The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-10

' Yet ssesns aa, the Immortal Rind this
 No chains can bind 1t, and no cell swifter than light 1t flies from pole to And in flash from earth 10 heaven 1t goes. .9 oId-Fashioned Faitn.
 Peter believed in the words of the Psalmist which are the golden text of encampeth around sabout them that fear him and delivereth them" That Is the old and simple faith which the great body of friends of Jesus would not willingly relinqpish. We are talking great deal in these days about the 'psyehology of prayer" and We are attributing the miracles to psycho-therapy, or to coincidences. or 10 the subconscious ego But
 We should take Him at His word.
 And our lives would all sunshine be
 In the presence of the Lord"
 God does exercise the right of a sovereign to care for his people, It Is true that He works by law. = But He made the laws. This universe Is not a democracy. where the will of the creatures rules, but 1t is an absolute monarchy. and the Lord God of Hosts Is King. lie can supplement- or even abrogate his own enactments as Hiay suit his purposes and pleasure. lie can bend all things to his will. No theory of the universe can satisfy the chrfstian which does not put the SOW ereign will of Jehovah on the throne.
 Once that truth is accepted. then all the considerations that make for a simple, childlike faith flow from 1t na- turally. God can and God will care for his own. His sovereign power Is at the service of his father heart, To him the peace and welfare of his chil- dren Is of more concern than all the cares of inanimate nature. He has angels unguessed by scienco to work His will for the deliverance of His children from any of the chains and prison houses of earth.
 In this history the King whose throne was in Jerusalem. and the King of Kings whose throne is in tho high est heaven. are represented in combat. Herod, by attacking those to whose preservation God had pledged His word put himself in array against Jehovah. He took all possible pre- cautions to guard his prisoner. Peter. for he was mindful of the strange de- liverances which had been wrought in the case of others of these Christians. But his utmost care was futile.
 Unfretted by his lot, unfearing in his heart, Peter had lain down to sleep the sleep of little cnild-for .Ho giveth his beloved sleep." even though they be chained to cruel jailers--and then there came to him, In a vision, he thought, a messenger from God, who broke the shackels opened the prison doors, and let him forth a free man. Even Peters faith could scarcely credit the wonder. Yet he was free. and insteaJ of the noisome atmosphere of the dun- geon. he was in Gods clear air, Straight to the presence of the breth- ren, as a homing pigeon to his nest. went the liberated apostle. and there he came upon his fellow Christians praying for him. and all unknown to' themselves. having verified for them that promise: while they are yet calling I will hear and answer"
 An Interesting human touch to the story is the consternation and excite ment of the maid. 'Rhoda, who, when she found Peter at the door. was too much overwrought to let him in, but ran back to the company to tell them that Peter was there all the while leaving him standing without the door. The deliyerance was attested by large com pany of the disciples. It was one more instance to witness to the power of the new faith. The humble Chris. tians had seen Herods mightiest de. vices put to nought. In the combat between the kings. Herod perished in his impiety before the eyes of the peo- pie, stricken by visible judgment of Jehovah, so that In his miserable end all beholders knew that the Lord God omninotent reigneth.' Because the King of Kings is on. His throne. all Is we'll with his people. whatever on earth their lot may be. Sang Helen Hunt:
 Yet this one thing learn to know
 That doors are opened, ways are made,
 Burdens are gifted or are laid,
 By some great law unseen and still.