The Penn's Grove record., 1916-06-16
SOUGHT GODS HELP
Lesson for Mankind in the Saw.
ior's Communing With the
Father in Solitude.

What special circumstances were
they which made our Lord seek the
ministry Of solitude? If / can only
find out when the master sought the
restoring influence of solitude, it may
indicate to me the times when ! should
find the Strengthening and the calm
ing influence of solitude in my own
life.
Jesus of Nazareth was always hear.
ing bad news. The story of the
worlds sin and woe was forever be-
ing poured into his sympathetic ears.
But l think that If / wished to point
out one day darker than another, l
should select that day when the dis
ciples of John, stunned, bewildered.
broken-hearted, came and told the
Christ that they had Just been bury
ing their murdered and headiess lead
er. Jesus of Nazareth loved John the
Baptist. He loved him for his fdel-
ity. for his humility. for his magnif-
cent subordination of himself to the
faithful friend has been foully butch.
cred! And the story Of the great trag.
edy is told so simply. And Johns
disciples came and took up the body
and buried it, and went and told Je~
sus." How will he receive the terri
BILE news? / am reverently curious
to know how this Jesus will ncoun
ter sad news in the shape of a great
affection. when Jesus heard of 1t
i. t.. J. he departed thence into a des-
ert place apart" The first thing he
did was to seek to be alone. When
this cold burden Of sorrow touched
his heart, Immediately he sought to
be alone with God.
Always "Thy viii Be Done"
We have not been told anything of
those lonely communions which our
Savior had with the Father; but l
think we may infer the character of
them from what we lean elsewhere.
Our Savior was more than once over
heard in prayer, and snatches of his
communion have been preserved for
US. And this was the burden of them
all, "Thy will be done!" When the
cross of life was very heavy, he went
apart, communed with the father, saw
the sure foundations, gained assur-
ance himself, resigned himself anew.
and came forth again clothed with
superlative radiance and power. l
would ask you, then-you upon whom
trouble may fall tomorrow-to re-
member the example of your master.
who encountered a great sorrow by
first Of all going into a place apart,
that there he might be assured of his
Fathers presence and sovereignty, and
by the assurance resign himself to
the Fathers will.
Let us now take another occasion
in his life when our Savior sought the
ministry of solitude. And it came
to pass in those days that he went out
into a mountain to pray, and contin.
ued all night in prayer to God" And
why? And when it was day he called
unto him his disciples, and of them
he chose twelve" Here is the con.
nection-a whole night spent in noun.
tain solitude, alone with the Father,
before making a great choice in the
selection of twelve men. Jesus of
Nazareth went into solitude before
making great decisions.
God VIII Point the Way.
Now, you and I are often under the
necessity of making great decisions,
of choosing one road from many roads.
We have often to take momentous
steps in the way Of life. We are often
led up to crises where we know that
decision is pregnant with tremendous
issues. How do we approach such de-
cisions?
Now, God has promised to give
what he calls "the spirit of wisdom"
to all who seek it. And you remem-
Der those words of the apostle James:
If any man lack wisdom'-not mere
ly bread or shelter-'if any man lack
wisdom"-ideas, judgment, direction,
insight-.let him ask of God. that
giveth to all men literally" Wisdom
is the gift of God, as well as daily
bread. He giveth "the spirit of wis
dom" to man. You are face to face
with an emergency which calls for
practical judgment. You get alone,
and seek the presence Of the Eternal.
He promises to bestow upon you the
spirit of wisdom; that is to say. as
you commune with him the whole
tone of your spirit will be raised and
purified, and your capacity Of moral
discernment and judgment will be
quickened and enlarged.-Rev. ]. H.
Jowett, D. D.