreme will Of God;
always We must-if we have the true
principles u Christianity On our hearts
realize that His wisdom lighteth the
world, and that He knOWeth best If we
pray for that which is evil We are as
sured that our prayer Will not be an
swered How then, are we 20 judge
whether that which We think good. i'm
our finite Judgment. be Of a verify good
or nott He knows and the true Chris
tan faith teaches as to submit 10 His
Will Kingsley said.
] believe that He vail answer Inv PRAYER. not ac-
c1rding 20 the letter but according 70 the spirit o.
t, that q I desire good ! shan ind good. though
not the good I louged ior
And So II we pray for what We deem to
be good. and our prayer Is denied. we
should have faith and courage enough
patiently TO bear the disappointment. en-
tertainine no doubt whatever that il was
and always viii bee right that the will Of
God, and not our will be done As
Whittier wrote.
The dear God hears and uities al.
IT, ku1Weth all oHr wants.
And what we h.iriy as5 II Him
His love vitAholds or grants
And Sd ] sometimes think oU TTayeTs
Might ven be mrTscl in aue:
And us-. aud Itlch and hearth and church
Repeat. "TL uiI ue dome"