The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-03

7
earth. the ultimate source of all ma
| tional greatness. All of us feel kim
ship for this remote ruler as we read
of his devotion to the good brown
earth; and of his delight in the freshly
| turned SOIL and in the browsing cat
tie. and the growing grain and the
| budding vines. No man who loves
Gods out of doors, and the primitive
simplicities of nature, can be wholly
bad.
While he fills the eye as rich and
famous and successful ruler, a mar
who left his country better than he
found it, yet Uzziah is beloved as a
! farmer-king. Somehow, his huS-
bandry and well-digging seem more
real to US than his battles and the
cities he built. The new movement to
encourage the boys and girls in the
arts of husbandry would have delight
ed the heart of King UZziah.
Branded.
Surely it was not after quiet, con-
ltemplative walk in the fields but rath-
er following some successful battle,
when he was flushed with pride and
power, that Uzziah dared to enter into
| the holy place, and attempt to usurp
the priests function of offering in
cense on the altar of Jehovah. All,
Uzziah, you were big in your own
eyes that day. Pride, that conqueror
of kings, had got a deathclutch on you.
When you forgot to be reverent. you
forgot to be your best self, your true
SELF.
| Score one for religion on that day
when the state attempted to usurp the
functions of the church. For the
| fearless priests withstood the king to
his face. No truckers were they. In
their own realm, the ministers of God
stand higher than kings and poten-
tates In clear words and unabashed,
| they warned Uzziah that he had sin
ned the presumptuous sin. Hear the
ring of their hot rebuke: Go out of
the sanctuary; for thou hast tres
passed" Thank God for faithful
ministers of religion, in all ages.
| While the rash king and the daunt-|
less priests contended, leprosy broke
forth on the kings forehead. He was
| branded. He who had built cities must
nov go forth into the exile of the un-
clean. His sin had found him out. I'm
to the day of his death he had to live
apart from men: and through all the
centuries since he has been a spotted
man, his greatness obscured by his sin.
Man at His Heighth OH His Knees.
Terse Comments on the Uniform Pray
er Meeting Topic of the Young
| Peoples ocieties-Christian En-
deavor, etc. - for December 5:
Golden Fruit from the Prayer of
| Life.'-Heb. 4:14-16; 11:6.
The prayer that prepares US to pray
is this prayer of the disciples: Lord,
teach us to pray" None of US can be
taught Alright unless he be taught of
God. For prayer should not only con-
slider mans needs, but also Gods
glory. To pray truly is to pray hon
| estly, reverently, unSelfishly worship
fully, and praisefully. So, every time
we approach the divine presence it
should be with the petition on our lips:
| LORD, teach us to pray"
The prayer that prevails says: Not
my will, but thine"
! From Gods word to Gods throne
that is the best program for the pray
er closet.
Reverence is required in all who
pray. We must never forget that our
prayers are to Him whose throne is in
the heavens; humility becomes the
petition. We are not to dictate to
God; He must always be God. We
should remember our unworthiness as
well as our need. and remember, too
| that the answers which come to our
prayers are wholly of Gods mercy and
not of all our deserving. fitting
sense of the exaltedness of God is a
| condition of prevailing prayer.
Persistent prayer obtains. The
Widows importantly brought her the
blessing God sometimes requires US
to prove our faith by long continuance
in prayer. If we want anything bad
| ly enough to keep on asking for it, for
days and months and years, provided
it is good enough for us, God will
surely grant our supplicatiOns. Perse-
vering prayer pleases God.
Sincerity is prayers passport.
God is willing to give. We must
master his truth If we would learn to
pray He is eager to bless His chill
dren, and especially eager to honor
their proffered requests. Giving is
easier for God than asking is for US
AS Phillips Brooks has said: Prayer
| is not an overcoming of Gods reluc-
lance, but taking hold of His willing
ness"
God always ans wers our needs. but
not always our requests. We may
sometimes ask aniss. but God never
gives amiss.
The perfect prayer is patient. God
| works out His will according to an
eternal plan. He always answers our
prayers. but He uses His own time.
We should never get impatient with
God, nor attempt to hurry Him. He is
God, and His ways are above our ways,
and are always best.
Nothing is too small to pray about
Whatever is important enough to con-
Germ US is not too trifling to interest
God. His love is great enough to COM
prehend our smallest affairs.
Let me do my work each day: and if the
! parkened hours of despair overcome me-
May 1 not forget the strength that com
forted me
| In the desoIation of other times, May
Still remember the bright hours that found
Walking over the silent hills of my child
hood.
Or dreaming on the margin of the quiet
river.
| When a light gIowed within
And l promised my early God to have
| Courage amid the tempests of the chang
ing years.
Snare me from the bitterness and the