The Washington herald., 1909-06-12
The Enlarged Horizon.


versation concerning Africa. Turkey. and
the Orient. The affairs OF the uttermost
parts Of the earth are given with the full
ness and timeliness OF neighborhood news.
We even talk jauntily about establishing
communication with Mars. as IL we had
eneompassed all the problems OF this
planet. and would exercise our powers by
reaching out TO our neighbor across mill
ions Of miles Of space
There Is no doubt about the twentieth
century mans having wide horizon The
important consideration for him Is that
his standpoint be correct. Broad views
are helpful in the degree that they are
from a right angle. This DIT OF New
Testament history which the Sunday
schools have been studying during recent
weeks suggests the true basis for COS
mopolitanism. which IS a spirit OF help
fulness and brotherhood There Is a kind
Of neighborIy interest-a sort OF peeking-
Observation-Disclosures spirit-which is mere
nneddlesoneness and fll-mannered imperti-
nence- This may not be cOnfPsed with
the real spirit OF neighborliness. Only
the latter may be called cosmopolitanism.
The early Christian Church quickly rose
above its Judean confines and became IN
the fullest meaning OF the term a cath
olic church.
TWO MEN AND THEIR VISIONS.
Men Of whom we never think as having
ideals above their bank books. or the sat-
isfaction Of the hours appetite. may. all
unknown to US. be men OF vision and
dreams. In the first OF this quarter
lessons there appears the figure OF a
prominent officer whose calling was ma
terial and whose cares were such that
probably his soldiers thought him a mere
military machine. Yet Cornelius, like
some OF the great fighting men Of our own
history. lived his real life with respect to
the unseen world Browning well says:
God be thanked. the meanest or his creatures
Has two soul-sidesi one 20 face the world with,
And the other 20 show woman when he loves her.
When Capt. Cornelius Was presumably
engrossed in affairs Of The barracks. he
was really seeing in a vision an angel OF
God promising him fuller message con-
cerning spiritual truth from the Apostle
Peter A devout soldier was sent post
haste to Jappa to bring thither this man
OF God.
Helpers are helped The giver gets
The bestOwer Is blessed. Peter. in his
service, was himself shown q vision. AS
part OF his equipment 10 answer the call
Of Cornelius the great apostle was shown
the figure OF the vessel FIN OF living
creatures. and taught that naught that
God has made Is TO be called unclean.
That bit OF personal work which Peter
did with Cornelius broadened his own
horizon and made him sensibls OF the
truth taught long before by the Good
Shepherd. that Gods sheep are not all in
the Jewish fold. The visions OF the
centurion and OF the apostle practically
synchronized. Gods clocks always strike
together He who rules over all. pre-
pares the worker and the work. His spirit
Is on the field as well as IN the force.
He made ready Peter and he made ready
Cornelius, each unknown TO the other and
only this mysterious spiritual prepara-
ton from above justihes the expectation
Of success in religious work.
THE PRISON AND PRAYER
A few weeks ago a woman who had
been sent 10 prison for the crime of
kidnapping was loudly calling to God for
assistance. Her ideas were OF the vague
and fabby kind which have no respect to
God in the day Of action. and turn TO him
only in the hour of need. The offender
against Gods law may not invoke Gods
power TO prevent proper punishment Only
those who go 10 prison for righteousness
sake can take God with them. or find a
radiant angel In their prison cells. Others,
penitent, II Is true, may learn 10 know
Him. even within prison walls. but 1t is
10 such as Peter. who was sent TO prison
BY Hercd for preaching the Name. that
Gods angels come Peter in prison was
happier than Herod in his palace. There
Is absolutely naught outside OF self that
can shut a disciple OF from the fellowship
with his Lord. which is LIES richest
reward
Christians should stand together and
behind one another II was rather stirring
10 note. several months ago. when
member OF a Philadelphia church was
arrested on suspicion Of a crime. that his
fellow church members. instead OF iadulg-
iny in uncharitable suspicion. got to-
cether and sent him a letter Of love and
encouragement. and stood together BY
him until the court had acquitted him OF
the charge That is the apostolic way OF
doing things While Peter was in prison
the church united all its spiritual forces
and continued in earnest prayer for his
relief That is the sort Of prayer which
God hears while ye are yet speaking"
for the prayer meeting had not broken
up before Peter. released by an angel
stood knocking without at the door
The mysterious spiritual forces which II
seems that the mind OF men can AFFECT
IN this material realm, and the profound
spiritual forces which prayer unleashes
IN Gods universe should ever be employed
in Offices Of sympathy and service. Wher-
ever Gods people are in need because
OF Gods name. thither should hasten the
prayers and loving fellowship of all who
bear the Name. The missionaries on trial
IN the Congo for bearing witness 10 the
truth. the disciples in Asia Minor perse-
F,ft NI---f--
tians in many heather lands who must
pay price for their dlscipleship-all
should be the object OF the tenderest
solicitude OF the entire church in the
world.
A HIsTORY-HARING MAN.
Good times are ushered in by good
men. When God wants 10 do big things
IN the world he brings on the scene
Of action some great spirited men. Thus
we find the Apostle Paul appearing in
the history Of the apostolic church It
has been OF tonic effect for the Sunday
schools 70 be brought into association
with Paul and with Peter and their fel-
low-workers All Of US are inclined 10
boast of the distinguished men We know.
and 10 claim relationship with even the
remotest ancestors who have any reason
for celebrity. BY the same token VIC
should cultivate this good society of the
men and women OF sacred history.
Why should we not be sedulous to take
some time apart from the newspaper
every day. where we come into associa-
ton with the lowest and the meanest and
the emptiesI people OF our time, in order
that we may cultivate Peter and Paul
and Barnabas and Stephen and Doctor
Luke and young timothy There Is an
old lady who moves constantly in this
good society, and she told me few days